3 Stretches for Period Cramps

Ouch! Ughhh! There goes another one! Cramps are so painful and annoying. Lucky for you, a little stretching can go a long way to relieve them. Light exercise during your periods will help to ease the heavy, bloated (puffy) feeling. Workouts that stretch your body are best. Here are a few exercises that are great for relieving cramps:

Wide Leg Forward Bend

Sit on the floor, legs as far apart as you can get them. Hold your toes if you can, or clasp your ankles lightly. Keep your back straight and breathe in, holding your diaphragm (the muscle under your ribs) up and in. Holding this position, take a few deep breaths. As you breathe out for the last time, bend forwards towards the floor and exhale.

Butterfly Stretch

Sit with your knees open and bent at the sides, with the soles of your feet together in front of your crotch. Clasp your hands under your toes, or hold your ankles. Press the soles of your feet together and breathe in, deeply expanding your chest and lifting your diaphragm, as described above. Raise your head a little, and feel your stomach expand. Breathe in and out deeply into your stomach four or five times.

Knee to Chest Stretch

Lie on your back with one leg stretched out, and pull the other knee up towards your chin. Clasp your knee with your arms to ease the strain and then hold the posture, relaxing for a few minutes.

How do you stretch away cramp pains?