Menstrual Phase - Your Inner Winter
And, a successful Harmonize Your Cycle & Flow Workshop!
This last weekend my friend Allie and I put on a successful workshop at the beautiful Nurture here in Denver. We hosted 10 women and led them through a grounding meditation, a short talk on cycle syncing and a vinyasa to yin yoga flow.
In our talk, we discussed the 4 phases of our cycle, how each aligns with a season in nature, and how through supporting our gut we support our hormones. Then, we moved our bodies, flowing through our yoga poses to the sounds of Maggie Rogers and Florence and the Machine, and refueled after with hormone bliss bites and raspberry leaf tea, both of which are supportive for women’s health.
It was a beautiful event and I’m so grateful to everyone who came to support Allie and I, and to learn more about their bodies and how to better understand and support them. We’re excited to continue to host workshops in the future in order to teach and build a strong community of women!
If you’re interested in learning more about how our Menstrual Phase relates to the current winter season, read on below!
Winter and the Menstrual Phase
We have 4 phases of the Menstrual Cycle Each month and each phase correlates with a season in nature.
Menstrual - Winter
Follicular - Spring
Ovulatory - Summer
Luteal - Fall
Our Menstrual Cycle begins anew each month on day 1 of our bleed. This phase of the cycle is our inner winter. It’s a time when all hormones are at their lowest levels, our uterine lining is shedding, we are losing blood and fluids and therefore need time to rest, to go inward and to replenish our inner resources. As we turn inward, we can connect to our intuition and make decisions that are emotionally and mentally aligned.
Using winter as a guide for the menstrual phase of our cycle, we can begin to understand our need to go slower instead of pushing ourselves harder. Instead of forcing ourself to workout harder, eat cold raw smoothies and salads and be a social butterfly, we can look to nature and it’s wisdom to be our guide.
It’s cold, so I’ll bundle up and eat warming foods. It’s dark so I’ll rest. My energy is a bit lower, so I will listen to my body’s needs and respond with kindness. I will be intentional about tending to and building my inner resources so that when spring comes around, I’ll have a full tank.
When we learn to go with our own hormonal flow throughout the month instead of swimming against the tide, our lives begin to feel a bit more easeful.
The point of cycle syncing isn’t to be perfect with food, exercise, sleep, stress management and socializing, it’s to come into a more loving and honoring relationship with your Self and your body. One in which you listen to and understand the messages your body is sending you and then are able to respond with attention and care.
Sending love and permission to be good to yourself,
Kaitlyn