YogaBellies has launched YogaPause, a unique style of yoga classes for women over 40, going through the different stages of menopause. While this huge transition can bring with it many difficulties, YogaPause will embrace the natural changes that occur and celebrate this time as a new, healthy and exciting stage of life.
This programme focuses on everything women need as they move through menopause, from the first signs to the end of their menstrual cycles. It focuses on weight bearing yoga practices, combined with weights (YogaPause STRONG) and looks at all the stuff nobody wants to talk about – weight gain and menopause belly, hormonal fluctuations and mood swings, joint pain, and even the effect on libido and the dreaded vaginal atrophy.
This programme takes yoga off the mat and into life – looking at natural solutions to symptoms and promising strength, energy and vitality.
Cheryl MacDonald, Founder of YogaBellies and the creator of YogaPause says: “So often the menopause is seen as an ‘illness’ and the fact that we’re getting older is perceived as a bad thing. But women in their 40s and 50s are so much more confident, more knowledgeable, positive and empowered. This is the wise woman phase of life, where we are strong and powerful.
“YogaPause explores the stages of menopause, what to expect and which yoga practices will aid you on your journey – and in every aspect of your lifestyle.
“I want to create a real community amongst women going through these important changes in their lives – women supporting women and promoting positive ageing. At this time, we get to really explore who we are as individuals outside of relationships and kids and obligations – and we don’t have to suffer those physical symptoms! We can avoid and minimize them so that we can keep living our best lives.”
At 43 and a woman who is going through menopause, Cheryl says she looks and feels better than she did when she was a new mum of 30 and wants to share her advice with others. The course will be teaching women how to be strong, sound in mind and healthy for as long as possible. It’ll promote self-love, acceptance of ageing and encouraging women to be as open about the menopause process as they are about pregnancy and childbirth – removing the taboo, the stigma and the unnecessary shame that exists.
Women don’t need to be experiencing menopausal symptoms to sign up; any woman over 35 that wants to prepare to age positively and embrace a lifelong yoga practice on and off the mat, and empower other women to do so, will benefit.
Key areas that the programme will look at include:
Menopause mindset: How we think about ageing and our sense of selves as we get older
Specifically designed yoga mindset and physical exercises and mindful meditation techniques to help manage key symptoms such as hot flashes, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, fatigue, loss of focus and low moods.
Health and remedies – natural remedies, nutrition, Indian Ayurveda and hormone replacement therapy
Learning how to support other women going through perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause
A combined approach of eastern and wester medicine
Cheryl says: “YogaPause is the ultimate menopause yoga and mindset reset and lifestyle programme aimed at women in their late 30s, 40s and 50s. Really, women NEED to be preparing for the menopause as early as possible.
As well as YogaPause, YogaBellies runs Empower, the yoga teacher training and empowerment programme aimed at women who love yoga, want to become a yoga teacher or would like to feel more empowered in their chosen wellness career. Also accredited by the Yoga Alliance International, it is a 300-hour programme that has helped to change the lives of hundreds of women.
Cheryl will be running online YogaPause training from 20th March for £260 while you can find your local YogaPause classes to attend face-to-face via the YogaBellies website – www.yogabellies.com.
