OM Yoga UK - August 2017

om body om body

Our lifestyle may impact our experience

of the menopause, but how do we know

what to do when we are all so different and

unique? Here are some general tips and

advice for dealing with the menopause

E

very woman’s experience of the

menopause is different, says

Norma Goldman, founder and

director of The Menopause

Exchange, an independent

body set up in 1999 to provide impartial

advice on the subject.

But learning from others’ experiences

can be a valuable way of finding a

better path through this difficult time,

she says.

“Learning about others’ experiences,

and what worked for them, may help you

ease your own menopause symptoms

more easily,” she says. “You won’t know if

something’s going to work for you unless

you try it.”

So, here are some tips from its members

covering a wide range of areas, from diet

All good

choices

and exercise, through to hobbies and

complementary therapies.

EXERCISE

“I do yoga every day to keep flexible. I use

weights to maintain bone strength, and I

walk where possible rather than taking the

car, London Underground train or escalator.

Staying slim and keeping moving does it for

me at the moment. Until I move into the

next phase...”

“I captain a ladies’ tennis team and we

play every Saturday. It helps my mood

swings and is obviously good for fitness.

Sometimes I don’t feel like playing, but I

don’t want to let my team down. I make

myself go and then my mood lifts. I would

highly recommend taking up a sport.”

“I dance salsa almost four to five times a

week. This has kept me human through the

tough time of my peri-menopause.”

FOOD & DRINK

“I’ve found chocolate makes my flushes

really bad, so I only have a little occasionally.

A hardship for me as I’m a chocoholic! I also

find eating badly (chips, bread, very sweet

foods) causes flushing.”

“For the last four years, I haven’t eaten

wheat or anything that’s refined or white

(including refined sugar). And I stopped

drinking wine! I do drink distilled spirits in

moderation though, such as gin and soda,

with fresh lime or as a mojito, made with

pineapple juice rather than sugar syrup, so I

don’t deny myself a drink if I fancy one.”

“I feel Slimming World has it nailed

with regards to getting all the right fruit,

Yoga &

menopause