Should I Exercise on my Period?
Absolutely, as long as you are honoring your energy authentically.
The company I worked for in my 20’s was one of those companies that championed their method above all others. Clients were told that if they did any other type of workout, they would not get the results they were promised. It is true, that from the eyes of a trainer, you need to know exactly what your client is or isn’t doing to be able to “prescribe” the right program suited to their goals. But from the perspective of moving with your body’s rhythms, this approach is a little too “all or nothing” for me.
I’m just going to come out and say it when the goal is optimum health, doing the same, high-intensity, workout day in and day out, does not work. Yes, consistency in your workout is paramount. Yes, doing the workouts that make you feel the most uplifted is key, even if it is the same style of workout every day. But what doesn’t work, is training in a modality every day that demands a high amount of intensity, while denying your body’s natural rhythms. Training in this way will have the exact opposite effect as what you’re looking to accomplish.
While I was working at this company, I was exercising an average of 4-6 hours a day, 6 days a week. I was in my early to mid-’20s and never had I been more unhealthy. The strain of non-stop high intensity made my body go into a constant cycle of stress. Because of this constant physical stress, my period stopped entirely for a few months. It was then I started to imagine what listening to my body could feel like, and slowly began to map the energy of my cycle.
What I found was a way of looking at my cycle that corresponded to the energetics of archetypal feminine energy. Gender isn’t really a part of this equation, because no matter where you fall on that spectrum, we all experience cyclical energy. But for the purposes of this blog, we will focus on the 4 phases of the moon as they relate to feminine archetypes.
Maiden/Pre-ovulation/Waxing moon: This energy is fun and lively, it is excitable and ready to try new things. This is a good time to try a workout you’ve never done before or one that seems “fun” like aerial yoga or pole dancing.
Mother/Ovulation/Full Moon: This energy is fertile and full of life. It wants to create, and feel one with the creative force. This is a great time for a HIIT or Dance Cardio workout, where you can really express your creativity through your physicality, and push yourself.
Wild Woman/Pre-menstruation/Waning Moon: This energy is good at setting boundaries, nothing can fool the wise, wild woman who has been through it all. This is a good time to do a workout with more structure. Reformer Pilates, barre, or gym equipment that sets clear boundaries for your range of motion, is ideal.
Crone/Menstruation/New Moon: This is the time to go inward, take a break from how you think people expect you to show up, and honor your body. Yoga, stretching, swimming, or mat Pilates are ideal. But really whatever workout makes you feel, safe, nourished, and reflective is what you will benefit most from.
If you want to try a workout series designed to help you feel into this energy, check out my MAHINA Moon series HERE