what are good exercises to ease menstration pain/ cramps?
Yoga can be very helpful, (I am personally WAY past needing it, but I did use yoga therapeutically a lot in the past for this).
Restorative yoga is often helpful at this time.
I would say to focus on longer holds, to allow the body time to stretch. Also focus on breath work, with attention to elongating the exhale. Gentle twists will help to ease tightness in the back, and help to promote fluid movement, but take care not to go to far in the stretch. Seated postures, crouching postures, supine postures are all good. I would take care with prone postures, or use a pillow under the hips to ease the back.
I agree with the general recommendation to avoid inversions.
Postures I would use would include the six movements of the spine, which includes cat and cow, thread the needle, and kneeling side bends. Also pawanmuktasana (called wind releaving pose), happy baby, seated spinal twists.
Upavistha konasana and badha konasana work for some people, while others hate them, or feel self conscious doing them in a class. Same with garland pose, called Malasana… but that one is more advanced, and not for anyone without extremely healthy knees.
Seated spinal twists can be great also.
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