A woman’s body prepares itself for a pregnancy every month and menstruation is a part of this process. If a pregnancy does not occur, the uterus sheds its lining which is known as menstruation or monthly bleeding. This passes out of the womans body through the vagina every month. Periods usually start during the early teens for most of the girls and end when it is menopause. This bleeding normally lasts from 3 to 5 days on average.

The menstrual cycle is calculated as the number of days from day 1 of the period to the day 1 of the next period. Most of the women have a 28 days cycle, while a menstrual cycle of 21 to 35 days is also considered normal. Some women experience irregular and painful menstruation during which they have menstrual cramps and severe pain. The discomfort due to menstrual cramps can make it difficult for a woman to carry out daily functions during the period. The pain and discomfort may start few days before the bleeding or at the start of the bleeding. It reduces as the period ends. Condition of excessive painful menstruation is called dysmeorrhea.

Primary dysmeorrhea is when the pain starts around the time of the menstrual cycle and is not related to any problem with the uterus. Secondary dysmeorrhea is when the pain starts after the bleeding and is related to problems in the pelvic organs or uterus. The causes of this pain may be: cysts, stress, fibroids, pelvic inflammation, anxiety or sexually transmitted diseases. Menstrual cramps are said to be related to a substance known as prostaglandin which makes the uterus contract.

Natural remedies for painful menstruation and menstrual cramps can be availed of for reducing the discomfort. The other treatments include medications like anti inflammatory pills, pain relievers, birth control pills, antibiotics or anti depressants. Some of the natural remedies for painful menstruation are as follows:

1. Aloe Vera: Intake of Aloe juice is said to be beneficial in treating menstrual cramps and pain.

2. Garlic: Include garlic in your diet or boil few cloves of garlic in water and drink this water regularly.

3. Massage: A soothing abdominal massage can help in this condition by reducing the pain and tension in that region.

4. Parsley: Drink parsley juice to ease painful menstruation.

5. Ginger: Boil a piece of ginger in a cup of water and drink this regularly. This is one of the effective natural remedies for painful menstruation.

6. Sesame seeds: Boil the seeds in water, cool, strain and drink it regularly. These seeds help in the condition of pain during periods.

7. Coriander: Another one of the natural remedies for menstrual cramps is coriander. Boil the coriander seeds in water for a while. Let it cool, the strain it and drink this water. This decoction will give relief from painful menstrual and menstrual cramps.

It is very important to maintain a healthy diet apart from following the above natural remedies for painful menstruation. Eat food rich in iron and avoid tea, coffee, refined foods, oily and greasy foods. Also avoid foods that are hard to digest. Include papaya, bitter gourd, cucumbers and drumsticks in your diet. A regular exercise regime or practice of yoga can help immensely to ease of the menstrual cramps. However avoid exercising during the menstruation.

Today’s society is much faster paced that ever before. People have more stress problems which lead to more health problems, mental and physical. There are more concerns with toxicity in the food we eat and the air we breathe. Millions of Americans today live a sedentary lifestyle, which is associated with obesity. The body, the cavities of our soul, was not meant to deteriorate in such a way that leads to disease. Yoga was developed over 5,000 years ago in India and it included spiritual beliefs, physical techniques, and scholarly philosophy.

There is a growing trend to practicing Yoga for many different reasons, which include attaining the yoga body or physique, relaxation and peace of mind, or to prevent injury and ailments. Americans mainly practice Hatha Yoga, which focuses on postures and stretching the body.

Yoga, which is derived from the sacred Sanskrit language of India, meaning *union* or *to yoke or harness*. Yoga is a way or path to transcendence and liberation from the self and the ego by purifying the mind and body. Practicing yoga leads to a union with the mind and body or the individual and universal consciousness. In other words, yoga is the union with the Individual Self and the Universal Self. Yoga predates all other religions and has influenced and inspired many other traditions and philosophies. Yoga is better understood as a union of the physical, physiological, mental, emotional, and intellectual bodies, which leads to a purposeful and balanced life.

There is simply no other discipline quite like yoga because it utilized the body, mind and spirit, all in one practice. Yoga is indeed a spiritual path that is based on ancient sacred philosophy, but one does not need to make an ethical decision when practicing yoga, rather finding your own path is wholly accepted. The holistic benefits of yoga are suitable for the young or old, sick or well, with any religious background. The secrets of yoga are inwardness, concentration, and purification of mind and body with cleansing thoughts and food. Indian philosophy states that within man is the spirit that is the center of everything. *Internal equilibrium is the basis and the ground for the higher illumination,* The cultural Heritage of India (Vol. I) – published by The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, India

If you are a fan of relaxation and centering yourself, then you will be delighted to discover that a number of Granada Hills yoga studios provide sessions for both individuals and groups. Yogas popularity has increased dramatically over the past few years because people have realized that it can bring a lot of joy, relaxation, and balance to a persons life. It can also increase your vibration and help renew your spiritually. Maintaining a regular practice can help achieve this. Yoga and meditation can ease the stress from daily life and career pressures. It can help to relieve tension, pain, and even lessen emotional distress.

Although this has been practiced for several centuries, yoga is experiencing a renaissance in terms of popularity. Busy career people have discovered how to feel pleasure and obtain a more positive disposition by doing yoga. Granada Hills is home to numerous studios, and you can find one near where you reside. Once there, you will find relief from many of your usual worries by just maintaining a consistent and regular practice.

Many people who do yoga on a regular basis swear that they feel much better after several sessions. It is not only a form of exercise but rather a way of life that affects you in a spiritual way. If you plan to attend Granada Hills yoga classes, the instructors can teach you some meditation techniques, postures, and breathing that will not only help your physicality, but also can benefit you on an emotional and spiritual level as well. Yogas origins are from spiritual and religious rituals practiced by Buddhists and Hindus centuries ago.

Of course, you should always seek consultation with a medical doctor regarding your medical problems, physical injuries, or stress. A medical physician might prescribe medicines to remove or lessen your symptoms. Yoga on the other hand, can help further your relief. It may be a slow process, but it addresses the deeper source of ailments so that the problems will not recur. By going to the source, you heal from within. Yoga is also a preventive measure and strengthens your mind and body. Furthermore, when your body is strong, you also strengthen your immunity against sickness.

If you are searching for yoga classes, Granada Hills has quite a few places that offer lessons for people at all different levels of expertise. If you are a beginner, visit the studios, meet the instructors, and observe a class if you would like to. This will give you an idea if the studio is ideal for you. To be able to make yoga effective, you have to be comfortable with the instructor and the surroundings. Yoga is about balance and harmony, and you have to be in sync with your surroundings and the people in your class for you to achieve that balance yourself.

If you prefer private yoga, Granada Hills also has instructors willing to do one on one sessions in the comforts of your own home. You can also get individual sessions at the studio. Although private yoga classes will be slightly more expensive than classes with a group of people, through individual sessions, an instructor can focus on your specific needs which can result in faster progress to a higher vibration and healthier living. This could be better than sharing the class with many people, all of whom may be demanding attention from one instructor.

At Granada Hills yoga, you will find instructors who are considerate to their students and communicate with them during each class. All instructors always ask class members if there is anyone in the group who has any medical conditions and or physical limitations. Anyone with physical injuries or limitations should receive additional assistance.

Furthermore, great teachers do more than just showing the poses. They effectively teach each student how to breath in each pose. After you go through the initial yoga classes in Granada Hills, you will start to enjoy it more and more. Some people like it so much that the practice almost everyday. Hopefully, you will find the right studio and instructor for you, so that you can begin to bring a little more joy into your life.