Yoga on Period

[CheekyMaleekey]

Hi all,

Why is it that some people say you shouldn't do yoga when you're on your period?

Does anyone know of a practice I can follow on Youtube that's ok for period days?

Thank you.

You can do yoga. Some instructors recommend you don't do certain poses like shoulder and head stands Personally I still do them as I've never received a rationale explanation why not.

Thanks. I wonder why some instructors say that.

Yoga is very, very good for periods if you are doing the right things.

You should avoid anything that is going to tire you out, or make you clench your abdomen (which makes the muscles hard - generally, you want your organs to be soft and relaxed to ease them).

Inversions (headstand/shoulderstand etc) and backbends are hard poses, they take a lot of effort, so will wear you out quickly. Abdominal poses (like the Boat poses, some leg raises) will make your abdomen hard, as will closed twists (where you turn towards your bent leg).

Good (excellent) poses to practice on your period include:
Supta Baddha Konasana (and all the supine poses)
Setu Bandha
Supta Padangusthasana with leg out to the side
Ardha Chandrasana
Standing poses with support e.g. back to the wall
Seated forward bends, with support (like a blanket) for the abdomen

Doing the right practice can really help with periods; doing the wrong practice can be harmful. Though as always it will depend more on you & your body than anything else... I would recommend this book if you are very interested: Woman's Yoga Book.

I have never stayed away from a yoga class because of a period. You would probably want to avoid poses that work on your core like boat pose, as Lord said. I don't find headstands and shoulder stands particularly difficult, on the other hand.

I think ashtangis don't practice during their period. Quaintly referred to as 'ladies holiday'. No idea why though.

I practise ashtanga and I take days off when I have my period. I didn't used to, but I went to a workshop where the teacher explained that it's to do with 'moola banda' (the 'lock' where you squeeze your bum and perineum). It's apparently not healthy to be squeezing it too much during menstruation!

I've heard that doing inversions interrupts the flow of your period, so it's best not to go upside down in the first few days.
The menstrual mucus and womb lining is seen as waste materials an is best expelled, like nasal mucus.

Inversions cause a back up of the period and that is why yoginis use seated poses and relaxing poses during those few days when flow is heavy.
Also why yoginis use nets pots!

Also full moon and new moon days often coincide with menstrual days, and ovulation, so it's best to take a holiday from strong poses for these two days a month anyway as risk of injury is higher.

lord, I wonder could you post the English words for those poses you've mentioned .... If you've time. Tia.

Namaste!

What are "nets pots"?

Imho the tampon soaks it all up anyway, so the blood doesn't "flow" anywhere whether I'm right-side-up or upside-down.

Poses in English:

Supta Baddha Konasana = Reclining Bound Angle pose
Setu Bandha = Bridge pose
Supta Padangusthasana with leg out to the side = erm, Reclining Hand to Big Toe out to the Side pose (?)
Ardha Chandrasana = Half Moon pose
Standing poses with support e.g. back to the wall would be Triangle, Side Angle, Wide Angle Forward Bend
Seated forward bends, with support (like a blanket) for the abdomen e.g. Head to Knee Forward Bend, Seated Forward Bend

TBH I suspect that there may be a lot of woo involved in these supposed rules. Backing up of periods sounds rather unlikely to me, for instance. It's not as though you're spending hours on end in an upside down pose, after all, and period blood is a liquid and subject to gravity. It'll come back down, alright ...

I love yoga and what it does for my body and general well-being, but as a rationalist sceptic there are a lot of things that I tend to take with a grain of salt.

Sorry auto correct. That should be neti pots!

Yes, I know it sounds like there is an unstoppable tsunami of red tides swishing around, but it's BKS iyengar's daughter Geeta's advice not to do inversions when you have menstrual flow, so don't shoot me for being overly woo!
There are plenty of pelvic opening asanas advised for those few days, so it's not as if you can't get on your mat, just not to go upside down. Yoga is very useful when you have your period- her advice is to respect your body, and your cycle.

Namaste all!

I'm still with Magical on this, sorry! Just can't believe that standing on my head for two minutes will make the period goo go back up the cervix. Love the imagery of "unstoppable tsunami of red tides swishing around", though

Where's Moses when you need him...

Ha! Moses has taken two tablets at the horror, and has gone for a bit of savasana.

I know it sounds like woo, but it's recommended that no inversions occur on these first menstrual days. Also practice should be gentle and especially mindful on moon days, full and new, as these can cause energy surges, and can lead to over exertions.

I like Geeta Iyengar, the force is strong in her!

"moon days, full and new, as these can cause energy surges"

Can you explain this? I have no idea what it could possibly mean.

Where do these energy surges come from? I'm inclined to start running on full moon evenings if it means my body burns fat more eagerly

Geeta Iyengar's guide to women's practice is worth a read if you are interested in yoga as more than solely physical exercise

OK, sure, but I would be interested in people's understanding of this "energy surge" issue. It sounds promising.

It's not really promising cotes! Just that you can damage yourself by over exertion on these moon days.

Full moon and new moons have an effect on our energy levels. Most women have a menstrual period aligned with the lunar cycle, so you may find that you are energised when ovulating, for eg at the full moon, and that you have a different energy at the new moon.
Both these changes from the norm can lead you to do more or different intensity exercise, so it's best to respect your cycle, and not over exert and be mindful.

just as an aside...
Mental health facilities report increased mania in full moon nights, and prisons also report increased disturbances.... So there's something in it.

Make of it what you like.

Namaste all!

Yes, well, I don't really see how I can damage myself when "energy levels" are high. Does that mean I will run faster when full moon is out? If so, this really could be exploited.

"Mental health facilities report increased mania in full moon nights"

To each their own and all that, but I'm pretty sure that research like this meta-analysis has not found evidence for so-called full moon mania.

I'm not trying to change your mind btw, just curious re the possibility of higher energy levels during full moon that would allow us to push our body further. If true, that is really cool.

in my limited experience, it seems we really need to tune in with ourselves, our body and our own practice at menstruation, especially first day or so and feel what feels right for us in that moment. not to be conforming to a fixed practice but feeling what is right for us and our body in that moment.