As new, viral health trends burst onto the scene each year and flame out by the next, a couple of factors remain the same: each of our bodies is different, and listening to them is of the utmost importance.
Our bodies often give us signals regarding how they need to be treated, what they are lacking, and what they can’t handle. With all the busyness of daily life, it can be difficult to stay in tune with those signals, to understand them, and to accept them. In addition, we often try to push our bodies to suit our wants, ignoring signals to slow down, rest and avoid processed foods and stress, and end up overwhelming and sending ourselves into imbalance, discomfort and sometimes vulnerable immunity, instead.
One of the ways in which us women can get back into sync with our bodies and relearn their cues is by understanding and tracking our internal clocks - our menstruation cycles.
Tracking your cycle can benefit you in numerous ways and help you make lifestyle choices that work for - rather than against - you and your body.
The female body is like a symphony, with four different movements to which we need to listen and adjust - menstruation, the follicular phase, ovulation, and the luteal phase. These movements bring with them fluctuations in energy levels, emotional reserves and cravings as our hormones change.
Before making any changes to the way you take care of yourself, first track your typical cycle. While may be helpful to learn about how one should generally feel during these movements, as our bodies are all different, it might be best to focus on your own experiences before you learn what you ‘should’ be feeling.
Flexible Fitness
Throughout the month, you probably have dips of both motivation and quality of workouts. When in sync with your cycle, you can track your energy levels and choose exercises that will benefit you most during the movement you find yourself in. For example, doing strength training during the follicular phase can result in higher muscle strength in comparison to doing so during ovulation. Consider lighter cardio and strength training as well as yoga during menstruation; amp up the intensity of your training and challenge yourself during the follicular phase; continue with the intensity but stick to things that you know during ovulation; and reduce the intensity by doing some of your usual workout routine with added yoga, pilates and low-intensity cardio during the luteal phase.
“Wellness Warehouse strives to help you live life well but because we are retailers and not medical practitioners we cannot offer medical advice. Please always consult your medical practitioner before taking any supplements, complementary medicines or have any health concerns and ensure that you always read labels, warnings and directions carefully, prior to consumption.”