WOMEN - A NEW WAVE
As women, we have come a long way in achieving equality. But while fighting for our rights, did we lose touch with ourselves and our true nature and needs? Undoubtedly, there's a new wave of feminism emerging. One that empowers and encourages us to learn about, respect and listen to our bodies and love ourselves and our sisters (and yes we're all sisters). Now is the time to not just accept and try to fit into existing structures but to design new ones that suit us and serve us.
SOUL YOGA - A WOMEN'S CIRCLE
If you're longing for real connection, more meaning and a space to just be your true self, then maybe this one is for you. Once a month, Gentle Rev gathers a group of women. We share our thoughts, set intentions, and practice yoga and beautiful meditations together. It's a space for authenticity rather than perfection, for compassion rather than judgement, and for connection rather than isolation.
We deeply believe that when given the opportunity, women heal and grow together. By stepping into a more authentic version of ourselves, we also become better leaders.
Feedback from a woman: "I am so goddamn grateful for you, that was incredible. Thank you for your presence and your gift"
KNOW YOUR CYCLE & ADAPT YOUR PRACTICE
What if we used yoga as an opportunity to really tune in and listen to our bodies? It's easy to think that exercise only counts if it makes us sweat, but oftentimes we're too busy to ask ourselves what we really need. As we learn how to adapt our yoga practice to where we are in our cycle and in life, we connect on a deeper level to our true nature as women.
If you've had a scattered day with back-to-back meetings, you may want to balance out the busyness by choosing a more restorative or slow moving class. Conversely, if you've spent the day starring at the screen, you may opt for sun salutations and a more dynamic practice. Essentially, it's about listening to your body and needs. When it comes to our menstrual cycle though, it may not feel as straight forward. But can you imagine a more juicy topic to dive into?
Wanna learn more about how to adapt your yoga practice to your menstrual cycle and life?
Are you on your period?
Your body craves stillness. Go soft when you are on your period.
Opt for stillness when you can.
Avoid inversions.
Don't hold your breath if you are practising pranayama.
You can practice yoga nidra to let your body rest. Yoga nidra is deeply relaxing. Nidra means sleep in Sanskrit so you know what to expect - it's as close to sleep as it gets. You can get a recorded yoga nidra session by Gentle Rev, custom-made for when you are on your period.
Are you pregnant?
Think calmness and preparation.
The calming Ujjayi breath is super beneficial. Also, practice asanas like malasana and supported supta buddha konasana. A deeply relaxing yoga nidra can do wonders. You can get a tailor-made yoga nidra for pregnant women by Gentle Rev. You can also get private prenatal yoga classes.
Just had a baby?
Restore and relax. If you recently gave birth, make sure you adapt your yoga practice. Depending on your specific needs, different yoga poses and practices will be beneficial. Yoga nidra is a healing practice if you are sleep deprived.
Read Uma Dinsmore-Tuli's eye-opening book YONI SHAKTI to learn more. It is pure gold.
GENTLE REV WOMEN
Gentle Rev collaborates with a number of inspiring and cool women who do their own thing.
Sofie Stjernquist - Lawyer and Mindfulness Instructor
Gentle Rev collaborated with Sofie for the Love Yourself Day and her mindfulness session was a pure bliss. Her voice and presence just soothe you in a second. Get in touch with her here.
Ebba Wickbom - Skinside Out and Rebelly
Ebba has served vegan food at Gentle Rev's dancing events. If you want to enjoy a three day luxury intermittent fasting, check out Rebelly, IG: @rebelly_food
Ebba also offers deeply relaxing skin yoga with essential oils.
Spoil yourself and book a treatment at Skinside Out.
THE REASON WOMEN ARE STILL THE SECOND SEX
There is a simple reason why women are still the second sex. Simone de Beauvoir's book The Second Sex was published in 1949. Today, 70 years later, some say gender equality has even gone too far. But once you dig deeper, you discover the truth of the matter.
WHO ARE THE DESIGNERS?
Progress in gender equality on the surface, like the possibility to have a career, is quite recent. Because mostly men have had a seat at the decision tables, it's men who have shaped the workplace and the society we are now experiencing. How are decisions made? Based on data supposedly. But like the brilliant Caroline Criado Perez points out, it's not only about what data we collect but also about who collects it; what problem are we trying to solve, what data are we choosing to collect, what information do we already have in our heads that will shape the data collected etc.
There's of course no need to have bad intentions or to consciously ignore other parts of the population; the result will still favour men.
Criado Perez, in her eye-opening book Invisible Women, explains how playgrounds, temperature in buildings (women tend to freeze more in the office), public toilets (blows my mind how public toilets still are designed, leading to long lines outside the women's) etc are all designed with an inherent bias towards men. We're so used to it we don't even notice.
Men's experiences and world-view have shaped our societies in every possible way. There is indisputably a huge gender bias in the data we use to make decisions. You can see the impact of the gender data bias pretty much anywhere.
WHO CARES ABOUT WOMEN'S HEALTH
One area strikes me as particularly urgent to rectify: women's health. Why has it become normal for women to suffer from menstrual cramps and mood swings and to take anti-depressants and pain-killers as a quick-fix. Why are we convinced medicine is the solution to wellbeing? Because there is not enough knowledge? What if we instead looked for solutions adapted to our female bodies? What if we, instead of fighting against our bodies, became curious about the root causes? Our menstrual cycle is a mirror of our general health. What is our cycle telling us? Can we choose to tune into our cycles? I think we should demand more research into the female body. So we can design a world where women's health issues become a priority. That's one important step towards gender equality.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
Understand the effects of the gender bias in data.
Instead of demanding more medicines and pills for our ailments, we should demand that resources are allocated to research on the female body.
Ensure diversity around the decision-table (combined with a psychological safety making everybody comfortable to speak up and give their views).
GENTLE RECOMMENDATIONS
Invisible Women - Caroline Criado Perez
Forbes: How To Fix The Gender Gap Top Tips
Uma Dinsmore-Tuli - YONI SHAKTI
Vulverine - a website devoted to women's menstruation.
FOOD - BIOHACKING FOR HEALTH
A new favourite topic of mine. More and more attention is given to this super important area. We all know, health is everything! So let's boost our health through food. Call it biohacking or back to basics, soon we'll share our best tips here.