If you’ve been rolling out your mat regularly to drop a few pounds, you already know that yoga works best when what you do off the mat supports what you’re building on it. That includes your drink choices. But here’s the catch: some beverages—even healthy-looking ones—can nudge your cortisol levels upward, and elevated cortisol can quietly work against both fat loss and recovery.
The goal isn’t to eliminate every pleasure from your cup. It’s to choose drinks that hydrate, support metabolism, and keep your stress hormones balanced so your yoga practice can do its job. Here’s what to reach for—and what to steer clear of—if you want to support yoga weight loss without spiking cortisol.
