FREE - Training With Your Menstruation Cycle

Service Description

As most of the labour systems and training methods we work within are built around the idea that physical and mental performance stays relatively stable over time, the circus field is no different. Unfortunately, this is not the most sustainable approach for half of our population. For menstruating people, our bodies naturally move through different phases throughout the month, each bringing its own strengths, challenges and needs. As a menstruating circus artist myself, I spent years trying to fit my body into these fixed structures and expectations. Only in recent years have I slowly started to dare to listen to my cycle instead of constantly pushing against it. Through learning about the existing research on the menstrual cycle and training, and by experimenting with my own practice, I began to restructure both my training and my expectations of my personal performance. This shift has been incredibly empowering. I discovered that some of the “rules” around how we should train simply don’t work for my body at certain points in my cycle — and that adapting my training accordingly can actually make me stronger and more connected to my body. In this seminar, I want to open up a space for exchange with other menstruating circus practitioners. Since this has been such a valuable learning curve for me, I would love to encourage other menstruating people with a similar lifestyle to get to know their cycle and learn how to work with it in a sustainable way. We will look at the menstrual cycle, its different phases, and how they can influence training, recovery, energy and performance. Together, we will question some of the training habits we have inherited and explore ways of working “with” our bodies rather than against them. This might be a rather unconventional workshop/seminar proposal for a rope meeting, since it will not be physically connected to the rope. However, I really believe this topic deserves much more space in circus and training education, and I would be very happy to offer that space through a seminar that combines education, verbal exchange and useful tools for navigating each person’s individual menstrual cycle alongside circus training. Pre-requisites: I’d like to host this seminar with menstruating people only, or people who have experienced a menstrual cycle, to enable an intimate and safe environment for everyone.