Movement, breath work & journalling in a nurturing space for women in peri-menopause, menopause & post-menopause.
Menopause is an important issue for all women. It can hugely impact work and relationships but is still too often seen as a midlife taboo. Women often feel embarrassed, anxious or scared about the challenges caused by menopause. Often symptoms are dismissed and put down to something else.
The average age for menopause is 51 but the effects may be felt much earlier. Your experience of menopause will be different to other women’s and being able to talk openly and honestly about it is crucial.
“All women will go through menopause at some point” says Sarah, “yet how prepared are we for what is to come?
I know I wasn’t!
All I knew were anecdotes of hot flushes (often now referred to as hot flashes), mood swings and disturbed sleep. Hindsight is a wonderful thing…”
Often women only realise they're peri-menopausal or menopausal retrospectively having endured months of symptoms they didn't realise were connected to hormonal changes. These physical changes can affect self-esteem, and relationships with family and friends can suffer.
Women approaching menopause can even start to feel invisible or written off, with mood swings, forgetfulness and loss of libido reinforcing feelings of being “past it”. Symptoms are sometimes misdiagnosed and treated as depression but anti-depressants don't help hormonal imbalances which cause the majority of menopause symptoms.
Our Yoga for Menopause workshops allow small groups of women the time and a safe, nurturing, supportive space to talk about how menopause is affecting them, whilst also providing a toolkit of strategies to help manage issues such as anxiety, sleep, self-esteem and irritability.
Our workshops are limited to 8 participants to provide a more intimate and supportive safe space. Each 3-hour workshop includes:
themed yoga movement
themed breathwork
women's circle discussion
meditation
journalling
These workshops are designed to support not replace your relationship with your GP. Whilst women may share their experiences of nutrition, lifestyle changes and medication, Sarah will not be advising on any of these topics but will provide suggestions for further reading and where to find reliable information.
No yoga experience needed; you simply need to be a woman at some stage of this transition.
You’ll need: a yoga mat, a blanket, a strap (or a tie or belt), a bolster (or 2 pillows), 2 blocks (or 2 thick books)
Not enough women talk about their menopause and there’s still a lot of uncertainty about what it means and how it can be managed. These workshops offer support, valuable strategies and the opportunity to talk about your menopause.
Women helping women ♡
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Workshop Costs
One workshop £30
Bundle of three workshops £75
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About Sarah (in her own words)
“I came to yoga in my late 30s when I could feel my body starting to stiffen after hours spent hunched over a computer and years of driving to work. Initially I was looking for a purely physical practice (asana) but soon realised the benefits of breathwork (pranayama).
I dabbled with various styles of class and was particularly drawn to flow-style classes. I qualified to teach yoga in spring 2020. Having to increase, deepen and broaden my yoga practice during my training brought a number of unexpected physical, physiological and emotional benefits which weren't immediately obvious day-to-day but there was a 'wow' moment part-way through the course when it all just became obvious.
In September 2020 I completed the 40-hour Menopause Yoga teacher training with Petra Coveney and am excited to share classes and workshops to support women through the transition from the summer of their lives, through autumn, winter and finally to their 'second spring'.
My body-type is not naturally bendy but I very much enjoy exploring my own physical practice and working with my body, breath and inner voice. My mindset is very much to accept the body you have and be grateful for what it allows you to do. I have a real passion to share the benefits of yoga with all bodies and everybody. As Jason Crandell said, 'Any amount of the pose is still the pose' and we leave our egos at the door.
I look forward to seeing you on the mat!”
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Peri-menopause, or menopause transition, begins several years before menopause and lasts up until menopause
Menopause is when a woman has gone 12 months without having her period
Post-menopause is the time of a woman's life following menopause