Holistic Menstrual Awareness is a series of live interactive lectures designed to give a holistic and full view of reproductive health as it relates to the menstrual cycle. The intention is to deepen body literacy and bring participants into a deeper awareness of their physiology as well as the cultural and social forces that have shaped the human experience as it relates to the monthly cycle.
What is BODY LITERACY?
Your menstrual cycle is a vital sign - and just like your heart rate, temperature, respiratory rate, and blood pressure, you should be able to tell when things aren't normal. This is basic body literacy, and unfortunately most of us learned almost none of it in our sex education as young people.
Learning to observe, chart, understand and interpret the language of the body. It means listening to the messages our bodies are giving us, and knowing what to do about those messages.
Just like literary illiteracy, the impact of body illiteracy is disempowering, diminishes self-esteem, and limits opportunities.
Body literacy facilitates healing, deep self knowledge, self acceptance, reproductive freedom and informed choice.
“The energy within your menstrual cycle is a force… it’s an animating presence - a holy intelligence that holds the blueprint of who you are and your highest potential. As people step up and claim the cycle, they unleash a consciousness that dignifies … and holds all life sacred. This living body of knowledge is vital for us, and essential for our times.”
- Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer
Holistic menstrual Awareness Learning Modules
Choosing to invest in learning true body literacy will give you more wisdom and freedom than you can imagine. We acquire this literacy over time by observing our experiences in our own bodies, sharing with our peers, and learning from those with deeper knowledge. It includes science and physiology of the body, but also the mysteries of it - the heart, the blood, the spirit, the beauty, the pleasure and the pain. It is a deeply intimate personal experience that will change with the cycles of your life, but is also greatly intertwined with the position women, and all people who menstruate, hold in society and culture at large.
In each learning module, we will discuss what is happening hormonally and physiologically in your body, how to support this physiology in your self care practices, as well as historical and cultural context to the lived experience of each topic. I will cover the prepared content, and then we have time for intimate discussion and questions together. I think this is a really important aspect of the learning because it allows you to integrate the information in a personal and reflective way. The learning modules are divided into broad topics, listed below (more topics are in development!):
Introduction to Body Literacy
Premenstrual Phase & PMS
Menstruation
Ovulation & Eggs
Cervical Literacy
Hormonal Contraceptives
Cycle Tracking Basics + Contraceptives
Investment and logistics
Now offering sliding scale pricing according to the Green Bottle Method.
Please be mindful that if you purchase a price at the lowest end of the scale when you can truthfully afford the higher ticket prices, you are limiting access to those who truly need the gift of financial flexibility. Being honest with yourself and your financial situation when engaging with sliding scale practices grows strong and sustainable communities. It also respects the work of teachers and creators. Additionally, when I am paid fairly, I am able to invest more time and resources to free and lower cost offerings.
Jar 1 - $100 Jar 2 - $75 Jar 3 - $50 Jar 4 - $25
At the end of the day, the sliding scale thrives on trust.
I trust you to be honest in your assessment of your economic reality.
“Imagine that the menstrual cycle is understood and honored as the sacred source of life for us humans. Imagine that knowledge of the full spectrum and power of the menstrual cycle is common place, and all womb holders feel the utter rightness of having this experience within them. Imagine a world in which the menstrual cycle is respected as a spiritual practice... Imagine that womb holders are so grounded in their menstrual cycle that they naturally develop trust in their body and their inner life-giving processes. Imagine growing up in this kind of menstrual-affirming world.”
Join me in realizing this vision for our world.
Join me in blazing the path further forward by destroying the taboo and shame around menstruation.
Join me in storytelling and deep listening.
Join me in claiming your radical responsibility for true body literacy.
It starts with you; with your relationship to your body, and how the change in that relationship will create a ripple effect of empowering changes in every sphere in your life and beyond.
praise for holistic Menstrual awareness learning modules:
“Rachel's approach to educating women on their cycle is phenomenal - the content in digestible, inclusive to all, and you are left with this power to invest in your own health and listen deeply to your innate wisdom. I view myself as an educated person, however my knowledge on the menstrual cycle was limited and I felt a pull to learn more holistic and integrated ways to care for my body. It's evident that Rachel is extremely passionate about sharing her insight and expertise. The beauty of learning with Rachel is that you can start wherever you are and know that your past experiences and questions matter and will be addressed with gentleness and an open mind.”
- Marlee Nesser
“Rachel is abundant in knowledge as she is in passion. It was an absolute delight learning from her as she made me feel so empowered to educate myself, to really learn so intimately about my body and really cultivate a healthy and beautiful relationship with my cycle. I am so grateful for the inspiration from our sessions and feel with this knowledge I know how to implement taking control of my cycle and hormones.”
- Soojin Kim
“I initially reached out to Rachel because I wanted to stop taking the hormonal birth control pill I had been on for about 10 years. I was nervous about the change and Rachel made me feel heard and supported. She provided so much knowledge and insight with a personalized protocol that helped guide me through the transition. I have also attended many of Rachel’s Holistic Menstrual Awareness modules and have learned more about body literacy than any other format. I love that the lectures are intimate, welcoming, and that they include the historical and cultural context of the topic. I can’t wait to make my way through all of them! I highly recommend working with Rachel and feel lucky I get to learn from her!”
- Erin Williams