If you’ve been a follower of Natural Womanhood for the past few years, you’ve likely heard of our Clubes Cycle Mindfulness (CMCs). These clubs are one of the ways we educate, inform, and empower women—specifically, college-aged women—by teaching them about their menstrual cycle phases in a supportive group setting. Below are some quotes from just a few of the women who have participated in CMCs across the country.
“This club taught me self-forgiveness. I used to expect myself to be the same everyday, and beat myself up for when I showed up differently or wasn’t consistent. Now I know that it’s normal to feel different every single day, and that I don’t need to reject that or feel shame for that. Instead, I have found peace in embracing the way I was made.”
“When I first joined the club and heard my leader speaking casually about cervical mucus, I thought to myself, ‘okay, wow, we’re THIS close.’ But as the club went on, I realized that we needed to be talking about it, and how much it can tell us about our health and wellbeing.”
“When I first joined the club and heard my leader speaking casually about cervical mucus, I thought to myself, ‘okay, wow, we’re THIS close.’ But as the club went on, I realized that we needed to be talking about it, and how much it can tell us about our health and wellbeing.”
Although each woman’s experience is unique, I relate to the testimonies of each of these women very much. The knowledge and community that the Clubs provide to members is nothing short of extraordinary. Today, I want to share a little bit about how I first got involved with the Cycle Mindfulness Clubs, and also talk about the incredible sisterhood I have found within them.
I remember being in college and feeling as though something was missing. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, because I was surrounded by a wonderful group of friends, participated in multiple on-campus organizations, and was close with my family. But despite having these supportive relationships in my life, I sensed that I needed something deeper. I desired to have a space in which I could be authentic, including a space where I could talk about my cycle-related experiences in an honest and meaningful way. Looking back, this makes a lot of sense. I was passionate about women’s health, so something felt “off” when I didn’t have a village of women to walk with as I navigated the many changes a woman experiences. What I needed was a community in which I could ask questions, express concerns, and pursue effective solutions.
Near the end of my junior year of college, I received a phone call from my mom about an organization called Natural Womanhood. “They’ve sent out several emails looking for college women who are passionate about cycle health. I thought you might be interested.” She forwarded me an email, which I opened to read that applications were due in two days—and included essays and recommendations. I figured I didn’t stand a chance, but took a leap of faith and applied anyway. A few weeks later, I was offered an interview, followed by an offer, and less than two months later, I found myself on a plane to Texas for the training to become a Cycle Mindfulness Club leader.
Education in the many phases of womanhood
What happened when I arrived in Texas was nothing short of amazing. Within minutes of arriving, I was greeted by 12 women who were just as excited about women’s health as I was (and that’s saying something, as someone who grew up with four sisters and a mom who had been charting her own cycles since eighth grade)! I immediately felt surrounded by the sisterhood I desired, and was so moved by the authenticity with which these women lived. Some of them had experienced really hard or painful things. But rather than “keeping quiet,” like it sometimes feels we’re supuesto to do, the training provided opportunities for us to reflect on the positive and negative experiences we’d had (in general, but particularly with our menstrual cycle phases).
As each woman vulnerably shared, you could feel the friendships developing and see the group receiving each woman in her wholeness. Processing these experiences and being given the space we needed to do so paved the way for personal healing to occur. I walked away more convicted than ever that women need other women to walk alongside them throughout their life experiences. We weren’t made to navigate life alone, and it’s only natural to have older “sisters” who can accompany and mentor you as you experience puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause, or any of the other pivotal experiences women uniquely experience.
As each woman vulnerably shared, you could feel the friendships developing and see the group receiving each woman in her wholeness. Processing these experiences and being given the space we needed to do so paved the way for personal healing to occur. I walked away more convicted than ever that women need other women to walk alongside them throughout their life experiences.
Additionally, the weekend I spent in Texas revealed the deep need we all have to be heard and received in our places of hurt. It’s not common in our culture to have a space protected where you can share hard things with friends who want to support you. But that’s exactly what the Cycle Mindfulness Clubs exist for: to educate women and provide a space in which they can better understand themselves and their experiences.
Clubs focused on body literacy and fertility awareness
When I arrived back on campus my senior year, I began working to recruit club members and find a space to share what I had learned with them. Although this was by no means an easy process, the fruits of it were beyond rewarding.
Over the course of a year, I watched as friendships developed among the women in my club. There were eleven of us who met on a weekly basis, covering topics like “Charting,” “Hormones and Emotions,” and “Common Cycle Problems.” It was beautiful to accompany these women as we learned about our cycles, began charting, and shared the struggles we were facing or challenges from the past. Leading a club helped me to see the great importance of body literacy and concienciación sobre la fertilidad education, as many of my club members didn’t understand the basics about their cycle, such as knowing about ovulación. It was incredible to watch as these women came to appreciate the great order with which their bodies function and find that it not only made sense, but that it was possible to track patterns and identify what might be causing them pain or other issues.
I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to walk with each of these women, and still regularly receive messages sharing stories about how the club continues to impact them today. Whether they’re rejoicing in finding a doctor who is holistically treating their symptoms, sharing a pregnancy announcement, asking questions about natural acne treatment, or telling a story about how they told a new girl in their class about charting, it is incredible to hear about the ripple effects of this information, and the friendships we developed.
I think that, as women, we desire to be surrounded by a village of other women who will accompany us through the many milestones we experience in life (especially puberty and menarche, intimacy, embarazo, giving birth, perimenopausia, menopause, and the many ups and downs in between!). I now know that what I needed in college was a village, and I am so grateful for the Cycle Mindfulness Clubs and the space they provided for that village and sisterhood to develop.
As a former club leader, I feel equipped to continue navigating life because I have that village of women around me. I know that I am surrounded by a community of women who want to see me flourish. Even as the circumstances of my life change, I can continue pursuing friendships and striving to be the sister that the women in my life need. I think so much of it comes down to a personal conviction that we belong, our experiences matter, and healing is possible. Having women around us who are convicted of the same thing, who want to see us thrive, and are willing to walk with us through the messiness, is a necessary part of becoming fully alive and experiencing the beauty of womanhood. That is why the Cycle Mindfulness Clubs Clubs are all about. And that is why I am so grateful for them!
It comes down to a personal conviction that we belong, our experiences matter, and healing is possible. Having women around us who are convicted of the same thing, who want to see us thrive, and are willing to walk with us through the messiness, is a necessary part of becoming fully alive and experiencing the beauty of womanhood.
