September is PCOS awareness month. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal imbalance and the most common cause of female infertility. PCOS is best defined as androgen excess (high male hormones) when all other causes of androgen excess have been ruled out.

A Few of my Favourite Resources

To treat PCOS, you need to know what's driving it. In other words, you need to know your functional type of PCOS. You could have insulin-resistant PCOS, post-pill PCOS (which is temporary), inflammatory PCOS, or the far less common adrenal PCOS. Through my studies, I was introduced to Lara Briden - The Period Revolutionary. Lara has an excellent short series of blog articles to help better understand PCOS. This is a great place to start, 4 Types of PCOS (a Flowchart).

If you would like support with hormonal imbalances, I highly recommend working with naturopathic doctors - Dr. Mason Bresett ND and Dr. Chelsea Dakers ND at The Health Creation Lab. Visit their website to learn about their diverse set of tools and wholistic solutions.

Yoga can be helpful for polycystic ovary syndrome, even more beneficial than other forms of exercise - particularly in reducing the physical and emotional symptoms caused by PCOS.

I've included a hand gesture (mudra) and affirmation that I like to incorporate into my sessions - both beneficial for PCOS. Shivalinga Mudra helps to balance our masculine and feminine energies and is therefore beneficial for PCOS since it's a manifestation of excess male hormones (androgens). The right hand represents the dynamic masculine energy and the left open palm represents the receptive feminine energy.

This mudra is also beneficial because it counteracts tiredness, dissatisfaction, and depression. Shivalinga Mudra is an extremely healing gesture and can be practiced with the following affirmation, which is relevant to the condition of PCOS:

Healing light illuminates every cell of my body, dissolves everything that should be dissolved, and builds up what must be built up again. Thank you.

Shivalinga Mudra - How To Do It

Place the right hand on top of the left palm. The fingers of the right hand are curled into the right palm with the thumb pointing up (see photo).

This week I'm offering Menstrual Medicine - Yoga for PCOS. Within this session we’ll explore various practices of yoga – postures, breathing, mudra, meditation, affirmation and relaxation to help alleviate the common physical and emotional symptoms caused by PCOS. For many women who suffer menstrual disorders, stress can be a significant contributing factor. Stress can throw adrenal glands into overdrive, increasing levels of androgens. An integrated approach to yoga helps balance the nervous system, relieving chronic stress, which in turn helps balance the hormonal system.

Menstrual Medicine - Yoga for PCOS

Thursday Sept 16th, 8pm EST

Online Via Zoom

Upcoming Sessions

• Celebrate the Cycles & Rhythms of Nature (In-Person, Wednesday Sept 22nd)
• Pawanmuktasana (Joint-Freeing) Sequence (Wednesday Sept 29th) Also wonderful for PCOS.

What are you doing this month to stay connected to yourself, to your yoga practice, and to others?

May we all grow more wise, calm, and grounded in order to better support ourselves and those around us.