Calm Those Cramps with One Easy Move! | Health

Great.

Aunt Flo’s in town again, ladies—and I know you know what I mean. And she’s often not the sweet, cookie-baking kind of Auntie, but rather the type that enjoys cackling maniacally as she watches you try to stuff your bloated belly into your skinny jeans once a month.

Either that or she’ll just sock you in your lady parts and leave you to deal with the pain of your period all by yourself, either by wincing and complaining to your friends for five straight days, or going to the pharmacy for some sweet medicinal relief. And yes, guys…it actually feels like this.

Well, sisters, if your monthly visitor is less like an unobtrusive old college friend and more akin to a tantrum-throwing drama queen that wrecks the whole experience, there is a third solution besides burdening your friends—or your body to try and deal with cramps and bloating.

Yoga that targets your lower abdomen can help create a kinder, gentler Auntie in a few ways. It balances your hormones, like prostaglandins, secreted by the uterine lining that women who have bad menstrual cramps seem to overproduce.

The pose I’m about to show you is nothing short of miraculous, because it releases serotonin, your feel-good chemical, which can help improve your mood and help you relax. It also reduces water weight and—jackpot!—actually massages the smooth muscle of your uterus that’s in spasm, causing you discomfort. Most other postures don’t get this deep, so you’re left dissatisfied, like rubbing the skin on your tight shoulders versus a massage therapist leaning her elbow in there.

Note: If you’re having severe abdominal pain, a fever, vomiting, bad headaches or a super heavy flow, you need to talk to your ob-gyn or general doctor, pronto.

Otherwise, to find natural relief from this unwanted party in your pelvis, try this yoga move, which actually massages the smooth muscle layer of your uterus that is in spasm and surrounded by water weight (not like I have to tell you, or your skinny jeans this).

Do the Belly Roll anytime you need it during your period, or for that matter, to fall asleep, switch your mood from bitchy to better, help your digestion run smoothly, or de-stress. It works faster than you can say “Extra-strength Midol, please!”