There is more and more evidence to support the use of yoga to improve pain and quality of life in women with chronic pelvic pain, including endometriosis. While yoga practice may not resolve chronic pain, it can be a fantastic tool for women to help them manage their pain and improve their quality of life. Benefits identified in the systematic review are linked to the combination of specific postures, breath work and meditation.  Does that mean you are "doomed" to yoga due to illness and pain? Will you no longer take part in your favourite activities such as spinning and weightlifting? Nothing could be further from the truth! If you are not a fan of yoga- it is fine. But remember ? listen to your body.  There is another important aspect that can help you plan your movement - the menstrual cycle.  With increased energy in the follicular phase (the first half of your cycle, from bleeding to ovulation) is a good time to challenge yourself or increase the intensity of your exercise (you can try running or strength training)  As your energy slows in the luteal phase (the second half of your cycle, from the end of ovulation to the start of bleeding), allow your workouts to slow down, too. Shift from high-intensity bouts of exercise to activities like yoga, walking, and easy bike rides. Not only will these types of movements match your energy level (and you won?t be fighting your natural hormonal rhythms, which can be counterproductive), but you will get better results, too. If you experience estrogen dominance (and a lot of women with period problems do), exercising hard all the time can backfire.