When the going gets tough...

When in 1821 French physician Charles Pierre Louis de Gardanne coined the term ménépausie (which later became menopause) I wonder if anyone enquired what his wife was calling it before then.

Since Bronze Age, the menopause has been pathologised. The male dominated scientific world perceived the menopause as a deficiency to be fixed and the female body as something to control.

Thankfully, things have changed, but we still carry biased perceptions about the menopause in our modern societies.

While adolescence is broadly accepted as a transition into adulthood that brings with it psychological, emotional, and physical changes, the menopause has been a taboo subject until very recently. But what is the menopause if not the mirror of puberty.

How about changing the narrative and celebrating the menopause as an initiation into a new phase of womanhood, into your “Wise Power”1?

Time and again I’m reminded that the pre-requisite for healthy longevity is self-care. Our body is not just a piece of machinery, it is the most exquisite masterpiece which unites us with Nature.

As women, we may intuitively feel this innermost connection through our ‘moon’ cycle, at menopause it’s ubiquitous.

Just like a wise farmer tends to his soil in Autumn, menopause is the season of our lives when we must tend to ourselves (body and mind) so we can flourish in the next stage of our life.

Taking time to rediscover your body, to give it the resources it needs, is the pre-requisite for emerging into your second spring vibrant, empowered, and purposeful.

What is the role of yoga during menopause?

In the words of Kate Codrington2 “Your perimenopause solution has two aspects: Reduce toxicity, Increase nourishment”.

Yoga is one of the few movement practices that is multi-dimensional: it supports the nervous system, mind, muscles, joints and physiology. When adapted to the needs of menopausal woman, it feels like a warm blanket in the middle of winter.

What to expect during ‘yoga for menopause’ classes?

We’ll explore a variety of breathing practices, yoga postures, meditations, restorative yoga practices to help reset the nervous system, maintain healthy joints mobility, menopause symptoms, even lay the foundation for improved strength. The weekly sessions are 75min long and the group is kept small. I’ll do my best to create an environment where you’ll feel welcomed, comfortable and nurtured.

The classes are for women at any stage of their menopause journey, they are suitable for neophytes as well as seasoned yoga practitioners.

If you’d like to give yourself precious time and space to reboot your nervous system, replenish your energy and unwind, join me every Saturday morning for yoga for menopause from September 21st.

Contact me to find out more at carine@espacepause.com or visit www.espacepause.com