The Trip Down The Rabbit Hole

The trip down the rabbit hole.

I am a life long learner. Always have been. As soon as I found out that I was entering the season of my life that holds per-menopause and menopause, I frantically began researching. Google. Peri-menopause. Books. Menopause. Library. Symptoms. And so on and so on and so on. A trip down the rabbit hole of reading, research and education. What on earth was happening to my mind and body as my hormones began to shift? I am so thankful for my friends and family for listening- sometimes patiently- as I shared my new revelations. “Did you know…” “This explains the symptom of….”

Between COVID lockdowns and daily glasses of wine, the loss of my Aunt and Dad, parenting young adults, divorce and a challenging teaching career; I shifted. None of my clothes fit me, I was exercising sporadically, I had low energy and often felt sad and hopeless. I just didn’t feel myself anymore. It wasn’t even ‘who am I’ but more ‘how did I get here?’

Yoga was interrupted in my life because of COVID lockdowns and the impact it had on my small businesses including my safe haven at Yogadown when it permanently closed it’s doors. I felt like I was floating aimlessly without an anchor.

I took a Hormone Yoga Therapy workshop is May, 2022 and with it I really began to learn more about my changing hormones. Yoga’s influence on both peri-menopausal symptoms gave me more tools in my toolbox to rest, recover and renew. I started to exhale. Feel supported. Understood. Empowered.

Slowly, literally one step at a time, I began to shift. I cut alcohol out of my daily habits and began to feel more clear. I practiced Hormone Yoga Therapy (HYT) every morning. I added strength training back into my exercise regime along with daily movement of either hiking, walking, yoga or pilates. I shifted more. Energized. Empowered. I felt the strength begin to recover in not only my physical body, but my spiritual, mental and emotional bodies.

I am not “CURED”, nor do I need to be! I am celebrating and embracing these hormonal changes that come with the season of midlife. I have learned strategies that help me when the symptoms are strong and impacting my wellbeing. I am dedicating my practice, my teachings and my wisdom to help other people as they embark upon this season of midlife.

Now here I am, almost 53 years old - learning - growing - evolving and feeling empowered. Living my best life, one hot flush at a time!