menstruating bodies should avoid inversion. It’s a long-standing debate, but the idea is that being upside down, or perhaps being inverted for too long, can trigger vascular congestion in the uterus.
Sounds pretty bad, right? It simply means that the uterus can engorge, or swell, leading to more bleeding and subsequently more cramps. If yoga will be your go-to fitness format during your period, it’s best to steer clear of plow pose or any head and shoulder stands.
We all experience our menses differently. Some of us have it way harder than others, so again, there’s no shame in taking some time to rest and care for the body. Cramps, discomfort, and pain come with our cycles and if you’re determined to stay active, keeping track of your cycle is the best way to stay prepared.
If you know your period is going to start soon, some doctors would recommend taking pain relief pills one to two days before to avoid the awful initial cramping that’ll keep you bed-ridden. If leakage is a concern, try exploring your options. Tampons and pads are no longer our only option as menstrual cups and panties-for-periods make their way to the mainstream.
There’s no such thing as the perfect period. We can only do our best to make ourselves more comfortable and try to alleviate the associated symptoms. If this hasn’t been enough to convince you to keep moving despite your period, think about the bloating.
Sweat = water expel = bloat relief
You got this.
Jasmine Danielle is a Los Angeles based dancer and fitness trainer. She received her BFA in Dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has studied with FiTour, the National Federation of Personal Trainers, and the Equinox Group Fitness Training Institute. Jasmine is currently a Group Fitness Instructor for Equinox, Everybody Los Angeles, and Sandbox Fitness. Her fitness modalities include ballet, dance cardio, barre fitness, TRX, treadmill interval training, cardio kickboxing, jump rope, indoor cycling, and metabolic conditioning.