Menstruation can be more than "the curse" or a "period". Ayurveda views menstruation as a cleansing & renewal time for a woman's body, which benefits it greatly. It is a time for self healing - if enough energy is devoted to taking care of oneself. Many ancient traditions encourage women to tap into their intuitive powers which may be more available at that time.
However, in this culture, women are expected
to act "the same", no matter what, & a woman's expected duties during
the time of bleeding are no different than at any other time. Partly due to such lack of rest, care &
awareness during the menses, many women in our culture experience menstrual
problems and other related women's reproductive diseases, such as menstrual cramps, PMS, fibroids,
endometriosis, infertility, and PID. By
nurturing ourselves, maintaining energetic balance & avoiding build-up of
toxins in the body throughout the cycle we can find less discomfort and, in
the long term, less disease.
By bringing awareness
& care into the menstrual cycle, we also gain in experience that will
serve them if we ever choose pregnancy.
Excellent nutrition, maintaining energetic balance, nurturing herbs,
adequate exercise & rest, relaxation practice -- all serve in both cases. These practices also promote a healthier
& more balanced beginning because by resting during periods we
have honored the natural cleansing of menses which will have preserved
reproductive health, both physically and energetically.
The emotional changes
of the cycle also prepare for dealing with pregnancy. Heightened emotional sensitivity
is not necessarily a call to bitchiness (although that too can be useful), but
is an opportunity to hear what in our
lives serves us & what does not.
More time alone becomes a more pressing need during pre-bleeding and pre-birthing, which we may too easily overlook at other times.
Women who have
experienced the inward, downward pulling of energy during moon bleeding will be
familiar with that feeling in its greatly intensified form during labor. Ayurveda calls this energy the Apana Vayu or
Apana Prana. Healthy menstrual practices help preserve the balance of this key
energy for pregnancy & birth, as well as balancing for less cramping with menses.
Those who have
experienced menstrual cramps will
recognize the early labor sensation of the cervix beginning to open as a
familiar one, not so scary. This brings
the relaxed familiarity to early labor often considered possible only for those
who have already given birth.
The perimenstrual time also offers teachings about menopause. The days just before bleeding are like the transitioning into menopause - hormones are dropping. And the hormonal levels are lowest during the period time, similar to the more stabilized time of menopause. Again, self care makes a difference in both menstrual and menopausal emotions and health, better balanced with awareness and Ayurveda.
Part 2 - Understanding the Why
and Part 3 - Recommendations!
