Moon Cycle

There are often questions from the women in my slow yoga classes about what to do when you have your period. 

Many traditional classes emphasize that women should NOT perform inversions such as Sarvangasana (shoulderstand) during their period. 

I never ask my female students to refrain from inversions during their menstrual periods because I am not convinced that there is any scientific evidence of it being a problem. 

 My personal view is this: Throughout history men have tried to tell women what was good for them and what was bad. It has turned out that almost all this 'advice' was nothing more than blind faith or even worse, manipulative dogmas designed to control women and prevent them from expressing themselves fully. 

A modern eclectic slow yoga practice is to be undertaken with common sense. 

Do not refrain from any asanas because some 'authority' tells you to. Instead, skip ANY asana when your body just doesn't feel like doing it regardless of whether you have your period or not. 

When you want to skip a posture in a slow yoga class or during your slow yoga home practice, simply go into Balakasana or Child's Pose and rest! 

 Peace and Love,

Slowly,

Abhay