The Woman’s Yoga Book: Asana and Pranayama for All Phases of the Menstrual Cycle by Bobby Clennel is a good resource for any woman, whether student or teacher. Anyone with questions about how yoga can benefit in various phases of the menstrual cycle will find this book helpful.
Bobby Clennel is an experienced Iyengar yoga teacher and member of the faculty at the Iyengar Yoga Institute in New York. Because she is a senior teacher in the Iyengar style, that is the focus of this book; however, the poses have benefits regardless of the type of yoga the student generally practices.
The book starts off with an interesting overview of menstrual beliefs and practices surrounding menstruation throughout human history. Both modern concepts and ancient, pro female traditions are included. The focus is on honoring the menstrual cycle and offers a healthy perspective of the natural rhythms of the human body.
The book has sequences for every phase of the cycle and for problems related to the menstrual cycle. The asanas and pranayama in each are specifically chosen to benefit that phase. For example, in the premenstrual phase, poses that help with relaxation and mood are used, such as supported bridge pose and seated forward bend
During menstruation, the practice slows down and focuses on restorative poses for rest. Soothing poses are recommended to relieve problems such as cramps and pain in the lower back. After menstruation, the sequences feature inversions to cleanse the body and restore.
The book offers solutions to a variety of problems related to the menstrual cycle. These include heavy periods, painful periods and absence of periods. For each asana, the benefits and when to use and when to avoid the pose are discussed. The text is written in clear and concise language, even for beginners.
To assist in understanding the asanas, the book contains over 700 detailed illustrations for each asana. The illustrations include asanas, variations of poses, as well as drawings depicting how to move in and out of each. The illustrations make the sequences and modifications easy to understand, even in advanced poses.
This book is great for anyone with questions about when to do what, or with any menstrual related problems. There is information for using yoga practice for symptoms of menstrual cycles, such as mood swings and irritability, fatigue, migraines, breast tenderness and bloating. The author uses asana and pranayama to enhance breath awareness, and help in focusing the mind.