Over the last two years I’ve spoken with many women in their 20s, 30s and 40s who think that suffering through the last week or so of their cycle is just part of being a woman. What a lot of people don’t understand is that PMS is an early warning light telling us something in our lives is out of balance. If it’s not addressed, it can lead to more serious health concerns later in life. For example, women who experience moderate to severe PMS may be at greater risk for postpartum depression and a difficult menopausal transition. The underlying hormonal imbalances can also make conceiving a baby more challenging. Even if women don’t experience these more serious concerns, they often find that over time the symptom-free window gradually shrinks and they spend more and more of their month feeling trapped by PMS.

There’s still a lot of social stigma about PMS in our culture, which makes it even more difficult to ask for what we need for fear of being judged or ridiculed. My own symptoms started in my mid-twenties but it took me years before I listened to what my body was trying to tell me, and so my healing process has been a longer one. I’m really passionate about sharing what I have learned through my own research, training and experience so that other women can find the support they need. Each woman’s symptoms are different, so it’s important that you learn how to listen to what your own body is trying to tell you and make changes that address the root cause of your specific imbalance rather than just mask your symptoms.

This weekend, I’m teaching a workshop that will help you understand what your unique pattern of symptoms indicates about the underlying cause of your PMS. You’ll learn daily lifestyle and dietary practices that you can adopt to address the root cause of each symptom pattern. Past workshop participants have shared that applying these principles led to tremendous improvements in their digestion, energy, mood and other symptoms.

We’ll spend the first hour of the workshop in lecture and discussion. During the second hour, I’ll guide you through a deep relaxation practice that you can use any time you want to invite more ease in your body and mind. PMS may be common, but it’s not inevitable — you don’t have to continue riding a hormonal roller coaster every month. If you’re tired of feeling held back by your symptoms, I hope you’ll join me this Saturday.

P.S. Early registration has ended, but you can still save $5 if you use the promotional code april5 when buying your ticket.

When: Saturday, April 28 from 1:30 – 3:30 pm

Where: Yoga Sita 1501 Mariposa Street #308 San Francisco, CA 94107

Cost: $30 if you register by Monday, April 23; after that, registration is $35

What to bring: A notebook and pen, comfortable clothing for sitting and lying on blankets and yoga mats. All props will be provided, but you’re welcome to bring your own yoga mat.