Meet Spandana Araga, a menstrual educator in India…  

I’m Spandana, a women’s coach and meditation teacher, living in a Himalayan village in India. When I came across the Menstrual Coach Academy programme, I felt a clear, embodied “yes.” It was exactly what I had been seeking a way to deepen my work with women and the practice of Menstrual Cycle Awareness. Receiving the Cleanmarine Period Plan scholarship felt like life confirming I was on the right path. 

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?  

Six years ago, I was in a senior leadership role in e-commerce, living in a big Indian city. I had the life I thought I wanted but I felt disconnected and unfulfilled. My body began to speak up… I landed in the emergency room with chronic pain seven times in 18 months before I finally took a step back. I was eventually diagnosed with endometriosis.  

In 2019, at age 32, I took my first real pause. What began as a one-month break turned into a 20-month journey. As Covid hit, I found myself in a South Indian ashram, where I met my spiritual teacher. Since then, I’ve been slowly building a life rooted in alignment, nature, and cyclical wisdom. 

What made you want to join the Menstrual Coach Academy programme?  

I began to work as a women’s health and leadership coach but wanted to learn more about the menstrual cycle and chronic pain. Lisa’s programme stood out because it integrated a practical, science-backed approach including psychological tools, pain science, and trauma awareness while remaining profoundly compassionate. It felt like the missing piece. I knew this would help me better support women navigating both physical symptoms and the deeper emotional and spiritual layers of their menstrual experience. 

How did you feel when you found out you were chosen for the Cleanmarine scholarship? 

Since moving away from corporate life, I have dedicated much of my time to spiritual study, practice, and service to my community. I had been offering my work as a voluntary teacher and coach here in India. Receiving the scholarship was a dream come true! felt like a sign from the universe a clear “yes” to continue walking this path and supporting women.  

What has been the most powerful or memorable part of the training so far?  

The programme is beautifully designed to balance practical coaching tools with embodied menstrual cycle wisdom. Each month focused on one rich aspect of cycle coaching.  

I came into the programme with a background in yogic teachings and embodied feminine practices. Over the course of the training, my skills in guiding women through pain, stress, and nervous system regulation expanded significantly.  

I also found the peer learning and global community very enriching it reminded me that although we come from different cultures, the challenges and breakthroughs around menstrual cycle experiences are shared. 

How do you hope to use what you’ve learned to help others or make a difference in your community?  

I plan to integrate what I’ve learned into coaching, teaching, and workshops for my community here in India. While India has a rich history of ancient menstrual wisdom and practices, this knowledge has been slowly getting lost over the generations, and Indian women suffer from the same disconnection and stress of modern living as most urbanized societies.  

My focus is on creating spaces where women can connect with the intelligence of their bodies and start viewing their cycles as a power rather than a problem. I’m particularly drawn to supporting women who want to reconnect with themselves, their inner purpose, and who are facing chronic pain. My vision is to blend Eastern wisdom, cycle awareness, and modern psychological tools to offer both practical relief and deep reconnection. 

A closing message from Spandana 

I’m deeply grateful to Cleanmarine and the Menstrual Coach Academy for making this journey possible. This work has not only enriched my own life but continues to ripple out into the lives of the women I support here in India. If you feel called to this path, trust that call our cycles carry wisdom the world deeply needs. I believe the feminine reclaiming its place in the world is essential to healing it.