These 5 yoga poses may help to ease the pain and discomfort of menstrual cramps…

Ladies…who wants to work out during that time of the month? If you didn’t raise your hand, I feel you! Between menstrual cramps, bloating, and exhaustion, it can be hard enough just to drag yourself to the office every morning, let alone motivate yourself to make it to the gym.

Fortunately, yoga can be a wonderful way not only to get a bit of exercise during your period, but also to give yourself some love and care – which, let’s face it, we all could use a little extra of at that time! In fact, some yoga poses can even ease the pain of menstrual cramps and help you feel better. The 5 poses below may help relieve pain and tightness in the pelvic and lower back area, while providing a gentle massage of the reproductive organs.

Be sure to pay attention to your own body, find what works best for you, and modify poses to suit your needs. Yoga is about finding your own individual practice – and what works for you may not work for everyone – that’s one of the wonderful things about yoga!

Try these 5 poses if you suffer from menstrual cramps: (Click the links below for a more detailed tutorial on each pose.)

1.) Child’s Pose (Balasana)

How-to: Kneel on the ground, butt on heels, top of feet against the floor, big toes touching, and knees wider than hip-width apart. Slowly bring chest to the mat, allowing your body to come between legs. Extend arms overhead, touching forehead to mat. Or lay arms alongside body with palms facing up if that feels more comfortable.

2.) Garland Pose (Malasana)

How-to: Start standing with feet just wider than hip width. Spin heels inward and toes out, then sink hips down into a deep squat. Place elbows on inner thighs and press palms together to draw heart forward.

3.) Camel Pose (Ustrasana)

How-to: Kneel with shins hip-distance apart. Rest hands on the back of your pelvis. Press down strongly into shins and reach up through the torso. Lift chest up as you stretch arms back to reach hands to heels. (To modify, curl toes under so you don’t have to reach as far.)

4.) Bow Pose (Dhanurasana)

How-to: Lie facedown, then lift chest, arms, and legs off the floor. Bend knees and reach back to grab outer ankles. Lift toes and inner thighs toward the ceiling, and lengthen tailbone toward the backs of your knees. Spread and lift chest.

5.) Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana)

How-to: From sitting, bend knees and bring soles of feet together with heels drawn close to pelvis. Grab hold of your big toes with your thumb and index fingers, and press elbows into inner thighs to draw head to floor and belly to feet while pressing your sit bones into the mat. Try not to round spine as you fold forward.

Find more poses to ease menstrual cramps at Greatist.com…