On my podcast The Colours of Womanhood, I recently sat down with Alexe Woods —intuitive sleep coach, astrologer and founder of Universal Movement. Her story is layered with resilience and reinvention: from growing up with dyslexia, to pioneering in pole dance, to navigating burnout and motherhood, and finally arriving at a new way of moving and resting.
Her journey mirrors what so many of us face as women—especially those living across cultures. The pressure to do it all, to stay strong in unfamiliar terrain, often drives us into exhaustion. Yet in Alexe’s work, I hear an invitation: to listen differently, to honour cycles, and to reclaim rest as essential.
From Burnout to Cyclical Living
Raised in the energy of the 1980s, just like me, Alexe remembers a culture that celebrated relentless drive. Though outwardly feminine, she often felt masculine in her energy—always pushing forward. This helped her build a thriving creative business, but also pushed her into burnout.
Motherhood became the turning point. It asked her to slow down and discover a different way of being. Through astrology and the cycles of the sun and moon, she found language for rhythms that had always been there but rarely honoured.
The Sun, the Moon, and the Body
Alexe’s Universal Movement method draws from preventative self-care solution based upon medical astrology. The sun represents our vitality—the steady current that moves through the 12 zodiac signs over the year. The moon represents our emotional landscape—moving through all 12 signs in just 28 days.
Together, they map a living rhythm, reminding us that each part of the body deserves care. Virgo, linked with digestion, teaches us to notice how we process food and emotions. Pisces, linked with the feet, may invite grounding practices like massage or barefoot walking. Over time, this rhythm ensures balance, variety, and attention where it is most needed.
She also highlighted how astrology provides a framework to make self-care practical. By knowing which signs are active in our sun or moon cycles, we can tailor rest and movement practices to our bodies’ natural inclinations—helping us avoid burnout before it happens. For example, an Aries period may call for more physical activity, while a Pisces phase might invite introspection and slower movement.
Rest as a Radical Act
Alexe’s own healing came through Yoga Nidra during the sleepless years of early motherhood. In those moments, she discovered that deep rest is not indulgence—it is survival. In her words: “It’s progress over perfection. It’s moving forward in the right direction without being too hard on ourselves.”
For women living cross-culturally, often far from familiar support, this message is vital. Rest is not something to earn; it is the ground from which energy and clarity emerge.
In our discussion, she emphasized that rest and movement are not opposites—they are companions. Integrating moments of stillness with mindful movement allows the body to reset, supporting emotional and mental clarity. For those adapting to new cultures, this becomes even more important: rest acts as an anchor, a reminder that even in unfamiliar environments, we can cultivate stability and self-care.
The Colours of Womanhood Reflected
In Alexe’s story, I see the colours of womanhood:
- The bright fire of ambition.
- The shadows of grief and exhaustion.
- The nurturing tones of motherhood.
- The cosmic hues of sun and moon guiding her home.
Her voice reminds us that womanhood is not linear—it is cyclical, creative, and deeply connected to rhythms both within and beyond us. She spoke about embracing imperfection, listening to intuition over societal expectations, and creating space for what nourishes us—messages that resonate strongly with women navigating life across different cultural contexts.
An Invitation
If Alexe’s journey speaks to you, explore her work at Universal Movement, where astrology and embodiment come together in beautiful ways. Get a free 14-day trial at https://www.universalmovement.com/how-to-reclaim-your-feminine-energy-with-cyclical-living
And if you’d like to begin reconnecting to your own cycles of energy, you can start with my free practice, EnergizeIN—a gentle way to explore your inner energy and release wherever you are on your journey.
https://designin-yoga.kit.com/energy-for-intercultural-women
Photo from: https://www.instagram.com/animalenas?igsh=NzcyZHcyM2o3NTJx
