Menstruation: A Taboo or a Blessing?

• By- Garima Vardhan
• Uncategorized

For centuries, women have been manipulated and misunderstood instead of being educated and appreciated. The simple fact that we bleed during menstruation has been transformed into several taboos and has resulted in many restrictions, barriers, bondages and control mechanism being exercised upon women.

We cannot understand something that we personally do not experience- this is the axiomatic truth. And if not, then it certainly has universal applicability in so far as women centric experiences are concerned. This is evident from the fact that as the time flew by and societies were formed based upon the rules set by men emanating from their lived experience, women were turned into second grade humans. Many rules were devised to keep women in check. To the extent that social, religious and philosophical norms made little distinguish between chattel and womenfolk. And this scenario has prevailed since centuries.

But were women really so weak and was their condition contagious?

Bharat is a land of numerous cultures, beliefs and variety of religions and vast demography but was never so narrow-minded. Everything in our culture was rooted in the lived human-experience and evolved  with an egalitarian outlook to help every human being.

The essence of feminine energy lies in accepting the cyclic changes that we go through on physical, hormonal, mental and spiritual levels. There is no denying that these very changes are not in our control and are extremely crucial for our well-being and health.

PMS- there is palpable, and often disappointing, level of awareness regarding menstrual health across the globe. WHO statistics shows that 2 out of 5 school provide menstrual education. how this statistic plays out in real world is millions of girls are physical and mentally unprepared for their 1^st period. They unknowingly and unwilling become a part of the systematic stigmatisation of menstruation. In the more educated and urbanised environment, this ignorance is reflected in the assumptions and characterisations where menstruation is solely equated with “PMS” or “Mood Swings”.

Pre-Menstrual Symptoms something that every living being on the planet believes is the ultimate understanding of the menstrual cycle. Around the world incorporates, schools, training centres etc people are educated on this small portion about women’s health.

To overcome the popular misconception about menstruation and its associated issues, it needs to reiterated that a woman going through a normal, regular and healthy period doesn’t include the symptoms often associated with PMS. It is as smooth as water flowing from a tap without any discomfort or noise, but because of lack of true education on what needs to be done before and after the periods, what to avoid, why to avoid, how to manage the time and energy throughout the period, women around the world are unaware and in deep fear, agony because of their condition. Sometimes they even take medications to stop, pause and alter their menstrual cycle which further disturbs their hormonal balance.

We must start by acknowledging the fact that men and women are not same, not meant to do the same set of activities, take same level of stress, rest, food and physical activities. In the race to prove ourselves as equals, we women have dismissed our very connection to the feminine, our essence and our values.

Our period is not only an indication of our health and the ability to conceive, but it is a gateway to a spiritual experience which men found themselves struggling for ages to achieve. The feminine Shakti is a pathway to look deep and connect to the very core of this human life. Yes, the pain, the agony, the discrimination has created a mental blockage that we are continuously fighting in all the aspects of life.

Let me share few menstrual practices that I have inculcated in my life and which have helped me to attain peace and made me embrace the true nature of being a woman:

Food- Food is the basis of everything that happens. Every living being is simply consuming energy in one form or the other and converting it into another form of energy. I learned, as I observed the different phases of my cycle, what to eat, what to avoid, how much to eat, when to eat and who should cook the food. Before my periods I avoid anything that is cold in nature because it leads to cramps and bloating, sometimes constipation. My body enjoys warm, light food and some fruits. I have stopped eating after sunset, it helps me to stay fresh and keeps the digestion smooth. I avoid cooking food and eating outside when I’m on my periods (there is a sense of comfort, when someone who loves you cooks food at home). The body needs hydration before and during the periods.

Clothing- A simple change in the attire to recognise the change in the body, I switch from tight synthetic clothing to loose cotton clothes which are flowy and not hugging the body at private places. This is good for blood circulation and body feels airy. I use ‘cotton only’ undergarments, and I’m switching to cloth pads. Every culture has their own dedicated attire which suits best at this time of the month. Since, I live in north Bharat, I wear cotton suits which feel light and I avoid dark clothing as well, because looking at myself in light, blended colour creates a sense of happiness.

Massage- Massages are invariably important before the periods starts, especially on the head, back and legs. Sometimes, I ask others and sometimes I do it on my own with a hot oil (usually Apricot or Sesame). It maintains warmth in the nervous system and doesn’t create heaviness in the body. I also take out time to scrub my body with organically produced scrubs or chickpea powder (which I use as face wash throughout the year) and I have switched from using chemical based soaps, moisturisers, etc.

Jewellery- Decorating oneself is an act of love. Women love being decorated and it enhances our grace and uplifts the spirit, makes us more cheerful. I specially ordered my anklets from my home to wear them at this time of the month. I understood that my body and mind needed quiet, serene time to listen to the inner self and to resonate with that rhythm. The Indian silver anklets are the best, the frequency at which the ghunghroo (the anklet bells) rings creates a sense of peace inside the mind. I avoid wearing heavy artificial jewellery, the Indian woman has always been gifted and loaded with gold and silver for the fact that it works best with the nervous system whereas other metals disturb our energies at very subtle levels.

Makeup- I was never very fond of makeup. Lucky for me, I didn’t apply any chemicals on my skin. I have always used home made products and followed the rule that whatever I cannot eat I will not apply on my skin. It kept my skin in a very good, fresh and glowing condition (that’s the secret to my beauty). The chemicals we soak in, mix in the bloodstream and create a lot of skin related issues and chronic ailment. Specially at the time of periods, I only use Kajal made by traditional method and a bindi to create a sense of focus and calm on the forehead. Before my periods I also apply kumkum on the throat and forehead after lighting up the Diya (oil lamp) and I always put a drop of Ghee in the navel to keep my lips nourished and soft.

Physical activities- The body is in a very sensitive state before and during the periods. Hence, I avoid moving around or jumping and lifting weights. There is some extra strain on the joints and little weakness as well. The more I preserve my energy, the better I can utilise it after the periods are over. As I live in the mountain, it is imperative to walk miles to even get a grain of food if I run out of it and haven’t stocked. So, I try to get help instead of hiking up and down myself. It is better if the physical body gets rest and maintains the normal balance without disturbing the flow. This keeps my emotional state, mood swings, cramps, pain and tenderness in check.

Yoga Practices and Kriyas- As for Yoga practice and meditations I practice and follow, they are also altered as per the need of the body and mind. Before my periods, I do all sorts of inversions, backbends, movements etc. I do a lot of chanting and breath work as well, but as my period approachs, I try to do a lot of holding in supine posture, stretching and restorative asanas and very little pranayama and slight modifications in my chanting (for ex-OM- A, U, M, I only chant M and lot of Brahamari and Ujjayi). Since I follow Iyengar Yoga, it has given me a lot of openness to experiment and research what works best for me in any given situation and condition.

Sleep- Now, the most important part is related to rest:- how to rest and reset. Our periods are the best time to engage in spiritual and mental practices. The body is already in resting mode. We feel centred, more connected inside and outside. There are a lot of realisations, better understanding of things and acceptance towards ourselves. It is the time of introspection and isolation, it doesn’t has to be forced. It happens automatically, if only you notice. The urge to talk less and feel more is an integral part of our cycle. Sleeping for longer duration helps maintain healthy body and mind. I learned that pushing ourselves all the time to stay in the race which is not even made for us women, has pushed us in a blackhole of continuous misery.

Now, the reason why I shared all this is because If I don’t then who would. We have spent centuries holding ourselves, not sharing, suppressing and misguiding. It is every woman’s responsibility to educate herself and her kids as well about this universal and utterly significant phenomena. The right way forward is by embracing who we are and appreciating the differences nature has blessed us with.