TheHotYogaDoctor

I started Bikram Yoga 4 weeks ago,3 times per week.  I had an accident in 1997 (at 44yrs), my period stopped abruptly since the accident, I thought (and was told) I had gone through the menopause.  Since starting practice I have been getting really strong period pains (I am now 56 yrs) I feel as though if I started my period again it would not be a surprise at all.  Is this common?

Hi Maria

Your post seems to indicate that you haven’t experienced bleeding but you have experienced very uncomfortable cramps. Is that right?

It could be that your body is responding to what is to you uncommon stretching for you. Perhaps this is the first time in a while that you are stretching so deeply in this area. I can’t tell by your words whether you had internal damage in your female plumbing back in 1997 but those abrupt changes may mean you had some.

I have no idea whether it’s common because I imagine your circumstances aren’t very usual. Are there particular poses that you can feel this pain? Is it steady and dull, frequent, shooting?

Namaste
Gabrielle

Hi Gabrielle,

Thanks for your reply, you are right about my symptoms. I have been getting a steady dull painful cramp.  I supposedly only had a whiplash injury but suffered other ailments because of the accident for a couple of years after, including panic attacks.
The cramps have subsided somewhat but don’t happen when I am doing yoga only between classes, I haven’t had any bleeding.  It’s as though something is changing inside.  Whatever it is I am still enjoying my yoga journey.  If the cramps get too bad I will see my doctor just for a check.

Hello Maria

Are you able to find relief between classes? It is a good sign that the yoga asana themselves are providing you relief. Do you have the opportunity during the day to do a pose or 2? Fixed firm is a beautiful therapeutic stretch for that area (very contra-cramping).

Namaste
Gabrielle