Yoga can promote healthy menstruation by facilitating a natural flow of fluid in the lower body, reducing stress, and improving overall well-being. Forward bending and meditative asanas are recommended, while high-intensity and inverted asanas may be avoided. Examples of recommended poses include child’s pose, head to knees pose, and seated shoemaker pose. Meditative asanas such as easy pose and corpse pose can promote calm and relieve emotional stress. It is important to listen to your body and do what feels comfortable.
Yoga is said to holistically heal the mind and body. Practicing yoga for menstruation promotes healthy menstruation by facilitating a natural and healthy flow of fluid in the lower body. Other benefits of yoga include reduced stress from PMS, less period pain, and better overall well-being. Forward bending and meditative asanas, or yogic postures, are best for menstruation. Some yogis, or yoga instructors, recommend avoiding inverted asanas and other forms of high-intensity yoga during menstruation, but many also recognize that every body is different and you must decide what feels comfortable for your body.
Commonly prescribed asanas for menstruation are forward bending poses held for a few minutes to massage and relax the abdominal area where many women experience cramps or menstrual discomfort. Examples of forward-leaning poses when doing yoga for menstruation include child’s pose, or balasana; head to knees pose, or janu sirsasana; and the seated shoemaker pose, baddha konasana. To do Child’s Pose, kneel on the floor and lean forward on your knees until your head touches the floor. To do Head to Knees Pose, sit up straight with one knee bent and the other leg straight while touching the knee of the straight leg to your head. To do Seated Shoemaker Pose, sit on the floor with the soles of your feet touching and drop your knees out to the sides as far as they will go.
Yoga for menstruation also includes meditative asanas; These promote serenity and calm to relieve emotional stress caused by hormonal changes during menstruation. Examples of meditative asanas for menstruation include easy pose, or sukhasana, and corpse pose, or savasana, which usually conclude a yoga session. To strike an easy pose, sit cross-legged with your back straight and focus on your breathing. To do a corpse pose, lie on your back and allow your body to completely relax. A certified yoga practitioner can help you properly perform the asanas.
Some yogis advise against high-intensity yoga for menstruation, as it can overtax your body during the low-energy state of normal menstruation, when you expend energy for the cleansing process. Other experts disagree, reasoning that not all women feel low on energy during menstruation. There are also yogis who recommend avoiding inverted asanas during menstruation, not only because they require more energy, but also because they can aggravate menstrual symptoms by interrupting the natural downward flow of fluids. Critics argue that inverted poses are only harmful if held for long periods of time. Ultimately, you need to pay close attention to your body and do what feels best to you.
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