Do menstrual symptoms and PMS have you feeling less than thrilled about working out?  While bloating, headaches, cramps, and cravings may have you dreading the throught of squeezing into yoga pants and pushing up into a downward dog, that may be just the remedy for your menstural cycle symptoms.

While most yogis don’t need to alter their practice to accommodate the monthly flow, some women find that inverted and upside down poses like downward dog are too much for their headaches and cramps.

No matter what your level of discomfort, this sequence is sure to relieve some menstrual tension and help reduce abdominal cramping.

To practice this sequence, hold each pose for 1-3 minutes while breathing deeply.  Once you complete the sequence on one side, repeat on the other side.

Sources: Yoga Journal “Yoga for Menstruation”

Mayo Clinic, “Menstrual Cramps”