a new cycle bookcover

In celebration of the launch of A New Cycle, our period-positive guide to a healthier period, we're introducing you to the contributors! We hand-picked our favorite women's health experts to write chapters for A New Cycle on their area of specialty. Read on to get know this week's featured contributor, or click here get a free preview of the book when you sign up for our newsletter!

 

 

Meet Barbara Loomis, author of Chapter 2: Align thy Uteri!

Why is menstruation important?

Menstruation connects us to the rhythms of nature. It connects us to the moon cycle and to the seasonal microcosm within each of us. Everything in nature has a season of budding growth, bloom, letting go and then going deep into the roots. I see the menstrual phase as a time to go within, cleanse and restore. Plants and trees aren't expected to bloom year round, they need time to replenish and restore, as do we. I see menstruation as my Winter within my month and ovulation as my Summer.

What inspired you to write your chapter?

I wrote about uterine alignment because that's what I do, I align uteri and I teach women how to align their own uteri. As the great Maya Shaman, Don Elijio Panti once said, “The uterus is the woman’s center. If her uterus is not in proper position and good health, nothing in her life will be right. She will be as out of balance as her uterus.”

Do you have a personal story about menstruation you’d like to share?

The first thing that comes to mind is when I just started my period. I reluctantly went to the corner store (which was also a liquor store BTW) to buy my first box of "sanitary napkins." My heart sank when I saw two middle aged men hanging out at the check out counter reeking of booze and flirting with the cashier. I don't know their names so I'll call the guys Jerk and Dumb A** Jerk. I wandering around the 200 sq. foot store, hoping they would leave, but I could tell they weren't going anywhere anytime soon.

So, I walked up to the counter with my big box of Maxi pads. The pads were so big back then that the box was about as tall as I was (or at least that's how I remember it). Dumb A** Jerk looked at the big box of pads and then looked me up and down and said, "smells like fish in here!" All three of them (female cashier included) busted out laughing as I fumbled for my cash.

I felt shame and intense anger at a time when I should have celebrated the sacredness and power of being a woman. Unfortunately, I didn't realize the sacredness of my cycle until my mid twenties. To this day, I believe the shame and anger contributed to my intense mood swings and menstrual cramps. Obviously, we can't control the ignorance of others, but we can help young women feel empowered and positive about menstruation. This is one of the reasons why I do what I do. And why I send my nieces congratulations gift packs at menarche. Things to include in a menarche gift pack: a hand written note of congratulations and support (welcome to the club!), GladRags, chocolate (real chocolate) and a period book written for girls explaining all the things they want to know about puberty but are afraid to ask. A celebration dinner or ceremony would also be nice if you live near them. …and a gift certificate for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu lessons (oh, if I only knew Brazilian Jiu Jitsu when I walked in the convenience store back in 1985!).

What kind of menstrual protection do you use?

I use GladRags! I've used them for a couple of years now. I feel more connected to my flow since I've been using them. I can actually feel when my uterus sheds my menstrual blood. It's different than a cramp, it doesn't hurt at all, its just unobstructed flow like nature intended. It feels like a release rather than the resistance I felt with tampons. It's interesting how I feel at ease when my uterus is at ease, if she's cranky and has to work against an obstruction, I'm cranky and nothing in my life flows. I'm not saying tampons cause physical obstruction (although in some situations they might), but tampons felt like an energetic obstruction to me. Aunt Flow needs to flow!

barbaraBarbara Loomis is a Restorative ExerciseTM specialist and certified practitioner and educator of the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy® as well as a Chi Nei Tsang and Visceral ManipulationTM practitioner. She combines abdominal therapies with Restorative ExerciseTM for reproductive and digestive health. Want to bring a workshop to your area or find out more about Barbara’s services? Visit nurturance.net, or find helpful reproductive and alignment information on her blog.