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Here’s How to Get Through a Workout on Your Period

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Aryn House
Maty Swartz
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at WVWC chapter.

We all know how hard it can be to get up and exercise, but it is a critical part of staying healthy in college. Every single person should be getting some form of exercise every single day.

However, when that time of the month rolls around, it can be difficult to get up and get moving. Cramps, bloating and nausea usually keep us from partaking in exercise. But what if I told you that by getting up and getting your groove on could perhaps alleviate your symptoms? Here are 5 way to get up and get moving, even on your period:

1. Try yoga. A lot of us are self-conscious in the gym normally. But when you aren’t feeling the best, it makes it even that much more difficult. Try doing yoga in the comfort of your dorm instead! Yoga is great in helping you tone and use your muscles in an aerobic way. Doing yoga can help with lower back pain, bloating and even cramps. There are tons of videos on YouTube and other sources where you can access free yoga routines and tutorials, and not to mention yoga specifically for period pains!

2. Take a dip in the pool. I know this sounds like the last place you want to be caught, but if you’re using the right protection, you can swim! Being in the water it helps relieve cramps and helps relax tense muscles. The water resistance is also a great form of exercise. Afterwards, you can get a nice, hot shower and relax after a great workout!

3. Nutrition. Recognizing what we should and shouldn’t eat plays a big role in how we feel during our menstrual cycle. You should be opting for a lot of fruits and veggies, lean protein like chicken or fish, lots of water and no caffeine or salt. Both caffeine and salt have been shown to make cramping and bloating worse.

4. Tap your potential. Crazy enough, women are more powerful during their periods due to a drop in estrogen and progesterone. This means that we can tap more of our bodily strength and agility! Our body makes it easier to tap into carbohydrate and glycogen, which makes for a more effective workout for weight loss. The best exercises to do are HIIT (high intensity interval training) or weightlifting. 

 

5. Take an NSAID. An NSAID is a pain reliever that also reduces swelling in the body. There are multiple NSAIDs that you can get over the counter, like ibuprofen. Chances are, you have some in your medicine drawer right now! This will allow you to get a better workout without those pesky cramps. It is also critical to get more sleep. If you feel fatigued, give your body a break; you deserve it! 

Go get your workout on, girl! I will see you there!

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Living life will only inspire your work.
Maty Swartz

WVWC '18

Maty recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC), and she couldn’t be more excited to return to the Her Campus family as a member of the Community Team.  Maty’s passion for writing has guided her through most of her adult life, and it eventually brought her to to the Her Campus Chapter Network as a Style Blogger for Her Campus WVWC. Maty would go on to become Campus Correspondent of her chapter, as well as an intern for Her Campus National and a Chapter Advisor.  Through her different roles at HC, Maty quickly fell in love with the mission and purpose of the Her Campus Chapter Network—and in her new role, Maty has the rare and coveted opportunity to do what she loves on a daily basis by working with a growing network of 360+ college chapters.    When Maty isn’t at the office, she’s usually out exploring, cooking some random recipe she found on Pinterest, or cuddling with her adorable corgi, Winnie.  Follow Maty on Twitter and Instagram !