The power of (Meno) pause

In recent years there was been an explosion of conversations about menopause.  So if you are anywhere between the ages of 40 to 60, you can collectively breathe out together and celebrate the fact they you are no longer doing this alone, and in silence.

Holistic supplemental support can provide relief from distressing symptoms and in more severe cases, medical support is also an option. It’s important in either situation to take stock of the bigger picture and remember there is no magic fix.  In a world that desires quick fixes, menopause offers a slow spiral into a deep and powerful change of life.

Rather than focusing on the oversaturated space of interventions, we look at the transition from a holistic perspective and encourage a space of curiosity and tenderness towards self and your life journey.

Firstly, let’s take a moment to normalise menopause as something that women will all experience in unique ways where physical, emotional, mental and spiritual factors can all play a part.  Menopause signals the end of fertility and the opportunity to begin a new phase of life.  Women are essentially ending a 30-40 year life span which has involved:

•Growing up and finding your maturity

•Igniting passions for causes, adventures

• Forming deep and often complex relationships

• Developing career pathways with shifts in direction

• Becoming mothers or engaging in the energy of mothering through work, friendships, new ventures in life.

Indigenous elder Min Mia writes in her book, Under the Qandong Tree, that traditional communities offer rites of passage for women undergoing the transition of menopause.  She describes it as a time where women can unpack the shame they have carried through experiences in fertile life so they do not carry it into their wise years.  In fact, look to any ancient indigenous culture and you’ll notice a deep reverence for women as they transition towards their elder positions as the wise councillors and keepers of power and balance.

Let’s contrast that to Western cultural views around women becoming less visible or valued as they reach a “certain age”.  This can feel, as women age, like fighting an invisible force to be seen, heard and valued for our life experience and lessons learnt. 

Facilitating change always begins with self by reviewing personal ideals and attitudes towards our ageing bodies. How much value do you hold in terms of your lived experiences as maturing women?  What are your fears around ageing?  Are you trying to stay in step with your younger self?  Are you ready to welcome the presence of a wiser, slower, more discerning period in life?  

These questions often begin to arise naturally as women reach a certain stage in life. Menopausal changes can occur when:

•children are becoming independent and moving away,

•partnerships are being redefined and sometimes ending;

•desires for a reset, travel, new life experiences or adventures start to emerge

•career focus can alter and move toward new horizons

Offering grounded, compassionate tools are helpful at this stage in life.  Here is our list of valuable pauses to reflect, uncover and connect with a deeper layer of personal truth, inspiration and opportunity. 

Rest

Your body needs rest.  You may not remember the firestorm of activity during puberty but the shifting down of hormones at different stages of menopause can make you feel fatigued and quite frankly, exhausted.  Notice when fatigue arrives and instead of hitting it with stimulating food and drink, consider what it would be like to rest.  In fact, set some aside time in your day (20 mins) for waking rest, daydreaming, napping.  Consider what it would feel like to go to bed a little earlier just to snuggle in and feel cozy and nourished.  Rest recalibrates and nourishes and your menopausal body will love you for it.

Give into the energy of change

Notice the changes around you and how you feel about them. Are you holding onto the way you have always been rather than welcome the possibility of change?  Are changes happening slowly or quickly?  Are there some changes that you want to savour?  How can you nurture the changes that are happening inside? Consider journaling at this time to foster awareness and an engaged attitude towards change.  This means you are working with the flow of change rather than against it.

Restorative practices

One of the most important factors during menopause is to consider the role of restorative practices which can:

·Support your nervous system,

·Support emotional upheavals and mood swings

·Create space for mental ease

· Alleviate joint discomfort and muscular pain,

· Relieve persistent tension and headaches

· Help with sleep patterns; and

· Help engage in the flow of life force or prana

Often intense exercise at this stage of life can create too much heat or stress on the joints and muscles.  Consider joining a regular yoga class - slow flow or yin, qigong or another mindful slow movement practice

Reach out

This is a time to connect with like-minded, supportive friends, and groups that are engaged in positive actions and affirming values that match yours.  What inspires a sense of wonder for you at this time?  What are the qualities within yourself that are waiting to come forward?  Consider yourself becoming an elder and as such bringing a wealth of life experience into something that matters to you in the wider world - nature, animals, different communities, creativity.

Reach in

Self-care is paramount during the transition of menopause.  Self-care is simply an attitude of warmth towards yourself and what you are experiencing.  Turn kindness inward onto areas where you may struggle. Consider listening to your aching body, nourishing your changing appetite with good food and allowing yourself time to adjust to the changes that are happening.  Listening rather than pushing forward and onward can provide valuable time to notice the messages you are receiving from body mind and soul.

Redefine personal boundaries

In many Women’s circles and practices, menopause is considered a time of weeding out what is no longer of service, learning to say no, redefining responsibilities and roles and taking time to spend in quiet spaces.  Consider the often quickly changing moods of menopause as an opportunity to listen to the messages around your personal boundaries.  Are you taking on too much?  Are you carrying others that are ready to start taking responsibility?  Do you have no personal space or time? Are you simply tired and irritation is arising to remind you to stop?  This is a great time to engage in mindfulness practices so that you can witness your experience and respond rather than react inwardly and outwardly.

Symptoms can be messages too

Body based practices that help you to engage in the sensations you are experiencing can be powerfully transformative at this time.  You may begin to notice that sensations in the body hold emotions, memories and even thoughts.  Consider Somatic Practices, Yoga Nidra and Sound Therapy and even a good body worker to support greater connection to your body so you can release what you no longer need to carry through the next phase of your life.

Menopause does not signal the end of what you have forged ahead with in life.  It simply consolidates all you have achieved and offers a time of new growth, changes and evolution.