Sports and Periods: Challenges, Benefits, and Activities to Prioritize
Back-to-school season is here, and with it, the return of sports! You’re feeling motivated and on a roll, so it would be a shame to stop everything or pause your sessions and workouts just because your period has shown up!
Who hasn’t been excused from PE class because of their period? Today, things are different. You choose to exercise for pleasure, not because you’re forced to like in middle or high school. Sport should above all be a moment of relaxation and joy, a little break just for you in your daily life. Including when you’re on your period!
It would be a pity to miss your squats/abs/glutes session because of your period! So which sport is best during your period? Which period protection should you choose? Menstrual cups or period panties? Which washable, reusable period protection is best suited to physical activity?
Loulou is here to take the pressure off when it comes to sport and periods. We also share information about the little-known benefits of a good workout and guide you towards the best types of physical activity to choose.
Sport & Periods: not always easy for every woman
While some won’t be bothered by this at all, for others it’s far from obvious. Lacing up your trainers and pulling on your leggings on a period day is simply unthinkable for some of us.
When you’re bloated, dealing with stomach pain, abdominal cramps, and fatigue, it’s hard to find the motivation to exercise. There’s also the fear of making existing period pain worse.
Lack of energy, motivation, good mood… in short, nothing is aligned to make you want to roll out your yoga mat or pick up your dumbbells!
Yet working out on your period is actually pretty great
Once the issue of leaks is solved (thanks to the right period protection), sport can do a lot for you during those few difficult days. Among other things: peace of mind, joy, energy, calm, reduced pain and a sense of well-being.
In short, with exercise you feel better. You feel good in your body, in your skin and in your head. That’s true at any time, and even more so during your period. After more than 30 minutes of effort, the endorphins released boost your mood and ease period pain. You feel proud of yourself, strong and more confident.
Exercise improves blood circulation and oxygenation of muscles and organs. It’s also an excellent way to avoid water retention and bloating. Sport also helps you unwind, think about something else, let off steam and release tension.
Which sports can you do during your period?
During your period, you need to listen to your body and respect your limits. You’re not training for the next Olympics! We’re not talking stats or timing here. The goal is simply to find a form of exercise that suits you.
Brisk walking
Not very sporty? Why not simply go for a walk? Grab a bottle of water and head out. Walking at a brisk, steady pace wakes up all your muscles and improves your blood circulation. Your blood pressure and stress levels drop. Why not meet up with friends and walk together? You can chat easily and the time will fly by! In town or in the countryside, it’s a truly accessible, ideal and complete activity.
Do you like walking? Invest in a walking pad. It’s the best investment you’ll make—you won’t regret it. Put on your favorite show and start walking!
Swimming
And why not go for a little dip? Thanks to our menstrual swimsuits or our Loulou menstrual cups, you can swim laps with no problem and no fear of leaks. Swimming helps relieve back pain and gently massages a sore tummy. You’ll come out of the pool with a lovely feeling of well-being and pleasant tiredness, guaranteed!
Yoga
Yoga is the star of activities to do during your period. But be careful, yoga isn’t for everyone. Those with limited mobility may find it hard to move smoothly and hold poses. This can lead to more frustration than relaxation! If you still want to give it a try, start with a beginner class and, above all, choose a gentle yoga style rather than a dynamic one at first.
Fitness
And why not a fitness session without cardio or jumping? You’ll engage your muscles and work on your tone. During your period, you might want to focus on an upper‑body session, targeting arms, shoulders and chest. Core exercises are also excellent for working your whole body without impact. In fitness, there are countless exercises that can be adapted to how you feel and what you’re capable of, all without weights.
Being well-equipped is essential!
Your favourite sport shouldn’t have to stop just because you’re on your period. Worried about leaks or stains? With Louloucup period and intimate protection, you can stop stressing. Super‑absorbent period panties or ultra‑reliable menstrual cups – the choice is yours!
Period underwear for very heavy flow and cup
You have heavy periods and want to smash a fitness session like only you can? You can combine a cup with period underwear if you’re worried about leaks. It’s always an option to guarantee excellent protection.
Our favourite for staying dry during a workout, even with a very heavy period? Without a doubt the Liv style. A black seamless period underwear simple and ultra-reliable with an absorption capacity equivalent to 5 sanitary tampons.
Medium-flow period panties and thong-style period underwear
If your periods are light, normal or medium, our medium-flow period panties are more than enough to absorb all your menstrual blood, even during intense exercise and lots of movement.
If you haven’t already, check out our period thongs. These absorbent undies are super discreet and invisible under your sports leggings or shorts.
Also discover our plus-size period panty collection so you can enjoy fitness with total peace of mind.
Our top pick for sport?
Definitely the Émilie style. This seamless medium-flow period panty is invisible under your sports leggings. You’re fully protected with zero fashion faux pas! This absorbent but discreet period panty stays invisible, even under the tightest clothes.
DISCOVER LOULOUCUP!
And exercising on your period is absolutely not an obligation!
At Loulou, we’re committed to guiding you and helping you live your menstrual cycle and your period more comfortably, and to get through those few special days of the month calmly. We will never tell you what to do. You’re absolutely allowed to stay in bed or binge a series with some chocolate on your couch!
Having your period can be very simple or very complicated. Your period can be barely noticeable or feel like a hurricane. Bleeding can be very light or almost hemorrhagic. Your period can be painless or very painful. It can be irregular, late, early, surprising or off-schedule. In short, every period is unique.
From one menstrual cycle to the next, it can be like night and day. From one woman to another, it’s a completely different story. The best thing is to listen to yourself and do what you really feel like doing and what you believe is right for you and your body.
If you don’t feel like it today, that’s totally fine, no problem! Maybe with your next hormonal cycle you’ll feel better and more motivated to give it a try! :)
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