After a full meal, you should wait at least four hours before practicing. You can drink a warm drink half an hour before practice. There are two main reasons why you shouldn’t practice in close proximity to a meal. First, after a meal, the stomach and intestines are full and heavy and movement is restricted. Practicing on a full stomach may cause uncomfortable feelings such as choking or heartburn. Just as importantly, practicing after a meal robs the body of the necessary energy needed for the digestive process. Not all of us are aware of the fact that digestion is a process that requires a great deal of energy. If we do exercise during digestion, the body draws energy resources to the physical activity at the expense of digestion and this impairs the quality of food digestion and absorption. However, there are some restorative Iyengar poses that can be done immediately after eating and are even beneficial for digestion after a heavy meal. Poses like Supta Baddha Konasana or Supta Virasana with bolster support, are poses that do not disturb digestion and, as a matter of fact, create space in the abdomen, thus facilitating the digestive process. ^ Back to top