11 Therapeutic Iyengar Yoga For Hormonal Imbalance

What is a Hormonal Imbalance?

Hormonal imbalance happens when the amount of hormones in the bloodstream is either too low or too high. Hormones are very much essential for our body and play a major role in the functioning of the body. Thus, even a little change in the hormones can cause side-effects in the entire body.

Hormones are chemicals that travel through your bloodstream to the tissues and organs and commands the body organs about their functions. Hormones direct the organs what to do and at what time. Hormones control major functions of the body such as heart rate, sleep cycles, metabolism, appetite, stress levels, sexual functions, reproductive cycles,etc.

Men are more prone to an imbalance in the testosterone level and women are likely to face an imbalance in the estrogen and progesterone levels.

Causes of Hormonal Imbalance?

There are many causes of hormonal imbalance in a person, the causes depend on which hormones are affected. Some of the common causes of hormonal imbalance are :

  1. Diabetes
  2. hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid
  3. overactive thyroid hyperthyroidism
  4. Hypogonadism
  5. Cushing syndrome
  6. thyroiditis
  7. thyroid nodule hyperfunctioning
  8. hormone therapy
  9. tumors (benign or cancerous)
  10. congenital adrenal hyperplasia
  11. eating disorders
  12. Medications
  13. Stress
  14. adrenal insufficiency
  15. pituitary tumor
  16. injury or trauma
  17. cancer treatments

There are some causes of hormonal imbalance that are exclusive to women such as: menopause, pregnancy, breastfeeding, PCOS, premature menopause, hormone drugs like birth control pills, primary ovarian insufficiency.

Signs and Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance

A person affected with hormonal imbalance will show many symptoms but the symptoms will depend on which glands and hormones are affected. Some of the common signs and symptoms are :

  1. Sudden weight gain or weight loss.
  2. Difficulty in sleeping
  3. Increased thrust, increased urination
  4. Excessive sweating ( sometimes without any reason)
  5. Depression
  6. nervousness, anxiety, or irritability
  7. Skin problems
  8. brittle or weak bones
  9. puffy face
  10. blurred vision
  11. a bulge in the neck
  12. deepening of the voice in females
  13. breast tenderness
  14. muscle aches, tenderness, and stiffness
  15. pain, stiffness, or swelling in your joints
  16. Infertility
  17. Bloating

Therapeutic Iyengar Yoga for Hormonal Imbalance

  • During the treatment all the asanas will be performed with the help of props.
  • Patients will be treated by the trained yoga teachers & under the guidance of Yogacharya Rajveer Singh Chauhan.
  • The sequence and difficulty level of asanas may vary according to the condition of patients and their respective medical condition.
  • Every person will be advised to perform asanas based on their current health, age and their present capacity to perform asanas.

1. Supta Baddha Konasana

Supta Baddha Konasana with Bolster
This asana increases the oxygen level in the body and also relaxes the mind and soul of the patient.

2. Supta Sukhasana

This asana is beneficial for all kind of hormonal imbalances but more valuable for women during menopause which suffers from a hormonal imbalance that time.

3. Trikonasana

Utthita Trikonasana
This asana balances all the hormones in the body but very effective for ladies who suffer from menstrual problems. This asana balances the process of menstruation.

4. Uttanasana

Uttanasana
This asana helps to activate Adrenal Gland which in turn balances the production of Cortisol Hormone.

5. Sirsasana

Salamba Sirsasana
Sirsasana is practised at our institute "Live With Yoga" with the help of expert teachers. As it works against gravitational force, it activates the Pituitary gland which itself controls the whole hormonal system of the body.

6. Viparita Dandasana

Viparita Dandasana
Hormonal Imbalance itself has much side effects as it develops mental stress and mental imbalance. This asana helps to get rid of the side effects and balances the mental process.

7. Sarvangasana

In Hormonal Imbalance, this asana is very beneficial as it likewise Sirsasana makes the whole hormonal system activated and balances it to be produced in right quantity.

8. Ardha Halasana

Ardha Halasana
This asana balances and activates Thyroid, Pancreas and Cortisol hormones.

9. Setu Bandha Sarvangasana

Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
As hormonal imbalance makes the mental and physical imbalances too. This asana relaxes your body by relieving the hormonal and other imbalances in the body.

10. Adho Mukha Virasana

Adho Mukha Virasana (Shashankasana)
This asana relaxes your mind and body and lets you feel calm.

11. Ujjayi Pranayama

Ujjayi Pranayama
This pranayama after all asanas makes the body and mind calm by increasing the oxygen level in the body, in turn, balancing the hormonal imbalance caused due to depression.

Conclusion

  • Hormonal imbalance happens when the amount of hormones in the bloodstream is either too low or too high.
  • Diabetes and thyroid diseases are one of the common causes of hormonal imbalance.
  • Sudden weight gain or weight loss are common symptoms of hormonal imbalance.
  • All the asanas must be performed in the proper sequence and  under the guidance of a trained yoga teacher.