Have you ever faced the brunt of being a woman? Nay! I’m not talking of the burning issues of feminism or our socio-economic status here. How do you feel when a peer asks you after you had a random meltdown in office, “Girl, is it your PMS that’s freaking you out?!” Even when you’re not around your PMS?
Well, most of us experience Pre-Menstrual Syndrome every month where, of course, the magnitude differs from one woman to the other. Pre-menstrual symptoms (PMS) usually affect a majority of women which surface every month around the same time, viz., a week or two before you get your period. And it’s quite established that it could even begin when you ovulate.
What does PMS usually do to you?
- You experience tender breasts
- You may have a headache
- You may feel bloated irrespective of your diet
- Abdominal cramps, which could be anything from mild to severe. (Some of it is so obvious that you get to know that you may be just ovulating!)
- Unexplained muscle aches, which may also be characterized by lower back/hip pain.
Amidst some or all of the above, you may also feel irritable around spells of mood swings.
While many health practitioners consider PMS as a normal process during a woman’s menstrual phase, there are several other dieticians & doctors that slightly differ from normalizing it. Though a large number of women & girls are affected by PMS, its connection with lifestyle & diet cannot be totally ignored.
I’ve personally observed that in the past whenever I happened to be on Yoga breaks owing to a lot of work pressure, PMS used to become very evident. Also during my teenage years, some periods were all about unbearable cramps, a few of which even caused me to faint in school.
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I swear by Yoga for maintaining my overall fitness & even helping me get rid of unwanted weight(especially after pregnancy)&chronic sinusitis. And I really believe that Yoga can do a lot to help you with your PMS & provide significant relief in the periods’ department as well.
Here are 3 great Yoga Asanas that evidently reduce PMS discomfort:
Balasana (Child’s Pose)
Stay in this posture for about 15-20 relaxed breaths, & then return to the central position where you rise from this position while still resting on your thighs folded. Repeat this Asanaeverydayat least 4-5 times. Balasana relaxes the strained muscles around your lower abdomen, back & hips which are always targeted by PMS.
Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
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Be in this position for about 15-20 relaxed breaths & then lie face down with the elbows bent near your chest & palms down. Repeat this asana for at least 7-8 times every day to observe PMS-free life! Bhujangasana works fantastically on your lower abdominal muscles & arching the back during this asana considerably helps in equally relaxing your strained lower back muscles.
Makarasana (Crocodile Pose)
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This asana has many variations. However, the one below is quite easy & as effective as the others.
Lie face down with folded arms & stacked palms. Rest your head on the palms. Relax your legs & open them wide apart, the heels should point in & keep both the legs should in touch with the floor. Now try to tighten your buttocks together & press onto the floor. Be in this position for about 10-15 normal breaths. Repeat this pose 5-6 times every day.
Like the Cobra pose&Child’s pose, the Crocodile pose, too, relieves possible pain from the areas around the buttocks, lower hip, abdomen & back.
By the way, cherishing the holistic effects of Yoga on the body, I personally feel that SuryaSuryanamaskara (Sun-Salutation) is a power packed combination of various poses (asanas) that work quite similar to the 3 asanas described above. Hence, if you’re a fan of Suryanamaskara like me; or should you become one soon ;-), you’d realize that Suryanamaskara itself is phenomenally useful to rescue you from PMS.
What do you think about the 3 asanas that I mentioned here? Do you follow specific workouts to combat PMS? Please share in your comments.
About The Guest Blogger Ashvini
Ashvini is a former corporate software trainer-turned-blogger. She blogs about fitness, health & parenting. A perennial writer at heart, she pins her experience with healthy living on to the board. Having put fitness n the back burner for most of her teen years & even later, it wasn’t until she became a mom that she began treating health as the biggest deal of her life.
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Have tried relaxing using the crocodile pose, without knowing about it. Balasana is easy to do too. Thanks for sharing this detailed and useful information, Ashvini. Good to see you here!
An awesome way for exercise. Relax the body and mind.
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