Yoga is an ancient practice that has many proven general health and wellness benefits. Increasingly, more people of all ages, ethnicites, and bodies are also turning to yoga to alleviate or treat specific health conditions as well.
Many menopausal women are now embracing yoga as a way to treat the physical, emotional, and mental symptoms of this huge biological change in their lives. Find out how yoga can help you or someone you know adapt to the changes that menopause brings.
Viniyoga adopts a holistic approach to the ancient practice of yoga, grounded in a wide variety of yogic tools and Vedic Chanting. Our online yoga classes are strictly one-to-one, allowing you the privacy and space to fully engage with the practice and get in touch with your body.
How Yoga helps to alleviate Menopause Symptoms
What many people – men and women alike – may not realise is that menopause is more than simply the ceasing of a woman’s menstrual cycle. The hormonal changes that happen in a woman’s body during perimenopause (the transitional period leading up to menopause ) and menopause can cause symptoms such as:
Hot flashes
Irregular periods or other changes to periods
Insomnia and other sleep disturbances
Urinary dysfunction or incontinence
Loss in bone density
Hormonal imbalances can also lead to depression or anxiety, or a worsening of existing mental health conditions. For many women menopause also tends to coincide with large shifts in their personal life such as retirement, mid-career changes, or their kids finally growing up and becoming more independent.
Simply put, menopause is a truly life-changing event in a woman’s life that can lead to massive physical and emotional upheaval.
Yoga for menopause uses a wide range of yogic tools to help tackle these symptoms and help women practitioners regain confidence and a sense of control in their body. It is important to note that menopause has many types of symptoms, and the outcome of an online yoga class will be unique to each and every practitioner.
Some ways yogic techniques can be used to help treat menopause include:
Asanas (Postures): Women practitioners have sometimes found that specific poses can help ease symptoms more than others. For example Salamba Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand) to ease tension in the neck and reduce fatigue, or Adho Mukha Shvanasana (Downward Facing Dog) to ease hot flashes and improve digestion.
Pranayama (Breathing Techniques): Practising proper breathing techniques can have overall benefits for mental health and anxiety levels, making them ideal for a menopausal yoga practice.
Mantras, Vedic Chanting, and Dhyanam (Meditation): These yogic tools can help build mindfulness and mental resilience, which can help handle the emotional symptoms brought on during menopause. Menopausal practitioners may even to consider starting a daily meditation practice to help adapt to these emotional and mental changes over time.
Seeking out Comfort and Support for Menopause through Yoga
Viniyoga’s one-to-one approach recognises that each individual practitioner comes to a session with their own needs and goals. Our yoga teachers also understand that menopause is a difficult time, and will craft your online yoga class with the appropriate modifications and recommendations so that you can meet your health and wellness goals better.
Get in touch for more information about our online yoga classes today. Some menopausal women also use this transition period to pursue new knowledge and a new outlook on life. Current yoga teachers or advanced practitioners who are undergoing such major life changes can consider reaching out about our yoga teacher training or private yoga therapy sessions, where you can deepen your understanding of Viniyoga’s myriad of yogic tools and traditions.