The Art of Cyclical Living

Written by Teodora Sabau, from The Sync Way & Katie Nankivell from Pilates Delivered 

How Movement, Rest, and Awareness Support Each Phase of Your Cycle

Did you know you spend around 7.4 years of your life menstruating? That’s quite a lot, right? And let’s be honest, it doesn’t always come without discomfort. You also end up throwing away an average of 11,000 menstrual products like tampons and pads during your life. These come in all sorts of sizes and absorbencies. That’s not just because of how much you bleed each day, there are other reasons too. We explain them in this blog. Your period isn’t one-size-fits-all. Each day brings different needs. You might bleed heavily on day 1 and barely at all on day 5. That means different absorbencies are more suitable throughout your cycle.

A Body-First Approach to Learning

We began with twenty minutes of sound bath meditation, our bridge from daily chaos into the quiet intelligence of our bodies. Most of us live from the neck up, constantly thinking and pushing forward. But to understand our cyclical nature, we need to drop into our bodies first.

As the sound waves filled the room, shoulders relaxed and breathing deepened. This wasn’t just relaxation, it was preparation for real learning. 

Movement Designed with the Cycle in Mind

Katie then led a Pilates class that was intentionally split into two halves mirroring the two main phases of the menstrual cycle: the follicular and luteal phases.

The first half of the class supported the luteal phase. Movements were slower, more protective, focusing on the pelvis and lower abdomen. Katie talked openly about bloating, tenderness, and changing energy, showing how gentle movement could nurture us through these natural changes.

Then came the shift to the follicular phase, when energy rebuilds. The movements became more dynamic and expansive. We felt stronger, more connected. It wasn’t about pushing harder, it was about listening to what our bodies actually needed and responding accordingly.

Reframing the Cycle through Education

After movement, we shifted into a workshop format, where Teo guided participants through a deeper understanding of their menstrual cycle. The goal wasn’t to memorise every hormone or symptom but to build awareness.

We looked at how society tends to glamorise the more “productive” phases of the cycle (like ovulation), while treating others (like the luteal or menstrual phase) as inconvenient or less valuable. The truth is, each phase has a biological purpose and when we work with those phases, everything from productivity to relationships to self-worth improves.

By evening’s end, each woman had begun mapping what her authentic self looks like during different phases not based on what she thought she should be doing, but on what her body was actually calling for.

A New Way Forward

Living in sync with your cycle isn’t about slowing down permanently, it’s about developing wisdom to know when to rest and when to rise. The changes you experience aren’t flaws to fix; they’re intelligence to honor.

That’s why we’re so grateful for Yoni’s support in sponsoring this event. Yoni understands that period care is more than just a product, it’s a movement toward dignity, education, and empowerment. Thanks to them, we were able to create a safe, nourishing space for women to learn, move, and connect.

Whether you’re just beginning to pay attention to your cycle or you’ve been on this journey for years, remember: your cycle isn’t a problem needing solving. It’s a rhythm that’s been trying to guide you all along.