Red School probably wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my (Alexandra) decade of intense menstrual pain and the way it initiated me into my Calling to share the power and magic of the menstrual cycle.
This article contains a wealth of resources for you if you’re looking for support with your menstrual health challenges, or to guide the people you love or serve in your work.
Before we get started I want to share a disclaimer—we’re not health practitioners. Our work at Red School focuses on the psycho-spiritual power of the cycle, and while this is key for resolving health challenges, it’s also crucial for you to seek out professional health advice.
One: for general menstrual health
In episode #45 of the Menstruality podcast, The Power of Cycle Awareness for Menstrual Health Challenges, I tell the story of how the early prototype of menstrual cycle awareness helped me to heal my menstrual pain (and Sophie also shares how MCA helped her heal pre-menstrual mental health challenges).
Two other powerful resources are Natural Approaches to Menstrual Pain, PMS and Contraception with naturopathic doctor, Lara Briden, and The Connection Between Food and Menstrual Cycle Health with Lisa Hendrickson-Jack, whose book highlights the menstrual cycle as your ‘fifth vital sign’, giving you important information about your overall health and stress levels.
Two: for menstrual pain In A Trauma-Informed Approach to Healing Pelvic Pain, gynaecologist Dr Peta Wright explores how lifestyle changes, stress management and therapeutic work focused on locating trauma in the body can help to heal endometriosis and menstrual pain.
Three: for PMS and PMDD
In From PMDD to Power and Ending Menstrual Suffering founder of Menstrual Cycle Support, and MP graduate, Kate Shepherd Cohen explores how menstrual cycle awareness helped her manage the fear, rage and meaninglessness that can arise in the premenstruum.
And secondly, in How to Navigate PMDD and Pre-Menstrual Rage author Chloé Caldwell shares about The “Jekyll and Hyde” nature of PMDD and how it can be a gateway to knowing ourselves and accessing our wildness and ultimately, growing into a fuller version of ourselves.
Four: for infertility
In Infertility, Cycle Awareness, Grief and Hope, coach Jennifer Robertson shares her seven-year journey to create her family; through the infertility rollercoaster, multiple rounds of IVF, miscarriage, surrogacy, and finally, a unexpected natural pregnancy.
And in Finding Hope and Meaning When You're Childless-not-by-choice, Jody Day shares her personal journey through grief, denial, hopelessness to real acceptance of her life as a childless woman.
Five: for navigating the autumn of our menstruating years (perimenopause)
And lastly, we want to share a beautiful resource for you if you’re in your 40s, or experiencing health symptoms in the run-up to menopause - How Chinese Medicine Can Support You in Perimenopause with Kris Gonzalez.
Six: Menstrual Cycle Awareness as a healing approach
The practice of menstrual cycle awareness creates a ground for healing, helps us manage chronic stress, awakens our gut and heart knowing and helps us to take stand for what we need.
It also supports us to create a new relationship with the challenges we face, and to trust that something meaningful is at work.
If you’d like to learn how to work with your cycle for health and wellbeing, we invite you to join Cycle Power—you can find out more here: www.redschool.net/cyclepower
