Tomorrow we’ll come together for the first #NationalPeriodDay ever. And we’re encouraging you to step out and rally with us to end period poverty and period stigma while getting a good workout out of it.

period day: work out your way to end period poverty

But why National Period Day?
For pushing against period poverty issues, demanding actual social change around it, getting period products to be more accessible for every woman and ending the #TamponTax.

Period Facts Served
Did you know 35 U.S. states still demand a sales tax on period products because they consider them non-essential items?

1 in 4 women find it hard to afford period items given their lack of income.

And with the first city-wide study done on period poverty, we even found out that 46% of low-income women had to choose between a meal and period products. That’s almost half of the women struggling with low-income living, almost half.

Code Red understood, now what?
#NationalPeriodDay is just the beginning of a year long campaign to elevate the problem of period poverty on a national scale. We need open conversations about period health and we need solutions to period poverty, with clear policy-making for period products to be freely accessible in schools, shelters and prisons, plus the elimination of the tampon tax in the states still reinforcing it.

Tomorrow, there will be several #PeriodDay rallies held around the country, and we need everybody to take part in them. It’s like they say: the more the better, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re the woman still in menstruating age, a man, or someone long past their red days, we need you to help us raise our voices.

And while you’re at it, rallying for a good cause, supporting women, you’ll be getting a good workout. And even if you’re on your period right now, and feel like walking a mile long is not something you would choose on these days, we’re here to tell you it’s time to end the stigma and feel all the benefits of staying body active while on your period.

Working out + period days = better sleep, relieving symptoms, endorphins and women empowerment. Yes, you read that last phrase right. Exercising during your red days also means feeling more empowered.

Because yes, being a woman means having certain days a month painted with the color of passion. Yes, we menstruate. It’s a natural, womanly process and that’s fine, but when it comes to working out when on their period, women tend to feel hesitant when they should be feeling empowered.

Why? Well, some women feel a lot of belly pain during their period, and that makes it hard for them to focus on the training. Some other experience nausea, headaches and tiredness, and they would rather suspend the training until they feel better. Take into account that exercising while wearing a tampon or a pad could be no easy task either.

Each body is a unique experience, regardless of the general consensus, and every experience should be respected and embraced. Some women actually report no discomfort at all while they’re on their period. They keep exercising as usual and have no issues with pain or exhaustion.

It comes down to a matter of personal choice or comfort, meaning it’s up to you to decide whether you want to work out or not while having your period on your door. But, we found some really cool benefits of exercising while on the first days of your cycle. Curious? Yes!

Alleviate PMS symptoms? I’ll take two, please
Experiencing fatigue, mood swings, cramps, back pain or headaches when getting closer to your period, and also during your cycle, can be normal, but regular aerobic exercise may help lessen these symptoms and improve circulation.

Hello, endorphins!
Exercising gives you a natural endorphin high: it can improve your mood, and actually make you feel better and happier. One of the main benefits of exercising while feeling even more womanly is the endorphin release and workout “high.” And since endorphins are also natural painkillers, when they get released during exercise, you may feel relief from painful periods, also called 'dysmenorrhea'.

Performance goes up
A study has shown that training during the first two weeks of your menstrual cycle –the first day being day 1 of your period– actually optimizes and enhances your performance, and it’s actually better than exercising in the last two weeks of your cycle.

Better sleep nights
Some women have trouble sleeping while menstruating and exercise can be perfect to help your body catch up on some well-needed bedtime. Pain and discomfort sure can take a toll on your sleep quality, and with the added mood swings (anger, sadness, heightened feelings of anxiety), you might find it more difficult to relax enough before bed to get some true sleeping time on those days.

That said, going for a long run or doing some restorative yoga poses can help relax muscle tension. Especially, trying it out before bedtime. Practice some yogic hip-openers like reclined butterfly, low lunge, or a gentle frog pose since gentle stretches and breathing help cool the body down in preparation for rest.

Doing cardio helps as well. It raises your body temperature, which is what causes the body to sweat. That post-exercise drop in the body’s temperature can create sleepy feelings, relaxing tense muscles and lifting menstrual migraines.

Not convinced yet?
No problem. We know that despite the benefits, sometimes it’s hard to feel at ease doing a yoga class, running or boxing while on your period. But, we bet there is nothing more rewarding than getting out, raising your voice and expressing your opinion to support social impact while getting a workout of it, and wearing our social impact leggings.

It’s no secret that finding a good pair of pants –stretchy but tight enough so you can move freely but keep everything in place at the same time– is key for feeling more comfortable when training on period days, and our Alana pants are designed for exactly those moments.

Empower yourself, empower your period and empower other women while wearing empowering pants.

See you at the rally tomorrow!

#PeriodsWithImpact

References
National Period Day. (2019) In Period, The Menstrual Movement. Retrieved from https://www.period.org/nationalperiodday

Exercising during your period. (2017) In Health Line. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/exercise-during-period

Why exercising on your period is a must. (2018) In The Fixx. Retrieved from https://flexfits.com/blogs/thefixx/exercising-on-your-period