Honoring Your Inner Seasons: A Guide to Living in Sync with Your Cycle
- Jun 23
- 3 min read
By Lynn Marie, Energy Translator at ChiFlow Academy
In the quest for true wellbeing, the goal isn’t to push harder—it’s to tune in. Just as we adjust our outer lives with the rise and fall of the seasons—retreating in winter, blossoming in spring—so too must we honor our inner seasons. You wouldn’t throw on a bikini and catch rays in January, would you? (Okay, maybe Wim Hof would. But the rest of us are probably curled up with a cup of tea and a heating pad.)
The truth is: syncing your life with your internal cycles is just as essential—if not more—than honoring nature’s external rhythms.
What Are Inner Seasons?
Let’s start with one you’re likely familiar with: the circadian rhythm—your body’s 24-hour biological clock. It dictates when you feel energized, when you need rest, and when you really shouldn’t be scrolling on your phone. When we go against this natural pulse—say, pulling an all-nighter or skipping breakfast—our bodies let us know. (Loudly.)
But for menstruating bodies, there’s a second internal rhythm that gets far less airtime: the infradian rhythm. And ignoring it is like trying to plant tulips in a snowstorm—possible, but far from ideal.
The Infradian Rhythm: Your Inner Month
The infradian rhythm is your body’s 28-ish day cycle. It's not just about your period. This rhythm choreographs your brain chemistry, metabolism, immune system, gut function, and of course, reproductive health. If you’ve ever felt like a totally different person week-to-week—you’re not imagining it. You are.
Cycle syncing—coined by the brilliant Alisa Vitti—is the art of adjusting your habits to match your hormonal flow. It's not indulgence; it's intelligence. And while the term is modern, the practice is ancient. Chinese Medicine has been charting the tides of internal seasons for thousands of years.
Inner Cycles Through the Lens of Chinese Medicine
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), human beings are seen as microcosms of the natural world. That means the elements that move through the wind, water, and stars also swirl within you. Your cycle, then, is a living map of the Five Elements and the Seasons—a sacred revolution within.
Here’s how both Western and Chinese Medicine break it down:
Western View: The 4 Phases of the Menstrual Cycle
Follicular Phase (Days 7–14):
Post-period, energy is rising. Your body is prepping for ovulation.
Ovulatory Phase (Days 14–17): You’re magnetic, social, and most fertile.
Luteal Phase (Days 18–28): Time to slow down and nest.
Menstrual Phase (Days 1–6): Your body sheds and rests. Your energy is at its lowest.
Chinese Medicine View: The Four Inner Seasons
TCM overlays the cycle with elemental wisdom—rooted in the rise and fall of Kidney Yin and Yang, the forces that shape life itself. Each phase aligns with a season, an element, and specific energetic needs:
1. Blood Phase (Days 1–7)
Inner Winter | Water Element Let go. This is the time of stillness and release. Support free flow of Chi and Blood. Rest. Reflect. Restore.
2. Yin Phase (Days 7–14)
Inner Spring | Wood Element Rebirth. Blood and Yin are replenishing. Nourish yourself deeply, and set your intentions. Energy is rising.
3. Yang Phase (Days 14–21)
Inner Summer | Fire Element Shine. Yin transforms into Yang. Ovulation peaks. Warm and tonify the Kidneys, support the Spleen, and embrace connection and creativity.
4. Chi Phase (Days 21–28)
Inner Autumn | Metal Element Discern. Energy begins to descend. Clear out what’s not needed. Stimulate Qi flow, warm the womb, and prep for another cycle.
🔄 Between each season is a subtle pivot—governed by the Earth Element—that helps you transition gracefully from one phase to the next.
Why Syncing Matters
Each phase of your cycle whispers different needs. There are times to rest and times to rally. Times to speak boldly and times to turn inward. Aligning your lifestyle with these phases—through movement, nutrition, herbs, acupressure, and even communication style—creates a life of resilience, flow, and self-respect.
This isn’t about rigid rules. It’s about learning the rhythm of your own drum—and honoring the intelligence your body already holds.
Want to Learn More?
If this sparked something in you, there’s so much more waiting. We’ve created an entire course on syncing your lifestyle with your inner seasons, combining the best of modern science and ancient Chinese Medicine.
👉 In this course, we explore:
Foods to support each phase
Acupressure and Qigong practices
Herbal allies
Mindset and journaling prompts
And how to work with your body instead of against it
Ready to stop fighting your cycle and start flowing with it?
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