How can cyclical living inform your yoga, breathwork or movement practices? with Rebecca Rankin

Herbal Womb Wisdom

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Follicular, Ovulatory, Luteal, Menstrual.
Inner spring, Inner summer, Inner Autumn, Inner Winter.
Waxing Moon, Full Moon, Waning Moon, New Moon.
The cycles of nature are tangible in ourselves, and especially for those of us with wombs while we're in our cycling years, we have the option to align ourselves with the phase of our cycle we'e in at any given moment.
For instance, I'm currently in early Autumn. I just ovulated a few days ago, my temperature rose, my cervical mucus changed, and I can feel a subtle difference in my energy levels, and honestly I also feel a little warmer (well maybe that's bc I'm wearing too many layers, lol, but basal body temp DOES rise post-ovulation).
What phase of your cycle are you in right now??
Whatever phase you're in has certain qualities and characteristics, and it's important to learn your own rather than just rely on books or social media, because sometimes we don't fit the prescribed mold.
However, there are general qualities that hold true for most folks... so it's helpful to learn those and then reflect on your own.
Today's podcast guest, longtime yoga teacher and cyclical living mentor Rebecca Rankin, shares all about not only her life-changing experience with cyclical living but also how we can bring yoga postures and breathwork into the fold.
She shares a couple poses and breathwork options that suit each phase. I especially love how she includes a rolled towel to encourage ovarian circulation in the follicular phase in one pose and then that same rolled towel in a different location to encourage uterine circulation in the late luteal phase.
It's really neat to consider the ways we can more intentionally bring our cycle into our yoga and vice versa.
If this intrigues you, I think you'll dig today's episode.
Listen to learn:

• how becoming a mother catalyzed Rebecca's cyclical living journey
• what cyclical living is and a couple ways it's changed her business + life
• ways that natural cycles mirror and inform embodied cyclical living
• how even when you're no longer cycling, you can still attune to cycles
• some yoga postures + breathwork for each phase of the menstrual cycle
• a guided "Apana" breathwork practice helpful in menstrual phase + whenever you need some extra tethering to the earth

Resources:

• Today's shownotes: Get Rebecca's links to her journal, website, social media
• Start tracking your cycle with Fertility Awareness Method (free guide)
• Episode 42: Reclaim your menstruation
• Episode 69: Cyclical archetypes w Em Dewey
• Episode 73: Cyclical movement w Tara Lynn Steele
• Episode 78: Your cycle superpowers

If you loved this episode, share it with a friend, or take a screenshot and share on social media and tag me @herbalwombwisdom.
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DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists

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