How a menstrual cup works: Comfort and convenience
A menstrual cup is a small, bell-shaped container which is worn inside the vaginal canal. It collects menstrual discharge and can be removed by gently pinching the cup, breaking the seal, and pulling it out.
Reusable menstrual cups are growing in popularity as a sustainable alternative to disposable pads and tampons. They’re made of medical-grade silicone and make for a great one-time investment for convenient and eco-friendly periods.
Can you practice yoga with a menstrual cup?
Yes, you can!
The menstrual cup is one of the most suitable period products for athletes, for use during workouts, sports, and other physical activities.
While a pad may bunch up or shift around during intense movement, a menstrual cup of the right size moves along with your body but stays secure as it is sealed at the top.
A cup also allows you to sweat openly, while a pad absorbs your sweat, leading to excessive moisture in the genital region.
If your period doesn’t severely affect your energy levels, you can continue to practice yoga when menstruating. Remember that yoga is about being more aware of your mind-body connections, breathing, and your surroundings. So it’s important to practice yoga up to the extent in which you’re not uncomfortable or exhausted.
Also read - Mudra to get periods immediately
Addressing Common Concerns: Comfort and Leakage
If your cup is too small, it may leak due to not being able to form a proper seal when inserted. Performing asanas which involve lunges and splits may also cause the cup to slide down as the pelvic area has to extend in these positions.
Consider using a larger cup if you face issues with your menstrual cup leaking or sliding during yoga practice.
It’s also a good measure to clean your cup just before your yoga session so that if your cup does slide down, there won’t be a lot of spillage.
Can you do inverted yoga poses while on your period?
According to Ayurveda and Yogic philosophy, the downward flowing energy known as ‘apana’ is responsible for facilitating a healthy and effective menstruation. In this context, inverted positions would disturb the flow of downward energies and cause menstruation problems.
However, there are inconsistencies in this notion as poses like downward facing dog / Adho Mukha Svanasana and standing forward fold / Uttanasana are not prohibited for menstruating practitioners, despite inverting the uterus.
Since yoga is about listening to your body and aligning with yourself at a deeper level, it’s you who has to decide what works best for you. Your yoga practice should not intensify your discomfort or pain, it should help relieve you of your symptoms.
You can practice inversions when menstruating as long as they don’t worsen your cramps or fatigue you. You can also choose to avoid them to conserve energy as your body heals. Take the time to figure out which type of practice suits you best during your periods.
Can inverted yoga worsen menstruation?
While the ancient philosophical systems of Yoga and Ayurveda maintain that inverted positions disrupt the natural flow of apana, this position has not been supported by modern science.
The main concern with inversions during menstruation is if they can cause retrograde menstruation, in which blood would flow in the opposite direction and result in uterine tissue and other discharge in the pelvis, leading to endometriosis.
However, recent research has debunked this notion with the claim that your menstrual flow is dictated by your uterine contractions and not by your orientation to the ground. Also, your immune system is capable of dealing with stray uterine cells left behind in the pelvic region, removing the risk of endometriosis for a majority of menstruators.
So if you’re capable of practicing headstands and handstands when menstruating, please feel free to continue to do so and stay aware of how your body feels in case you’d like to modify your practice.
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