A couple of days ago, we wrote about a study that found that drinking beer and working out go together well. Apparently, so are yoga and beer.
“Beer and yoga” classes (they are often called “yoga and beer” classes, but I feel that I have to set the priorities straight), are rapidly popping up all across the U.S. According to the Associated Press, joint yoga and beer sessions happen regularly in New York, Florida, Oregon and North Carolina. A quick Google search reveals that this list in no way complete; a recent Washington Post article says that beer and yoga are the two most popular post-work activities in D.C., and the idea to combine them comes quite naturally. The beer-yoga combo is no less popular in Canada, with Ottawa at the epicenter of the new trend.
The Best of Both Worlds
Both beer and yoga are a known way to relax, and the combination of the two should work genuine miracles. (I, myself, have a, let’s say, limited experience with yoga, but I have it on a very good authority that the scheme really works.) What is more, while yoga classes seem to attract a largely female audience, the drinking part is often more appealing for men. This fact makes the new wellness trend both a benefit to the public health (as more men attend yoga classes) and an opportunity for socialization.
It is hard to say if you burn more calories doing yoga than you gain from your pint afterward, but one thing is clear: you get less extra calories from yoga and from beer than from the beer alone.
Meanwhile, Steam Whistle Brewing brewery in Toronto is experimenting with cycling and beer combination. The company supported the Canadian cycling community for years because, obviously, a glass of cold beer is clearly one of the most desired things after a long race or a tough workout.
Health Effects
Some beauty journalists (it is so much fun when beauty journalists write about beer) are concerned that having a beer after exercises might dehydrate you or even have some negative effect on your muscles. As far as we could find, there is no coherent research data to support that theory. However, the b33r.xyz will continue its investigation of this matter. Historically, though, Americans used to drink beer like water as late as in 19th century, often after hard physical work. There is no historical account of adverse effects that tradition had on the health of the nation.
As for the dehydration, there are specially brewed types of beer that come to your rescue when you need to restore your electrolyte balance—the Canadian Lean Machine Ale is what specifically comes to mind.
