5 yoga poses for PMS

Is there anything yoga can’t do?

The main focus of this 5000 year old practice is to bring together mind & body –through movement, breath and meditation.  

This seemingly simple approach has been shown to have a vast array of health benefits for the nervous system, heart health, digestion and muscle and joint health. 

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But have you ever thought about trying yoga to combat your pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms?

Exercise, in general, has been shown to have a positive effect on PMS symptoms, and yoga can be particularly helpful.

One small study found that a 16 week course of yoga was highly beneficial for women with PMS. The majority of those that took part in the study reported significant improvement in negative affect (with reductions in anxiety, irritability, tension and low mood), along with significant improvements to concentration, and a reduction in symptoms like forgetfulness, confusion, insomnia and poor motor coordination. They also found improvements in weight gain and painful and swollen breasts.

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Yoga poses to beat PMS symptoms

Naturopath and yoga instructor Gina Burn gives us her top 5 poses to ease symptoms associated with PMS such as lower back pain, sensitive uterus area, feelings of introversion, reduced energy levels and mild irritability

1. Childs pose

This pose opens the back and hips, and allows the mind to go within. Forward folds are often soothing for pain (knees together and knees wide version).

2. Down Dog

This pose stretches almost everything! It is also a mild inversion, so it brings fresh blood to the brain & helps clear thoughts. It also encourages circulation to other parts of the body rather than uterus.

3. Half Pigeon

This pose is particularly soothing for the female reproductive system, and helps release anger (often experienced in PMS).

4. Supine twist

This pose helps the spine, and lower back. It may also help any uterine pain that is better for pressure due to the mild pressure on the uterus with this pose.

5. Savasana

This is the most important pose, and done after all the others. It is for spine health, and allows blood to be brought back equally to the rest of the body. It allows for stillness of mind, leading to stillness of body, a calm body cannot hold the tension of PMT. True relaxation and tension cannot co-exist.

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Gina Burn is a naturopath and yoga teacher. When she’s not here at Blackmores providing expert advice on all things health and wellness, she is at her busy practice helping her clients achieve optimal wellbeing.

She has been practicing yoga for 20 years and for the past 5 years has been teaching Hatha, vinyasa, yin and Kundalini yoga- both in classes in Sydney and at her farm/ health retreat on the Central Coast.