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Yoga for Painful Periods

Yoga for Painful Periods is in honor of Endometriosis Awareness Month (March), where we have created 4 different video segments to address this common condition and the pain associated with it.

These videos offer easy-to-integrate and powerful mind-body medicine tools.

In the first video, Reduce the Pain of Endometriosis, we share research on the use of yoga as a tool to decrease endometriosis pain. We also teach you one breathing exercise to help you become aware of your inner body and move into the Relaxation Response (rest-digest and reproduce).

In video #2, learn about your fascia (connective tissue) and how the Fertility Ball Method®️ may be used for myofascial release, which helps to increase relaxation and circulation in the body and decrease pain.

The third video segment features Megan Murphy-Rouse, a Functional Medicine Nutritionist and Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner. She talks about the ways we can use food as medicine to reduce inflammation and pain and improve hormonal balance when navigating endometriosis.

Megan is a guest contributor for our Soulful Conceptions™ Programs and the creator of the Fertile Rhythm Roadmap™ (which is also featured in our 12-week coaching program). Learn more about Megan at rootvitality.com.

Besides diet/nutrition, how we live can have a significant impact on our levels of stress and inflammation. In the final video of this segment, we discuss lifestyle changes you can incorporate to improve your mental and physical well-being.

Here’s the great news: You can immediately incorporate these practices to improve your quality of life! They will help you better navigate the challenges of Endometriosis, as well as life’s other stresses.

In addition, local Los Angeles Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine – Denise Noyer-Erez L.Ac invited Wendy to be a part of another important conversation related to issues of Endometriosis:

Yoga for Painful Periods

Wendy spoke about the benefits of yoga and breathing for severe period pain. She also shared a few yoga poses that you can use right away to help ease endometriosis and menstrual discomfort!

 

Take a look and tell us how this Yoga for Painful Periods practice helped you!

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Things you can Control during the Two Week Wait

The journey of fertility is often filled with ups and downs, and a sense of helplessness. Each cycle can feel like you’re on the worst rollercoaster of your life. The two-week wait (aka TWW or 2ww) is particularly hard, where you often vacillate between hope and despair, as you hyper-focus on every twinge or other body symptom, wondering if this cycle will be “the one”?

We humans do not like it when we feel out of control.

So we have a little yogic wisdom we like to share with our clients:

Control what you can, let go of everything else.

I know, I know – easy to say, harder to put into action! But here’s the reality: there is so much that is out of our control in this life; so, let’s focus on what we can control.  

There are simple actions you can practice on a daily basis (ideally) that significantly impact emotional and physiological well-being. These practices will help you feel more at ease during the dreaded #TWW and far beyond.

Here are a few things you can control during the two-week wait (or at least have a say in):

  1. THOUGHTS: Your thoughts turn on emotions (which turn on a body response). Recognize that you have a say in whether or not you are feeling fearful and anxious, or happy and content. If your initial thought “habit” is to worry and be fearful, you can relearn this habit.

 

  1. FEELINGS: No one “likes” to be uncomfortable but one of the most important lessons you can learn is to “sit” in uncomfortable emotions (temporarily). Recognize that your emotions are “data” and temporary. Once you learn this lesson, you will be able to navigate the “weather” of the emotional landscape from a more non-attached and empowered place. Pain is inevitable with fertility challenges, but suffering is optional.

 

  1. BODY: Practice radical self-care! What is that you may ask? Love and honor your body and self as if you were the most valuable entity on the planet (just like you would take care of your future baby or a beloved pet). Do what feels nurturing – take a hot bath, eat whole foods, decrease toxins, sleep, move, breathe, etc. Be grateful for what your body allows you to do in the world (see, smell, feel, dance, etc.).

 

  1. BREATH: Your breath carries vital life force and nutrients necessary for the body to function optimally. When you consciously breathe with your belly, you shift your nervous system into the “Rest, Digest and Reproduce” response. This lowers and stabilizes blood pressure, strengthens the immune system, and increases lung capacity (thereby helping to reduce the effects of “old age” problems such as a loss of vitality), just to name a few.

And the other two best things about practicing breathwork? It’s absolutely FREE and it’s fast-acting (in most cases, it has an immediate effect)!

 

For guidance, ideas, and tangible tools to integrate immediately, we have all of the above available and so much more in our Soulful Conceptions™ Membership Immersion Home-Study program.

Opt-in to receive a free gift at www.soulfulconceptions.com.

 

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot?

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot?

We’re right in the midst of Pitta Season – and it seems like it has been extra hot this year!

Pitta is one of the three doshas in Ayurvedic medicine. The Pitta dosha has the elements of fire and water – and it includes characteristics of hot, oily, liquid and penetrating.

In Ayurveda, the principle is “like increases like” (or “like aggravates like”). So in summertime, we want to avoid doing things that add “more heat” to the heat. Instead, think “cool, playful, calm, and watery” (there’s a reason a juicy piece of watermelon is so satisfying in the middle of summer!).

This is the time to slow down and “back off” your normal routine a little. We would suggest you avoid more vigorous/heated yoga classes and opt for something a little more slow and cooling (or just follow that instinct and do your own thing if your instructor is moving things too fast or vigorously in a class). Certain poses, like deep back-bends, are more “heating” to the body – consider choosing a bridge pose (or supported bridge pose) instead! Try switching out your “sun” salutations with “moon” salutations.

Certain foods and spices are also better suited to this time of year – e.g., coconut water, watery fruits, lemons/limes, mint, seasonal vegetables, and milder spices (e.g., avoid chilies, dried ginger or other “heating’ spices). Consider avoiding or reducing coffee, alcohol, meats and fried foods.

Practice patience and take mindful, deep breaths. In this heat, it’s a little easier to become impatient in traffic or other stressful situations.

Stay cool and be well!

It’s Celiac Awareness Month!

It's Celiac Awareness Month!

It’s Celiac Awareness Month!

Having celiac disease (the autoimmune version of the disorder) or gluten intolerance can trigger a whole host of symptoms/issues in the body because of inflammation, poor digestion/absorption of nutrients, etc.

Untreated celiac disease is associated with increased risk of repeated miscarriages, premature deliveries, impaired fetal growth, abnormalities in the placenta, and increased C-section rates (e.g., World J Gastroenterol. 2010 Dec 14; 16(46): 5810–5814).

Celiac/gluten issues do not always present as “gut symptoms” (i.e., bloating, diarrhea, etc.). They may show up as headaches, body pain, etc. So if you’re on the fertility journey, consider getting tested by your health care practitioner.
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Having to shift your diet/lifestyle is often challenging (and requires mourning a loss) but this is about more than baby-making, it’s about mama-making and being your healthiest self for life!!