'More men need to take part in conversations about periods' says Laois wellness coach

A Laois menstrual cycle coach has encouraged more men to take part in conversations surrounding periods.

Ms Paula Byrne, owner of Apple Blossom Holistic in Abbeyleix, works as a professional menstrual cycle facilitator, and coaches women and teenagers through their periods and the menopause.

Ms Byrne gives workshops in businesses and secondary schools, and has noticed that many schools only want female students to take part in these discussions.

"There is still stigma within the educational system surrounding periods," Ms Byrne explained to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"when I am in front of a class, it has only been girls I have delivered these talks to. Be it at an all-girls school, or a mixed school, they would remove the boys and only want me to talk to the girls.

"I would rather talk to the girls than talk to nobody, so I'm willing to do that," she said. 

Pictured: Ms Paula Byrne, menstrual cycle facilitator at Apple Blossom Holistic.

"We need more boys and men involved in these conversations, it's important for them to have an idea of how menstrual cycles work, of what's typical. Even just to know about period products, knowing what to buy if they're sent to the shop!" Ms Byrne said.

Ms Byrne explains that menstrual cycles are individual, and influenced by lifestyle choices such as diet, stress levels and exercise. Her aim is to support women through their cycles by employing mindfulness practices, and understanding the patterns to their own cycles.

The menstrual cycle facilitator has developed her own process known as the 'Mindful Cycle Approach'.

"This isn't rocket science, it's the basics of how your body works," Ms Byrne explained.

"My background is as a primary school teacher, and I decided I wanted to share this with the world. I have been practicing mindfulness for many years, and guiding others through it, but through studying menstrual coaching and professional facilitation, I learned so much," she said.

"During my training with Lisa De Jong, I gained a deeper knowledge and awareness of myself, my emotions and my energy throughout the month. I enjoy my monthly cycle now and the dread of my period is gone," she said.

With the support of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, Ms Byrne has created The Mindful Cycle approach to body literacy and menstrual education for individuals, schools, and parents.

Ms Byrne has said that understanding the connection between her nervous system and her body had a huge impact on her own cycle. 

"I expected my period to be painful, I expected a struggle each month," she said.

"I just thought if more people knew this, or if someone had told me as a teenager that periods shouldn't be painful or interfere with your daily life, it would have changed my life," she said.

Ms Byrne explained that she has not always been so open towards conversations surrounding menstrual cycles, along with her own endometriosis.

"I wasn't always this open about periods, I didn't ever share my own struggles with endometriosis or the pain I was in. I would be mortified to have to miss work due to the pain I was in. This isn't something I have always been comfortable in discussing," Ms Byrne explained.

Pictured: Ms Byrne giving a workshop on menstrual cycles

Ms Byrne has applauded the progress made in open discussions surrounding women's health in Ireland, yet still feels that the medical industry has a long way to come.

"Great strides have been made with women speaking about women's health, from periods to menopause and perimenopause in the last few years," she said.

"It's us who are doing it, it's women taking back ownership of their own bodies at last, which is amazing. 

"I think that it is really difficult for women to get help in Ireland, for too long. We are going back over 25 years with me, where you were fobbed off and put on the pill.

"Unfortunately, many conversations I have with teens, women and parents nowadays explain that it's still the case," Ms Byrne explained.

"If there's an issue involving women's health, the pill is the first thing prescribed, and all that does is masks the issue. There's no other support. This makes it difficult for women with polycystic ovaries, endometriosis or fertility issues to get answers.

"They can only be seen through private healthcare, and that's just not good enough," she said.

Ms Byrne has said that she believes today's teenagers are far more open to such discussions, and that stigma within schools remains strong.

"Within these organisations, there is definitely still stigma there.  With the students, I think there is a lot more openness with teens nowadays. They see a lot of information online, which is something to be equally careful of, yet there is still this stigma in schools," Ms Byrne said.

While encouraging more men to take part in the conversation, Ms Byrne has praised her husband for his support.

"My own husband is amazing, he has been on this journey with me since the beginning," she said.

"I would say he knows just as much about menstrual cycles as I do, and he would have no issues with chatting about periods to anyone."

For more information, you can find Apple Blossom Holistic's website here, or on their Facebook page.