Recognizing one’s intrinsic connection with nature is a powerful catalyst for enhancing women’s health, weaving together physical vitality, emotional resilience and hormonal harmony.
This realization — that women’s bodies and feminine cycles mirror the earth’s rhythms — offers a pathway to holistic well-being.
By immersing in nature, women can reduce stress, boost physical health and nurture mental clarity, fostering a profound sense of balance and empowerment.
Physical health benefits
The connection with nature directly supports physical health by mitigating stress, a major disruptor of women’s hormonal systems.
Chronic stress can cause irregular menstrual cycles, intensified PMS, or menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes. Engaging with nature — through forest bathing, gardening or walking barefoot on grass — activates the parasympathetic nervous system, lowering cortisol levels.
A 2019 Scientific Reports study found that just 20 minutes in a natural setting significantly reduced cortisol, stabilizing the endocrine system and promoting regular cycles.
Physical activities in nature, such as hiking through forests or practicing yoga by a lake, enhance cardiovascular health, strengthen bones and alleviate menstrual cramps.
These movements, aligned with the earth’s rhythms, boost endorphins, fostering vitality that resonates with women’s cyclical nature.
Emotional and mental resilience
Emotionally, realizing one’s connection to nature provides a sanctuary for navigating the complex emotional landscapes shaped by societal expectations and hormonal fluctuations.
Understanding that emotions ebb and flow like tides or lunar phases helps women release self-judgment.
Nature offers a non-judgmental space — journaling by a river, meditating in a meadow or listening to the wind — promoting mindfulness and emotional processing.
A 2020 Frontiers in Psychology study showed that nature exposure reduces anxiety and depression, enhancing mental well-being. This is especially vital during transitional phases, like postpartum or menopause, where nature’s constancy offers comfort, building resilience and encouraging women to embrace their emotional fluidity as a strength.
Hormonal harmony through cyclical awareness
The realization that feminine cycles — menstruation, fertility, pregnancy and menopause — mirror nature’s rhythms unlocks hormonal harmony.
The menstrual cycle, averaging 28 days, parallels the lunar cycle, with the follicular phase aligning with the waxing moon’s growth and menstruation with the new moon’s renewal. Tracking these phases alongside lunar cycles helps women anticipate energy shifts, tailoring self-care to their body’s needs.
Similarly, life stages echo seasons. Puberty reflects spring’s awakening, while menopause aligns with winter’s wisdom.
Engaging with seasonal changes — harvesting herbs, like red clover in spring for menopausal support or resting in winter — grounds women in their transitions.
A 2018 Menopause study noted that phytoestrogen-rich herbs can ease menopausal symptoms, reinforcing nature’s role in hormonal balance.
Practical tools for connection
To realize this connection, women can adopt intentional practices:
Daily nature doses: Spend 10–20 minutes outdoors, walking in a park or tending plants, to lower stress.
Lunar tracking: Journal menstrual phases with lunar cycles using apps like Stardust to enhance body awareness.
Seasonal rituals: Create ceremonies, like a spring fertility blessing or autumn gratitude walk, using natural elements.
Herbal allies: Use sustainable herbs like chamomile for cramps, consulting a herbalist for safety.
Mindful movement: Practice yoga or dance outdoors, adapting to cycle phases for physical and emotional alignment.
By embracing their connection with nature, women heal their bodies, soothe their minds, and harmonize their cycles, reclaiming health as a reflection of the earth’s wisdom.
Bri Edwards is a holistic health coach at Healthy Foundations in Dubuque.
