Namaste
I guess this thread can go under FAQ… however, I really need to make this topic clear eventually.
What are recommendations for building practice when a woman is on her period? Should she practice at all? What is there to avoid? Should she do pranayamas? How should she change her practice and build her routine for these days?
I highly appreciate advices on this topic.
I’ve discussed the topic with some of my lady friends.
I was suprised at the confessions.
This is just what I was told, which some of it contradicts what I’ve read and been taught…
One told me that Spinal twists are sometimes give a relief from cramping.
Another claimed that yoga with a good savasana provided relief from pms symptoms.
I was also told by someone that she was always afraid to sit out inversions while on her period (as some teachers reccomend) because then everyone would know that she had her period, so, she did them anyway and it “didn’t kill” her. So now she does inversions regardless.
The topic of fatigue came up, and one lady claimed that she opted for restorative classes during her cycle as she was slightly anemic and during her period she was usually too fatigued for vinyasa.
And I’m a guy… that women feel comfortable talking to it seems…
So this is just 2nd hand info
Generally speaking, the menstrual cycle is a cleansing cycle in which the energy flows downward. For this reasons, poses that go against that are not advised even though they may not “kill you”.
I can appreciate that statement was a quote and likely in context however it should be obvious that death isn’t the barometer for what is best for us as that would make it a bit late in the game to change course.
One may go against the safety advice of the teacher and have no resulting harm whatsoever. Yet there are still some things it is best to avoid - like pressing a cellular phone against your head for extended periods when it is quite simple to use a speakerphone or a bluetube headset.
As a teacher when I speak about contraindications for inversion it allows students to opt-out without overtly disclosing their particular reason. That is part of my job of creating a safe space. All the while we, as students, are to be working toward a place where we are NOT uncomfortable about the functions of our bodies. This, to me, is a form of self love.
Hi Olga,
I have been researching this a great deal lately. I am trying to decide what type of practice, if any, I will be doing during my period. I have found that there are several different suggestions from the yoga community. More conservative yogis (such as Iyengar) explain that women should not practice any asana that disrupts the downward flow of energy. He suggests that women should use this time to practice meditation and restorative poses only. I have read others say that practicing any type of inversion during any day of your period could breed disease and hormonal imbalance. Others say that women should not do any inversions during the heaviest days of their flow. Some vinyasa instructors have also said that inversions are fine, or it is best to do what feels right. However, I think it is best to go with your intuition here. I personally do not have the energy for much of anything during the first three days. By day three I am usually anxious to get into a down dog. Currently, I have opted not to do any inversions during my period. This is my fifth month of ovulation in over four years (2 breast fed babies). My periods have been heavy and more painful than before children, so I feel that I am not yet completely regular. Perhaps, I will be ready for a steady yoga practice after the heaviest days in the future. It seems like a week is too long to go without a solid practice, but I do have concerns about disrupting that flow of energy.
I hope this helps. I am also very interested on the subject. Please let me know if you find out any other information
Hello
I too find that just reducing the intensity of my practice for the first few days if I have minor fatigue, or if it is too bad just skipping it and stay with mediation and learning more about yoga and myself. In regards to inversions, I personally find them uncomfortable the first few days when “Aunt Rosie” (my husband’s name for it) is in town. I think the general opinion will be to do what is best for yourself.