You, Your Period, and Hot Yoga
Hey Y’all!
Your friendly wife-of-the-studio-owner-so-she-has-some-opinions, local midwife, mama, and lady with a period but also regular hot yoga practice here! Can we talk about menstruating? Lets face it- a large population of us are/have been doin’ it once a month and it can occupy 3-7 days of life. As a midwife I love to chat reproduction and simply couldn’t pass up the opportunity to deep dive into this intersection of two of my favorite things!
Since I began my practice journey last fall I have realized that one of the most obvious benefits of regular practice for myself has been a clear regulation of my hormones which in turn has meant very regular and mild menstrual cycles. Very little discomfort, pain, or bloating. Yoga, especially hot yoga for me, has meant more mental balance but these little realizations about my body and my practice along the way have been a welcomed added bonus.
Did you know that menstruating is not meant to be painful? Excessive symptoms surrounding your period is actually ABNORMAL. As a culture we’ve all been lead to believe this is just part of the curse and we have to live with it. I am here to tell you this is NOT true and doesn’t have to be your norm! We know that the sweating, compression, and extension of endocrine organs we do in hot yoga can help to increase metabolism, including our body’s metabolism of estrogen and regulate cortisol levels. We also know that females who practice hot yoga have actually been shown to have higher bone density than those who do not., as well as improved glucose metabolism. Regulation of your hormones, which also controls the rest of your body systems , combined with literally creating space inside of your body for your organs to rest where they belong is a recipe for a more comfortable life but also a very happy period.
So all of this science-y fun aside, in my menstrual musings around hot yoga. I have also realized how much periods can be a barrier for folks who want to practice. Lets face it, menstruating is hard. You’re usually tired, irritable, and uncomfortable. Who wants to sweat and potentially bleed everywhere for 60-90 minutes?
A few tips for my flowin’ folks:
+ Invest in some good period protection.
Personally I have used Sea Sponge Tampons for about 15 years and am obsessed. They are sustainable, natural, and affordable. Added bonus for this company linked above is that it is locally owned by a completely rad lady right here in Gainesville, FL! My back up to these are the trusty Thinx period panties. I am not paid for endorsing these products but I probably should be, I shout their praises from the rooftops and have for years!
Stepping away from toxic, bleached, land fill stuffing products will also help to regulate your period and menstrual symptoms. Some other great alternatives to toxic period products are menstrual cups. There are so many brands and styles now you can trial and error which works best for your body. Using a product like this is going to help you to be more secure that nothing is pouring out of you besides sweat in the yoga room. Products like these also give you a chance to get R E A L L Y comfortable with your body and your vagina. It is yours after all!
+Listen to your body!
Consider taking it easy in class if you’re feeling worn down. Slow your breathing exercises, move more consciously, and really listen to what your body is telling you. The week of your period might not be the week where you are ‘settin’ records’ on your mat, so to speak.
+Come hydrated!
This is a DUH thing I always include when chatting about practicing but FOR REAL! Hydrate before you come to class with lots of water and electrolytes. Magnesium is especially helpful if you are having aches or pains.
+TALK ABOUT THE BLOOD STRUGGLE!
Can we drop the period taboo? Nearly every female you know has bled at some point. Can we demystify our period experiences? Chat with one another about what works and what doesn’t? Say goodbye to the shame and lets make hot-yoga-studio-period-chat the norm. There is a lot to learn and I am happy to share pointers to help you continue your practice! Don’t lose a week because you feel like your ‘time of the month’ is off limits for your practice.
If you see me around the studio I’d love to help with that last one! What has worked for you? Was this all mind blowing news for you? Anything I didn’t mention that you’re dying to know about practicing and your period?
Charlie Rae Young, LM, CPM, CLC is a Florida Licensed Midwife (MW276) who founded Barefoot Birth in 2008, and has worked as a strong advocate for better care for families alongside the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services, The Birth Survey, The Florida Council of Licensed Midwifery, and others. She has attended hundreds of births over the last 12 years, filling a niche with naturally-minded families as well as those who are often marginalized from conventional medical care due to social stigma. She has written for and been featured in SQUAT Birth Journal, Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Tribune, FOCUS Magazine, Radical Doula Blog, and been interviewed for the Tampa NBC Affiliate for her community projects The Barefoot Bus--a fully mobile prenatal care unit operating under the easy access model of care as well as her 501c3 The Community Roots Collective. Charlie's belief is that every family deserves safe and quality care, and hopes to continue to build stronger communities through beautiful births.
When shes not lovin’ on bellies she is lovin’ on her two girls, scrambling for childcare so she can make it to yoga, and planning outdoor adventures.