Understanding the ovulatory phase through the lens of seasonal changes.
Welcome to summer.
In the Northern Hemisphere, we’re deep into the warm, sun-soaked days of the year, the kind that invite late sunsets, ripe fruit, and a sense of possibility in the air. It’s the season of bloom, expression, and connection. Inside our bodies, this same energy has a mirror: inner summer, the ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle. This is the time when your hormones peak, your energy often reaches its height, and your body is at its most fertile, roughly days 14–20, depending on your cycle. You may feel more social, confident, and magnetic, as if your inner light is turned all the way up. When our inner summer happens to align with the Earth’s summer, the experience can feel even more amplified, heat meeting heat, vibrancy feeding vibrancy. Let’s explore what inner summer looks like and how it may be shaped by the season we’re living in now.
What Is Inner Summer?
The Science:
This is your ovulatory phase, when estrogen reaches its peak, luteinizing hormone (LH) surges, and progesterone begins to gently rise. Physically, this is when your body releases an egg, and from a reproductive perspective, it’s the time you’re most likely to conceive. You may notice your skin glowing, your voice sounding warmer, and your ability to connect with others feeling effortless.
A Note on Potential Discomfort:
While many experience ovulation as a time of ease and vitality, some notice sensations that are less celebrated. One example is mittelschmerz, a German word meaning “middle pain.” This can feel like a brief twinge, ache, or cramp on one side of the lower abdomen when the ovary releases an egg. It’s generally harmless, but for some, it can be uncomfortable or even intense enough to affect daily life. Other shifts, such as temporary bloating or breast tenderness, can also appear during this phase. We’ll explore mittelschmerz in depth in a future post, but for now, simply knowing it’s possible can help you track, understand, and support your body’s needs.
Energetic View:
Like the height of summer, this is your time of outward expression and fullness. You might feel magnetic, generous, loving, and more in tune with the world around you. It’s a natural window for creativity, collaboration, and celebration.
Note: Even though energy may be high, it’s still important to stay nourished and hydrated, summer can burn bright but also burn out if we don’t tend the fire.
When your inner summer aligns with the Earth’s summer season, the sensations can feel even more amplified; heat, expansion, and aliveness in every cell.
Inner Summer Practices
Ways to honor your body, mind, and vibrant energy in this phase
Breathwork: Heart-Centered Breath
Sit comfortably and place your hands over your heart.
Inhale deeply through the nose for a count of 4, imagining breath flowing into your chest.
Exhale through the mouth for a count of 6, softening your shoulders and jaw.
Continue for 1–3 minutes, feeling your heart space expand.
This breath supports connection, compassion, and the open-hearted energy of summer.
Yoga Style to Try: Heart-Opening Flow
Your body may crave movement that matches your energy; uplifting, spacious, and flowing. Think sequences that open the chest and side body, and invite play:
Camel Pose (Ustrasana)
Wild Thing (Camatkarasana)
Dancer’s Pose (Natarajasana)
Side Plank variations
Crescent Lunge with backbend
Supported Fish Pose for a gentle, nourishing close
Herbs for Inner Summer
Support hydration, circulation, and gentle cooling as the inner “heat” rises:
Hibiscus: Cooling, rich in vitamin C
Peppermint: Refreshing and uplifting
Raspberry leaf: Tones and nourishes the uterus
Enjoy as iced teas or herbal infusions for a summer refresh.
Seed Cycling for Ovulatory Phase
Continue with:
1 tbsp ground flaxseed
1 tbsp ground pumpkin seeds
These support healthy estrogen metabolism and hormone balance in this fertile window.
Shine & Connect
Your inner summer is an open invitation to express your full self. Some ideas to play with:
Host a gathering or connect with friends
Share your creative work or ideas
Practice acts of generosity and kindness
Wear colors that make you feel radiant (think warm golds, corals, and whites)
Journal prompts to play with
Where in my life am I ready to be fully seen?
What brings me joy to share right now?
How can I nurture connection with myself and others?
Inner summer is a celebration, a reminder that you are a vital, radiant part of the larger web of life.
By honoring this phase, you align with your natural rhythm, your creative fire, and the beauty of being fully in bloom. And just like summer itself, this moment is precious, savor it while it lasts.
Find our blog on Inner Spring here.