Yoga Helps Women Cope With Menopausal Symptoms
It is a biological process affecting women’s hormonal systems which occur for women aged 40 to 60 years old. In this situation, women undergo hormonal, physical and mental upheavals. The visible symptoms do not manifest in all women though.
Hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, changes in sex drive, backaches, these are among the most felt and seen symptoms of menopause. From 55 to 65% of women undergoing menopause experience these symptoms.
At menopause, the ovaries start to have lower production of the estrogen and progesterone hormones. The diminishing production is automatically sensed by the pituitary gland which makes it trigger more production.
This causes an imbalance in the body. The fluctuating production of hormones begins 6 years before menstrual periods end and goes on until a year after the last stage. After that, there is a stabilized decrease in the production of hormones.
Yoga can assist these menopausal women and relieve their pain and other symptoms. A fact that is not commonly known is the close relation between yoga and menopause. Yoga provides the mental balance that is disrupted by menopause. The postures stretch and relax the muscles and raise the oxygen level of cells and thus improves blood circulation.
Insomnia, common to the early stages of menopause, is dealt with by yoga too. There are postures that effectively result in a state of rest.
In cases of fatigue and body aches, yoga postures like supported back bends provide the help. These poses open the chest and heart.Yoga can also effectively handle mood swings and depressions. When blood circulation and respiration are restored and enhanced, the poses expand the chest and result in easing these problems.
Yoga also addresses the physical issues of menopause and mid-life like cardiovascular health, bone strength and density, etc.. Yoga’s long-touted stress relief powers come very handy to women at this stage. The mind and body are put or resumed balance.
The mental/emotional and physical burdens are coped with by the women when the discipline they acquire from yoga endows them with control over their mind and body, thus enabling them to control their actions.
In this condition, having power over their minds/actions gives women consciousness of their emotions and keeps them from words or actions caused by the lack of equilibrium during menopause. This hormonal imbalance can be easily managed by Yoga poses, besides allowing women to stay cool and relaxed.
Here are some Yoga postures that can assist women facing menopausal symptoms:
- Goddess pose or Supta Baddha Konasana, which grants recharging of the needed energy
- Adho Mukha Virasana, for emotional control, to soothe mind and nerves and bring down blood pressure
- Adho Mukha Svanasana, a posture that’s among the most effective in increasing blood flow to the brain and counteracting a waning memory
- Setu Bandha Sarvangasana, balances blood pressure and hormonal emission in the body, thus calms the heart, mind and nervous system, and effectively controls mood swings, hot flashes and headaches
These are but a few of the Yoga postures that could assist women coping with menopause. As you can see above, Yoga’s link with menopause is its effect on the biological condition and the emergence of other symptoms in this condition.
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About the Author:
Linda Adams enjoys all things health related.One of the most excellent yoga websites Linda has found is Yoga Teahcers Kamloops, which is an exceptional mix of yoga and exercise.For more information, have a look at Let Yoga Carry You Safely through the Signs of Menopause one of the finest Yoga blogs.
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Tags: Taking Action, Women's Health, Yoga & Pilates, Seniors, Fitness & Exercise, Meditation & Relaxation
