Menstruation And Irish Dancing

Irish dancers who have started their periods, know that there’s going to be 3 - 7 days during the month when things are a little different. However, understanding how our periods can impact our dancing can make it easier to manage all the physical and emotional changes we experience. This is nothing to be worried or concerned about, but like with anything, knowledge is power!

Menstruation And Irish Dancing FAQs

How does the menstrual cycle impact our dancing?

Due to the hormonal changes that happen during our period, dancers often experience a range of different mental and physical symptoms, including: 

Bloating

Stomach cramps

Energy fluctuations

Mood swings 

Feeling irritable 

Skin breakouts 

It is easy to see how this may make dancing a little more difficult, but some dancers find that they can better manage their dancing and emotions during this time. 

So, how can we best perform on our period?

There are some things you can do to still perform strongly and confidently while on your period. Find our top five tips below:

• Pain relief - stomach cramps can be uncomfortable, and we all know that it is harder to focus and push ourselves in dance class when we are in pain. So think about carrying some pain relief around in your dance bag. When you are at home, things like a hot water bottle can be beneficial as the heat acts as a natural pain reliever.

• Comfortable clothes - when we are on our period, and in the few days beforehand, we retain more water than usual, which makes us feel more bloated than usual. That is why it is good to wear clothes which are suitable for dance class, but are also comfortable. Plus black clothes will help if you are worried about any leaks. 

• Practice self-compassion - mood swings and irritability can be hard to deal with, so that is why it is important to be kind to yourself. Practice self-compassion by not being so hard on yourself if you’re not dancing amazingly, giving yourself time during the week to relax, and being patient with yourself and your emotions. 

• Keep dancing - we know it is hard when you’re in pain and all you want to do is lie on the couch with chocolate, but exercise is a fantastic way to relieve cramps. Meg says that the only thing that helps her cramps go away is going for a run. So get up and practice or complete a stamina class and your cramps will soon disappear. 

• You’re not alone - remember that almost every woman goes through exactly what you are going through right now, you’re not alone. Lean on your friends and family for support, especially on days when your emotions are running high. 

Menstruation and Irish dancing during this is something that can be managed, and dancing well during your period is more than capable of happening, and you can achieve all your goals whether you’re on your period or not. However, having tools in place to understand how you can feel emotionally and physically different can help you prepare for dancing during your time of the month.