How to Give Effective Yoga Exercise for Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous tumors commonly found in women 30 to 40 years old. According to MayoClinic.org, as many as three out of four women of childbearing age may develop fibroids in their uterus. Although doctors don't know the specific cause of fibroids, research points to the hormone estrogen as a possible trigger. Fibroids vary in size from microscopic to the size of a bowling ball. Some women have no symptoms, while others may experience pressure in the abdomen, constipation, heavy bleeding or cramping. Gentle yoga exercises and belly breathing can help increase circulation to the pelvic area and reduce sensations of heaviness and pressure.

Instructions

• 1

  Come onto all fours to prepare for Cat pose -- Marjariasana -- with your weight evenly distributed on the palms of your hands and knees, fingers spread wide. Align your hands under your shoulders and knees under your hips. Exhale into Cat pose as you round your back, release your head downward and lengthen your tailbone toward the ground.

• 2

  Inhale into Cow pose as you tilt your pelvis forward, taking your gaze up, releasing your belly and creating an arch in your back. Repeat this movement for five slow breaths as you increase blood flow to your abdomen.

• 3

  Sit on your buttocks with your knees bent and soles of your feet on the floor about 2 feet apart. Extend your arms behind you and press your palms into the ground outside your hips with your fingertips angled away from you. Drop your knees to the left as you exhale and twist far to the left, pressing your hands into the floor to lengthen the spine out of the pelvis, coming up on your fingertips if necessary. Deepen the twist by placing your right hand on the outside of your left knee.

• 4

  Inhale as you move back to center. Repeat this twist, a modified version of Bharadvajasana, on the opposite side with the next exhale. Perform this pose two to three times on each side to stretch the deep muscles of the pelvis and massage the internal organs.

• 5

  Lie on your back for Reclined Bound Angle pose, or Supta Baddha Konasana. Bend your knees out to the side, draw your feet toward your groin and bring the soles of your feet together.

• 6

  Place your left hand on your chest and your right hand on your abdomen as you begin belly breathing. Breathe through your nose and observe how your belly rises with each inhale and contracts with each exhale. Your right hand on your chest should barely move.

• 7

  Breathe slowly and deeply for three or four minutes, relaxing and softening your belly with each breath. Visualize your hips, pelvis and abdomen opening up, increasing circulation to this area.