If irregular menstrual periods are disrupting your life, yoga and other stress-relieving activities may provide some relief. Yoga will not treat the underlying conditions that cause irregular cycles, but it can relieve symptoms of menopause, premenstrual syndrome and other conditions that cause you pain and irritation during your menstrual cycle.
Causes
Most women have menstrual cycles that last between 24 and 34 days, with menstruation lasting four to seven days. Slight variations in this cycle are generally considered normal, but large fluctuations in the duration of your cycle, especially if accompanied by strong pain and heavy bleeding, may be a cause for concern. There are many possible causes of irregular menstrual cycles. Some are less serious, such as stress, poor nutrition, the onset of menopause, weight gain or loss, and changes in birth control or other estrogen medication. But irregular cycles can also signal a more serious problem, such as uterine cancer, thyroid or pituitary disorders, pregnancy complications, pelvic inflammatory disease or polycystic ovary syndrome.
Poses to Regulate Flow
Many women have been able to find relief from irregular cycles caused by menopause through yoga. Restorative poses such as reclining hero pose, reclining bound angle pose, and head-to-knee pose may be especially helpful; these poses relax the nervous and endocrine systems, which can help your body adjust to hormonal fluctuations. Keep in mind that if an underlying condition is causing your irregular cycles, you should also seek conventional treatment for that condition.
Poses for Cramps
Irregular menstrual flow is often accompanied by painful cramps. Although it may be difficult to fathom exercising when you have cramps, gentle yoga poses can help ease your pain. Concentrate on forward bend, supported half-moon, head-to-knee pose, wide-angle forward bend and reclined bound-angle pose. Forward bends take pressure off your abdominal muscles, which can help relieve cramps.
What to Avoid
Some yoga teachers recommend that women avoid inversion poses during menstruation. However, many scientific reasons behind this concern -- such as the fear of increased risk for endometriosis and congestion in the uterus -- have been debunked or questioned; in fact, noted yogi B.K.S. Iyengar actually recommends inversions to alleviate heavy flow and irregular periods. Every woman is different; do what feels right for you. You may find holding an inversion for a long time uncomfortable during your period, but not feel the need to avoid them altogether.
