Lesson 2: Listening to Your Body & Learning Boundaries
Learn to interpret physical and emotional signals as your body re-energizes. Develop healthy boundary awareness through body wisdom.
Learning Objectives
Listen to Body Signals
Learn to interpret physical and emotional signals as your body communicates through sensations and energy shifts.
Understand Hormonal Changes
Discover how rising estrogen affects your body and mind during the post-menstrual phase.
Develop Healthy Boundaries
Learn to recognize your limits and set boundaries that support your growth and well-being.
Biology Focus: Post-Menstrual Phase
🌱 Physical Changes
- • Rising estrogen re-energizes your body
- • Increased desire to exercise and move
- • Body craves fresh air and sunlight
- • Natural "spring cleaning" urges
🧠 Mental Changes
- • Wonderful sense of clarity and focus
- • Increased appetite for learning
- • Enhanced memory and problem-solving
- • Perfect time for planning and trying new things
🌒 Waxing Crescent Moon Connection
Just as the waxing crescent moon grows and gains light, your post-menstrual phase brings renewed energy and expanding possibilities. This is your time to plant seeds for new projects and explore your potential.
What Your Body Tells You
📡 Your Body as a Communication System
The days following menstruation bring a wonderful sense of clarity and good focus. Your mind is refreshed, particularly if the bleeding days have been restful. This is a great gift from your body's natural rhythm.
Your body constantly communicates through sensations, energy levels, and emotions. During the post-menstrual phase, you might notice increased appetite for activity, clearer thinking, or desire for social connection. Pay attention to these signals - they guide you toward what you need.
🌱 A Time of Renewal
Post-menstrual days can be fantastic for planning or trying new things. Many people find that their appetite for learning increases during this phase, or that their memory and problem-solving skills are strongest.
Physically, the body is re-energized. It's common to want to exercise more, to push yourself further than usual. Many women also experience a need for cleansing at this time – like spring cleaning. Often the body can crave fresh air, sunlight, and the outdoors.
Yoga Practice: Ardha Matsyendrasana
Seated Twist for Learning Boundaries & Self-Determination
Purpose: Understanding Your Boundaries
The emotional and physical energy you feel during the post-menstrual phase can be very exciting and give you lots of momentum. It's completely normal to feel excitement, perhaps for no reason at all.
To be curious in a healthy way, it's important to understand your boundaries. This pose teaches you to recognize the difference between "good stretch" and harmful strain - essentially what it takes to define a boundary.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Start by sitting cross-legged on the floor, with your right leg on top of your left leg.
Cross your legs further until your right knee is stacked on top of your left knee, then place the sole of the right foot onto the ground on the outside/left side of your left knee.
Lift your left arm into the air, then bend it, placing your left elbow on the right side of your right knee. Your torso will start to twist towards the right.
Use your right hand to support yourself on the ground behind you.
Take long deep breaths. As you inhale, make yourself taller in your seat.
As you exhale, twist a little further. Inhale tall, exhale twist. Try to keep both hips on the floor and see how far you can twist comfortably.
To exit: gently undo the twist until you face forward. Come back to cross-legged position, take a breath, and switch to the other side.
Repeat steps 1-7, this time starting with the left leg on top of the right leg.
💫 What This Practice Gives You
As you practice this pose, pay attention to how you feel inside. The twist can be challenging, so take it slowly to see how much you can do and still enjoy.
Breathing long and slow helps you control how much you want to take on and read what's happening in your body and mind. You're showing your body that you can take care of it by allowing it to give you feedback about when to stop or keep going.
Learning About Boundaries
🎯 What Are Healthy Boundaries?
- ✓ Acknowledging what you like and don't like
- ✓ Recognizing when you feel uncomfortable
- ✓ Knowing when you feel confident and ready
- ✓ Understanding the difference between good challenge and harm
🌱 Why Boundaries Matter
This post-menstrual phase can be paradoxical. You may want to explore, but also may be afraid to do things wrong, or worry whether you're doing things well enough.
Boundaries aren't walls - they're guidelines that help you use your renewed energy wisely. They help you explore safely and grow with confidence.
Empowering Affirmations
"Your body is a wise teacher—listen to its signals."
"Boundaries are not walls; they are the paths that guide your energy toward what matters."
"As the waxing crescent moon grows, so does your energy—use this time to define what's important."
AI Learning Assistant
Ready to explore your post-menstrual phase? I'm here to guide you!
AI Assistant: Welcome to your energizing post-menstrual phase! I'm here to help you understand how to listen to your body signals, set healthy boundaries, and make the most of this renewed energy. What would you like to explore?
Quick questions to get started: