(And if you're not feeling terribly zen right now, it can also help you shake a bad mood).

If you feel like a giant hand is squeezing your insides, yoga is a great way to stretch and soothe your muscles. Endorphins actually change the way your brain processes pain, so if you can power through those first few I-don't-wanna-do-this minutes, a sweat sesh can help you feel a lot better. 'Stretching and aerobic exercise help with the production of endorphins, which are your body's feel-good hormones,' Dr. But don't worry, you don't have to run a 5K or anything-a short walk or a few minutes of yoga is enough to get your circulation going and loosen up your muscles. This may sound like the worst idea ever, especially when you barely have the motivation to get off the couch to change your tampon. 'Heat will increase blood flow to the area, and it relaxes the contracting muscles that are causing the pain,' Dr. If your cramps are making it impossible to get comfy, try snuggling up with a heating pad or hot water bottle against your belly, or soaking in a hot bath. Just make sure you follow the dosage recommendations on the box, and give your parents a heads-up that you're taking it. 'Take pain relievers at the very beginning of your period, before cramps become intense,' Dr. And you don't need to wait until you're miserable to take a pain reliever-if your cycle is pretty regular and you know when your period is coming, you may be able to stave off cramps before they even start. Ibuprofen lowers your levels of prostaglandins, which are the hormone-like substances that trigger uterine cramping and cause pain and inflammation. No surprise here, but taking a pain reliever can, um, relieve pain.

How to relive cramps