Tag: women’s health

Is your PERIOD a SENTENCE?

Is your Period a Sentence

Fertility and Reproductive Health Coaching

 

Your menstrual cycle is unique and I provide individually designed programs that support your optimum reproductive health.  Whether you are trying to conceive, hoping to avoid pregnancy or if you are looking to tame symptoms that are reducing your quality of life, we will work together to bring your moon cycles into harmony with your creativity, intelligence and vitality.

Believe it or not, within six-months, you can be pain free and enjoying predictable periods.  Not only can we reduce your period-related pain and discomfort, you will find at the end of your program that you have a map for taking advantage of the various energies of your moon cycle.  You will know when you are most fertile, turned-on, tuned-in, creative and energetic and when you are most supported with an inward focus and nourishing activities.  Not only will your health improve, but your whole quality of life will evolve for the better as you find yourself more efficient, aware, responsive and confident.

With my six-month coaching program, you will feel completely understood and supported as we work towards radically reducing your symptoms, identifying patterns in your unique cycle and using proven techniques for meeting your personal wellness goals.  Although the transformation you experience will be radical, the work is gentle.  No strict diets or severe lifestyle changes.  We work from where you are and then take you where you want to go.

I know that you may feel right now that it is impossible to even imagine not being in pain or having regular menstrual cycles.  But, I KNOW that it is not only possible, but it is your right to enjoy a healthy, beautiful and pain free menstrual cycle.  I’m so sure that I can help you that I offer a 100% money back guarantee.  Start today with a FREE evaluation and a guided meditation so you can reduce your stress level immediately.  There is no obligation to work with me.

My Story

I’ve been there.  As a teenager, my doctor prescribed birth control pills to “help” correct my irregular and incredibly painful menstrual cycles.  But, taking synthetic hormones so early in my life and for so many years backfired.  By my early twenties I had cervical abnormalities that lead to painful biopsies and was experiencing large ovarian cysts.  Each doctor I would see would say that by taking birth control pills I was already doing what was “best” for my “condition”.  Finally, I had an ovarian cyst that was so large you could feel it through my abdominal wall and a doctor suggested that I have surgery as soon as possible to remove it.

No one ever asked me about my stress level, diet, sleeping patterns, satisfaction in my relationships or how I envisioned reproductive health or how my symptoms impacted my sexuality or ability to be creative and joyful in other areas of my life.  I just kept checking off the boxes “irregular periods” on the forms.

But surgery?  Surgery seemed so drastic that I woke up and started asking around.  In whispered conversations in the ladies room in my office building I heard about an amazing acupuncturist who might be able to help.  And help she did!  Within 4-weeks the cyst that was the size of a tangerine was no longer identifiable on an ultrasound.  The surgeon made me go back for a second ultrasound because she couldn’t believe that a cyst that gigantic had just disappeared.  I am sure that the acupuncture and herbs that I took were helpful, but what I believe to have changed my life forever were the conversations that I had with my acupuncturist.  Was I happy in my marriage?  Did I like my job?  What was I eating for breakfast?  How was my quality of sleep?  And each week, she would suggest that I add a little something new and delicious to my diet—-pumpkin seeds?  Walnuts? Why, yes, I like pumpkin seeds and walnuts!  I could eat more of those.  Try wheat grass?  Why not?  I’ve been pumping synthetic hormones through my body and organs and brain for the better part of 15-years.  Why not wheat grass?

Ovarian cysts–gone forever.  I re-defined what a “regular” cycle was based on my own beautiful body and connection to the earth and rhythms of the moon, oceans and earth itself.  Knowing when I ovulated helped me design a work and study schedule that respected my most creative periods.  When I was more inward focused I knew better than to schedule big presentations or force multiple-deadlines.  And, although many intelligent doctors said it would never be possible to conceive a baby naturally, I had two beautiful children.

 

Imagine

Imagine what it would be like to be liberated from painful periods, heavy bleeding, bloating, moodiness, cysts, infections and irregular cycles that keep you guessing.

Imagine what it would be like to know exactly when you are most fertile and creative.

Imagine what it would be like to look forward to your period.

 

Holistic Approach

Step One: Start Where you are

We start with where you are: your reproductive health as you experience it right now.  I take the time to really listen to your experiences, symptoms, hopes and how you envision what a healthy menstrual cycle looks like for you.  I offer some very simple to implement nutritional advice and teach you how to chart your menstrual cycle, be aware of fertility and ovulation signs and teach you some ways to relieve stress, tension in the body and address specific symptoms (for example: headaches, cramps, back and breast pain).

Step Two: Now We Know What We Know

After you take a couple of months to chart your cycles using my methods, then we have some information to work with.  This information will help you communicate more clearly with your doctors.  For example, just checking off the “irregular periods” box doesn’t help your doctor as much as you saying, “I only ovulate every 40-days.”  You may also notice things that are energy related, but within your control.  For example, you may see that you ovulate on day 20 of your cycle for 3-months in a row, but in the 4th month you have a really stressful presentation on the 20th day of your cycle and you don’t ovulate that month until day 22.  In this stage, we have real information to work with and create goals for working with this information so that we can see change over time.

Step Three: Making Change

Now that we know specific information about your cycle, we can use that information to implement changes at the right times to support you in creating a healthy menstrual cycle and optimum fertility.  Fertility isn’t just about making a baby, it is about growing into your most creative, juicy and sexy self!

Step Four: Optimum Reproductive Health

In the final stage of the coaching program, you find that you are experiencing a great reduction in pain and discomfort.  Your cycles are not only predictable, but you look forward to their arrival.  You marvel at how beautiful you feel around your ovulation and schedule time to be alone and quiet when you approach your time of bleeding.  You see the wisdom in your blood.

Begin Today

The first step towards optimum reproductive health and fertility is filling out this new client form so that I can provide you with a FREE initial consultation and evaluation.  Your response is completely confidential.  Within 48-hours of submitting your new client form, I will send you a personalized e-mail with a link to a FREE 10-minute guided meditation so that you can start to reduce your stress level today.  I will let you know if I feel that my coaching program is right for you and suggest a plan of action based on your symptoms and goals.  The price of your program will depend on the number of sessions that we determine is appropriate for maximum benefit.  Programs range from 3-9 months and payment plans are available to meet your needs.

Pain free and regular periods are priceless!  This is an investment in your health and well-being that will improve every area of your life.  You know how much you’ve already spent on doctors, diets, tests, medications, sick days, missed vacations……….instead of spending money on “something” this coaching program is an investment in YOU and you deserve it!

I believe in you.  I believe that you can feel better and have a pain free and higher quality of life.  I know it is possible for you.

 

Fertility

NOTE: this is a dated blog post that describes services and packages that are no longer available.  If you are interested in my optimum fertility and reproductive health services, please follow this link to the current packages. 

Optimum Fertility

dreamstime_xs_5551756

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reproductive Health and Fertility Coaching

 

Irregular Periods? PMS? Moody? Bloated? Doubled over and missing out on activities and work due to cramps, migraine headaches or back pain?  Does your period just go on and on and on?  Is “heavy” flow an understatement?

PCOS? (Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome) Anovulation?  Not ovulating due to low body fat, endocrine disruption or trying to regain fertility after being on birth control pills or other hormone based birth control?

Trying to conceive for over 6-months without a pregnancy?  Miscarriage?  Unexplained infertility?  Considering IVF or other medically assisted reproduction therapy?

 

There is no reason to suffer!  I offer personalized coaching services where we address your greatest concerns, create do-able action plans for addressing your needs and all the support and confidence you need to improve the quality of your life and reproductive health.  Your action plan is likely to include:

  • Stress Management
  • Diet and Nutrition
  • Meditation and Visualization
  • Mindful Movement, Yoga and Exercise
  • Counseling on finding the best medical care providers, alternative health services and problem solving
  • Learning how to track fertility signs to either prevent or promote conception

Take the first step and call for your FREE phone consultation: 412-855-5692.  During this consultation I will work with you to determine what your reproductive health goals are and offer you an initial evaluation and proposal for our work together.  To give you an idea of the costs for this type of coaching work, here are some examples of coaching packages:

One-Time Coaching Session  $150

Before the session you fill out an extensive intake survey so I know exactly what you need before the call.  During the call we address a singular issue regarding your reproductive health and/or fertility.  You leave the session with an action plan for solving your greatest concern and I will be available to you for unlimited e-mail support for up to one-month after the session.  Our session lasts an hour and a half and is scheduled at your convenience.  You may, if it is part of your action plan, decide to enroll in my menstrual education course which includes detailed information on tracking your fertility signs for $90.  This would make the total cost for improving the quality of your life and finding real solutions to your chronic reproductive health problems for $150-$240.

One-Month Intensive $350

Before the first session, you will fill out an extensive intake survey so I know exactly what you want to work on before our first call.  During this month, you will receive weekly meal plans and nutritional advice and we will have three, one-hour phone sessions during the 4-weeks of your month intensive.  This is most likely for women with a more complex health issue or who are scheduled for an IVF cycle and want a month of support around that cycle.

Six-Month PCOS, PMS, Irregular Cycles or Optimum Fertility Coaching Program  $500

This type of program is for women that have a chronic endocrine or other imbalance that is going to require a longer commitment to nutrition, medication, and lifestyle changes in order to meet their goals.  This program includes enrollment in my menstrual education course and e-mail support for 6-months following the program.

 

Follow-up sessions are between $50-$100 depending on the type and length of session required.  All coaching programs, including single sessions, come with some period of unlimited e-mail support.

Health Coach for Women

I provide comprehensive, holistic and compassionate care for women of all ages who want to engage in a positive relationship with their pelvis, reproductive health, endocrine system and menstrual cycles.  This includes:

  • Healing for irregular menstrual cycles
  • Learning how to be aware of and track fertility signs
  • Managing chronic pelvic pain, vaginal pain or hip/low back pain
  • Cesarean and birth recovery including nerve damage, anxiety and abdominal and pelvic floor strengthening
  • Working with symptoms associated with PMS (mood, bloating, headaches, etc.)
  • Alternative support for PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)
  • Infertility, miscarriage and pregnancy loss support
  • Healthy menopause
  • Adrenal Fatigue
  • Anxiety, depression, anger and frustration in relationship to menstrual cycles, fertility, PMS, pelvic pain and infertility

WOMEN’S HEALTH CONSULTATION SERVICES

2-Hour Consultation and Evaluation
$200

50-Minute Sessions
$90

Package of Six Individual Sessions
$500

Package of Consultation and Six Individual Sessions
$675

HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER?

If you live in Pittsburgh or surrounding suburbs, then we can meet together in person in a beautiful treatment room at Mookshi Wellness Center (401 Biddle Avenue, 2nd Floor above Biddle’s Escape Cafe in Regent Square).

If you live anywhere else in the world, then we can work together using the power of the internet making geographical location and distance irrelevant.  You will need access to the internet and SKYPE or we can use Google to “hang-out.”

WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU COACH PEOPLE TO DO?

The mind and body are always aligned, but sometimes we start living as if this is not the case.  In mind body therapy, I use a variety of techniques to help you feel more connected in mind and body. I choose the techniques that I think will be most helpful to you in meeting your goals: relaxation, mindful movement, breathing practices, mindful eating and meditation are common skills that I instruct my clients in using to support their own well-being.  In addition, I offer instruction in planning menus, improving quality of sleep, using a basal thermometer to track menstrual cycles and other practical and specific lifestyle skills that support your goals.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SEE RESULTS?

Most women see evidence of benefits to our work together within 6-sessions. In general, the lifestyle changes including diet, exercise and meditation have both immediate benefits and women find that they are able to meet their original goals that were identified during the initial consultation between 6-months to one year.  This is an empowering process where you learn how to improve the quality of your life.  Once you learn the skills, they are yours to keep and use forever.

DISCLAIMER

During our initial consultation,  I will want to make sure that you have sought out appropriate medical care and diagnosis to rule out any medical conditions, illness or disease that can cause pain, irregular cycles, bloating and other symptoms as described above.  I am not a doctor and offer holistic lifestyle consultations and support for women who have chronic reproductive organ and system health concerns that are not treatable through bio-medicine.  While rare, there are serious conditions that can cause similar symptoms to PMS or PCOS, irregular cycles and infertility.  My advice is not meant to replace professional medical care and I will never recommend that you stop taking any prescribed medication or treatment plan that has been prescribed by a doctor or mental health professional.  If you have not already had an exam and evaluation by a medical professional regarding your condition, I will recommend that you do so as soon as possible in our initial consultation.   

ABOUT ME

Sharon Rudyk is a yoga and meditation instructor and birth doula based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  If you are from the general Pittsburgh area, we can meet in a beautiful and private practice space that I use at Mookshi Wellness Center in Regent Square.  If you live anywhere else in the world or it is more convenient for you to work with me using distance tools, I also work with phone sessions, Google Hangout and SKYPE.  All you need for distance sessions is a quiet place, an internet connection and either a phone/computer or electronic notebook/iPad.  Call me at 412.855.5692 for your FREE and absolutely no obligation phone session.

Menstrual Education 1974 Style

Our understanding about our menstrual cycle—what it means, how we manage it and what we are permitted to do and not do when “Aunt Flo” visits is developed in a unique time and space. The cultural implications of education, communication and general knowledge is significant. Watch this incredible menstrual education video from 1974 and you will be amazed at how our understanding today is both very different and very much the same as the way menstruation is depicted in this educational film.

Asana Workshop

PERIOD.
A workshop for women facilitated by Sharon F. Rudyk
SUNDAY, April 14, 2013 from 1:00 to 3:30 pm
$35 (tuition includes a cycle tracker kit and all handouts)

Register by calling Sharon (412) 855-5692 or by sending an e-mail to: sharon@yogamatrika.com

In this workshop, you will be re-introduced to your amazing menstrual cycle on physical, spiritual and energetic levels.  The cost of the workshop includes a kit with everything you need to learn about fertility signs and tracking the length and phases of your own unique cycle.  Never be surprised by your period again!  You will learn a unique yoga-based meditation to tune into the energy your moon cycle to help you time creative projects, big decisions and times for rest and rejuvenation.  Respect your natural energetic rhythms and learn self-care techniques for PMS, painful periods and pelvic pain from the seemingly mysterious to ovarian cysts and other challenges to fertility and reproductive health for women.  This workshop is for women of all ages and in all phases of cycling.  Young women under the age of 17 may enjoy attending with a wise woman who is over the age of 25 who can support them in understanding this alternative approach to women’s health and wellness.  Even if you are entering menopause or have experienced menopause, this workshop will be enlightening and you will learn techniques for greater health that you will use each and every day.  This workshop is a beautiful way to heal your relationship with the cyclical nature of womanhood and embrace one of your greatest powers.

Location: möökshï wellness center, above Biddle’s Escape Café at 401 Biddle Avenue, Pittsburgh
www.mookshi.com   or call (412) 407-7829

Awesome February in Pittsburgh

There are so very many wonderful events happening in February that I thought I would highlight just a few of my favorites that other creative yogis might be interested in:

Saturday, February 9, 2013
Color Theory for Knitters
Location: cosymakes studio (Yoga Matrika, 1406 S. Negley Avenue, Squirrel Hill)
Cost: $35
Time: 1:00-4:00 pm

Sunday, February 10, 2013
Indie Knit and Spin Boutique
Location: cosymakes studio (Yoga Matrika, 1406 S. Negley Avenue, Squirrel Hill)
Cost: FREE (but we promise you are going to find something to purchase)

Saturday, February 16, 2013
Leslie Howard: Pelvis Workshop for Women
Location: Yoga on Centre and hosted by Jennifer Butera Yoga

Saturday, February 23, 2013
Arm Balance Workshop with Linda Meacci

Location: Schoolhouse Yoga in the Strip District
$30 with pre-registration
Time: 12:00 noon to 2:30 pm

Monday, February 25, 2013
Prana Flow Yoga: Fluid Power
Facilitated by Simon Park at BYS on the South Side
Cost: $35 in advance or $45 at the door (go ahead and commit!)
Time: 6:00-8:15 pm

Thursday, February 28, 2013
Creating Healthy Habits
Facilitated by Emily Levenson at Quiet Storm in Garfield
Cost $20
Time: 6:00-7:30 pm

I hope to see you out and about enjoying these fabulous offerings!  If you know of others that you wish to share, please comment on this post.

New Preeclampsia Research

Matrika Prenatal, Pittsburgh’s premier yoga studio dedicated to prenatal yoga, postnatal yoga, family yoga and childbirth education,  is always trying to stay on top of new research in women’s health.  Here is a very interesting study that discusses the role of trophoblasts (a father directed cell) in preeclampsia.

Posted by Sharon Rudyk, Director of Yoga Matrika and Matrika Prenatal, an intimate, community-based yoga studio in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Direct vs. Indirect

As I like to keep this Yoga Matrika blog  focused on yoga and take a mindful approach to all issues, I wasn’t sure whether or not I wanted to bring this highly charged issue to the blog.  I decided to bring it here, not to have a debate on abortion—right or wrong?  Legal or illegal?  Instead, I wanted to question and explore what happens when we fail to use all of our intelligence to consider challenging questions.  The original posting is below and it is from the Women’s Health Policy Report that is put out weekly by the National Partnership for Women and Families.

The issue in the article, in case what I have already said has infuriated you or led you to believe that you don’t want to or just can’t read any further, is that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have made a clarification on abortion.  Direct abortion is when you terminate a pregnancy for the only purpose of terminating the pregnancy. In summary, direct=bad, very bad, super bad.  Indirect is when a pregnancy is terminated in order to save the life of the mother.  In summary, indirect=bad, very bad, super bad, but allowable in extraordinary circumstances.

When I read this, I wasn’t quite sure what to do with it.  Part of me wanted to laugh out loud thinking about all the meetings and arguments of the men in charge as they debated the difference between direct and indirect abortions.  Seriously, any woman who has ever been pregnant and any man who has ever known a pregnant woman knows that this kind of dialogue fails to reflect the mysteries of the whole situation, never mind the realities of pregnancy, miscarriage and abortion.  Certainly, any family that has faced the terrible situation of weighing the continuation of a pregnancy vs. the life of the mother, wife, daughter, WOMAN, would assure all of us dear readers that there is no worse hell imaginable.  Considering the state of health care for women in the United States, this type of dialogue also seems to steal the stage from the more banal and everyday questions of health for women—not just our reproductive status, but our hearts and minds.  Why isn’t the leadership group of any religion focused on addressing the incredible health disparities in our country?  Why is the maternal and infant mortality rate so very high here in the United States when we have the resources that we have?  Another part of me wanted to cry because these men, men who have made a significant lifetime commitment to their spiritual practice and service of their communities, have missed something important—-how could time invested in this madness ever produce a more positive human experience for anyone?  How is this in service of God? While I imagine that those who feel differently about the issue at hand than I do would be delighted to tell me with great passion about how this is very much so in service, it still seems a fair question—at least philosophically, if not otherwise.

How is this related to yoga?  This is yoga.  A very wise and brilliant student at Yoga Matrika recently communicated her revelation that what happens in her life is her practice.  What happens on her yoga mat is just a trial run.  What we realize through yoga practice is that just when we think we have the answer, the game shifts.  Life is like being invited onto Jeopardy and practicing for months only to find yourself, with no notice, as a contestant on Wheel of Fortune!  Direct or indirect, perhaps we can just use this as a public example of what happens when we use our brains to attempt to find logic in what we need to bring our higher intelligence to.

I invite you to read this article and think of a time when you struggled to make logic of a situation in which there is no logic.  Thinking back on this time, see if you can now, even with hindsight, go back to the process and use your deeper intelligence to make peace.  To do this, sitting on a chair with your feet firmly planted on the floor or in a comfortable seated pose on the ground gently create distance between your lowest rib and your hips.  As you feel the sides of your body lengthen, bring your navel center over your pelvis.  This allows your pelvis to support your enteric nervous system—-otherwise known as your gut.  Now, bring your heart over your navel.  This allows your heart to be supported by your instincts.  Now, gentle tuck your chin towards your heart so that your neck lengthens and you relax your facial muscles.  This allows your brain to be supported by your intuition and your heart.  Watch your breath for a few moments and feel the peace that comes from equanimity.  Even if it is just for a moment.  Isn’t it a relief to take the world off your shoulders?  Now, breathe this sense of peace and calm to everyone in the world.  Let us all heal and put our energy into work that benefits the health and wellness of all living things.

Catholic Bishops Clarify Abortion Definitions in Light of Ariz. Case

June 28, 2010 — The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops‘ Committee on Doctrine released a statement last week clarifying how the church classifies direct abortions and indirect abortions, the Arizona Republic reports.

The statement refers to a recent case in which Sister Margaret McBride, an administrator at a Catholic hospital in Arizona, was excommunicated for her role in authorizing an abortion to save a woman’s life. The statement did not review the particulars of the case or take a position on the excommunication; instead, it said USCCB wanted to clarify “confusion” about the church’s stance on abortion.

According to the Republic, the church condemns direct abortion — meant to terminate a pregnancy — but permits indirect abortion — in which fetal death is a secondary effect of another necessary procedure — in some cases, such as a hysterectomy to treat uterine cancer. “As the church has said many times, direct abortion is never permissible because a good end cannot justify an evil means,” the statement said, adding, “There are no situations in which it can be justified.”

The statement “appears to confirm” the Phoenix bishop’s classification of the Arizona case as a direct abortion, the Republic reports (Clancy, Arizona Republic, 6/25). In the case, the young mother of four was 11 weeks pregnant and had pulmonary hypertension, a rare condition in which continuing the pregnancy often jeopardizes the life of the woman. Physicians concluded that the placenta had to be removed to prevent the patient from dying (Women’s Health Policy Report, 6/9).

Posted by Sharon Rudyk, owner of Yoga Matrika https://www.yogamatrika.com/