Yoga for Endometriosis: 5 Poses to Balance Hormones, Calm Inflammation and Ease Pain

Endometriosis is a condition where the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows in the abdominal cavity landing on the intestinal lining, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. The condition can make you struggle with symptoms like menstrual cramping, heavy periods, pelvic pain, lower back pain, chronic fatigue and even infertility in the long run. Your approach to treating endometriosis should be to address the root cause of the condition – to calm inflammation, support natural detoxification, and bring hormones into healthy balance – so there isn’t excess triggering of the endometrial tissue to grow, as happens with estrogen dominance. The best approach is to practice yoga.

1 Viparita Karani or Legs up the Wall

This pose calms and restores the nervous system and softens the pelvic floor muscles. It is known to improve the flow of blood to the pelvic region, refresh tired legs and calm you down. Endometriosis and Diet: What You Should and Shouldn’t Eat To Keep Your Uterus Healthy.

Watch Video Viparita Karani:

Steps:

• Lie down flat on the floor near a wall.
• Now, raise your legs such that they are rested comfortably along the wall. Make sure that your tailbone is touching the wall as well.
• Stretch your arms out on either side of your body and relax.
• You may choose to raise your chin towards the ceiling, but do not stress your neck while doing this.
• Close your eyes and take deep breaths allowing yourself to relax. Hold this pose for as long as you are comfortable.

2 Malasana or Garland Pose

Garland pose opens up the pelvic area, helps ease pain and increase circulation. Endometriosis Pain Can Now Be Treated With Botox: Here’s What You Need to Know.

Watch Video of Malasana:

Steps:

• Stand straight keeping your feet together.
• Now stretch your arms out in front of you so that they are parallel to the floor.
• As you exhale, slowly squat down.
• Inhale and spread your knees apart and lean forward between them. Now, bring your palms together in Namaste gesture or the prayer pose.
• Hold this position for a few consecutive breaths.
• Exhale and come up to the starting position.

3 Balasana or Child’s pose

This pose is excellent to soften the fascia and other connective tissue around the hips, pelvic floor, and abdomen.

Watch Video of Balasana:

Steps:

• Place your knees on the floor and rest your buttocks on your feet.  Keep your back straight and your hands resting on the knees.
• Exhale and slide down and forwards into the child’s pose.
• Once here, breathe in and out slowly. Just relax and let your body calm down.
• Try to touch your forehead to the ground, but if you can’t, do not push yourself. Hold this pose for as long as you are comfortable.

4 Bhujangasana or Cobra pose

This pose stretches muscles and mobilises abdominal tightness due to adhesions or scar tissue.

Watch Video of Bhujangasana:

Steps:

• Lie flat on the floor on your stomach. Place your forehead on the floor and make sure your feet and heels are slightly touching each other.
• Place your hands right next to your shoulders with your elbows as close as possible to your body.
• Now, exhale and lift your upper body one part at a time – first your head, chest, then your back and pelvis. At this point make sure your hands are straight and elbows are locked. Your navel is should be in contact with the floor.
• Take a few slow breaths and come back down to the lying position.

5 Badhakonasana or Butterfly Pose

This pose will deeply relax the muscles in your pelvic region and inner thighs and help loosen the ligaments, tendons and other soft tissues.

Watch Video of Badhakonasana:

Steps:

• Sit in easy pose. Keep your spine erect and bend your legs at the knees, such that the soles of your feet face each other.
• Now pull your legs in with your hands so that your heels touch each other and they are as close to your pelvis as possible.
• While holding your legs at the ankles, move your thighs up and down, just like the wings of a butterfly.
• Do this as many times as you can.

Conventional medicine hasn’t figured out how to best treat endometriosis - so it mostly focuses on symptom relief through medications and surgery. Yoga can, therefore, well be concluded as the best way to treat endometriosis.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 26, 2019 12:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).