Exercise – moving your body during your cycle

Written by Bex & Laura - with Mari Carmen Fitness

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June 16, 2025

Exercise – moving your body during your cycle Image

Your menstrual cycle can affect exercise by influencing energy levels, strength, and recovery throughout the month. In the follicular phase, right after your period, rising estrogen often boosts energy and performance, making it a great time for strength training and high-intensity workouts.

In the luteal phase, higher progesterone can lead to fatigue, slower recovery, and higher body temperature, so you may feel better with lighter workouts, more rest, and mindful hydration. Listening to your body helps you adjust and stay consistent.

In this resource, we have exercise routines to suit both phases of your cycle, along with extra info from our fitness goddess, Mari Carmen.

Exercise is basically free therapy because it helps your brain release feel-good chemicals like endorphins and serotonin. It burns off stress, calms down anxiety and gives you that quiet confidence like you’ve got everything under control. When your body feels strong, your mind follows and you build resilience naturally, which is so important in the context of the experiences of infertility, loss and ttc.

Introduction to Mari

Menstruation and exercise

Follicular phase workout

Luteal phase workout

A resource on exercise and the menstrual cycle 👇

Exercise & the menstrual cycle

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