Diarrhea's causes usually lie in food triggers, bacteria or viruses, and in chronic conditions, not in physical exercises such as yoga. However, if you do come down with diarrhea, you should consider taking a few days off from the yoga studio; hot yoga such as Bikram yoga in particular can aggravate dehydration, a serious side effect of diarrhea.
Causes and Treatment
Diarrhea is generally caused by a bacterial or viral infection, parasites, bowel disorders, intestinal diseases, food sensitivities or adverse reaction to medications. If you have a condition such as irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn's disease, treating the underlying cause should help treat the diarrhea as well. You can use prescription antibiotics to treat infections that cause diarrhea, while ordinary diarrhea usually goes away on its own; see a doctor if yours persists longer than two days.
Yoga Precautions
Severe diarrhea can cause dehydration, which in turn can lead to organ damage or coma if untreated. If you experience any dehydration symptoms -- such as thirst, fatigue and dark urine -- in addition to your diarrhea, the super-heated environment of a Bikram class may not be the best place for you until you're feeling better; hot yoga classes can cause dehydration for some people. Drink plenty of water and beverages that contain electrolytes, such as sports drinks, to prevent dehydration when you experience diarrhea.
Contraindications
A handful of yoga poses are contraindicated for diarrhea, meaning you shouldn't do these poses when experiencing the condition. Some poses in this category that are included in the standard Bikram sequence include seated head-to-knee pose, child's pose and triangle pose. Other contraindicated poses that are not part of the Bikram sequence but may be used in a Bikram class from time to time, depending on the instructor, include Bharadvaja's twist, downward-facing dog, boat pose, plow, warrior II, wheel, half-moon pose and seated forward bend.
Helpful Poses
After you're fully recovered and are ready to return to yoga, consider trying some poses to strengthen and stimulate the intestines. Some of these poses -- such as Bharadvaja's twist and boat pose -- are the same poses that are discouraged for those with diarrhea. Others include cat-cow stretches, king pigeon, upward plank and sphinx. If your diarrhea was severe or accompanied by dehydration and other symptoms, get a doctor's OK before returning to regular physical activity.
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