The Gifts of Yoga for Wāhine

Menopause- Ruahinetanga, and peri - menopause- are a time of transition.

Some traverse this transition smoothly, while many wāhine find it challenging.

If you are struggling please remember that you are not alone, and although your body and practice may change, you can find a practice that is right for you.

If you're feeling tempted to give up yoga or movement practice during peri-menopause or post menopause, please remember there is a practice for you. 💜

Through my own experience I have found many ways that yoga helped, and it can help you too.

Firstly we may need to be more mindful about what, how and why we practice.

For example a slower and more mindful style of yoga helps to reset your nervous system, and can decrease cortisol, and inflammation. 

✨Yoga helps us to keep moving our bodies, and helps keep our joints and bones healthy and strong too. 

The asana or postures can offer a mix of movement that have various benefits for joints and tendons, flexibility, and also strengthening.

Poses such as warrior, goddess pose, plank and so on can be very strengthening. Poses help us to maintain core strength, helpful for posture, and preventing or easing back pain.

Balance postures such as Rākau/ Tree Pose help maintain our bodies ability to balance and enhance strength in the legs. They also bring us into the moment, enhancing focus, deepening awareness and creating one pointed awareness which helps bring us into the moment and creates calm in the nervous system.

It is not all about stretching, or relaxation either, there is the spiritual aspect of yoga that can help you find your calm in a chaotic world. That feeling of coming back home to yourself, coming back to centre. This can be so helpful during peri and menopause. It's a time when you may have space to renew a spiritual connection, look within, or reflect on your life journey.

Then there's 'beneficial stress' of going to the edge of your comfort zone and trying something new- this helps to keep the brain and body resilient. Helping us to enjoy our life and maintain an active lifestyle. Beneficial stress is that which we can control and choose, rather than ongoing stress that may be beyond our control.

🌿 Yoga teaches us to be present, to breathe, and to find calm amidst the chaos...

It's not about escaping the stressors in our life, but rather learning how to navigate them with grace and resilience.

Yoga is not a one-size-fits-all solution, it's a journey. It's about finding the right practice that suits your body and your needs. It's about listening to your body and honoring its limits. It's about finding balance - between effort and ease, movement and stillness, nurture and challenge.

Then there is also the community aspect of yoga.

The online space can be so helpful for times when you can't go out. this is where online classes can benefit.

The shared experience of practicing yoga with others can foster a sense of belonging and connection.

It's a space where you can feel supported and encouraged, where you can share your struggles and victories, even if only in the feeling of mutual support both received and given by your presence.

This sense of community can be a powerful antidote to the feelings of isolation and loneliness that can sometimes accompany the menopause journey.

So, if you're navigating the choppy waters of perimenopause or post menopause, remember that mindful slow yoga is there for you.

It's a tool that can help you stay strong, healthy, and resilient. It's a practice that can support you in living a fulfilling life. It's a gift that keeps on giving, if we let it.

What practices have you found helpful during the peri-menopause/ menopause transition? Let me know in the comments below.

Aroha nui

Linsey x 💜

P.S If you'd like to join a practice with me, here's where you can - join a course here