Issue #1: the new INTERWOVXN newsletter

Welcome to our new weekly newsletter + Five Senses Friday!

Apr 05, 2024

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The solar eclipse on Monday has us thinking… how can we connect to the collective energy of this experience and open up to something greater than ourselves this coming week? Are you planning to watch the eclipse? Are you traveling?

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This week’s Five Senses Friday was inspired by a chat with our friend Melissa of Nourish Massage, Bodywork, and Skin Therapies. We love how you all inspire us!

TASTE: Cherry Magnesium Sleep Drink. Looking for an alternative to that evening glass of wine? We were chatting about how, with age, alcohol is more easily messing with our sleep and mood. Enter the perfect bedtime companion, tiktok sensation (and part of Melissa’s + Theresa’s bedtime ritual)—a blend of tart cherry juice and magnesium for natural relaxation and a restful night’s sleep.

SEE: Why Do Rogue Chin Hairs Appear and How Do We Make Them Stop? Melissa has been one of our go-to’s for questions about our changing skin and, of course, the never-ending chin hairs that seem to magically appear when we thought we were in the clear! This article from Well + Good offers some options for cause and management. We are curious- do you have a favorite method for removal?
Comment in the chat!

SMELL: Full Moon Ritual Kit. Speaking of moons, we are so excited to check out this new kit from Bushyl. The full moon offers opportunity to reconnect to the rhythm of nature and set intention for the month ahead. Create space for yourself <3. The kit includes a candle, a crystal of the month, a bath bomb, and an intention workbook. Start with one or subscribe to receive a carefully curated package at your doorstep each month, ensuring you're in sync with the unique energy of each full moon.

HEAR: Frida’s Favorites Spotify Playlist. Anyone who knows Melissa, knows of her love for Frida Kahlo. Music was indispensable in Frida Kahlo's life. As a child, she listened to the music her father played on the piano: Beethoven and Strauss. Later, in New York, she was introduced to jazz music. And of course, Mexican Folk and Mariachi were also very important to her. In this playlist, you will find some of Frida Kahlo’s favorite songs.

TOUCH: Somatic Exercise 101: Your Intro Guide To Starting A Somatic Exercise Program Has anyone else noticed ads for somatic exercise apps on their social feeds and wondered what it was all about? Somatic exercises are repetitive, simple movements that help to release muscle tension and increase flexibility, promoting better posture and alignment. They can also improve awareness of the body and create a better mind-body connection, leading to a reduction in stress and anxiety.

We are grateful to share support this season with

Are you wondering if your pelvic floor is weak or why you’re experiencing pain down there? Imagine being able to move freely and not worrying about rushing to the bathroom or being intimate without concern of pain. Whether you’re navigating pregnancy, postpartum, fertility, menopause, or needing pediatric care, Pelvic Health & Wellness is dedicated to providing quality pelvic health care to people of all ages and genders for their bladder, bowel, and sexual health concerns.

Pelvic Health & Wellness

Season 6 of the INTERWOVXN podcast arrives in May! Intimacy + Sexual Health.

We are excited to share more with you soon! In the meantime, have you listened to our most listened to episode of Season 5?

Britta + Sonja: two friends and cousins sharing their heartwarming conversation about becoming first time moms, navigating pregnancy during marital separation, the importance of women supporting women, entrepreneurship, dating in middle life, their love of cooking, intergenerational traditions, and so much more.

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Catch up on episodes you missed on our website, here on Substack, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

my (rebecca) CHALLENGE: my mood post-ovulation

Next month, Sara Beaumont (of Reverence Fertility) and I are hosting a workshop on cycle synching for productivity during Women’s Entrepreneurship Week here in Milwaukee (running May 6-10th). We are super excited to share tips for supporting your hormones and leaning into the energy of each phase to optimize output as well as self-care.

We tend to think of our cycle as just being our period, but in fact, there are hormonal shifts happening all month long that impact our mood, sleep, energy, and sex drive to name a few.

Which brings me to my challenge! Next month I will be 47. For the last couple of years, I have been experiencing some changes that align with perimenopause– shorter menstrual cycles, irritability, skin itching, weight gain, running a little warmer than usual for me. Overall manageable with very occasional bad days. But the bad days…on the bad days I am not a version of myself that I recognize. The dip in mood, lack of motivation, and negative self-talk do not track with who I know myself to be. I am used to anxiety and irritability and have worked hard to incorporate techniques to manage these when I am stressed. But this feels different which is unsettling. I couldn’t predict it until I realized this month that, sure enough, that random bad day that was gone the next was right after my hormones shifted at ovulation.

So what do I plan to do about it? Well to start, I am going to do a better job of tracking my cycle in the coming months and take note of patterns that I am seeing. By tracking our cycle, we can more easily identify these transitions (and issues) and look to support them. As I do this, I am also starting with some other basics to support my overall health–ensuring that I am drinking enough water, taking my vitamins, getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night, exercising regularly throughout the week, limiting alcohol, starting therapy again (my therapist retired around the time I had my daughter 6 years ago and it has been on my to do list), getting acupuncture when I can, and including things that bring me joy and fill my cup during the week. (If you missed my chat with Maria Viall on the podcast where we talk about starting with the basics, find it here). I am also being mindful of what foods feel good to my body. It is changing. My metabolism and digestion are different than they were before so I am trying to find what works best for me now. It is a work in progress (which I will report back on at a later date:)

I am hopeful that recognizing the bad days as simply a shift in my hormones will allow me to take time for rest and to be in the emotions in a more grounded way, knowing that it will pass. And if not, then exploring other options to support my body in moving through this phase in a less volatile way.