That weekend trek you have been planning for a long time is almost here! Knock, Knock, who is there? Uh, oh. Aunt Flo comes knocking for her monthly visit and brings with her a whole bag of her favourite goodies—period pain , crippling back pain and nausea! How very infuriating! But, worry not with those period pains. Yogasana to the rescue ! As horrendous as the period pain may be, take heart and relief in some of these Yogasana poses. Here is a list of poses that can help reduce the effects of period pain if practiced properly. Do give them a try! We are sure you will not be disappointed at all.
1. Balasana – Child’s Pose
Steps on how to achieve the pose :
Kneel on the floor and sit on your haunches as you spread your knees, hip width apart. Exhale and bend forward with arms stretched out and forehead comfortably resting on the floor. Maintain the posture for two minutes. Inhale as you go back to your original pose.
Benefits of Balasana Pose for period pain :
- Massages the abdominal organs
- Soothes aching back
- Calms and quietens the mind
2)  Supta Matsyendrasana – Supine Spinal Twist
Steps on how to achieve the pose : Â
Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Bring the left knee to your chest and straighten out the right leg. Gently shift the left knee onto the right side of the body. Extend the left arm while placing your right hand on your left knee. Turn your head towards the left, looking over your left shoulder. Maintain the posture for a while gently inhaling and exhaling. Then draw up the left knee back to the chest and go back to starting posture. Repeat on the other side.
Benefits of the Supta Matsyendrasana – Supine Spinal Twist for period pain :
- Strengthens and stretches spine, chest and hips
- Reduces uterine cramps
- Soothes and stills the mind
Pro Tip: It helps in shaping your waistline
3) Baddha Konasna – Bound Angle Pose
Steps on how to achieve the pose :
Sit with your legs stretched out in front of you. As you exhale, bend knees and bring the heels of the feet towards the pelvis. Clutch the big toe of each foot in your hand. Lower your knees towards the floor as far as they can go opening out your thighs and hips. Maintain for 30 seconds to 1 minute as you breathe gently. Get back to the starting position as you inhale.
Benefits of the Baddha Konasna – Bound Angle Pose for period pain :
     1. Stretches the groin area and thighs and makes knee joint supple.
     2.Helps relieve menstrual pain as it relaxes the uterine area.
     3.Relaxes the body and relieves fatigue.
Pro Tip: Strengthens hamstrings and shapes thighs
 4) Setu Bandhasna – Bridge Pose
Steps on how to achieve the pose for :
Lie flat on your back. Gently bend your knees to the hips with the soles of the feet, lying flat on the floor. Clasp both ankles with your hands and inhale while lifting the pelvis and chest upwards till your body forms a bridge. Maintain the posture for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Exhale as you get back into the starting position.
Benefits of the Setu Bandhasana pose for period pain:
- The spine is energized and the backaches get reduced
- Relieves menstrual cramp
- Calms the mind and reduces anxiety
At the end of every yogasana session, try to end it with a Shavasana or corpse pose. This will help you relax and unwind. To do this pose, lie flat on your back taking full support of the ground, hands lying palms upwards at the sides. Pay attention to your breath and feel relaxed. Try to practice these yogic postures regularly and you’ll begin to notice the pain associated with your period decreasing.
We hope that you will find this article useful and highly helpful. Keep your period pain away with these simple relaxing techniques