Pre-Period Rituals for an Easeful Bleed
✨ When my period comes knocking, it’s a sign to start slowing down. From work, social plans, and nourishing my body, here are my favorite rituals to prepare welcoming in a new cycle- with ease.
If there is anything to know about me and the studio is that we run on flow time.
And by flow time, I mean our menstrual cycle. The innate timing of our divine feminine energy- our body's natural energetic calendar.
You may also know that I love a good ritual.
You can probably guess that I have a ritual per cycle phase.
That means every 4-7 days I'm naturally craving a tweak in my regular AM/PM routines.
And “do I have a favorite phase”, you ask?
Why yes, yes I do.
By unpopular opinion, the days leading up to my period arriving are my absolute favorite.
This Inner Winter part of the luteal phase, is where nesting and going inward start becoming essential to your peace. There's a sense of a quiet calm with a last burst of energy before the call of bed and tea completely take over. Do you feel that way right before your period?
Not only do I notice Inner Winter happening with what I'm craving to do, but my body sends me notifications like my Google Calendar. It's usually a feeling, like a drop in my stomach (or shall I shall ovaries?) followed the next day by my body tricking me every time I check in the restroom to no bleed. Does your period like to be a trickster with false alarms too?
When that drop happens though…its time to start my pre-period rituals - and they are all centered around ME-time.
Here's a breakdown of what I do before my bleed arrives. Maybe it'll help guide you next time you get your “OTW” body notification from your period.
Step One: My Last “Productive” Day
When I get my “OTW” body notification, that's a signal that my energy is going to be on its last 20% soon, so I take advantage of the last full battery I have. This involves me being out the house, being in nature or roaming and exploring.
Step Two: Wrap Up Work
I find a coffee shop with good vibes to knock out one very important thing- planning out my week ahead. This usually involves cutting half of my agenda in half as I know my energy is going to be too low to socialize often or do heavy brainpower tasks. So I put my period goggles on and get to work in my calendar to…
A) Build in extra breathing room between calls, tasks and work commutes
B) Build in a longer space for AM rituals so I can move through intentional movement, meditation and breathwork with ease- no rush
C) Evaluate what moon phase and sign my period will be aligned with to get an idea of what kind of energy I'll be working with
D) Block out time during my period to write- Newsletters and blogs come easily to me as I'm already in a reflective mood
Step Three: Clean + Pamper
After my last energy filled day, I like to tidy up! Fresh sheets, clean surfaces and floors with a candle setting the ambience. Nothing better than a tidy, clean nest to hermit in during your period. I also love doing some extra skincare during this time. I feel like I'm glowing on my period when I spend a little extra time to relax with a facemask on.
Step Four: Replenish
Plan out warm, nourishing meals and make a last pitstop to your grocery store for ingredients, tea and chocolate. There's nothing worse than getting home after work on your period with nothing to eat and no chocolate for dessert. For meal ideas, my period empowerment coach Naam, has an amazing cookbook I use for ideas per cycle phase.
Step Five: Welcome in your bleed with ease ❤️
And there you have it! My little rituals to create a spacious and easeful period. It's probably my favorite phase because I still feel productive while heavily relaxing at the same time, #ClassicVirgo.
So tell me…
✨ Do you track your cycle?
✨ Do you have a favorite cycle phase?
✨ What is your favorite Inner Winter activity?
✨ Will you incorporate any of my favorite rituals into your Inner Winter?
Wishing you a spacious and easeful period,
Kristen ❤️
