Menstruating women should not do yoga?

Factual Questions
1

I have a yoga DVD that I just bought that I have been working out with for about a month. Last time I noticed in the slew of disclaimers at the beginning it mentioned “women who are menstruating should not perform inverted poses or vigorous standing poses.” Is there a real medical reason for this or are they just covering themselves (from what?)

I have been doing the whole workout and not having any problems, but is there some danger that I am missing here? I have been racking my brain trying to come up with the horrors of inverted poses while on my period, but nothing is coming to mind.

2

Leakage?

3

From Yoga Journal.

At one time, it was thought that doing inverted poses during menstruation could cause endometriosis, but that has been disproven.

4

Thanks. I wondered if it was a medical issue or a philosophical one, as I am not afraid of interrupting the energy flow or whatever, but a physical issue I would want to know about. I am a little suprised this DVD mentioned it since it is a recent release though, if the idea has been disproven. And I still wonder about the ‘vigorous standing poses’ ban, unless that just has to do with some women having less energy then?

5

A previous thread on this very issue.

6

And a semi-related thread with some links to good info.

Periods in Space: TMI

7

I thought it was called “femstruation” nowadays.

8

Oh, and:

This is yoga we’re talking about, right? The disproof of something has never stopped a yoga practitioner from claiming it before.