Did you know yoga can help ease fibroid pain?
One of the most uncomfortable side effects of uterine fibroids is menstrual pain. Cramps become more intense, and your cycle is often longer and heavier when you have fibroids.
While over-the-counter medications can relieve your menstrual discomfort, if this is a monthly issue, you may want to seek a more natural form of pain relief.
So next month, instead of popping some Advil, why not try one (or more) of these yoga poses for fibroid pain? The moves are all designed to target areas of your body specifically affected by period pain.
Continue reading to learn more.
When you have fibroids, period pain, and general pelvic pain can be a big problem. But that’s not all. In fact, as we learned from Shantel Smith’s now-viral TikTok, those cramps can spread to your thighs or even your rectum. Of course, fibroids can also trigger constipation, so those rectal cramps could be even worse when living with these uterine growths. If that’s the case for you, be sure to avoid triggers such as drinking soda, since this study from Scientific Reports suggests that doing so can worsen your menstrual cramps. At the same time, you may find some natural relief with yoga.
Why is yoga so effective for relieving fibroid and period pain? Some Hatha yoga poses relax tension in your pelvis and abdomen naturally. They also increase blood flow to the region, which can help relieve discomfort.
Plus, yoga is excellent for relaxing your body, which can help you experience pain less intensely.
Simply put, gentle yoga is best.
According to a study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, women with period fibroid pain who participated in one hour-long yoga class each week reduced their period pain and overall distress. Women with pelvic pain or severe menstrual cramps should choose restful classes over power yoga since power classes often stress the core, which could make your pelvic pain more intense.
While there isn't a specific type of yoga that is universally considered most effective for fibroid pain, some styles and poses may be particularly beneficial for addressing the symptoms and promoting overall well-being, including the following:
Along with these yoga styles, Incorporating mindfulness and meditation into your yoga practice can help manage pain by reducing stress and promoting relaxation.
When practicing yoga to alleviate fibroid-related pain, you must listen to your body and consult a healthcare provider or yoga instructor knowledgeable about your condition. They can guide suitable poses and modifications based on your symptoms and needs.
If you’ve considered yoga, we recommend the following poses to reduce period-related fibroid pain:
The child’s pose is the go-to resting pose in most active yoga classes. The pose is an excellent option for menstrual-cycle-related back pain because it gently stretches the lower back muscles.
Focus on deeply breathing into the back and notice the rise and the fall of the breath in the body. Relax through the hips and let the torso rest upon the tops of the thighs, which will help alleviate fatigue.
Tip: Put a bolster or pillow under the torso to make it more comfortable to hold the pose.
The forward fold pose lengthens your spine and stretches your hips, helping to alleviate pelvic pain. It also helps ease the pain that radiates down the legs and around the back by stretching the hamstrings, calves, and back.
Tip: For an extra stretch, grasp opposite elbows while in the pose to release your neck muscles and further unwind.
One of the most effective poses for menstrual pain is the knees-to-chest pose because it helps the lower back and abdominal muscles, relieving tension and reducing pain.
The knees-to-chest pose also increases circulation to the abdomen, which may help relieve some pain.
Tip: When in the pose, try rocking from side to side and back to front to sneak in a bonus back massage!
Moving slowly through the active cat-cow pose will warm up the body, an action known to help relieve menstrual cramps. In addition, these poses target the back and abdominal muscles—stretching and toning them.
Tip: Try going from one pose to another at your own pace, lingering where desired. Remember to inhale as you rise to cow pose and exhale as you coil inwards with cat pose.
If you’re dealing with a heavy period, you may avoid exercise, even if it’s yoga for fibroids. But that’s a bad idea since exercising on your period is essential for your overall health. And for fibroid relief.
We know you might worry about leaking during exercise. That’s why you may want to check out this smart new invention: period pants from Modibodi! Because this menstrual protection replaces your regular underwear, you can also wear a tampon during exercise. That way, you can feel secure about flowing through your yoga poses without leaking through your clothing.
Then, as a bonus, when you choose period pants over pads, you can reduce your ecological footprint because washable period plants could make a significant dent in the nearly 11,000 disposable feminine hygiene products the average woman tosses out in her lifetime.
Once you feel confident about your feminine hygiene protection, we hope you try yoga for period pain because yoga can be an excellent option to help you cope with fibroids' painful menstrual side effects.
Remember that even the best yoga pose won’t relieve permanent fibroid pain.
If monthly fibroid symptoms interfere with your daily activities, it’s time to explore other treatment options. So, make an appointment with your Houston fibroid specialists today.
We can provide a personalized diagnosis and treatment plan for your health and wellness needs.
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