One of the practices I've had this past two years since quitting my corporate job is actually to be kinder and gentler to my body over my period. 

For background, I have historically had really painful periods where I've had to take painkillers on a regular basis and kind of walk around with a hot water bottle attached to me. They’ve also been irregular for years and they’ve lasted sometimes for a week and they’ve been very heavy.

I started to do some research on the best way to support periods and I also had hosted @Carly Rae on my podcast where she shared her wisdom on all things pelvic bowl too (give the episode a listen if you haven’t already)

I made the following changes during my period…

• I don’t do any heavy exercise for the first 3-4 days. So no yoga, just walking. I used to go spinning which feels crazy to me now, because that heats the body up so much and pumps adrenaline when my body was looking to rest up

• I spend most of the first two days in bed - I read, I get cosy, I try avoid my phone (working on that as the addiction to it is real), I try and give my body as much rest as possible

• I schedule my diary to keep it free, I limit work calls and I’ve scheduled my membership Bean Dána/ Bold Woman calls to have a break during the week of my period

• I avoid social occasions and keep my energy flowing inwards towards myself instead of outwards with writing/videos etc

Outside of my period, these are the other changes I’ve made.

• I eat more. One of the causes of irregular periods is under eating. And for years, I used to be ravenous during my period and I would end up light headed and woozy sometimes during that time. I hadn’t realised I was under eating, because in my mind I wasn’t skinny enough to be someone who did that, even though I was hungry. I just ignored that major cue. I’ve intentionally changed how I eat this year from the cycle of controlled eating/binge eating to be more intuitive. Which has included lots more carbs.

• I’ve worked with osteopath and a cranial osteopath on sorting the alignment of my pelvis and the release of tension in that area too

And the pay off is my periods are less painful, no pain killers required, shorter and less heavy. They are becoming more regular. There is still some more work to be done and it feels it’s all moving in the positive direction X

I also support women to be more connected to their bodies and it needs in my membership Bean Dána/Bold Woman, so if that calls to you, contact me X