Yoga during Moontime

[eastkygal]

Howdy yoga mamas. I am still exploring how to do yoga during moontime. I hear so many conflicting things. It is something I want to really understand because I am regular and fertile for the first time in my life and I want to nurture that. It is healthy afterall.
So, I have been doing this YouTube during my cycle. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mChI17yrOXM It is only 25 min. long, and sometimes I find myself wanting a little more.
The instructor in the video says to avoid inversions and she considers inversions anything that drops the heart center below the pelvis... so no downward facing dog or forward fold. But, I've heard others say those don't count as inversions. That it only applies to things like wheel, head and shoulder stands.
How do you approach yoga during moontime?

[CarrieMF]

I do my regular routine. I can't see any viable reason to NOT do something just because it's that time of the month.

[northcountrymamma]

What a fantastic question...

Actually your video instructor is correct. Inversions (where your hips are higher than your upper body) can create certain issues like uterine fibroids or even endometriosis if practiced during your moontime.

Further, your blood is meant to flow out. Any restriction of this flow can restrict your chi and this can create certain issues with your reproductive system.

There isn't however any reason to completely avoid yoga during your moontime. Postures that are restorative in nature or a relatively gentle practice where you avoid inversions are wise.

Chandra Namaskar is a beautiful way to honour your moontime (or a full moon). It is a moon saluation done in standing where no inversions (ie. full forward fold or downward dog) are practiced. All folding is done only to the point that the torso comes inline with the pelvis.

This is all the perspective of a (certified 200hr) Hatha yoga teacher, I am not sure what other practices indicate or contraindicate.

[eastkygal]

CarrieMF - I have to disagree here, but maybe it is just my perspective. For me, moontime is a time that is naturally one where you pull back. It is a time of releasing. I in no way want that to be restricted, or held. I also know that doing my regular Vinyasa routine would be too much for me. However, I'm looking for something longer and a bit more then the Yoga Today video.

northcountrymama - I'll have to look for that sequence. I want to practice longer than 25 minutes and do a few more asanas than what she offers in this video. I most definitely don't feel like continuing with my regular 60 minute Vinyasa practice (Baron Baptiste) is the right thing to do during moontime. Yet I feel like I'm just getting started when this practice ends. Thanks.

I've been regularly practicing for a year now, and just switched back to Hatha from Kundalini.

[northcountrymamma]

oh yes, a nice restorative start/finish and an active standing practice of asanas can be much longer than 25 minutes.

Imagine the following gentle asanas to restore...

supta baddhakonasana - with a bolster or two propping you upright slightly and opening your heart chakra (pillows and blankets work too)
virasana - encorporate some gentle twists, lateral openings and some breath to the sky
cat/cow/hip rolls - just moving organically through the breath
supported balasana (childs pose) - using a bolster or pillows to support the chest and head with the cheek to the side
sleeping pigeon - again supported with pillows or bolster

and then move towards a standing series

and then towards a seated series of something like this:
janu sirsasana
baddhakonasana
gomukonasana
wide leg forward fold with support (bolsters)

and end with supta virasana over a couple of bolsters and then into svasana.

I'm certain that could span a good 60 minutes.

hope that helps in some way...

[eastkygal]

So, I've done some more reading and the majority of the writers recommend a gentle practice during moontime with no forward folding or inversions. Some of them felt as you do CarrieMF and all of them said just to follow the body.

Thanks northcountrymama for the suggestions. My mind is constantly churning and it takes me awhile to get focused during my practice - thus why I like at least an hour to practice.

Now, the question is... How long to keep the change in the routine? Just on heavy days, or until bleeding completely stops. I tend to go 7 days.