One reason many women experience a high incidence of dysmenorrhoea (painful menstruation) is their lack of regular exercise. By increasing the general tone of your muscles and strengthening your pelvic floor, exercise may help reduce menstrual pain. Prevention is your best treatment for recurring pain. Yoga, bicycling, dancing, martial arts, sports on a regular basis, and even walking all help to increase muscle tone. If you frequently experience menstrual pain in your back, regular sit-ups strengthen back muscles.
The first thing we recommend...
The first thing we recommend for a stress-free life is organizing your time sensibly; avoid setting unattainable goals. The philosophy you apply to solving problems is also important. Approaching problems with confidence, assessing the possibilities for practical implementation, and promising oneself not to complain enhances our effectiveness while reducing anxiety.
Here are some relaxation techniques:
Breathing: Breathe in very slowly, concentrating on the air that is entering your lungs; breathe out again very slowly. Repeat 3 to 5 times. This is a very simple exercise which you can do at any time anywhere.
Squeeze a soft object repeatedly with one hand and then with the other; repeat this exercise up to 20 times with each hand.
Relieve the tension in the neck muscles by stretching these muscles. For this exercise, bend the neck down slowly to the left and right as far as you can, flexing and stretching the muscles. Finally, rotate your head in a smooth, circular motion.
Carrying out physical exercises relieves the tension that has built up over the day, improving our physical condition.
Laughing from time to time increases the release of endorphins, substances that are responsible for increasing our sense of well-being.
In order to relieve abdominal tension, which usually worsens towards the end of the day, avoid heavy meals and fizzy drinks. Reducing the pressure on the abdomen by wearing loose-fitting clothes also makes you feel better. We also recommend a light exercise after meals.
There are a number of types of exercise that have been shown to be very effective in reducing the impact of stress as one of the causes of abdominal pain and IBS symptoms. Yoga has been proven to help calm the digestive system and offer relief from symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, bloating and flatulence. Gentle stretching exercise and careful breathing help to release tension and reduce the effect of stress on the body.
Simple exercises
Below is a series of examples of exercises that stretch and tone the muscles and help relieve tension. It is always advisable to learn exercises directly from a trained instructor. Yoga classes, for example, will provide you with professional, ongoing support.
Please note that you should take care when exercising if you are feeling nauseous or in pain. Your instructor or healthcare professional can give you more information.
This easy traditional yoga exercise calms the senses and normalizes the breathing frequency. Deep, regular breathing can reduce stress symptoms remarkably.
Sit comfortably upright and cross your legs (but you can also do the exercise sitting on a chair, e.g. in your office, taking a break)
Form a roof-like figure with your hands, only the fingertips touching
Look down at the tip of your nose and inhale gently for about five seconds
Hold your breath about another five seconds
Breathe out gently for five seconds
Continue for 3 to 10 Minutes
Everyday stress can leave your shoulder muscles tense and aching. Here's an exercise you can perform while sitting at your desk.
Stand or sit comfortably. Let both arms and shoulders hang loose. Now turn your shoulders forwards, then upwards, then backwards and back down - draw large, slow circles in the air with your shoulders. Take about five seconds for a complete turn. Breathe out when pulling up your shoulders and in when letting them back down.
Repeat ten times, take a short break then go through the exercise once more.
This gentle exercise can be practiced at work or at home, whenever you feel tension in your neck muscles.
Sit in an upright position and lift your arms above your head. Bend your elbows so that they are facing the ceiling and your hands positioned behind your neck. Now place your hands on top of one another, with the tips of your fingers pointing down along your spine so that your back is being stretched.
Hold this position for 15 seconds, then release the tension very slowly.
Repeat three times with a short rest in between.
Important to keep the muscles of your abdomen toned and supple. This simple exercise provides your abdomen with an effective training session.
Sit on the floor with your knees slightly bent and your back straight. You can hold your arms straight out in front of you for balance or you can cross them over your chest. From this sitting position, slowly roll back so that your shoulders are just a few inches above the floor. Pause and then slowly roll back up to a sitting position. As you do this exercise, always press the small of your back downward, rather than arching your back, in order to prevent strain. Repeat ten times.