Women can find relief from hormonal imbalances with consistent yoga practice. It also helps them to find a balance between feminine and masculine qualities within themselves.
A recent study on women in yoga found that many images of yogis on social media conform to an idealized, thin and athletic “yoga body.” Despite this, many women still enjoy the physical and psychological benefits of yoga.
Menstrual pain relief
From puberty to menopause, women experience a wide range of hormonal changes. These fluctuations can cause pain, bloating, and other physical symptoms. However, consistent yoga practice has been shown to reduce the severity of these symptoms and improve overall health.
The reclining twist is one of the best poses for alleviating menstrual cramps. It increases blood flow to the abdomen and thighs, which can help relieve pain in these areas. This pose also relaxes the back and helps to calm the mind.
Bridge Pose is another relaxing pose that can alleviate menstrual pain and reduce stress. To perform this pose, lie on the floor with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground. Place a folded blanket between your thighs for support. This pose also strengthens the lower back muscles and sends calming signals to the nervous system. Practice this pose daily for better results.
Menopausal symptoms relief
Menopause is a major shift in a woman’s life that may cause her to feel out of balance. She may experience a variety of symptoms, including hot flashes and mood swings. Yoga and other mind-body practices can help women manage these menopausal symptoms.
A recent randomized controlled trial found that consistent practice of yoga can improve quality of life and reduce menopausal symptoms. The study reported significant improvements in psychological menopausal symptoms, somatic menopausal symptoms, vasomotor symptoms and urogenital symptoms.
Yoga is an effective mind-body practice for a number of women’s health concerns, such as mood swings, irritability and sleeplessness. It also helps to decrease pain, such as headaches and joint stiffness. In addition, it can lower the risk of osteoporosis and boosts overall mood. It can also reduce anxiety and stress. It can even aid in weight loss and improve sleep. These are all important aspects of a healthy lifestyle. Moreover, the benefits of yoga are long-lasting and do not require any medication.
Weight loss
When practiced regularly, yoga poses like the Cat-Cow stretch and strengthen abdominal muscles, helping to burn unwanted belly fat. Yoga also promotes a healthy metabolism and can reduce cravings for unhealthy foods. This, combined with the lowering of chronic stress levels that yoga often facilitates, can help you lose weight and keep it off.
One study compared participants who regularly practiced yoga with those who didn’t, and found that women in particular were less likely to gain weight. The researchers attributed the lower rates of weight gain to yoga’s ability to reduce cortisol levels, a hormone that can lead to disordered eating and weight gain.
However, in the United States, yoga has largely been associated with the slender and taut female body paraded on the covers of many Yoga magazines and websites. It’s an image that is a far cry from the yogini ancestors mentioned above. These women were instrumental in promoting yoga as a holistic practice that can be beneficial for all shapes, sizes and ages.
Stress relief
Stress is a natural part of life, but it can have negative effects on the body. Yoga, with its emphasis on relaxation and breath work, can help relieve your stress levels. In addition, it can increase your sense of well-being and decrease anxiety.
Women’s bodies go through major hormonal changes throughout the lifetime, from puberty through menopause and pregnancy. Consistent practice of yoga has been found to balance these hormones, alleviating symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings.
While all forms of exercise are beneficial for stress reduction, yoga offers a unique combination of physical and mental techniques that make it an excellent choice for women’s health. If the physical practice of yoga is not feasible, you can try other stress-reducing techniques like breathing exercises, meditation, or guided imagery. For best results, do these activities for 10-15 minutes a day. You can even do these poses at the end of a stressful day to help you relax.