Since last Wednesday I have been sleeping outside in a tent watching as the moon grew full over the horizon. I drove from my home in Sonoma County, CA up to Mount Shasta and to Oregon for a music festival. (check out some photos from my travels here). Sleeping outside on the land, watching the moon brighten to its fullness and start to wane again has made me think about the connection between our bodies and nature.
You may notice you feel more social during the full moon and more introverted with the new moon. The moon pulls the tides and can also sync with the woman's body during her menstrual cycle. Traditionally, women would menstruate with the new moon and ovulate with the full moon. The new moon energy of drawing inward would coincide with the woman's time to rest. The energy of the full moon would energize the woman during ovulation and nature would optimize the conditions for her to find a mate.
Unfortunately, with so much artificial light both inside and outside our homes, many women have lost their connection to the moon. So today, in honor of last weekend's full moon, I have a few tips for you to harmonize with nature and sync with the cycles of the moon.
4 tips to sync with the moon:
1. Sleep in total darkness during the new moon and allow light to come in through your window during the full moon
The body will attune to the moon the way women did in ancient times sleeping outside with the moonlight. Make sure there are no digital lights in your room when you sleep and do your best to turn off all technology. Leave your blinds open during the full moon so the moonlight can seep in. Your body will begin to naturally sync your menstrual cycle with the cycles of the moon.
2. Rest during your menstrual cycle and save times of rigorous exercise, movement, dancing and socializing during ovulation
The menstrual cycle is a time to focus on intuition and listen to the body's subtle messages. It is a great time for gentle yoga, journaling, and reflection. During ovulation, the body will have much more energy to be social and active. See if you can sync with your body's natural rhythm. If you are not sure when you ovulate, count 14 days after the first day of your period. Plus or minus 3 days of this time will most likely be when you ovulate.
3. Eat foods to support your own moon cycle
Did you know certain foods are beneficial during the woman's menstrual cycle? The best foods to integrate into your diet at this time are dark leafy greens, like dino kale, beets, and sea vegetables like kelp. Try adding a few kelp leaves to the mix when you cook brown rice. These nutrient dense foods will replenish the body during the depleting time of menstruation.
4. Practice these restorative yoga poses during menstruation to relieve low back aches and menstrual cramps
This sequence of poses was adapted from the Iyengar moon cycle series for women. The poses support the downward flow of energy during the woman's moon cycle. I used this sequence just a few weeks ago during my own cycle when I woke up in the night with aches. After twenty minutes, I felt relief and was able to fall back asleep.
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Have you ever thought about connecting to the moon? Let me know what you think of these tips in the comments below. Try out these poses the next time you're on your "moon" and let me know how it goes!
With love,
Meredith
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About the Author:
Meredith Rom is a women's leadership coach, yoga teacher, and group facilitator. She helps women tap into intuition and manifest their dreams through yoga, writing and retreats.
