Menstrual cups are wonderful: you can train, swim and do all kinds of activities with them. Without a doubt, a favorite of these disciplines in recent times has been yoga. Doing yoga is highly beneficial because it not only trains your body and gives you strength and endurance but also trains your mind and contributes to your psychological health. But with so many postures and stretches that require effort, can you do yoga with a menstrual cup? Will I have leaks or stains?
Doing Yoga with a Menstrual Cup
Yes, you can do yoga with a menstrual cup. It’s safe and secure.
If you’re someone who’s not largely affected by your period, congratulations! You can peacefully continue your routine without any fear. Additionally, exercising helps you release very positive endorphins for your body, so you will certainly feel better and more eager.
However, practicing yoga during menstruation, as with any discipline, will depend more on how you feel during those days. We know there are women who suffer from dysmenorrhea and annoying symptoms that come with their period, so don’t feel pressured to do any activity for which you don’t feel comfortable.
Part of the philosophy of doing yoga is entering into connection with your body and your surroundings. If you force yourself, the result will be the opposite and you could hurt yourself.
Menstrual cups are completely safe for you and the environment. They are reusable, so you won’t leave behind the thousands of annual waste accumulated after each menstrual period and release chemicals that cause diseases and infections.
Can I have leaks or losses with the menstrual cup?
One of the advantages of menstrual cups is the freedom of not having to check if you’ve stained yourself or lost any blood. The cup exerts suction onto the walls of your vagina creating a vacuum, so your menstrual cup won’t move from its place and thus prevent leakage.
However, if you’re new to using menstrual cups, you should know how to choose which model and size to use because it will depend on your cup to adapt well to your pelvic muscles and not fall out.
If I practice yoga, which menstrual cup should I choose?
Women who frequently practice sports and have a well-exercised pelvic floor usually require slightly stiffer menstrual cups that resist movement while using the muscles of the abdomen and pelvis.
Choosing your menstrual cup depends on many factors: your age, whether you’ve had natural births or not, the length of your vagina, and if you have conditions such as pelvic organ prolapse or a weak pelvic floor.
For those women who practice sports regularly, the cup we always recommend is Sileu Sport, because it has less flexibility than regular cups and will adapt better to your needs.
Visit our article “Menstrual Cups for Athletes” to know all the details of which menstrual cup to choose during training.
Benefits of doing yoga on your period
The benefits of doing yoga are innumerable for both women and men. You release stress, practice flexibility and endurance, and strengthen your muscles. In addition, it has a strong spiritual background. It is part of ancient culture from India and is practiced not only by religious people but by millions everywhere around the world.
Its benefits are scientifically proven. It’s generalized and integral conditioning, beneficial for men, women, and children.
When we have our periods and our symptoms don’t prevent us from continuing with our day-to-day lives, there are certain postures and positions that can help us relieve the discomfort that comes with menstruation. The benefits are:
- Reduces irritability: breathing and stretching will help you reduce cortisol (stress hormone) and release endorphins that will improve your mood. You’ll see that at the end of your routine, you’ll feel much more at ease, so it is worth a try.
- It relieves pain and spasms: postures such as Supta Baddha Konasana, which is done lying on your back with your legs bent and the soles of your feet together, helps release pressure on the pelvic muscles, reduce blood pressure, and improve breathing.
- It opens up the hip, reduces colics, and constipation.
- It relieves menstrual cramps because it reduces uterine contractions that cause belly pain.
Yoga during menstruation according to the yogi philosophy
According to the philosophy of yoga, during menstruation the energies must flow down, so you must choose positions that favor this flow as well as avoid inverted postures and those that compress the abdominal area.
Don’t worry, there are many more positions you can practice when doing yoga on our period without having to interrupt your daily routine. You can always practice the positions of the dog, the child, cat and cow, the Savasana, Malasana and many more.
Sessions that involve a lot of physical effort, power yoga or high demand on your pelvic area are not recommended.
You should note that these philosophical positions related to energy are not backed by science, so it’s up to you to decide to believe them and know what will make your body better.
Yoga is a wonderful discipline, and you don’t have to stop practicing it while on your period. Your menstrual cup will be your best ally.
