I believe a collective healing happens when people from that collective share their stories out loud, when the story no longer remains untold, hushed, and forgotten. For many of the women I interviewed, no one had asked them about the story of their first period, it was a forgotten story one not to be brought up… I was honoured to hear them tell their stories for the first time. This collection of first period stories, I see it as a healing circle, but also as an archive of stories for those who have not yet stepped into their cycle. There is a power and beauty in sharing our stories…. WANT TO SHARE YOU 1st PERIOD STORY? Sharing connects us to each other, and has the power to bind us and heal us. There are two way to go about it. You can either send me a video of around 2-3min, looking straight into the camera and sharing your first period story. Or you can send me a picture of you around the time you got you first period along with your written story. www.i-bleed.com
In this episode I interview Gemma Ireland, director and co-founder fo BodyFlow. We talk about the benefits of bodyflow reflexology and how it can help you have a better cycle. Gemma Ireland has an incredibly extensive knowledge of the holistic body and has been working in alternative health for over 20 years full time. She believes that if we treat our bodies properly, we will be healthy, happy, confident and live long. Everything in moderation, a healthy balanced diet, exercise carefully, hydrate, breathe fresh air and visualisation will help you prepare for your days ahead. She has helped many clients over the years alter the way they lead their lives with superb life long results. Gemma trained and qualified as a reflexologist at the Self Centre in Harley Street in 1999 and specialises in helping couples balance their systems to promote fertility and natural conception. This combined with her extensive knowledge of prenatal health gained from her five years as a birth doula enables Gemma to accompany her clients on their journey through pregnancy to the birth of their child with holistic advice on nutrition, pain relief, exercise, breast-feeding and positive thinking. She is also an acupressure therapist. Gemma believes that many couples are encouraged to go down a 'medical route' (IVF) far too quickly without considering a holistic approach. She was told, at an early age, that she would find it terribly hard to conceive, if at all, which shattered her dreams of being a mother. She now has a wonderful son and reflexology helped her conceive like so many of her clients. This personal experience has motivated Gemma to specialise in fertility balancing and boosting amongst other reflexology ailments achieving remarkable results. She works with both the man and woman creating a healthy healed body. Over the years Gemma has worked with many clients suffering from cancer, helping them relax as well as restoring energy levels after chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions. Gemma's positive energy and treatments benefit her clients' well-being by making them feel lighter, more energetic and happier. She also works with a lot of sports injury problems, football teams, tennis players and running complaints...reflexology is so powerful, it opens the structural body, creating space and natural healing. Reflexology works from within and continues to work after the treatment is given, providing outstanding results. Gemma has been told on many occasions that she has 'Healing Hands' and that her clients feel a new 'Lease of Life' has been opened after receiving treatments. She is very passionate about her work and loves to help her clients in any way possible. Each client is treated individually and personally. She specialises in fertility balancing, pregnancy, and postpartum care with amazing results. She treats men and women with any health concerns and has a very loyal and high profile client base, some of whom have given testimonials: Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, Felicity Kendal, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jamie and Jools Oliver, Phil Spencer, Alice Temperley, Nicola Elliot, founder of NEOM, Millie Mackintosh, Madeleine Shaw, Madeleine Thomson, founder of MT Cashmere, Rhiannon Lambert, Founder of Rhitrition, James and Christiane Duigan, Founders of Bodyism and many more... Find out more about BodyFlow Reflexology here Follow Gemma on Instagram
In this episode I interview, Ayurvedic practitioner Rachel Spillane. We talk about her personal journey into Ayurveda and how it benefited her in regards to her cycle, and how Ayurvedic medicine looks and deals with the menstrual irregularities and how it understand the cycle and how some practises can improve and enhance a women's menstrual cycle on a monthly basis. Rachel Spillane is an Ayurvedic Practitioner, Yoga Teacher and Board Member of the Colorado Ayurvedic Medical Association. Her practice, Saraswati Ayurveda, empowers women with knowledge, tools and support to heal naturally and feel happy, healthy and balanced. She offers Ayurvedic consultations and wellness coaching, Panchakarma, Yoga and the Heal Your Gut online course. She loves veggie tacos, gardening and spending time in nature with her husband and two dogs. https://www.instagram.com/saraswati.ayurveda/ https://www.facebook.com/saraswatiayurveda www.saraswatiayurveda.com
IN this episode I talk to Cassandra Wilder, also known as the Menstruation Queen. Cassandra Wilder is a Naturopathic Doctor and the leading expert in women's cyclical health and menstruation. Cassandra has spent the last 10 years of her life helping women get to the root of their hormone and cycle-related imbalances to find wellness and a true sense of empowerment in their healing. Social media: www.cassandrawilder.com IG: @menstruationqueen
In this episode I interview Jasmine Alicia Carter about her journey into blood art. We talk about her personal experience, the benefit of blood art, the technical side of it, the taboo around it, and the revolutionary aspect of it. Jasmine Alicia Carter is a Period Artist, a Menstrual Mentor and Sexual Mystic devoted to empowering women to heal and reclaim their true feminine nature. Started as a healing and self-discovering journey, now she inspires and educates thousands of women all over the world to love and nurture their menstrual cycles and their sexuality. Her favourite way to express the feminine wisdom is drawing with her period blood, a sacred art that changed her life in 2016 and that is spreading across the globe. Videos of her work have gone viral and she has been featured on major online news platforms like NowThis and News.com." FOllow Jasmine on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasminealiciacarter/ or check out her website www.sacress.com
In this episode I talk to Mandi Tembo about period poverty, education, culture, and her experience in free bleeding and what it entailed. Mandi Tembo is a PhD research fellow with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine doing a PhD in menstrual health and hygiene among young women in Zimbabwe. She has worked in implementation research for the past 5 years and holds an MSc in Global Health and Development from University College London and a B.A in Public Health (Biology) and Women Gender Studies. Most of her research work has been in sexual and reproductive health, community-based interventions, and women’s health. Mandi is also the creator and content creator for The Bleed Read - a dynamic and comprehensive website that covers all things related to menstruation. https://thebleedread.com/ http://instagram.com/thebleedread
In this episode I speak to Dr Purva Gupta, about things that we can do to improve our skin according to where we are in our cycle. Dr. Purva is a DHA certified medical practitioner, certified by Sharjah University in Aesthetic medicine, with over 12 years of international experience in Aesthetic, Functional-Integrative, Geriatric and General medicine and healthcare management in USA, UAE and India. She is a member of American Geriatric Society and is practicing at Cocoona Center for Aesthetic Transformation, Dubai. Dr Purva has tremendous experience practicing skin care and cosmetic medicine combining her knowledge of medicine, dermatology and aesthetics to give the best possible results to her patients. Apart from this, she is a passionate mother, wife, daughter and friend. She holds other talents like freestyle singing and dancing including Indian classical dance, swimming, racing, and blogging/writing about social causes to be able to help humanity and kids, specially. You can follow or get in touch with Dr Purva on Instagram
In this episode we talk with Saskia Boujo, author of "This Period in my Life" and relationship and sex educator about her her journey which lead to the birth of her book. Saskia is a relationship and sex educator who has been teaching young people for almost 20 years. This Period in My Life is her first book. She was inspired and motivated by the many myths and misconceptions around periods that she battled with in the classroom, that seemed to reinforce a very negative narrative around menstruation. She believes that better education around menstruation is a right, but frustratingly it is squeezed into just a few theoretical lessons that are lacking in practical advice that young people are desperate for, and entitled to. Saskia continues to work closely with primary and secondary school children to try to reclaim the positivity around the menstrual cycles, as well as try to introduce an environmental element to their choice of menstrual product. Saskia has 3 children all born through IVF. She believes that had she had better education around periods she could potentially have avoided her infertility, caused by endometriosis. She continues to campaign to try to remove the stigma around fertility related issues, though her work educating young people is now her main occupation. You can order This Period in My Life : https://saskiaboujo.com/product/this-period-in-my-life/ Follow Saskia on instagram here
In this episode I speak to Natalie Hobbs, the founder of ModiBodi Middle East, a period proof underwear company that started in Australia. We talk about the brand’s value, about the benefits of using Modibodi underwear and the story behind those beautiful life changing and sustainable underwear. Modibodi period-proof underwear is underwear you can wear when you have your period, without having to use pads or tampons. The underwear has a thin (3mm) padded gusset, and is made from 3 layers of material. There are 3 styles of absorbency, with the heavy/overnight absorbency holding the equivalent of 3-4 pads or tampons. After wearing you simply rinse in cold water till the water runs clear, and then include in your next machine wash of delicates. As long as they are washed correctly, they’ll last 2-3 years. Modibodi wants to empower all women in our life and caters for all body shapes and sizes (sizes 4 - 26). Refusing to photoshop their models, you’ll see models that look exactly like they do in real life. Modibodi believes that cellulite, freckles and stretch marks are natural and should not be seen as ugly and erased. Links www.modibodi.ae https://www.instagram.com/modibodi_middleeast/ #modibodiuae
Jo has been practicing yoga for over 2 decades, and her practice has evolved through the years and today she finds herself focusing on the importance of cyclical wisdom in Yoga practice . Her belief is that our primary spiritual practice stems from our own body . In this episode we talk about yoga, fertility, cyclical wisdom and how they all relate. Jo Shakti works as leader in the feminine rise, supporting and empowering women through Yoga and Ritual. Through Return to the Self, Jo offers Yoga for the whole feminine life cycle, including blood wisdom, through her Awakening Shakti retreats and courses. She also has an incredible passion for supporting women through Yoga to empower Pregnancy, Birth and Motherhood. Jo is lead trainer of Spiritual Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training, a course setting a global standard as an in-person and online course. This follows her 5 year career supporting 200hr YTTs alongside Peewee Sanchez of Yogafirst. Jo is creatrix of Shakti Celebration, a global event of sisterhood and the feminine rise as well as her many years of work leading independent Yoga Retreats and Shakti Pilgrimages worldwide. Jo is a Doula in training and lives with her young children Ananda, Caesar and filmmaker husband in Bali. https://www.instagram.com/returntotheself/ https://www.facebook.com/returntotheself/ returntotheself.co.uk
In this week's episode I talk to Clio, a sex positivity advocate and we talk about all things related to a woman’s body. As Clio said, it seems that we hide all the realness to abide unconsciously to societal expectation of what a good female body should look like Clio Wood @itscliowood is a Women's Health and Sex Positivity Advocate, also the Founder of &Breathe - award-winning wellbeing and fitness retreats for pre/postnatal, parenthood and peri-menopause. Clio created &Breathe following the birth of her daughter in 2014 and her experiences with trauma, postnatal depression, and painful sex/pelvic floor issues and is passionate about helping other women be their best selves. Come up for air andbreathepostnatal.com FB | T | IG
In this episode I speak to Krista, a functional integrative nutritionist with a holistic approach to the body, where when there is a problem, the question of why this is happening is brought forward, and addressing the root cause of the problem is often the key to the solution. We talk about food, emotions, periods and how to look at our body in a holistic way. Krista King is a registered dietitian nutritionist, integrative and functional certified nutrition practitioner, and holistic health expert. Through her online practice, Composed Nutrition, she provides virtual nutrition coaching, courses, and resources to naturally heal your hormones, digestion, and anxiety. Website: https://www.composednutrition.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/composednutrition/ (@composednutrition) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/composednutrition
In this episode I speak to Marita, the executive director of the Surge Middle East branch and we talk about the the work Water for Surge is doing on the ground to break the stigma around periods and get the girls back to school. Marita grew up in Dubai and has seen the city evolve. In her current role as Executive Director Middle East at Surge, a water non-profit organization, she is able to fulfill her desire to help fellow human beings through her volunteer work with them. Surge’s mission is to end the cycle of poverty by bringing those most in need safe water and sanitation. The org has grown steadily in the last 7 years since it was established in Dubai. Surge’s wider mission is to bring awareness to water conservation. Reducing plastic consumption is very much aligned with this. As a budding environmental activist and novice beekeeper, Marita spends a lot of her time learning more about various issues including the mainstream education system, sustainable agriculture, plastic pollution and their terrible side effects on the planet and our health. She helps organize community beach cleans ups, taught the Eco Club at her children’s school and is generally up for anything that brings attention to these very important subjects. Being a mother of two little girls she is very passionate about teaching children about the connectedness of everything in nature and how our Eco system works. It is from this deep understanding that we must all strive to be good stewards during our time on the planet and learn to live in harmony with Mother Earth. By nurturing and rekindling our love of all living beings, Marita believes that together we will change the world. https://surgeforwater.org/ and instagram
In this episode I speak to Nikki Tajiri, the beautiful author of the unique beautiful and inspiring poetry and art book about our cycle "She Dreams when she Bleeds". Nikki Tajiri is a writer and artist, who creates through healing her own relationship with her femininity. She Dreams When She Bleeds: Poems About Periods is her first book. Nikki is someone who discovered the power and beauty of her own menstruation, and calls for women everywhere to fall in love with theirs. She tells us, just like we can love our bodies regardless of our shape, we can love our menstruation regardless of its frequency, flow, or pain. Follow Nikki on instagram here:https://www.instagram.com/nikkitajiri/ Get a copy of your book here” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NQTCBS1?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420
In this episode I speak to Hannah, an acupuncturist based in London who specialises in dealing with menstrual issues, we talk about the philosophy behind acupuncture and how it can help women reconnect to their cycle in a more positive organic and holistic way. Hannah Pearn is an advanced fertility acupuncturist specialising in women’s health. She has grown her own practice over the last 8 years and work predominately with women who want support with their fertility and their hormonal health. She has a huge range of patients, from those who have just come off contraception and are beginning to try to conceive to those who have had multiple failed rounds of IVF. She also supports women who may not be trying to conceive but are experiencing hormonal horrors, from painful periods, to no periods, to heavy periods to peri menopausal symptoms. Her passion is trying to change conversations and awareness of women’s health. Hormonal issues; menstrual health, infertility, perimenopause/menopause are often dismissed, under researched, under funded and poorly treated. We have not been given enough education to empower us to take better control of so many issues around these areas and she likes to work together to change this….alongside the needles of course! Email her at : hello@hannahpearn.com https://hannahpearn.com/ https://www.instagram.com/hannahpearnacupuncture/
In the episode I meet with Meka, At age of 11 Meka started a Sacred Moon cycle circle to teach young girls about how sacred their amazing body is and the blood that flows. Meka wants to change the negative views that the current generation has ….It is weird to think that this generation still experiences taboo around periods Meka Leach a certified Bhakti yoga teacher of 200 hours, being the youngest in the USA to finish the certification classes. She is a certified Harmonic Waves Healing practitioner. Performing sound healing for adult only as well as children only classes. Meka has also finished all the levels of training and is a Reiki master. Meka is the youngest instructor and facilitator at Soderworld wellness center and the surrounding area/ community. Mindfulness With Meka is a class, program and book she has hand written from her soul targeting children 10-17 years old. At the age of 10 she teaches and leads an kids only class about mindful living. At age of 11 Meka started a Sacred Moon cycle circle. To teach young girls about how sacred their amazing body is and the blood that flows. She is also the National Champion in the USA in for Y10 epee. She is an amazing loving soul and has a passion for holistic health and mindful practice. She loves crystals and she wants to change her generation. Teach people about self love, how to calm their minds, to live present, to live a healthy lifestyle, to understand their body and soul. https://linktr.ee/Mindfulnesswithmeka https://www.facebook.com/mindfulnesswithmeka/
In this episode, I speak to Samantha Charlesworth, founder of simplylisciousoils to find out about the benefits of essential oils for our cycle and what oils to used based on where we are in our cycle. Sam is a mum of 2 girls ages 8+10. She set up her business Simplylisciousoils in February 2019 and she’s passionate about helping other people with essential oils. She started my journey with essential oils just over 2 years ago and she was hooked straight away. She now uses oils in all aspects of her family life. Blends to help calm, help with sleep, to energise, to help fight germs and in cleaning products. They have diffusers in every room and don’t go anywhere without oils. Want to find out more about oils, reach out to Sam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3954089947999099/?ref=share or follow her on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplylisciousoils/
In this episode I speak to Alex, a menstrual cycle awareness advocate, who shares her experience from taking the pill, dealing with infertility and reconnecting to her cycle... Alex has worked in the media industry her whole life; running around at 150mph, chasing money, success, affirmation at the expense of her health and wellbeing. Relentlessly sculpting her body at the gym, eating clean and living in a state of constant disconnect. By the age of 34 she had everything she thought she wanted from the picture of how her life should be and yet she realised it wasn’t giving her the fulfilment and happiness she had hoped. Not only was she suffering with debilitating body confidence issues, but her feelings of low self-worth had become all consuming, and she had discovered I was unable to conceive. She realised that none of these outside things were going to give her the worth and value and connection to herself that she had really been longing for. And so she went on a quest to heal from the inside out. So when she came off the pill to have a baby and it proved impossible, things started to unravel. She just could not conceive. Her menstrual cycle and fertility was mirroring back to her the relationship she had had with her own womanhood and herself. And so she dedicated herself to re-learning and re-connecting to all the parts of herself that she had disconnected from her whole life.. With every moment of re-connection she began to learn about her menstrual cycle with new eyes. As she began to consciously discover the magic and power of her menstrual cycle, she learnt that her physical body, her menstrual cycle, was so powerful that it was able to connect to the Lunar cycle of the moon. Through cycle tracking, she became so aligned with her womb energy that she was able to surrender to each part of her cycle allowing the tears to flow or the rage to come without judgement or shame. She was able to move through each cycle with more compassion and understanding for herself as well as bringing her to a place of even deeper connection with her sisterhood. "We have learnt that periods are something to be ashamed of, to stop and to hide, but I want to help women break free of these feelings of shame and disgust. I want to help women feel their feminine power, their wild, their radiant inner beauty and show them how to get the most out of their period by following cyclical awareness. Without the menstrual cycle, humanity would not exist and I feel moved to educate other women on the power of it, not just as a giver of life, but as a beautiful event that happens each month." Follow Alex on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamalexcroxford/
In this episode I meet with Melissa, a yoga therapist who herself struggled with PMDD and has used yoga practice as a way to heal. Because Melissa has experienced the healing benefits, therapeutic yoga provides, she now offers first hand remedies and practices to help women with PMDD regain their well being Melissa Sue Vair is a 600-hour Professional Yoga Therapist specializing in therapeutic yoga for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Melissa has always had a passion for women's issues, completing her undergraduate degree in Women’s Studies in 2010. Vair began teaching yoga full time in 2011 and has been dedicated to sharing yoga ever since. With the arrival of COVID-19 and the imperative to move everything online, Vair felt compelled to share how she has addressed her PMDD symptoms and maintained her mental and physical well-being. For Vair, the practice of yoga is a proactive approach to unhappiness and suffering. She firmly believes that the therapeutic application of yoga can help empower individuals to discover their own self-worth, self-acceptance and self-love: to be radically authentic and accountable to their own happiness. Learn more about PMDD and Yoga for PMDD: https://linktr.ee/yogaforpmdd
In this episode I speak to Shoshana a women’s empowerment mentor and cycle guide, who believes that . We’re cyclical beings living in a linear society but that when we start living according to our feminine flow our life can be optimised. Shoshana Sadia is a Women's Empowerment Mentor and Cycle Guide who works with modern, spiritual women who desire to live connected, conscious lives. Shoshi draws on ancient teachings and womb wisdom to guide women into deeper states of self-love, self-empowerment and alignment. She teaches women how to harness the power of their natural rhythms to step into their feminine flow. Shoshi combines powerful spiritual practices, mindset and embodiment work to shift inner states of being that will manifest externally. Her life's purpose is to use her experience, intuitive wisdom and deep spiritual education to serve women on their journeys through awakening. Follow Shoshana on: Website http://www.shoshanasadia.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shoshana_sadia/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/565139897660746/?source=unknown