Perhaps as important: Yoga can help relieve menopausal symptoms such as insomnia and hot flashes, according to a randomized Brazilian study published in the journal Menopause in 2012.
In the study, women were assigned a series of yoga classes, a passive stretching regimen (where a physical therapist performed stretches on the women), or no change in routine. After four months, those with a yoga practice had significantly fewer menopausal symptoms (such as hot flashes) than the control group and markedly fewer incidences of insomnia than the other two groups. The passive stretching group also had fewer symptoms.
How does yoga physically help your body's hormone system?
"Yoga offers tools to [strengthen] the adrenals, ovaries and thyroid gland – the trinity of hormonal systems," Dr. Gottfried says.
That's because in a yoga exercise, you twist, compress and massage the main hormone-producing glands and organs, she says.
When the compression is released, blood flow to the glands and organs increases, bringing nutrients and oxygen along with it and flushing away waste products, she explains.
Massage works similarly – after tissue is pressed, fresh blood flows in, increasing circulation and tissue health.
"There are other ways to balance your hormones and bring down cortisol levels – drugs and botanicals [natural supplements] do it – but when it's your [yoga] practice that does it, that's really empowering," Dr. Gottfried says.
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