Australian Yoga Journal – August 2019

WHEN ALISON, 48, began experiencing

intense hot flashes, they often arrived at

night and interrupted her sleep. But on

the whole, her perimenopausal

symptoms were more annoying than

unbearable. Then her menstrual cycle

spun out of control. “Suddenly, my

menstrual flow was really heavy and

lasted twice as long as before,” says

Alison, who requested that her last

name not be used. “My periods went on

forever.” Her gynecologist suggested

that Alison try hormone replacement

therapy (HRT), prescription drugs used

to control menopausal symptoms. “She

told me not to rule it out if my

symptoms were really bad, but my

feeling was that I’d rather try to just get

through them,” Alison says.

She had good reason for wanting to

avoid HRT. The treatment regimen,

which artificially elevates a woman’s

estrogen and progesterone levels, has

come under intense scrutiny in recent

years. Major studies have linked it to an

increased risk of breast cancer, heart

disease, strokes, and other life-

threatening conditions.

Soon after Alison’s menstrual cycles

became so irregular, she went to class at

Yoga Circle, her regular studio, and

learned an Iyengar asana sequence

designed to help women cope with the

physical discomforts related to their

cycles. Many of the poses were

restorative; they included Supta

Virasana (Reclining Hero Pose), Supta

Baddha Konasana (Reclining Bound

Angle Pose), and Janu Sirsasana (Head-

of-the-Knee Pose) with the head

supported. When Alison’s next

menstrual period began, she practiced

the sequence every day and noticed that

her flow returned to normal. Encouraged

by the results, she began to think that she

could control her symptoms without HRT.

Maybe, she thought, yoga could provide the

relief she was looking for. And her

intuition proved correct. Many women

have found that yoga can ameliorate the

undesirable side effects of menopause.

61

august/september 2019

yogajournal.com.au

WHEN ALISON, 48, began experiencing
intense hot flashes, they often arrived at
night and interrupted her sleep. But on
the whole, her perimenopausal
symptoms were more annoying than
unbearable. Then her menstrual cycle
spun out of control. “Suddenly, my
menstrual flow was really heavy and
lasted twice as long as before,” says
Alison, who requested that her last
name not be used. “My periods went on
forever.” Her gynecologist suggested
that Alison try hormone replacement
therapy (HRT), prescription drugs used
to control menopausal symptoms. “She
told me not to rule it out if my
symptoms were really bad, but my

feeling was that I’d rather try to just get

through them,” Alison says.

She had good reason for wanting to

avoid HRT. The treatment regimen,

which artificially elevates a woman’s

estrogen and progesterone levels, has

come under intense scrutiny in recent

years. Major studies have linked it to an

increased risk of breast cancer, heart

disease, strokes, and other life-

threatening conditions.

Soon after Alison’s menstrual cycles

became so irregular, she went to class at

Yoga Circle, her regular studio, and

learned an Iyengar asana sequence

designed to help women cope with the

physical discomforts related to their

cycles. Many of the poses were

restorative; they included Supta

Virasana (Reclining Hero Pose), Supta

Baddha Konasana (Reclining Bound

Angle Pose), and Janu Sirsasana (Head-

of-the-Knee Pose) with the head

supported. When Alison’s next

menstrual period began, she practiced

the sequence every day and noticed that

her flow returned to normal. Encouraged

by the results, she began to think that she

could control her symptoms without HRT.

Maybe, she thought, yoga could provide the

relief she was looking for. And her

intuition proved correct. Many women

have found that yoga can ameliorate the

undesirable side effects of menopause.

61

august/september 2019

yogajournal.com.au