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| ok yes u am only forteen not a kid or a women in between still kinda new to this menustration stuff so instead of asking my mom and listening to a long leture  .. ... i'll right to ya'll...
Yesterday (Sunday ) i started my monthly period and i didn't no weither to go to yoga class or not , but i didn't wanna skip a class and miss what my teacher teaches to the class so I went and I notice it was really hard and I felt weird my stomach started to hurt and i felt sick ..., i never felt this way befor(e?) so i got kinda scared . and told my teacher that I didn't feel so good and went home.Once I went home i notice my period was heaver than ever...weird...  So reading this what do ya'll think is wrong with me ?? 
CYA,
Alyssa
Edited by yogagirl 2005-07-11 3:43 PM
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| First of all, do not worry! There is nothing wrong with you, you're fine!
When you are young and your periods are just starting up, they're bound to vary greatly from month to month. Some months may be heavy, some light, sometimes crampy & sometimes not, the timing might even waver from the usual 28-day standard cycle. As you get older and your body acclimates to the cycles, things will tend to become more regular. You'll even find certain foods and beverages have odd effects sometimes (I personally have trouble with caffeine and dairy during my cycle - but I'm 33 and have had lots of time to experiment!).
It's definitely possible that your class kicked your current cycle into overdrive. Did you do a lot of belly-down poses, and/or twisting poses? Those cause both heating and a "wringing out" effect in the internal organs. This doesn't mean that they're bad for you necessarily, but since you felt discomfort you were right to discontinue the practice and go home. ALWAYS listen to your body, that is the best yoga!!
There's a lot of discussion out there as to whether women should or should not do certain poses (or yoga in general) during menses. Most women take it easy for a day or two at the very least, and some stop practice completely for the duration of their period. There's no right or wrong, everybody's body is different and has different needs. If you feel like yoga helps your cramps, then do it. If you feel like it makes them worse, stop! 
When this comes up again in the future, don't be nervous about quietly telling your teacher that you have your period. Even if your teacher is a man, if he is a good teacher he will REALLY appreciate this information and will give you some modified poses as necessary (without calling attention to you in class). Or, if you don't want to practice but don't want to miss the class, just tell the teacher that you don't feel well but didn't want to miss any new information. Then you can just sit in the back and observe, and test out any "easy" stretches that look like they might feel good. Your teacher will not think this is strange, I promise!!!
Best of luck!  |
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| we did twiste and back bends |
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| Yowch! No wonder you were uncomfortable, I would be too!!
You definitely did the right thing by taking off. Be proud, you listened to your body and did what it told you! A lot of older people who have been doing for a LOT longer sometimes don't exercise that ability.
How are you feeling now that you've rested, a bit better I hope? |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
    
| Oh my....we need to either get these young gals reading so they will buy yoga books instead of dvds or make a menstrual dvd so they know good menstrual practice. Never mind. They wouldn't buy it anyway, would they  And I wouldn't have back then either...
OK - get yourself Patricia Walden's book of yoga for women and health. They have it cheap at Amazon or probably any other online bookstore. I think for anyone who has had symptoms like this from yoga practice or class, it would be a REALLY good idea to go with either no yoga or a good, sound menstrual practice. I know it is hard to tell your teacher - I have grown women who don't like to say it out loud in class. But it is such a good idea. The menstrual practice is not "restricted" - it is specialised. It treats your body the way it needs to be treated. Be kind to yourself! |
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| I know, it's really hard to tell a teacher that. I am much more apt to pull the teacher aside and say "Pssst . . . help a sister out here" than to announce it in class. But, I've had so many menstrual problems that it seems like everyone in the world knows when I have my period! I've had to explain it so many times, it's really lost all the mystery and embarrassment.
That said, as a teacher, I'm VERY grateful when a student trusts me with that kind of info. And, I've been pleasantly surprised by the caring and thoughtful reactions of other teachers I have told when I was on the student side of the equation. So, if you can manage to talk to your teacher in private for a brief moment, you won't regret it!
P.S. Patricia Walden's book is EXCELLENT, do pick it up if you can! Even from the library or wherever you can! |
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| tourist - 2005-07-11 7:48 PM
OK - get yourself Patricia Walden's book of yoga for women and health. They have it cheap at Amazon or probably any other online bookstore. I think for anyone who has had symptoms like this from yoga practice or class, it would be a REALLY good idea to go with either no yoga or a good, sound menstrual practice. I know it is hard to tell your teacher - I have grown women who don't like to say it out loud in class. But it is such a good idea. The menstrual practice is not "restricted" - it is specialised. It treats your body the way it needs to be treated. Be kind to yourself!
THEY HAVE BOOKS FOR THESE KINDA THINGS ??!!  WOW i never knew that......So other people go through these things to i felt like I was the only one .... it's kinda weird telling my teachers one's a guy ones a girl they come on diffrent days on but still i would feel weird .. thank you for telling me what do , but know i have anouther question what would u do if you started your period during class ??? Anouther thing my mom wants me to were tampons(?) but i think i'm to young plus i heard there uncomfortable and what kind of pads would u recomand ..
PS : I FEEL kinda embarass right asking all these things but i need to no |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Hey Alyssa - no problem! It is pretty funny that in Level I classes, everyone is shy about mentioning it but in my Level IV class (mostly teachers but mixed male and female) we just belt out "Menstruating today!"  Like Jean, I VERY much appreciate knowing what is happening with my students on every level. I like to be able to help them get the most out of my class, whether it is their period or they have a cold or whatever. Teachers tend to be caring people - they are in the people business! So take a deep breath and just say, "do you do a different practice for periods?' or "that last class was difficult for me - girl stuff,ya know..." or something like that 
As for tampons - I couldn't live without them and haven't since I was about 13. They make life sooooo much easier in many situations, especially for those who have a monthly Niagara falls going on. And no, once I learned to use them properly, they weren't uncomfortable, even when I was that young (about a million years ago... ) I like the ones with no applicator because you can fit three of them in your pocket and nobody can even tell they are there. Plus less packaging is eco-friendly. The other products are such an individual choice. You are lucky - we didn't have so much choice back in the olden days. Keep trying various brands and types until you find what works for your body. And then you go back in a couple of years and look at them all again because they tend to redesign and change things and a brand you didn't like before may fit better later. Just stay away from anything scented - they can be irritating. You probably use what your mom uses and that is a good start. Maybe the two of you could do a special girl-shop and look at something new now and then. Bonding over "feminine hygiene products". What could be better? My daughter would just ask "could we try such and such?" or "I like the brand xyz you've been getting" and we worked it out that way.
Oh - and if you start during class - wow. That would be rough. One way to help with that is to keep track of your cycle on a calendar so you have a general idea of when it might arrive. You count the first day you start as Day 1 and count from there. Contary to the books, most women are NOT on a 28 day cycle, although I was for most of my life. Go figure. Anyway, once you get the general idea if you are 26 or 35 or however many days, you'll be able to be prepared and either let the teacher know ahead of class or just even say you suddenly aren't feeling well and get some quiet, restful poses for the rest of class.
It is cool that you can ask these questions here. It is a very safe place, generally speaking. One thing that is really important to know is that if you have a question, there are probably ten other girls out there lurking who have the same question but were too shy to ask. (Or guys who are wondering about their girlfriends - or sisters or wives or whatever) So good for you for asking!
The Patricia Walden book as ALL about women's stages and it is very good. See if you can get a copy. It has great poses and great advice about life in general  |
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| My cycles were always a bit erratic, so I too kept a note in my diary (in my case I marked the bleeding days witha little heart) and then would were those ultra-thin panty shields when I was about due. That way there's less risk of the first flow marking your clothes, etc.
Another advantage of keeping a record is that you soon get used to doctors always asking about your cycles once you've started menstruating.... got an issue with your cycles, they'll ask, got a cold, they'll ask, got an ingrowing toenail, they'll ask!!!!
If it helps, I'm 42 and have had 'issues' lately for which I've been seeing the medics. One day I suddenly flooded, marking not only my clothes but my office chair. Talk about embarrassing, I could have died! Fortunately the manager dedicated to people issues here was flummoxed but capable and sorted out the furniture for me whilst I went home to wash and change.
It's an unfortunate side of life, but you do develop a sense of humour about it eventually as being permenantly embarrassed is simply too exhausting
I've always preferred non-applicator tampons myself as they are more discrete to carry, are less likely to smell and don't chafe the insides of your thighs. Which is the best solution for you will depend on how heavy you are (at my heaviest in my teens, I used both at nights!), and how you feel about touching yourself *there*. It's worth trying applicator, non-applicator tampons and a range of different towels and panty shields as everyone is different and what suits one may not suit another. There is a third option called a mooncup with is essentially a little plastic bowl that you place inside only whilst bleeding. Some women prefer this option as it's the most eco-friendly. I've not used it myself but I know the manufacturer's web-site is very informative.
Hope you find what's best for you soon.
Fee
Edited by Orbilia 2005-07-12 5:02 AM
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| ANOUTHER question .......is it ok to were tampons when you do yoga ??
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| Yes. In fact they may be better than towels when exercising as they're more likely to stay put. I'm sure those more familiar with the spiritual side of yoga would be able to discuss the philosophical aspect though (Oh, brother Neel!).
Fee |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Fee, I don't think Neelbhai would dare discuss this tampon issue...do you think??
I don't wear tampons...I hate them...although, I did wear them when I was younger, but when I started being more mindful about my health..I stopped using them, even the organic ones. That's the *other* reason I don't do yoga during my period. |
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| I don't wear tampons either, something about having bleached cotton pressed against that delicate area really turns me off. Also, when I was young, my friend's sister died from toxic shock so I never was really interested in trying too hard to wear them. I tried once or twice in high school but found it very uncomfortable. Guess they're just not for everybody!
Now to REALLY gross you all out, I wear these washable items called Lunapads! Regular pads left me feeling itchy & clammy, like I'd been wrapped in plastic for a week. But these are soft fleece and feel very nice (and mine are pink with little poodles on them). The gross part is, you have to handle them when they are dirty and even run them through the wash. Because I stay on birth control pills (to keep endometriosis at bay) my period is usually very light so it's not a big deal. For someone with a very heavy flow this would be beyond reason, I'd think.
I do wear them even when I practice and teach, even though they are bulky. Maybe they show a little bit, I'm not sure, hopefully nobody is staring at my crotch anyway! Even if they are, they know I'm a woman and that's going to happen for a few days each month. That's reality, folks. |
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Expert Yogi
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Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Jean your funny. Where do you get these?? Do you have to have the pink poodles?? or do they have like green frogs or red strawberries?? Anyway, I don't like the idea of toxic shock either and it feels *unclean* to me to wear tampons...I remember once in high school putting on 2 of them by mistake...supers...then forgetting it was there or not knowing rather and then finding it later...UGH!!!! Or I heard of someone going to the OBGYN to have a tampon removed cause' they lost the string and it went way up there...double UGH!!!!! and triple UGH!!! what about women who accidently having sex with one on...FORGET IT!! |
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| You can get them online (along with all kinds of other odd menstrual items) at www.lunapads.com. I got mine at Drugstore.com, cuz I had a bunch of other stuff that qualified me for free shipping - I never could leave a bargain alone! Since you do reuse them, it turns out to be cheaper in the long run than buying a box or two of pads or tampons each month.
No, they don't all have pink poodles! In fact, you don't get to pick - they have all kinds of crazy designs and they just send you whatever's in stock. They do tend to lean toward the more whimsical fabrics though!
To be honest, the original pad set is huge and feels like sitting on a saddle the first time you wear it. But it's super soft and after an hour you don't realize it's there anymore. |
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| HAHAHAHAHA .....(coughs)
thank you for the information now that i am gross out i no somethings (clears throat).... tampons are ...............EVIL  and what the heck lunapads ???? that's weird well gotta go my dog barking at the mirror and my sis looks like she's gonna throwup seriously o and one more question tampons kill ??? they can kill u or something like that ??? wow |
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| AS LONG AS YOU ARE CAREFULLY AND DONT LEAVE IT IN THERE FOR DAYS AT A TIME. I AM A TAMPON WEARER MYSELF AND CANT IMAGINE BEING WITH OUT THEM. IM 17 SO I M NOT AS EXPERINCED (PAD/TAMPON WISE) AS THE OTHER LADYS BUT I KNO WAT YOU MEAN B/C I WENT THROUGH IT NOT LONG AGO |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| I have a set of cotton pads that I used a lot a few years ago. I haven't really figured out why I stopped but I'll probably go back to them one day. Some are wild patterns and some are flowers and stuff. The whole tampon issue is really personal. Yes, I understand that they are not for everyone but for some, I think they are necessary. I went with just super maxi pads (towels in the UK ) on my heaviest day recently because I was home with nothing much going on. I must have changed a dozen times or more (no exaggeration) and several of those times were "emergency" trips In an average work day I get bathroom breaks once or twice if I am lucky. The consequences of that scenario are just too gruesome to imagine. For someone like me, toxic shock doesn't enter into it. They don't stay there long enough to build up bacteria. When "Aunt Flo" looks like she is leaving town again, I go with pads. The ultra-thins are getting much better and don't have that feeling of being plastic-y anymore. That's why I suggested trying different brands now and then. They do make improvements in design. |
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| i use 'glad rags' which are washable cotton pads. i like them a lot better than a disposable. Disposables are as environmentally problematic as baby diapers (but worse, because you use more of them over th elong term). BUt, i also like them better because they feel better on my body.
i don't use tampons, but many tampon users find that they like the Diva Cup which is like a tampon in practce, but it catches the flow, and then you rinse it and reinsert it. a lot of people who love tampons (and never wear pads) prefer this to tampons. |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Well, personally, I've been using Always Plus with wings for years!! I would use nothing else from the drug store or any other brand. I use the orange package for very heavy flow and then it tapers to the light green ones thereafter. I'm researching Jean's brand though, |
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| where could i get more info on the diva cup? ive never heard of it |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Huh - Always was the brand I thought felt plastic-y. Just goes to show how individual it is! The cup is something I have never tried. It appealed to me when it first came out but now... I dunno. |
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| These posts just underlie what I said earlier.... everyone's different and has their own personal preferences as to what suits them. I gave up towels as I got chaffed red raw by them. The modern ultra-thin ones are much better provided you don't have flow like Niagara falls (I did in my teens - main reason I went on the pill at 16).
The mooncup web-site is
http://www.mooncup.co.uk/
Icky as you have to wash it, but great environmentally and much less risk of infection than tampons as it's non-absorbent. Not tried it myself as I hardly bleed at all now the doctor's fitted me with a Mirena coil to address abnormal bleeding (their best guess is that my hormones have stopped talking to one another as there's no physical issue and the hormone levels are normal).
Fee |
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| hmmmmmmmmmmm ....... diva cup ????? weird along thouse lunapads
*thinks* hmmmmm....i dunno my mom went to the store and bought me some ....tampons today there evil ......parents ....... there weird .....well mine are but i love them  |
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| I have not tried this, but I heard that if you use mix the contents of your mooncup (or diva cup) with water, you can use it to water your plants! Apparently the plants LOVE it!! Weird, huh? That's from Dr. Christiane Northrup. Her "Creating Health" audio program knocked me out, it was my first foray into the world of alternative healing. What a journey! |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Fee - you have a coil that actually reduces flow? Wow. They are notorious for increasing it. I imagine yours has some hormones that it releases?
Jean - Ick! |
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| Jean, yes, the Mirena slowly releases a progesterone analogue over 5 years. It works differently to progesterone taken orally and local application means you need a much lower dose (thank goodness given that this was the surgeon's first attempt at correction - so much water retention that my RSI in my wrists meant they felt like a car had driven over them). It stops the cells of the endometrium dividing so you don't build up a lining to be shed. You still get PMS like symptoms but little or no bleeding. My surgeon said one has to persevere with the Mirena for 6 months at a minimum before deciding its not working though as it can take that long before things regularise/improve. It's also smaller and more flexible than other IUDs so even women who have not had a child should be able to be fitted without too much trouble. I can't comment on that directly yet though as mine was fitted whilst under general anaesthesia (see below) The manufacturer's site is very helpful if you want to know more.
The Mirena seems to be working in may case. The first time this issue happened, I bled continuously for 18 months before a 3-month course of the contraceptive pill 're-set' my system. this second time, I bled continously for a year and have now had 3 investigative surgeries with biopsies taken and D&Cs done. Thankfully no growths/endometriosis etc. It's suspected that the stress I've been under the last couple of years may have re-triggered whatever's causing this. My hormone levels are normal so it's not peri-menapause either. Go figure! I had to be weird
One sad thing is that they found out last time that I was born with a defect in the shape of my uterus which means that far from running out of time to have kids, I probably have never have been able to carry successfully. this is not the cause of the bleeding though.
Ever get the feeling you were born to be trouble ?
Fee
Edited by Orbilia 2005-07-13 12:41 PM
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| wow do people take pills ? .............. that's weird alot of pills are bad for you (as what they say on the news )... |
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| Most (I think) just go on birth control pills, usually to control and minimize either very heavy, painful, or unpredictable periods. I went on them when I was about 16 because my periods were REALLY painful, I'd have to go home from school and I just couldn't function. My family and friends thought I was just a big baby, until I was diagnosed with endometriosis about 10 years later! That really IS painful!
(In case you don't know what that is, that's when the tissue inside the uterus decides to grow other places for no apparent reason.)
Anyway, now I stay on birth control pills all the time to try and keep the endometriosis at bay. Seems like every few years I wind up having surgery anyway, but so far I've managed to avoid a hysterectomy! That's what the doctors want to do, but I'm not ready (only 33 yrs old). |
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| Sorry to hear about the endometriosis. At least I've not been in pain with my issues except after the second surgery which was, apparently, perfomed by a ham-fisted pig rather than a sugeon judging from how I felt afterward The odd thing is that normally Moon pose does little for me emotionally, but this was the only thing that would stop me from wanting to burst into tears for some weeks afterward.
Fee |
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| ive been on pills for a 1yr but it took a while to find the right one. i have nasty headaches and migrines and pms that would take me out of school for days at a time and id never know when my 14day ( i kid you not) period would come. i dont like the idea of taking hormones but i cant imagine going back to that. |
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| I hear ya, some of those concoctions are nasty! I had been on one pill for 7 years when I switched to a new doctor. He said I weighed too much and wanted to switch me to a new pill. I told him my pills were fine and that I needed to switch to a new diet (apparently pizza and beer did not have the slimming effect I was hoping for). He didn't believe me and switched me anyway.
The new pills gave me terrible headaches, I couldn't see straight or concentrate, ever - no aspirin could touch 'em. Since that doctor obviously didn't care what I thought, I just stopped taking 'em. Long story short, that caused the endometriosis to grow out of control and 3 months later I was in the emergency room getting sliced from stem to stern! Yeeowch!
Anyway, after surgery they put me on Lupron (chemical menopause) which caused hot flashes and weight gain, among other fun treats. Then Alesse, which resulted a level of PMS the world should never have had to see. Then Depo-Provera, which I didn't like either. Finally we settled on Estrostep FE, which I like a lot! Periods are tolerable, endo is sort of under control, and I haven't noticed a side effect yet! |
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| I love my divacup... and the instead brand cups are disposable but you can use them if you want to uh,fool around. |
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| right now im on the mini pill..it has no estragen. i just finished my first pack. my one thing is that my period is late but maybe these new hormones will make it so i dont have one. we shall see. the doc said give it 3 cycles if not we're back to the drawing board |
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| My GYN put me on a low dose of BCPs. I take 3 packs of pills constistantly, skipping the placebo 7 days for the 1st and 2nd month and on the 3rd month I should have my period. I have never been regular on the pill This technique can help with HA and migraines if hormones tip them off. Ask your MD about it. Seasonal did not work will with me |
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| wow pills that control things ill that's nasty why do ya'll take them that's just ????.....that's just wrong i just don't ...get ya'll what if they can give you a disease or something like that wow ......wrong |
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| i know that a lot of people don't like to hear it, but there are many alternative ways of treating the same problems that hormonal treatments do. the various pains, excessive bleeding, even endometriosis.
i'm not anti BC per se, but i really believe that people should at least know about, explore, and the make an informed decision to use hormones rather than simply starting on them first thing (which is most common--that is, you go to the doctor and say "i feel X" and the doctor says 'Ok, here's this type of hormonal therapy).
i really love the book Garden of Fertility by Katie Singer. It discusses Fertility Awareness Method for birth control as well as a method of understanding your body and your overall health (such as thyroid health). By understanding the cycle, one can begin to understand what the various causes of the different recurring problems. once there, one can learn about the alternatives for treating these various problems, and then decide whether or not a hormonal therapy is the most appropriate. She also gives recommendations for other books for dealing with things such as hypo and hyper thyroidism, endometriosis, and a myriad of other problems and conditions.(gardenoffertility.com) |
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| Interesting, I will have a look. Do you know offhand which other endometriosis resources she recommends? I have read tons in the past but that one hasn't crossed my path. Unfortunately, can't look at the website at work or I'll get busted, name sounds too suspicious!
When I stopped taking the pill for a while (after they started giving me headaches) I went on a totally vegan diet and eliminated alcohol and caffiene, hoping that would reduce the symptoms. Also started yoga! I wanted so badly to control it on my own. But, after a few months I was totally incapacitated for about 3 weeks out of each month - I could barely drag myself to work. I remember getting up out of a chair during a date, trying to act cool as a shockwave of pain went through my body! Finally that all culminated in a trip to the emergency room. I was so mad that my natural methods didn't work! I really gave up on nutrition and yoga for a while after that, I felt like everything had failed me.
As part of my therapy after surgery, my mom took me to a chiropractor/acupressure person for a while. I hated it so much, she spent the whole time talking to my mom instead of me and acting as if I were an inanimate malfunctioning object. Not that this has anything to do with the discussion at hand! But a lot of us are also alternative health practitioners, so we need to be careful about that. I don't think her therapy had a prayer of working because I blocked her out. It was interesting; my doctor knew I was into alternative health so he took the time to listen to everything I was doing and advise accordingly. This other person was just like "You're stupid if you take hormones, you can talk to the hand if you're going to listen to some jerk DOCTOR." Usually it's just the opposite! |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Jean - I've had some "wholistic" practitioners I didn't like as well. One person, while taking my history, didn't even ask what type of work I do, what my menstrual history was or if I had children! The it was a quick hookup to the electronic "you have 500 allergies" machine and a list of "don't eat this and here are $100 worth of supplements to take." Is that an example of treating the whole person? I think I could have some faith in the allergy machine if only it was double blinded. Sure, the patient doesn't know what they are being tested for, but the practitioner does and I am absolutely certain it can affect the results. Anyway, did I feel better after seeing her? Well, a bit, but studies are now showing that people tend to feel better initially after ANY treatment because someone is doing something about their problem. So now in studies for migraine, for example, even the control group gets some sort of "treatment" even if it is a placebo pill, so that all the participants feel that they are getting some help. |
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| Tourist, I loathe those "alternative practitioners" that you've described. They appear greedy and possibly dangerous if they aren't trained well and don't know when refer you to an appropriate health provider.
Oy vey! That's such a bummer you were charged $500.00 and your chief complaint wasn't addressed.
Well, as for doing yoga while menstruating...not everyone will agree with this and I'm not suggesting this is the correct way for every woman but in Traditional Chinese Medicine it is believed that intensive sweating while having your period is a lot of QI (energy) to lose. Sweat isn't just water coming out of us. Along with toxins there are hormones and the sugar and spice that make us who we are which in Chinese Med we refer to as "Essence". Menstrual Blood is special, too, because it has a whole bunch of Essence. It's thicker in consistency than plain, old Blood.
My 400-year old personal Chinese Doctor told me never to wear tampons b/c it acts like a cork stopping the flow of Blood. And that's when toxins accumulate (that's another topic for another day). But, when you get a massage when you're having your period what are you going to do. The only thing to do is to wear a tampon. Thank goodness we can wear a tampon for an hour or two, then do some toxin-releasing yoga to counteract any negative effects.
YogaGirl, maybe stay off yoga the first day or two of your period. Drink warming drinks and stay away from ice cream and icy cold drinks (and salads and sushi and anything else you can think of that's cold in nature). And, listen to your Mom. She loves you and it sounds like she encourages your yoga practice! |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | I had the endometriosis thing too Jean, in 1989. My MD is one of the creator's of the surgical procedure known as laproscopy using a laser technique that he designed. He now teaches his procedure to MD's and has a teaching lab in Atlanta, Ga. Anyway, to make a long story short, I did the surgery and have been endometriosis free for all this time. My secret is Traditional Chinese Medicine. I agree 150% with Fifi as I too have a 400 year old TCMD. Back then, I didn't have TCM, today I do. If I had to do it all over again KNOWING what I know today, I would still have done the surgery as the endometriosis was in an advanced state, but I am so happy to have the alternative natural methods. Acupuncture has been a lifesaver, not only helping me with endometriosis, but my health in general. Birth Control pills were the absolute worse for me, in fact, I could not take them - period. I truely believe that Endometriosis is an emotional disease that is also cured by environment and lifestyle....and of course, diet and Yoga exercise/Tai Chi Qi Gong too!! Oh, how I love getting my weekly Tui Na!! |
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| *fifi*
I would be interested to know if in your tradition if the cup devices cause the same accumulation of toxins. also if there is a specific type of massage you recommend or even books that explain this. i am interested becauseI find what you mentioned about essence/sweating really applies to how i experience my cycle, and would like to find some ways to balance things out.
anya
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Anya |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Fifi - it was only $100 and I think I exaggerated that a bit - but it was close! The thing is that this person is very well trained and well respected and recommended by a lot of people. I have several friends who very much believe in the treatment they get and have no complaints - smart people, too. So I have to believe that it is just not the right situation for me and move on. And the whole allergy, food sensitivity thing really bugs me. I simply cannot believe that so many people are not able to eat so many foods. And the alternative people say they treat the whole person yet some of them seem to jump straight to allergies as if there were no other possible cause for a disorder. It is a bit like Neel's prescription for everything being to fast. If there was one answer that worked for everything we would all be fabulously healthy by now
And yoga while menstruating - well, we all know now that women are capable of doing just about anything during their periods. You have your Olympic athletes (can you say Olympic without being sued for trademark infringement?), your tradeswomen, firefighters etc., etc., who have proved it is possible to do strong work without killing themselves or dropping over in a swoon because they had their period that day. But just because something is possible, doesn't meant we SHOULD all do it all the time, right? And just because your body says you "feel fine" doesn't mean it IS fine. You can be 75% dead sometimes before your body figures it out. We in the west are the poster children for the mind-body disconnect. I have said that before and will say it again. Trying to rely on your inner voice (I just typo-ed inner "vice" ) is a wonderful thing after you've been doing it for a couple of decades. If you are starting your first week of yoga on your own with a dvd, your intuition MAY not be well enough developed to be able to make the best choice. I go with the experts and most of them say rest and a special practice. I am feeling a bit ranted-out now. good night! |
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| Some time ago my swami was discussing this issue in class and his opinion is that it's partly a comfort thing (like, if you're already feeling ick, who'd want to invert, for example), and partly cultural. When he was studying yoga in India, he regularly used to see women practising all month and doing inversions right into the advanced stages of pregnancy. In the west, attitudes are also coloured by the risk of getting sued by a pupil if they, say, fell because they were feeling dizzy.
Fee |
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| Ah, yes, well that's something I've been striving for all my life *LOL*
Fee
tourist - 2005-07-20 5:55 AM
(I just typo-ed inner "vice" ) |
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| here are a few things that a google search kicked up. my friend is borrowing my book right now. . .
Written by Dr Kristi NewMyer: http://altmed.creighton.edu/endometriosis/
From the Endometriosis Research Center: http://www.endocenter.org/alternativetreatments.htm
Here's just a website without illustrious origin that has some interesting links: http://www.angelfire.com/on/endometriosis/aindex.html |
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| I had a 30-second conversation with a Bikram yoga instructor in the ladies room last night who said it was the teacher training that helped "cure" her fibroids. She tried acupuncture and herbs (not from me) which apparently didn't help her. Everyone is certainly different. I know were not talking about uterine fibroids but I thought I'd mention it.
You're right, Tourist, that women can do anything while menstruating. Chinese medicine is insightful in that years of doing hard physical activity while menstruating can (may) deplete a woman's qi over years. Actually, in a perfect "Chinese" world we could all take off 1 week a month to have our periods in peace. While pregnant we'd listen to beautiful music and have peaceful thoughts as to not disturb the fetus. After childbirth, we'd stay in bed for 1 month to recover our qi. And insurance would pay for everything!
Good luck and keep doing what makes you happy |
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| Uterine fibroids are in my family history and after my mother had surgery to remove hers (had to have complete hysterectomy), I have been worried if that will be in my future. Are you saying that your friend attributes her healing to her Bikram practice? That is motivation enough for me to keep up my practice. |
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| Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying she told me. Actually, this woman, probably in her late 30s, did the Bikram teacher training. I don't know what's involved in that - what, 2 classes a day? I was impressed and happy to hear that yoga helped her so much. Of course, her gyn did ultrasound testing before and after to diagnose objectively.
Cool, huh! |
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| Extremely cool. I know that my Bikram practice has helped me immensely with my injures and chronic pain but if I can give myself a better chance against future problems, that is the best motivation for me to go to class. |
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| Quick question--I am having a killer cycle this month since not having one for 2 months--it is making up for lost time! What do ya suggest for the dull ache cramps? I have had them now for 4 days. Motrin helps, but don't want to rely on meds. Taught my class on Wednesday, fine. Have had HAs, fo course, this week. Cannot do Bikram yoga due to heat and migraines. Need some expert advice from my yogi friends----many thanks.
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Cheryl - we are heat/migraine/cramp twins! Except I never miss a cycle... One of the simplest poses for cramps is upavista konasana. Sit with your back against support (the wall is nice but I also like to sit on the floor in front of my couch so it just digs into the achey part) and a little height under your buttocks - one blanket max unless you need more to get your legs straight. I used to do a lot of supta baddhakonasana for cramp relief until someone told me about upavista. It is in the Iyengar menstrual practice but it just didn't occur to me how well it would work. If you have enough blankets or bolsters you can stack them up in front of you and pull them in tight to your tummy for extra support. A heating pad or hot water bottle between you and the supports is awesome. Or on your back. Sometimes I buy those heat patches that stay warm for 8 hours and they are WONDERFUL. Then when you have had enough of that go into virasana forward bend with the knees apart and lie your body on the supports so your torso is completely supported and horizontal to the floor. Ahhhhhhh Hope you feel better soon - eat chocolate |
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| nama:
i know this may be personal, but it might be worth thinking about. could you have miscarried?
i once had a very late period (didn't think anything of it) and then had a 'raging' menstruation--only to learn that i'd miscarried. i didn't even know i was pregnant (i was only 2 weeks late, which isn't terribly weird for me).
anyway, changed my yoga practice accordingly. worth investigating, at least.
no need to answer me, btw. it is very private. it's just something out there to consider. |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Oh - good point, zoebird. It is good to keep in mind if things don't normalize farily soon. But sometimes this stuff just happens. We have a friend who had horrific, out-of-cycle bleeding that took time to respond to the hormones the doctors pumped her full of. She was not the type to go the medical route at the drop of a hat so I think it was really bad. Anyway, it stopped, everything went back to normal and now she is the mom of a 2 year old Our bodies can be pretty strange sometimes... |
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| Thanks for the info Tourist and Zoe! I know I am not pregnant or was not pregnant. I had a pelvic ultrasound to check fibroids and irregular bleeding. Everything is fine, just normal for me. I thought I might be paramenapausual.
Thanks for the great insight, I would have never thought of a miscarriage. Usually if I have a killer period, it will last about a week to 10 days . Boo, hiss. I do crave the chocolate more during the cycle than any other time. Too bad chocolate doesn't cure HA's!
Thanks my yogini friends! |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| You know, I read somewhere that there is a theory that says that rather than chocolate causing headaches, we actually already are about to have a headache and we crave chocolate to help us feel better! I like that theory Actually, I have never had problems with headaches related to chocolate and my grandmother always craved chocolate cake (and Pepsi, I think...) just as her migraines were ending.
As for perimenopause - bring it on! Actually, I have been in it for a good 10 years or more. Things started changing at about 35 (PMS! ) and I have had peaks and valleys, bumps and twists for awhile with the past 5 years (since yoga beign a bigger factor) being a bit more stable. I have had one 4 day period (down from the usual 7 or which was a breeze! And I keep expecting to skip one any month now. I told a new co-worker that recently and she kind of looked at me strangely so I said "I will be 50 soon, after all." She literally did a double take and said "Five - Oh?! REally?" I like her... she so has the right attitude |
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| I think you need to bottle that co-worker and make a mint - certainly could do with comments like that on a daily basis
Fee
Edited by Orbilia 2005-07-25 4:45 AM
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period.