The KYDRA Club

Best Types of Exercises Throughout your Cycle

Ladies, does the prospect of exercising during that time of the month seem unthinkable to you? If you’re part of the majority of women that struggle with period pain, there might be a week - or even up to two weeks - where you feel like you’re completely out of commission. You might feel like it’s not even possible, or healthy, for you to exercise.

Of course, you’re not alone. Over 80% of women struggle with period pain. For many, the discomfort isn’t even restricted to their period dates. They may be in pain for several days before, as part of their PMS cycle.

We’re here to give you some tips to embrace your cycle and suggest the best workouts for the different stages of your cycle! Understanding what your body goes through and how that affects your overall well-being is just the first step.

What Happens To Your Body Each Month?

Oh, when the pain hits close to home.

Your period is your body’s way of discarding the monthly build-up of the lining of your womb. On a typical month when you’re not pregnant, your estrogen and progesterone hormone levels begin falling, which is your body’s signal to start menstruating.

Should You Even Be Exercising During Your Period?

Conversely, those lowered levels mean that you’ll feel tired and less energetic during your period or the days leading up to it. You may be tempted to let go of your workout routine entirely.

But it’s important to know that all the benefits you usually gain from exercising don’t magically disappear during your period! Exercising helps improve your skin health, your sleep pattern, and even balances your hormones - all of which are crucial during your period!

In fact, exercising while you’re having the time of the month has been linked to several physical and mental health benefits. It could give you an endorphin high, enhance your mood, and combat period pains (especially with the proper forms of gentle stretching!).

What Exercises Are Best For Each Phase?

Your period itself! The dreaded time of the month for many. The average length of a period is between three days and one week.

Try some gentle stretching and balancing exercises. Yoga is excellent for relaxing the muscles and decreasing cramps and pain, and pilates is good for stretching muscles and reducing cramps and pain.

Bring on the buttery-soft Komi Leggings and Camille Komi Midline Bra set for extreme comfort during this time.We recommend staying away from any inversions while you’re on the mat until this phase is over.

In the days after your period, the hormone estrogen level rises, which causes the lining of the uterus to grow and thicken. In addition, another hormone causes follicles in the ovaries to grow. One follicle will mature into an egg, usually around day 10 of a 28-day cycle.

While you might want to take it easy for a few days after your period, you should feel yourself regaining some energy soon! This is the perfect time to return to your regular workout routine without any reservations, whether your workout activity of choice is cardio or strength training.

Don your favourite Kydra set and make some waves!

This is when the ovary will release its egg. If this was a century ago, then you might think of this phase as your egg’s debutante ball. This usually occurs mid-cycle, around two weeks or so before your period starts.

Generally speaking, you can expect to have a lot of energy and vitality during this phase!

If you’re thinking of giving yourself a challenge, this is the time to do it. Try fitting in some hardcore strength training and some HIIT sessions with the Kora Leggings and any Midline Bra to conquer that workout. The secret here is: don’t hold back!

After an egg is released, it begins to travel through the fallopian tubes to the uterus. This is usually when one has the highest possibility of getting pregnant. Estrogen and progesterone levels drop, usually around six days before Aunt Flo visits again, and the uterus lining is shed.

Given that you’ll be expecting code red soon and might be experiencing severe PMS symptoms, it’s not the worst idea to take it easy. Try some light cardio or aerobic exercises - this is not meant to be a stressful workout.

The key word here is “light.” Whether you’re jogging, cycling, swimming, or anything else, take it easy and/or consider a shorter workout than normal.