Women's Moon Wisdom: Recent Episodes
Rebecca Rankin
Welcome to The Women's Moon Wisdom Podcast, a safe space for holistic healing, cyclical living, and self-discovery. Each episode invites you to dive deep into feminine wisdom, empowering you to honor your natural rhythms and unlock your potential for true fulfillment.
Join us as we explore holistic healing practices, spiritual growth, and the art of living in harmony with your cycle. Our discussions will nurture your body and soul, helping you harness the power of mindfulness and spiritual connection.
Whether you're seeking to uncover your purpose or embrace a more meaningful life, every episode provides valuable tools and insights. Embark on an empowering journey to connect with your inner wisdom and live authentically. It's time to be the driver of your life, not the chauffeur of everyone else's.
I love hearing people’s stories. How did someone get to where they are? Where did they start? And I figure, for some of you, you, too, might be curious to hear my story. In today’s episode, I’m going to share a bit about my journey into the wellness space and how that lead me from yoga to women's hormones.
Resources:
I mention my Cyclical Living Self-Care Course. Here it is: https://www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/begintoday
And my youtube channel. I'd love for you to subscribe to it here. https://www.youtube.com/@womensmoonwisdom
Subscribe to The Women's Moon Wisdom Podcast and share with your friend!
In this episode, we have a conversation with Conscious CFO and Manifesting Expert, Angela Christian. She shares with us a bit more about the depth behind the different laws of manifesting and how there is a lot more to manifesting your desires than just thinking something into reality.
You can check out here new book called "Manifesting Mastery" wherever you buy your books.
Resources:
Grab Angela's Free Self-Worth resource Here
If you are a mother, know a mother, or want to be a mother, you'll want to tune into this episode with Postpartum Doula, Jessica Glose.
We dive into the importance of postpartum care and how the education of it is lacking in our culture. We have to become our own advocates to create the postpartum experience that we all deserve.
Even by reframing how we look at our own cycles will help us prepare for the time after birth. When we respect our monthly bleeds as mini postpartum times, we are that much more able to allow ourselves the time for rest and be better at receiving support.
We also learn that even if you gave birth 5, 10, 20 years ago, repair work can always be done. Listen to our conversation and be inspired by the mothers in your life whether you are one, want to be one, have one, or know one.
Resources:
- Jessica Glose can be found on Instagram and Facebook: @beyondbirthwellness
In this episode, we welcome Ayurvedic Practitioner, Kimberly Kubicke to the show. She shares with us knowledge about the ancient healing modality of Ayurveda.
Using Ayurvedic principles, you better understand your body and become the advocate for your health and well-being. Ayurveda is a framework that will help you navigate your lifestyle choices to best work with your Dosha (body type).
Kimberly also shares with us some Ayurvedic practices that can help nourish the body and balance hormones. These practices are accessible and pretty much free! All you need is a willingness to try them and begin to implement them into your daily life.
Resources
Kimberly mentions using Alternate Nostril Breathing to help balance hormones. You can find this practice on my youtube channel here.
Want to find out your Dosha (your body type)? Take this quiz - https://www.indraholistic.com/resources.html
Be sure to subscribe to the Podcast!
What is seed cycling and how do you actually do it?
In this episode I interview Julia Kormanski-Miller, a nutritionist and entrepreneur who started a Seed Cycling Company, Manskis Wellness.
You'll learn how to use seeds to offer nutritional support throughout your cycle.
Follicular Half- Pumpkin and Flax Seeds
Luteal Half - Sunflower and Sesame Seeds
Resources:
Want to receive 10% off your next order? Click here for your next order!
You can connect to Julia and her offerings here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manskis_wellness/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC985caHCFyiBDbXKi3Q94lw Shop seed cycling! https://www.manskiswellness.com/shop Learn more about us! https://www.manskiswellness.com/new-page-1 Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. You should always consult with your healthcare provider.
How can we take cues from the lunar moon phases to better understand our own cycle?
We have all been conditioned to believe that we need to perform at the same level day in and day out. We tend to just think about our circadian rhythm. Our solar rhythm. That is our 24 hour clock. Yet, for those of us who menstruate, It’s not the only clock we run on. Just like the cycles in nature - there are many cycles at play at the same time. We also have an infradian rhythm - our menstrual cycle.
- Follicular phase = Inner Waxing Moon - Think Big
- Ovulatory phase = Inner Full Moon - Visibility
- Luteal Phase = Inner Waning Moon - Setting boundaries
- Menstrual Phase = Inner new moon - Releasing and calling in
Sacred Cycles:
White Moon Cycle is when you have your period with the new moon and ovulation with the full moon.
Pink Moon Cycle is when your period is during the Waxing moon phase and you ovulate during the Waning Moon phase.
Red Moon Cycle is when your period is during the full Moon and you ovulate during the New Moon.
Purple Moon is when you menstruate when the moon is waning and ovulate with the waxing moon
Resources:
I mentioned the book "Unwell Women: Misdiagnosis and Myth in a Man-Made World” by Elinor Cleghorn.
Free Journaling resource to anchor into each phase of your cycle: https://www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/journalprompts
And reach out on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/womensmoonwisdom/
In this episode, we are going to touch on the use of breath work to help minimize period discomfort. We will even do a breathing practice together that you can do when you are experiencing period cramps or honestly, anytime you need to calm your bodyMind.
Period cramps, why do we have them and what is going on? During your menstrual period, your uterus contracts to help expel its lining. Hormone-like substances called prostaglandins trigger the uterine muscle contractions. They help the uterus contract and relax, so that the endometrium can detach and flow out of your body.
Some of us experience more period discomfort than others. A simple way to navigate the day before your period and first few days of your period is with stress relief techniques. And a simple technique that you can do wherever you are - deep breathing.
Resources:
Want to watch this breathing practice instead of listen? Check it out on our Youtube Channel Here. https://youtu.be/0kum1j3ur_o
Want to dive deeper with daily breath work, meditation, and movement practices that shift with each day of your cycle? Check out the Cyclical Living Self-Care course here. https://www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/begintoday
In this episode, we have a special guest, Aria Everts. Aria is an expert in transforming the lives of Conscious Leaders through Spiritually Integrated Coaching. She gets to the root of blocks, so that one’s deepest life purpose can be experienced with serendipity and flow. Her clients include founders, authors, TED speakers, scientists, and creatives who believe together we can create a world where all life is honored.
Aria and Rebecca discuss the topic of ritual and how to integrate it as a spiritual practice into your daily life. They share personal practices to help give insight so that you can create your own ritual. This conversation will offer you opportunities to explore creating moments of sacred space in your day so that you may weave in more intentionality.
Resources:
In the episode, we mention Aria's free ritual resource. You can claim your Sovereignty Ritual here. https://ariamae.com/
How good are you at setting boundaries? And… How good are you at committing to them when you set them?
In this episode, we’re talk about setting boundaries. What that looks like, how to set them and how to honor them. Part of optimizing our cyclical nature is about getting clear about our boundaries and honoring them. And this is especially true for us within our cycle when we shift into the more inward focus part of our cycle - the luteal phase and menstrual phase. This half of our cycle it is especially important to have our boundaries in place when we naturally feel a bit more sensitive and overwhelm and stress can get the best of us.
As we shift through different seasons of life, it’s important to reestablish what they look like, because as our life evolves, so will the things we need more structure around evolve. With so many things fighting for your attention, its important to set boundaries for our physical, emotional, energetic, and mental well-being.
Resources:
I mentioned the planner that I love to use. It's from the company Archer & Olive.
As mentioned during the podcast, I have a free cyclical living resource for you. Download your guided reflections to access your hormonal strengths through each phase of your cycle here.
And let's connect on instagram. @womensmoonwisdom
In this episode, we're going to dive into success - what does success look like to you? We'll also discover an opportunity to realign, envision, and gain clarity in understanding your definition of success so you can step into the life you are dreaming of and be in alignment with your higher Self.
I’m pretty sure that for all of us, success is something that we all strive for in some way. As much as we say we want to be successful in our career and life overall, if you don’t take the time to truly envision what it looks and feels like, and most importantly take action, then success will be that much more difficult to achieve.
Finding some inner clarity as to what defines success for you can only then help you put more purpose into your days and lead you to living in alignment with your higher self, your true nature. And part of finding inner clarity is asking yourself what is your vision of success, what does it feel like and… what is your why?
Resources:
Want a 15 minute guided visualization for success? Check out my online business mentor's free audio here. https://dg101.isrefer.com/go/before/rebeccarankin/
Want to grab my free journal prompts to help you align with your needs and desires each phase of your cycle? Grab it here. https://www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/journalprompts
I'm not sure about you, but I am such a sucker for love stories and in this episode, I’m going to share my story of how I once went on a first date - and didn’t realize it. This episode is a bit of a more personal share and my hope in sharing this is that it’s a) entertaining b) opens you to possibilities.
In my 20s, I wasn’t necessarily looking for a committed relationship. In fact, I was terrified of them. I wanted to travel the world and didn't want to feel tied down and mostly, feared being rejected. I would come up with some reason why I needed to end a relationship or self-sabotage the relationship so that it would end on its own. It was rooted in deep feelings of not feeling worthy of someone's love and attention. And certainly a fear of them discovering who I really was when I was just discovering that.
Well, that all changed when I went on a first date without even realizing it.
Resources:
I'd love to hear your love story and connect. Head over to my website and grab my free loving-kindness meditation to help strengthen your feelings of acceptance, compassion, and kindness towards yourself and others. www.rebeccarankinyoga.com
Hormone health can sometimes feel like an abstract concept.. You hear about balancing your hormones and preventing hormonal imbalances, but what does that actually look like as far as your everyday life goes. In this episode, we're going to look at the 5 pillars to hormone balance and some practices that you can lean into today to help support your female biochemistry.
As a certified women’s holistic hormone health practitioner, there are five foundational aspects that we lean into to support a woman’s journey towards overall hormonal well-being. The more that we can be educated about lifestyle choices that can improve our health and well-being, then hormonal health isn’t an abstract concept.
When you’re more aware of how the everyday choices you make or don't make effect all the different systems of your body, then there is a bit more motivation behind your actions.
The 5 pillars to hormonal balance.
- Nutrition - Inner & Outer
- Movement & Exercise
- Stress Management
- Education
- Commitment to Healing
Resources:
- I mentioned my monthly membership, Yoga On-Demand, as a resource for breathing exercises, guided meditations, and movement practices for stress management. You can find that here. https://www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/yoga-on-demand
- Want to connect? Head to my website. Grab the free loving-kindness meditation and be added to the newsletter. https://www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/
- Want to work together 1:1? https://www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/1to1
Exercise is not just about getting healthy for health’s sake. It’s not about exercising because you think you ‘should” or your doctor told you “should”. If that's the case, it becomes just one more thing on your never ending to-do list that you need to get done today.
Think of your movement practice as this tool to tap into your power, your inner fire, your spirit, that which allows you a clearer connection to Source, the Universe, God, Creator, your Higher Self. Whatever belief system that you resonate with.
It’s more about when you’re feeling good, you have the energy to create the life you’ve been dreaming of.
When your body is working better, you feel better. When you feel better, you are more open to opportunities. You get better at cultivating joy in your life. You can connect more with others. It’s not about ‘getting healthy’ because you think you ‘should”. It’s the steps that allow you a deeper connection to your body, you r mind, and your spirit.
It’s allows a deeper connection to Love with a capital L.
And for those of us with female biochemistry, we probably have all had those times when one week we are crushing our fitness milestones only to find that the next week we hit a wall.
Syncing your movement practice with your cycle allows you to A) stay consistent and B) optimize our hormonal advantage so that we don’t get burnt out.
Resources:
What is the current lunar phase? Check it out here
Want to sync your movement and self-care with your cycle? Check out the Cyclical Living Self-Care Framework course here and receive lifetime access to these yoga, movement, breath work, and meditation practices to help you sync with your cycle and take advantage of your hormonal, cyclical nature. https://www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/begintoday
There are times in our life that even if we are mindful of setting boundaries we still end up with a lot on our plate. It happens to all of us. And when we start to take on too much and our boundaries start to get compromised, we can feel overwhelm creeping in. And then the voice in your head starts to spiral into ‘how am I going to get this done? I don’t have enough time?’
Even using all the time management skills you have and making check lists and to-do lists, and spread sheets to manage projects, it can still give us this sense of overwhelm. That feeling of heaviness that sits on our shoulders as we work towards whatever our end result is.
My mantra found me. Yes, it found me at the exact time I needed to hear it. “Let it Be easy”.
This mantra found me while I was listening to a podcast by my digital course mentor, Amy Porterfield, where she was interviewing an author, Susie Moore, who wrote a book called “Let it Be Easy”. (Susie Moore now has a podcast called "Let it Be Easy")
While hustle culture might slowly be fading to a thing of the past, it doesn’t mean there aren’t seasons of our lives that we hustle. We still have times where we are hustling to get things done. And this is when the mantra comes in. Let it be easy.
Resources:
I'd love to connect, you can join my newsletter at www.rebeccarankinyoga.com
Also, here's the Cyclical Living Framework that I mentioned: www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/begintoday
At the time of this episode, it’s the summer solstice. A time that often represents freedom and happiness. It can be a time where we strengthen our friendships. We can think of it as a time that represents optimism, positivity, hope for the future. It represents life and the endless possibilities that await.
And with all of that being said, it can be an easy time when we get swept away with all of the things.
Do you feel this way?
Like you are saying “Yes” to everything?
And when we say “Yes” to it all we can easily lose our sense of self. In the summer, it’s easy to stay up later than you normally would or go out more often. Routines are thrown to the wind and we allow ourselves freedom to go with the flow.
And there isn’t anything inherently wrong with that as long as at the root of it all your staying grounded in your sense of self, in your needs, and desires.
In this episode, you'll find my 3 tips to not lose your sense of self when you take on too much and you say 'Yes' to ALL the things!!
Resources:
I mention episode #15 to help you stick to your morning ritual. You can find that here.
I also mention my syncing your self-care practices with each phase of your cycle. If you're interested in learning how to do this, check out, Women's Moon Wisdom Self-Care framework course at www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/begintoday
At the time of this episode coming out, it is a full moon and I felt called to offer this guided meditation that can honestly, be done whenever, and is also fun to play with during your inner full moon phase.
So for those who are cycling and leaning into cyclical living, this can be a great guided meditation to use during your inner full moon phase or your ovulatory phase (roughly the halfway point in your cycle). Alternatively, if you’re working with the lunar phases, this can be a great one to work with during the full moon of the lunar cycle.
And also, you can enjoy this whenever you'd like.
Our ovulatory phase & full moon phase can be the peak of our energy, mood & libido. Or if you aren’t currently cycling, even working with the energy of the actual full moon in lunar phases, while the energy might be more subtle than the embodied feeling of cycling hormones, it can offer you guidance too and you may feel the same peak in outward energy.
When we align with our true nature, we can feel like a beacon of light sharing with the world from a place of peace, grace and love. We can shine our light outward to inspire others and be inspired.
In this guided meditation, you will connect with the inner fire of your heart. The part of you that sparks creativity, motivation, compassion, and love - All those attributes that are heightened during your ovulatory phase. And as you visualize the fire of your heart, you will use it to offer up any negative qualities to be cleansed and transformed by the fire of your heart so that you can move forward in your day sharing from a place that is alignment with your highest Self.
Resources:
Interested in learning more about how to live in sync with your hormonal shifts through cyclical living? Check out this free cyclical living workshop www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/cyclical-living
Ready to dive deeper with cyclical living? Check out this Self-Care Framework Course www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/begintoday
Where does imposter syndrome sneak into your life? Or does it? It’s that vicious cycle that goes through our minds and is incredibly prevalent with women. I read a study* that stated 75% of executive women report having personally experienced imposter syndrome at certain points in their career.
Somewhere along the lines we were made to feel unsure of ourselves. And perhaps somewhere along the way, we started to second guess ourselves and second guess our feelings even in the most seemingly small ways. And that uncertainty then trickles in where you don’t expect it - like am i a runner or do I just enjoy running?
“I love running. But, I’m not a runner.” This is the statement that I would tell myself over and over again and even tell others. In many ways, it was to offer myself an out in case anyone was thinking in their head “She calls herself a runner? And of course, no one is thinking that and let’s face it. If they are, it says more about them than it does me. And that type of judgemental individual probably isn’t in my close sphere of friends.
In this episode, I share a story of my personal struggle with imposter syndrome as it relates to my place in the running world. I’ll also share a story with you about my worst training plan and how it yielded some big revelations.
And if you'd like a free yoga for runners practice, check this out! https://www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/yoga-for-runners
References:
- Study that finds female executives more likely to feel imposter syndrome.
I briefly mention the importance of nose breathing. If you're interested in learning more, check out James Nestor's book, 'Breath: The New Science of A Lost Art'
Are you a night owl or an early bird? As for me, I do LOVE the mornings. There is something so sacred feeling about being awake to witness the earth waking up around you.
Taking time in the morning to start the day with a self-care ritual gives you a sense of accomplishment and a deep sense of self-worth.
Yet, sometimes, we just need a little help in honoring the commitment to our morning self-care practices. My hope is that this episode will help you put the foundation in place to honor the commitment to yourself to start a daily self-care practice.
Resources:
In this episode, I mention my Yoga On-Demand subscription to help you get started. Here is the link. www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/yoga-on-demand
I also mention the Women's Moon Wisdom Self-Care Framework course that helps you use your self-care practices to align with your cycle and empower you with tools for cyclical living. www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/begintoday
Cycles bring us into balance. And we see this reflected all around us - the growing cycle of your garden, the cycles of the seasons, the cycle of the moon, and our own hormonal cycle.
And for as much energy that we put out in being productive and getting things done, there must be the opposite energy on inward focus and self-nourishing to keep us in balance.
So how do you feel grounded again when, in your cycle, you make the shift from outward to inward focus? Well, a simple way is through self-care. You can always look to your self-care tools as your entry point into realigning to your needs and desires and therefore to your cycle.
A simple grounding technique that I highly recommend, especially during menstruation is a breathing technique called Viloma pranayama or 3 part breathing exercise.
During your menstruation phase, or your inner New Moon phase, it's important to make time to get quiet with our thoughts and offer ourselves time for clarity.
In this breathing exercise, you'll be able to calm the nervous system, feel more grounded in your body, and therefore better connect with the aspect of yourself that is evaluating what is working and what isn't working in your life.
Viloma Pranayama is an interval breathing exercise in which the exhaling breath is divided into 3 separate parts.
In this practice, you will take a long inhale. When you exhale, you'll exhale the first third of your lungs and briefly pause. Then exhale the second third and pause. Then exhale the remaining third.
You can visualize that you are drawing energy up from the earth on your inhale. As you exhale, you can think you are sending energy down along your torso out your pelvis and back to the earth, grounding you.
Use this practice to help you turn your focus inward and feel grounded in your body.
If you're looking to head straight to the breathing practice, it begins at [6:00] minutes in.
Resources:
Looking for more breathing exercises, guided meditations, and yoga that you can practice at home? Try 14 days free of the Yoga On-Demand at www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/yoga-on-demand
Want to learn how to sync your self care practices with your cycle through what has been termed cycle syncing and cyclical living? Add yourself to the waitlist for our next session of Women's Moon Wisdom Self Care Framework at www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/wmw
We have all had those days where we feel like we are getting swept away by stress and anxiety. Where it seems like all of the external noise of the world echoes in our head and it’s hard to have a clear thought. Having a toolbox of self-care techniques to tap into helps you stay grounded and more capable of weathering the storms of life.
There are many ways to feel grounded and in alignment with that place of calm that lies within. These are my top favorite ways to stay grounded.
And as promised in the episode, here is a free resource to a Loving-Kindness Meditation. You will receive both a printable version of it, and also be able to listen to a guided meditation of it. https://www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/lovingkindness
And if you are looking for more guided meditations, check out the library of meditations for free for the first 14 days at https://www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/yoga-on-demand
Let's connect on Instagram. You can find me at @WomensMoonWisdom.
Be sure to subscribe and follow The Women's Moon Wisdom Podcast so you know when the next episode will drop!
This conversation with Clinal Herbalist and Integrative Health Educator, Kay'aleya Hunnybee, is full of wisdom and great resources. Kay'aleya specializes in herbalism for menstrual, sexual, and hormonal health and is devoted in sharing tools for those with wombs to work with plant allies.
We discuss how connecting deeper with the natural world just outside your door can bring about deeper relationships with the plant medicines that you choose to work with and how that can be a first step to healing at a deeper level as more and more of us feel removed from the natural environment.
Kay'aleya talks about what working with an herbalist looks like and how the approaches may vary. She even shares how one might work with herbs within your cycle if working 1:1 with an herbalist isn't accessible.
Be sure to listen as she recommends working with herbs like nettles, raspberry leaf, oat straw through nourishing infusions for menstrual and cyclical support.
Her top go-to herbs to work with for those with wombs aren't your typical choices. She explains why establishing a relationship with and working with the herbs motherwort, dandelion, ashwaghanda, and tulsi are ones to not be without.
To connect deeper with Kay'aleya Hunnybee you can find her at the following:
- You can find her sharing content on her podcast, Herbal Womb Wisdom.
- Track your Cycle the natural way with her free cycle tracker here.
- Garden for your Menstrual Health Free Guide here.
- On Social - @herbalwombwisdom
I received an email that through me off course a bit. In short, the email was from a woman who is postmenopausal who used hormonal birth control and then hormone replacement therapy to bypass the 'ups and downs, pains, and hormonal storms' that go along with being cyclical. The email was written in a way that wasn't meant to be from a place of loving kindness, shall I say.
Anyways, after regulating my stress response (thank you, deep breaths), I had some moments of inquiry about our 'Why' behind taking hormonal birth control when it's for reasons outside of contraception.
And please don't get me wrong, I am all for women and those with female biochemistry to have a choice and a say in their reproductive health. Yes, please!
AND I am also all for educated decision making, knowing ALL the options out there, and weighing the risks to make the most mindful decision.
In this episode, I read an excerpt from the book, 'Hormone Intelligence' by Dr. Aviva Romm, M.D. Here is a link to learn more about her works. www.avivaromm.com
Also, if you are interested in working a bit more with syncing with your cycle through what was been termed Cyclical Living, you can check out my free Cyclical Living Workshop here. www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/cyclical-living
Shortly after I started this podcast, I received a message from a listener asking if I was planning on adding any guided meditations to the episodes. And with my background as a yoga teacher and mindfulness educator, among other things, I actually had planned on sprinkling some in for you to enjoy. And this message from a listener was just the spark I needed to motivate me to share.
This meditation is honestly, just a great go-to guided meditation for when your mind is stuck in a loop. I find it especially beneficial in the inner new moon or waning moon phases in your cycle when you have that natural inclination to turn inwards. Have a listen and enjoy.
And if you're looking for more guided meditations (or over 100 meditation & movement practices), check out my Yoga On-Demand Resource (the first 14 days are free!) at: https://www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/yoga-on-demand
We can probably all agree that this past 2 years, our habits have shifted quite a bit, and one thing is still certain, we are probably all pushing ourselves just as much to be productive.
It is ingrained in us to be perpetually productive - yet, it’s not sustainable at all. Taking cues from the natural world around us shows us that even the earth rests and so should we. So something as simple as taking your lunch break, can be the recharge that you need to rest, recalibrate, and refresh for the rest of the day.
Here are 5 tips for Mindful Eating
- Eat sitting down.
- Turn off distractions
- Eat until you are 80% full.
- Chew your food until it loses its texture.
- Avoid drinking loads of water during your meal
As always, share this with friends or loved ones that might benefit from it.
And let's stay connected! Find me on Instagram at @womensmoonwisdom
And the doors are open for the cyclical Living Course - Women's Moon Wisdom: A Self-Care Framework to living in sync with your cycle at www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/wmw
Your luteal phase can sometimes get a bad wrap, too (think PMS). This is the time we start to turn inward and start to nourish ourselves.
And I don't blame us. In a society that boasts networking, socializing, putting others first, it's no wonder that we tend to overextend ourselves when our biochemistry is yelling "Slow down!"
What's up with my hormones now?
Once the egg is released, your body will have a surge of progesterone. Then once your body confirms you aren't pregnant, all hormones begin to decrease. Your energy, mood, and libido decrease. The shifting and dropping of hormones that occurs in this phase contribute to the mood changes in Pre Menstrual Syndrome
What does that actually look like?
The falling levels of estrogen, testosterone, progesterone and serotonin help to balance our outward focus of nurturing others by allowing us to turn inward and nurture ourselves.
There is a natural inclination to finishing projects and tying up loose ends. Without high estrogen levels to buffer, you may feel more sensitive or emotional, especially if you don't have boundaries in place.
What's the best options for movement?
Challenge yourself in this phase or try something new
- Slow flow
- Strength training
- Shorter & slower runs
- Lighter hiking
How does this affect my work flow?
With your hormones heightening your ability to plan, strategize and see the details, this is the optimal time to lean into:
- Finishing projects (especially all of the things you said 'Yes' to in the Waxing moon phase)
- Organizing your home or office
- Meet deadlines
- Checking off your to-do list
- Devote time to do deep inner work
- Set & honor your boundaries
Your self-care is your entry point to Cyclical Living. Join me for a Cyclical Living Self-Care Course at www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/wmw
We're at the halfway point in your cycle and this is often your peak in outward expression! You're probably feeling more inclined to be more visible and put yourself out there.
Even an introvert (like myself) feels a bit extra social during this phase of my cycle. [As I text friends and family random "Hi! How's it going?' messages]
What's up with my hormones now?
Your pituitary gland releases luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulation the egg to release from the follicle. Your estrogen & testosterone peak and your energy, mood, and libido are at their highest.
What does that actually look like?
The surging of Estrogen to its peak level lead to a boost in synaptic connections within the brain which increase sharpness and communication skills as well as creativity.
This is likely when you'll feel most social, outgoing & verbal. It's also the time to have any difficult conversations.
What's the best options for movement?
Take advantage of the surge in energy and get sweaty
- Challenging Power Yoga & Vinyasa Flow
- HIIT or Bootcamp style Classes
- Group workouts
- If you're a runner, sprints & speed work
How does this affect my work flow?
The verbal and social centers of the brain are stimulated making this a great time to put yourself out there and work with others. Think of this as a time to be of service to others & your community.
- Have important conversations like asking for a raise or time off
- Attend networking events
- Collaborate with others
- Negotiate with others
- Put yourself out there
If you're interested in using cycle specific self-care practices to live in sync with your cycle through what is called Cyclical Living, check out the Women's Moon Wisdom Self-Care Framework at https://www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/begintoday
The follicular phase starts the first day after your period ends - the first day you are no longer bleeding.
With a boost in hormones and a fresh outlook, you might find yourself saying 'Yes!' to ALL the things.
What's up with my hormones now?
Estrogen & testosterone levels begin to increase. Your pituitary gland releases follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) which triggers a follicle in the ovary to mature enough to prepare to release an egg at ovulation. Energy, mood, & libido all rise.
What does that actually look like?
Your estrogen levels rise and boost your brains ability to plan, strategize, & solve problems.
This is when hormonal levels spark creativity and make it a great time to start something new.
What's the best options for movement?
Challenge yourself in this phase or try something new
- Vinyasa Flow
- HIIT
- Cardio/ Dance
- Long Runs
How does this affect my work flow?
With your hormones heightening your ability to plan, strategize and see the zoomed out picture, this is the optimal time to lean into:
- Starting new projects
- Saying "Yes" to the things that light you up
- Brainstorm with colleagues
- Plan for the coming weeks
- Dream big
So... this might be the part of your phase that you are most familiar with.
It might also be the part of the phase that you feel is the most inconveniencing. I get it.
Well... let's go over the 101 basics of the menstrual phase and see if you can acknowledge just how amazing your body and cycle really are!
The beginning of each cycle starts the first day of your period. It's the time that we honor releasing the old to make room for a fresh start.
In this phase, the shedding of your uterine lining occurs. Estrogen & progesterone are at their lowest, triggering your bleeding. This also causes your energy, mood, & libido to be low.
What does that actually look like?
Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are at their lowest levels and enables the right & left hemispheres of the brain to be in greater communication with each other which allows you to judiciously evaluate aspects of your life. This is the time to tune into your intuition and listen to what your gut is telling you needs to change and what you need more of in your life
What's the best options for movement? Take it easy. No, seriously.
- Rest if needed
- Restorative yoga
- Yin Yoga
- Gentle stretches or Pilates
- Nature walks
How does this affect my work flow?
This is a great time for reviewing and analyzing aspects of your work. You may find that you are especially geared towards evaluating aspects of your work flow that aren't working and starting to set some initial foundations for how they could be enhanced.
Get clear with what isn't working in your life and move in the direction of releasing old habits that are no longer serving you.
And in turn, you are making room for more of what you want. Evaluate what it is that you want more of in the coming cycle.
Set your intentions that you want to move towards in the coming cycle.
BONUS - Inner New Moon Sound Journey - Craving a moment alone where you can put into practice setting an intention? Enjoy this 45 minute Sound Journey https://www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/inner-moon-sound-journey
Cyclical living is the most powerful way to live in harmony with your body's natural rhythm so that you can step into the life of your dreams as the best version of yourself.
Your inner cycle is your inner guidance system that guides you in making choices that give you the greatest sense of power, confidence and ease!
Cyclical living means aligning your daily activities (work, nutrition, exercise, mindset, social engagement) with the natural cycles like the seasons, the Lunar cycle, and your menstrual cycle to improve mental and physical health, have more energy, happiness, productivity, and promote spiritual growth.
I was going through old school photos of myself from my prepubescent teen years. Oh my! They were cringe worthy. Mostly, because it brought back the feelings I had as an awkward teen. It also didn't help that I was a "late bloomer"! At least though, as girls we are somewhat educated on what to expect. (And yes, we can do way better with this!). For the most part, girls were somewhat educated on what to expect. Fast forward to us now in the years between menarche and menopause, how many of us are actually educated about perimenopause?! This natural maturation of our inner cycle happens over the course of years that leads us to menopause, but yet it's not widely talked about. And this transition, just like the transition towards puberty, can leave us feeling like we are losing it! You're not alone. Listen for one of my helpful tips to navigate perimenopause that will allow you a bit more grace in your daily life!
Cyclical living changed my perspective on being a woman and how I viewed my cycle. It also equipped me with a greater understanding of my hormonal super powers. Now, I align my movement, work flow, nutrition, and even mind set to align with my hormonal strengths during each phase of my cycle.
Want to learn more about cyclical living? Check out this Free Workshop with actionable steps to live in sync with your cycle. www.rebeccarankinyoga.com/cyclical-living
Also, let's connect! You can find me on Instagram at WomensMoonWisdom
I'm in! Here's to a new journey ahead and why coming to a growth edge usually allows for more... growth! I'm letting this be messy in order to just start already. Thanks for joining along on this journey.
I'd love to connect with you further. Let's connect on Instagram at WomensMoonWisdom
Want to learn more about what I am up to? Head over to www.rebeccarankinyoga.com