The Gifts Of Your Moon Cycle
Have you ever wondered why we call our menstrual cycle our "moon" or "moon cycle"?
In Sanskrit, the words "moon," "month," and "menses" all come from the same root word, which is no coincidence given that the cycles of all three tend to be somewhere between 28 to 30 days.
The moon is also known as a symbol of fertility, creativity, femininity, and emotions - all of which may become heightened during different phases of a woman's cycle.
Some women even find that their menstrual cycle becomes attuned to the moon phases, but that's not the case for everyone. Sure, it may be nice to know that when the moon is full, you'll start bleeding. However, from a physical health perspective, your cycle will have its own phases ushered in by the doshas that may not align directly with the moon phases – and that's perfectly fine.
As you move through the phases of your individual "moon cycle," each dosha (Pitta, Vata, and Kapha) becomes more or less dominant, providing a rhythm that's unique to you.
The Gifts Of Your Moon Cycle
Although it may not feel like a blessing when your period is around the corner, this time of month actually provides two unique gifts that you can leverage to your advantage:
Heightened symptoms of imbalances.
An opportunity to shed what's not serving – physically and emotionally.
Heightened Symptoms of Imbalance
As you move through the Vata phase of your cycle, any imbalances you may already have become heightened. Can you guess when the Vata phase is? Yep, it starts a few days before your period and lasts until you finish bleeding.
Due to Vata's mobile nature, any imbalances you already have will become enhanced during this phase, which is why so many women experience symptoms of PMS.
For example, if you already have a Vata imbalance, you're more likely to feel anxious and overwhelmed during this phase of your cycle. If you have a Kapha imbalance, on the other hand, you're more likely to feel low and depressed, and for those with a Pitta imbalance, you're more likely to feel irritable and angry.
And, of course, all the physical symptoms associated with these imbalances will also become magnified, such as headaches (Vata), breakouts (Pitta), and fatigue (Kapha) – to name a few.
Again, these symptoms may not be pleasant, but they provide real insight into the deeper layers of imbalance that you need to work on.
Once you stop bleeding, the Kapha phase of your cycle begins, and you'll likely notice the nature of your symptoms diminishing as Vata recedes. The Kapha phase lasts from the end of your period until ovulation when Pitta takes over. Pitta remains the dominant dosha until a few days before your period when Vata takes over once again.
A Time For Emotional Release
While your imbalances may become more prominent during the Vata stage of your cycle, this is also a time when your ability to shed toxins, emotions, and physical blocks naturally enhances. In fact, the process of shedding and releasing occurs whether you actively engage with it or not, as menstruation cleanses and rejuvenates your body.
This is why many women become more emotional as they're approaching their period, and during the bleeding phase – stuck emotions are coming to the surface to be released.
Of course, if we have hormonal imbalances, it can heighten our emotional reactions even further, but that doesn't mean that the emotions aren't real or valid.
Therefore, if you want to get the most out of your moon cycle, you can leverage this special time by helping your body and mind release what's not serving as you move through the Vata phase.
Tips For Rejuvenation and Release During Your Moon
As you learned, any current imbalances you already have will become heightened during the Vata phase of your cycle. While it's important to take note of what's emerging, it's also a good idea to take extra care during this time to mitigate unwanted symptoms as much as possible.
Below are some general guidelines to help you move through your cycle with more ease:
Watch your diet by avoiding foods that can lead to bloating and constipation, such as fried, spicy, or oily foods. Instead, focus on easy-to-digest foods like well-cooked vegetables, kitchari, soups, and stews.
Magnesium can help with several symptoms of PMS, so be sure to include foods rich in this mineral, such as chocolate, nuts, seeds, and leafy greens. You can also consider taking a magnesium supplement.
While you're bleeding, it's not a time for vigorous exercise. Vata is already high, and your body is doing a lot of work. However, you can bring gentle movement into your routine, like walking and gentle yoga.
If you have menstrual pain, specific yoga asanas like bow pose (dhanurasana), forward bend (janu sirasana), cobra pose (bhujangasana) can help relieve the discomfort.
Nadi shodhana (breathwork) can help to naturally stabilize your masculine and feminine energies and balance your hormones.
To assist in the physical and emotional release:
Be kind and gentle with yourself, allowing plenty of time for rest and relaxation.
Avoid cold beverages and ice water, and instead, drink warm herbal teas, which will aid in calming your body and helping you release.
Take time to go within and journal any emotions that may be surfacing. Although your emotions can be heightened during this time, it does not mean they're not valid – they are just getting a chance to present themselves in a way you may otherwise dismiss.
Spend time with close friends and loved ones while avoiding social engagements that require a lot of energy.
Takeaway
While the unpleasant symptoms that can arise around the time of menstruation can be challenging, it's helpful to remember that there is a gift in what your body is telling you. We all have subtle imbalances happening behind the scenes, but when your imbalances become significant enough, they can throw you off balance both physically and emotionally.
Using your PMS symptoms as a guide to let you know which of your doshas are off-balance can be incredibly helpful. If you aren't familiar with the doshas, check out this post.
Furthermore, instead of trying to push through your period and keep up with your regular activities, try taking this time as a respite to rejuvenate and relax. Your body and mind are naturally going through their monthly detoxification, which means you can leverage the opportunity to work through anything that's coming up and feels like it needs releasing. This could involve introspective work or physically assisting with your body's detox by cleaning up your diet and drinking lots of water and herbal tea.
Everyone's body is different, so find the options that work best for you, and always remember to be gentle with yourself.