As women age, particularly when they begin to edge into menopause, hormonal imbalances can become a major problem. These imbalances can lead to mood swings, aches and pains, and other health issues. While many women take medication to assist with these problems, others seek a more natural way of dealing with hormone imbalances. For many women, yoga is the answer to this particular problem. It is important to keep in mind though, that while many women find yoga to be greatly beneficial, there is little to no scientific research that confirms that it helps control hormones.
Practice Regularly
The key to yoga, as is key with any other form of exercise, is to come up with a schedule and stick to it. This is much easier if a person attends a yoga class because classes usually are held in the same place and at the same time. Exercise routines, whether it's yoga or weight lifting, need to be given time to work. They aren't instant cures, and they must be done often enough, so your body can begin to respond to the activity. Hormones won't become balanced after a session or two, nor will the average yoga student become much more aware of her body in the first week. Time and dedication are required to reap the benefits.
Diet
Yoga is a helpful, healthy routine that can assist in bringing balance to your body. However, whatever positive effects that yoga has on your body, including hormonal balance, can be easily destroyed by another factor of your life, your diet. Eating foods that are high in fat and in artificial flavors and preservatives can easily undo the benefits of a yoga exercise program. It's recommended that you cut out as many unnecessary and unhealthy foods as possible (such as fast-food, soda and coffee because of the caffeine in it). It's recommended also that you increase your intake of water and of fresh fruit.
Asanas
There are also certain asanas, or positions, used in yoga that are best for balancing out hormones in a woman. Once you've fixed your diet and begun practicing yoga regularly enough that you're ready for some advancement, it may be time to ask your instructor about these particular asanas. If your instructor doesn't know, he might be able to provide you with the contact information of someone else in the yoga community who does know and would be willing to teach you. For those learning yoga from a video or from a book, it's best to be cautious when deciding how advanced you are and what you're ready to do or not do.
Tags: many women, your body, your diet, your instructor