Self Care During Your Menstrual Cycle

​For many women and young women, it can be a difficult time dealing with all of the changes her body and hormones go through throughout her cycle. It can also be an empowering time, a time to get to know yourself more and feel connected to your body's wisdom. If you have the awareness of where you are at in your cycle, you can plan your schedule more accordingly to how you are feeling that day.
 
In Ancient times, when a girl would bleed, her family and friends would celebrate the girl becoming a young woman, and she would be taken into the red tent where she would retreat, rest, hear stories and songs from her mother, grandmothers, aunties and the women in her village.

Menstruating women would be served delicious foods and receive luxurious foot baths and massages, as this was (and still is!) a special time of retreat when a woman needs extra nourishment! She was truly honored and respected by all people of the village.

When a woman completes her cycle menstruating, she goes through another big passage into menopause, which was also honored and celebrated as the woman was now seen and respected as a wise elder of the community.
 
In today's society, there are a lot of demands that are placed on girls and women. There is school, families, social gatherings, extracurricular activities, relationships, work, household chores and responsibilities,  yet there is still so much importance and beauty to your cycle. This is a time when your body is cleansing, cleaning out old toxins and releasing emotions that had occurred from the previous month's cycle. It is a time for rejuvenation and a time to set intentions for a new, fresh start!

You may feel you have less energy at the first day or two that you bleed and it is important for you listen to how you are feeling and the signs your body is telling you. During the middle of your cycle, at ovulation, when you are most fertile, usually around days 12-14 you may feel you have much more energy and inspiration so this is a great time to plan to do more social and productive things! On your first few days of your cycle (the first few days you begin to bleed), your body may be giving you signs to rest or to spend some time alone or you may feel like you are getting sick. These are messages from your body telling you to slow down and nurture yourself. If you feel to, spend some time alone in nature or in your room. Maybe go for a walk. Perhaps make the time to have a relaxing bath with a few drops of lavender oil or clary sage oil which help ease cramps. Eat dark chocolate (which contains magnesium which also helps ease cramps) and your favorite healthy nourishing warm meal for the strength your body is needing especially during this special time of your cycle.
 
As females, we bleed in relationship with the moon, which is approximately a 29 day lunar cycle from new moon to full moon, as is our menstrual cycle. The average menstrual cycle is 29.5 days. This is why many call this time, instead of your period, your Moontime. Every Moontime is so special, it is a time to slow down, listen to your intuition, and take care of yourself. Your hormones are changing and there is a lot happening in your body and brain. You may be feeling more sensitive the days leading up to and during your moon time. There are several ways you can prepare for this special time each month. You can make cloth pads which are reusable. You may choose to carry lavender, rose or clary sage essential oils with you, and when you like, have a smell or put some on your wrists, heart, and behind your neck for a calming and soothing effect. You can drink herbal teas, (blending nettles, raspberry leaf, chamomile and lemon balm in a pot is one of my favorite blends) and place a hot water bottle on your belly to help soothe menstrual cramps. Perhaps pick up a good book and read about this special time of your cycle, or paint, write, do gentle yoga and listen to some relaxing music you enjoy.
 
ACTIVITY:
~Lie down in a comfortable position.
~Take several deep breaths in through your nose and out through your nose, feeling your belly rise with each inhale and your belly lower with each exhale.
~Place your hands below your belly button over your pelvic region. When you feel relaxed and ready, silently or out loud ask your womb (the female organ where fetuses grow and if not pregnant, where the blood sheds from the lining of this powerful life-sustaining organ)  what it is wanting or needing right now.
~You may or may not receive any clear answer and whatever happens is perfect.
~You can rest in this space for as long as you like. You can write down the answers you receive from your body's wisdom.
~Take action by taking the steps to follow whatever guidance you received.
 
You can do this activity any time, if you're bleeding or not. Doing this helps you tap into your that wise intuition of yours to discover what is best for you, while giving yourself the love and respect you deserve, because you ultimately know what is best for you!