menstruation

[Guest guest]

i've often wondered about the restriction for

women not to practice certain postures during their

menses. Is there a particular basis for that "rule"? from

what i gather, women have only recently (last 50-100

yrs) been active in yoga. is the proscription based on

outdated perceptions about where the menstrual blood goes

or how it occurs? do people think menstrual blood is

somehow deleterious? Menstrual flow occurs in a

retrograde fashion (into the abdominal cavity) whether

someone is in an inverted posture or not. i can't help

but get the feeling that this is one of those, "it's

done that way because it's always been done that way"

kind of rules. have any of the more traveled

participants in this forum asked guruji or other yoga gurus

about this? i would imagine that, like the rule about

not practicing on the moon days, many people just

ignore this rule as well. what are your opinions

[Guest guest]

For me it's a question of experience, and you

can't have that experience if you're male. I avoid

inversions during menstruation because I've found, from

experience, that I get really bad cramps if I attempt them.

In addition, my balance is off and I waver a lot. So

now I avoid it and lie flat with my legs straight up

in the air. But I think other women probably have

different experiences and may not be subject to either

issue. Anyone else? <br>B

[Guest guest]

ahhhhhhh, it is the first nice warm day in a long

time here in oz- spring is sprouting. Today when I was

practicing, there were a bunch of birds hanging out on the

deck watching me, cockatoos, lorikeets, kookaburas

(spelling) - it was trippy. First time in a few months i

didnt have to wear 3 sweatshirts to start off

with.<br><br><br><br>This sounds kinda goofy- but since practicing, I enjoy

getting my period - Physical discomfort isn't too much of

an issue and i don't mind that I get a little edgy

or that emotions seem stronger (well, i mind when my

husband points it out, heh heh). Regarding modifying

practice, I like having a reason to take it a little easy

but I'm also glad that ashtanga practice seems to be

encouraged during this time. It's like a big cleanse, time

to start fresh and new and I think you have to

appreciate this youthful time in life. <br><br><br><br>But

there sure is confusion isn't there? I was told a few

months back that twists aren't great to do either. Not

sure if that includes uttihitta parsvakonasana (still

do that one) but I skip marichyasana c,d, then I

conclude at baddha konasana and move on to backbends (have

been told opposing thoughts on whether those are ok to

do or not) and then I do yoga mudrasana and a

padmasana (for me easy x legs) then I lay back with feet

elevated a bit. Last time I was down at yogamoves (an

ashtanga centre) they had me lay down facing the wall with

legs straight up for 5 mins, legs out to side for 5

mins and then feet in like baddha konasana (pretty

sure that was the order). I usually go back to normal

practice after 4 days when I'm just about done. As per

bandhas, I've only been thinking about that last couple

times, in fact last time, I eased up on it a bit as it

seemd to intensify cramps...<br><br><br><br>It would be

great to know what exactly we should and shouldn't be

doing- appreciate all thoughts on

this.<br><br><br><br>now im gettin off this puter and sittin

outside!<br><br>s

[Guest guest]

I'm not a woman, but I can relate what David

Swenson said when somebody asked him about this in a

workshop. He said he gets the question frequently, so he

asked several women he knows who are practicing

advanced series (and are therefore more qualified on this

particular matter than Guruji or any other man). David said

the answers ranged from no practice at all, through

very gentle asana practice without vinyasas, to "oh, I

just practice advanced series as normal". So it looks

like it's entirely down to personal experience and

judgement.

[Guest guest]

In india women are advised not to practice for

the first 2-3 days of the period at all. In fact the

Shastras - holy texts recommend complete rest during this

period, otherwise a risk of mental/emotional confusion

ensues.<br><br>These ancient texts on yoga are not based on fantasy or

pejudice, but on scientific observation over thousands of

years.<br><br>This is obviously just advice - and every individual

has the right to do what she wishes with her

body.<br><br>The 'scientific' reason why inverted postures are not

good during this time is that the vital energy in the

body which governs elimination of menses - known as

Apana, works in a downward direction. When the body is

inverted - so is the energy flow, thereby countering the

natural energy movement.<br><br>Most traditional Ashtanga

schools recommend 2-3 days rest then gradually increasing

the inverted postures during the first 2-3 days of

practice. ie 1st day of practice 5 breaths shoulderstand

etc, 2nd day 8 etc.<br><br>Incidentally Sri KP Jois,

does not recommend nauli for women either, as there is

a danger of damaging the uterus.

[Guest guest]

To add some notes concerning menstruation. Keep

in mind we are not merely physical beings. Yoga is

not merely a physical practice (to tip the skeletal

system this way or that). We, my gal pals, (and the men

folk too , of course) are energetic beings. Yoga is a

practice of raising our energy. More specifically of

cultivating and purifying and raising the prana.This is why

we practice opening the joints (yes painful joints

ie. knees,hips shoulders, spines become open,

flexible allowing this energy to rise). While we girls are

menstruating this downward movement of blood etc is a movement

of apana (gravitational energy), and a beneficial

one at that. If we practice yoga (drawing energy

upward) at this time we draw up that which should be

healthily eliminated. I have certainly found over many

years experience that to practice at this time creates

more fatigue and difficulty in practice throughout the

month. If one is not doing a daily practice, it may not

be so apparent. But if you are dong a daily practice

by all means take three days off no matter what. You

will benefit the whole month having done so and will

return to your practice with a calm , renewed vigour.

Remember Ladies, menstruation is an opportunity that we

have to cleanse deeply and purify on many levels

(emotional, phsycological, spritual and physical). Is the

menses unclean? Yuck I think so - that is why the body

sheds it! Does it mean its bad? No, it means we get to

deep clean monthly and benefit accordingly. Is the

menses a time of only physical elimination and

purification? We could all resoundingly agree _NO! There is a

lot that is being cleansed. So lay back, relax and

let go. <br>Do I recommend taking a guys advice on

the subject - yes, if he's the Guru! Because his

insight is coming from texts of higher knowledge and too

because I have found that to be the best advice in my

practice and those of all the women who have shared their

experience with me. <br>You will feel the benefits of your

Ladies Holiday accumulate throughout the years. Resent

your period no longer. Enjoy!<br>missy p.