what is cyclical living? a guide for beginners
Cycle Syncing, Cyclical Living or Cyclical Lifestyle - what is that and what does it have to do with my period problems?
The concept of cyclical living can transform your menstrual cycle experience to the better. It’s the secret sauce for balancing hormones (goodbye period pain, irregular periods & PMS!) and for more self-love, body confidence and empowerment.
Have you ever wondered why one week you feel on top of your game: you feel motivated, you look hot, smash it at work, and even have the energy to hang out with your friends after. Then, another week, you have the need to stay home in your joggers more, not see any people and be left in peace. Every week of the month you feel kind of different - but it seems like there is no pattern apart from you being on your period vs. not on your period.
It’s not just in your head. Those changes in energy, productivity, mood, libido, social capacity are there - and they are very normal for you, if you are a person with periods in your reproductive years. Because here’s the thing, bleeding bestie:
Your menstrual cycle is more than just your period!
Your period may get all the attention - of course, when you bleed, it is kind of hard to not notice.
But your menstrual cycle is so much more than you being on or off your period. Over the course of your menstrual cycle, your hormones fluctuate in a predictable pattern.
This leads to your menstrual cycle having four different phases:
🩸Menstrual Phase - Inner Winter: Day 1-6
Day 1 of Menstrual Cycle is the first day of your period where you need a cup, tampon or period pantie. All your hormones are at their lowest levels, and your body sheds its uterine lining, which is your period.
🌱Follicular Phase - Inner Spring : Day 7-12
After your period comes the Follicular Phase which is between 7 and 10 days long. Hormone levels rise, and the hormone estrogen dominates, as your body ripens follicules to prepare for ovulation, making you feel more energized, optimistic and playful.
🌞 Ovulatory Phase - Inner Summer: Day 13-16
In the Ovulatory Phase, the shortest phase of your cycle, estrogen and testosterone peak and you may feel your very best self & confident and social. Most importantly, ovulation happens! Your body releases an egg from the follicle, leading you to be fertile. Ovulation happens around Day 10-17, depending on your individual self and menstrual cycle - not everyone ovulates on Day 14!
🍂Luteal Phase - Inner Autumn: Day 17-28
Post-ovulation to your next period is your Luteal Phase, which is the longest phase of your cycle with around 10 to 16 days. In this phase of your menstrual cycle, the hormone progesterone dominates. It has a natural sedative effect, and hence can make you feel inward, chill and intuitive.
(Note that the days are referring to an average 28-day cycle. Not everyone has 28 day cycle and that’s okay!)
Your hormones ebbing and flowing, as you move through the four phases of your cycle, has an impact on your
💫 mood
💫 nutritional needs
💫 energy levels
💫 productivity
💫 libido
💫 social capacity
💫 communication skills
💫 intuition
and so much more!
These levels naturally fluctuate and peak in certain phases of your cycle.
That means you are never the same every day of your cycle. You constantly ebb and flow, just like the moon, just like the tides. You are a cyclical being living in a cyclical body.
Okay, so what is Cyclical Living?
Cyclical Living or Cycle Syncing is the practice of adapting the way you live to the four different phases of your menstrual cycle. That may include how you
eat
exercise
socialize
work
self-care
so basically live to your menstrual cycle.
In its essence, it is a lifestyle centered around your menstrual cycle. You live in tune with your menstrual cycle and your body by designing your life to cater to the needs and powers of each of the four phase.
Sounds wild?
Considering that your body’s natural rhythm makes you a cyclical being, meaning you change every single day of your cycle together with the ebb and flow of your hormones, living in tune with that rhythm just makes sense.
This natural rhythm offers you amazing powers in each phase too. For example in your Ovulatory Phase your communication skills are at their best and your confidence soars - what better time to schedule a job interview or go on a first date? Unfortunately, you may often only experience the “bad” side of the four phases - think being super emotional on your period, or feeling easily irritated in your pre-menstrual.
Each of the four different phases has both powers and dangers. With cycle knowledge and the practice of Cyclical Living, you can maximize on the powers of each phase, whilst cleverly navigating around the dangers.
Still not convinced? What if I told you that by living cyclically, you can
balance your hormones (omg yes!)
feel connected to and empowered by your period
have more body and self-confidence
improve cycle challenges like PMS, period pain, irregular periods
have more energy and joy
feel less stress and guilt
Cyclical Living is more than just about maximizing your cyclical superpowers. It’s a lifestyle and a mindset that truly caters to the needs of your body, mind and soul as a cyclical being.
You are literally not meant to be the same every day.
When you force yourself to be and push yourself, even if you are not feeling energetic and motivated (and guilt trip), you live in a linear way. With that, you essentially live against your menstrual cycle, your body’s inner rhythm and yourself. That can not only seriously mess up your hormonal balance and lead to period problems, but can leave you unhappy, feeling disconnected, self-conscious and “like something is missing”.
When you start living in tune with your cycle, a whole lot more changes than your Period Pain, PMS & Co. improving. As you tap into your cyclical power, your creativity, self-confidence and awareness shines.
Cyclical Living is the roadmap on how to live a fulfilling, nourishing and empowered life as a cyclical being.
🔥 Are you ready to live in tune with your menstrual cycle?
Learn how to tap into your cyclical superpower by syncing
lifestyle
nutrition
self-care
to the four phases of your menstrual cycle in my signature Workshop Cyclical Living
This Workshop is for you if you want to
😍 invite more self-love, cycle awareness and body confidence into your life
🌿sync lifestyle, nutrition and self-care to your menstrual cycle
🩸start healing your period problems, like PMS, period pain, tiredness, brain fog holistically & naturally
🌙 finally understand your hormones, menstrual cycle & how it influences your body & mind
