If going through menopause has made you anxious, sleepless, frustrated with your body and generally out of sorts, you’re going to love reading our thoughts on yoga for menopause.
Going through menopause can be a significant and life-changing milestone in a woman’s life. It can be challenging to navigate the many physical and hormonal changes that can occur at this pivotal time.
Along with physical adjustments, women are often burdened by self-judgement and demeaning societal perceptions about menopause. As a result, they may develop an uncomfortable relationship with themselves and with their bodies, which suddenly behaves differently to the way it used to.
Many menopausal women find yoga extremely helpful, as it helps to balance hormones, calm the nervous system, build physical strength, and increases our capacity to remain present to what is. By helping practitioners to slow down and reconnect with their bodies, yoga encourages those who are struggling to view themselves with gentleness, kindness and compassion.
Although whether yoga is good for menopause is a fairly new conversation in the West, when it comes to ageing gracefully, soulfully and intelligently, yoga is a great support for women who are experiencing menopause. Yoga often brings renewed confidence and rejuvenation to the mind, body and spirit. In this way, this ancient practice is helping millions of women around the world to move through this monumental transition with grace and ease.
The Symptoms of Menopause
Some women go through menopause without any noticeable symptoms at all. However, it is common for women to experience hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, and sleeplessness.
Because of the huge shift in hormonal activity and the consequent stress on the endocrine system, even the mildest symptoms can be challenging. Menopause and perimenopause symptoms can bring a great deal of nervousness and stress, so it’s important to find a range of self-care practices to support you through this period of adjustment.
In What Ways Is Yoga Good for Menopause?
Yoga has many benefits when it comes to managing the mental, emotional and physical symptoms of menopause. It has been proven to regulate the sleep cycle and heart rate, reduce stress, and act as a mood booster.
Here are a Few Self-Care Practices to Incorporate into Your Regular Yoga Routines
- For disturbed sleep try Nadi Sodhana (alternate nostril breathing) which induces a sense of calm and is said to balance the brain.
- For brain fog, try meditation techniques that involve keeping the eyes open. For example, meditating on a candle flame. This helps to train the mind to focus.
- For bone health try weight-bearing postures such as plank pose, and balancing postures such as tree pose.
- For high blood pressure, try 3-part yogic breathing to help bring more oxygen into the body, while at the same time sending a calming signal to the brain.
- For an energy boost try backbends such as bow pose to open the chest and release energy.
Other Self-Care Practices for Managing Menopause
Self-care can be anything you do for yourself that helps to improve your health and well-being. This could mean getting holistic treatments, eating vibrant, nutrient-dense food, engaging in a physical activity you enjoy, or indulging in a hobby.
There are several other self-care practices you could add to your list and use in conjunction with your yoga practice. For instance, getting a massage after taking a yoga class can be a blissful experience. Meditation and more restorative yoga practices such as yin yoga are also great for calming the mind and relaxing the body.
Your Magnificent Menopause
There is a sound body of research that links yoga to stress reduction, so it’s only logical that the regular practice of yoga can help to address some menopause symptoms and cultivate a positive mindset.
In many societies, menopause is a time of celebration, a rite of passage that leads women into the position of wise and beloved elders. Yoga helps us to reconnect with a lost sense of deep inner wisdom and find gratitude for what our bodies are capable of. As we create new strength and flexibility, we learn to love and embrace our changing bodies once again.
Rather than a time of suffering, with the right support, menopause can be a time when we make a determination to become our best selves in our strongest ever bodies.
Get Physical and Emotional Support with Menopause Yoga
Menopause is one of the most powerful transitions in a woman’s life, and a regular yoga practice can provide vital support to the body and mind during this time. If you haven’t already discovered the life-changing benefits of yoga for menopause, this may be the perfect time to give it a try!
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