Pilates and Yoga for Menopause

Yes, the M word! As women, in general we do not look forward to the time, we have all the symptoms of Peri-menopause, and the still after affects of entering Menopause. This time, is littered with upheaval, changes in our bodies that surprise us, changes in our moods, changes in eating habits and changes in our attitudes. There is so much to look at and it can be overwhelming and frustrating, when our bodies do not react like they did in our 20's and 30's. Between the ages of 40 - 60 women experience this evolution, of change. It is natural, and yet, many fight it and resist it. The more we can go with the flow of it, understand it and work with it, the easier it will be. Many things have to shift, our attitude, our eating habits and yes, exercise and wellness work! Pilates and Yoga, are incredible to help us manage these shifts. They both give our body, different things. Pilates assist us with working on our core, and how we approach our body, Pilates is a full body workout, it is not just working the legs, arms or back, it is how do we integrate the whole body and develop the core strength and toning that we want to have as we age. Exercise in general is proven to help: mental activity, emotional balance and provides an avenue for stress relief. Yoga, gives us the breath, movement and meditation piece. There are very specific yoga poses, that assist Menopause. Creating balance in the physical body and the endocrine system is vitally important. Not every yoga practice is going to have that! Taking a class from an experienced teacher who can give you some feedback and assistance is very important. As when the body is going through hot flashes, memory loss, and hormonal changes, we have to adjust our yoga practice to meet these changes. When was the last time, you talked to your teacher about these issues for you? Yoga and Pilates share the Mind/body practice because, it is FOR YOU, it is not a general cookie cutter practice, it is meant to be modified and adjusted to meet the needs of the individual. Stay tuned for upcoming tips! Peace and Light Denise