How the doshas dance through your cycle, and how to care for each phase with tenderness

In Ayurveda, the ancient sister science of yoga, everything in nature is seen as a dance of the elements. Space, air, fire, water, and earth move through us in unique combinations, shaping not only our constitution, but the rhythms of our days, our seasons—and our cycles.

For women, who are beginning to notice that their energy, mood, appetite, and sensitivity shift from week to week, Ayurveda offers a gentle roadmap. A way of understanding these changes not as inconvenient, but as deeply intelligent. A rhythm to live by.

Your Cycle, Your Doshas

Just as the earth moves through the seasons, so too does your body. Each phase of your menstrual cycle carries a different elemental quality mirroring the Ayurvedic doshas of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

Menstrual Phase (Days 1–5) – Vata

This is your inner winter. Vata, governed by air and ether, brings spaciousness, intuition, and rest. But if unbalanced, it can create anxiety, fatigue, or a sense of disconnection.

Support with:

– Warm, grounding foods: soups, root vegetables, stewed apples

– Stillness and silence

– Abhyanga (self-massage with warm sesame oil)

– Gentle yoga or Yoga Nidra

*try our Flow & Bodyrolling, Mindful Flow, Yin & Meditation, Yin & Nidra classes & events like our Sound Baths, Sound Bath & Reiki, The Healing Session, Yin Yoga Workshops…

Follicular Phase (Days 6–12) – Kapha

As your bleed ends, Kapha (earth + water) supports renewal. You may feel fresh, stable, creative. But too much Kapha can create sluggishness or resistance to momentum.

Support with:

– Lighter, fresh foods: greens, quinoa, citrus

– Uplifting movement, like a morning walk or joyful flow

– Breathwork to clear stagnation (like Kapalabhati or gentle bhastrika)

*try events like our Breathwork Session or The Healing Session…

Ovulatory Phase (Days 13–17) – Pitta

Pitta (fire + water) is active now. You may feel vibrant, focused, and expressive. But excess Pitta can bring irritability, breakouts, or heat in the body.

Support with:

– Cooling foods: cucumber, mint, coconut water, leafy greens

– Soothing practices: moon salutations, gentle twists

– Staying hydrated and not overbooking your calendar

*try our Flow & Bodyrolling, Mindful Flow, Beginners Yoga & Aerial Relax & Restore classes.

Luteal Phase (Days 18–28) – Vata + Pitta

As your hormones shift again, both Vata and Pitta can rise. You may feel introspective, sensitive, or easily overwhelmed. This is a time when many women experience PMS symptoms.

Support with:

– Cooked, nourishing meals with healthy fats (ghee, avocado, warm spiced milk)

– Slower movement: Yin, restorative yoga, grounding breath

– Journalling or creative expression

– Herbal teas: chamomile, shatavari, tulsi

*try our Flow & Bodyrolling, Yin & Meditation, Yin & Nidra classes & events like our Sound Baths, Sound Bath & Reiki, The Healing Session, and our Yin Yoga Workshops.

Cyclical Self-Care Is Deep Feminine Wisdom

Ayurveda teaches us that wellness isn’t about doing more it’s about coming back into rhythm. With the day, with the breath, with your own inner tide.

So much of modern life asks us to override these shifts.

To stay the same.

To perform.

But your body was never designed for linear living.

It was designed to ebb and flow.

By tuning into the doshic qualities of each cycle phase, you begin to work with yourself, not against yourself. Your practice becomes more effective, your energy more sustainable, and your emotions more easeful.

A Final Whisper

This is not about being perfect.

It’s about noticing. Choosing softness. Listening.

Ayurveda doesn’t ask you to overhaul your life overnight.

It asks you to begin with one small act of care, repeated each day.

The  more you honour your cycle, the more you come home to yourself.

And that is where real healing begins.