Kat spoke in detail about the role of yoga in her own menopause journey and her decision to leave a career in law to start an online platform for anyone, anywhere, at any time. This was before we lived so much of our lives through our screens. She was told it would never take off (who’d sign up to do yoga from their bedroom...right?!). But she persisted; determined to make a practice that gifted her so much, accessible. Today, is rightfully referred to as the Netflix of Yoga. It’s reach is vast. But it retains so much soul.
We asked Kat to talk on how yoga can help menopause specifically and she shared the following 3 recommendations;
YOGA NIDRA:
this yoga practice, often referred to as ‘yogic sleep’, can deliver deep relaxation and also the opportunity to connect more deeply with ourselves; how we’re feeling, what we’re thinking and to explore emotions and sensations with curiosity. So often at this life stage we focus on ‘powering through’, on holding it together. But what if, instead of our 4pm coffee and adrenaline shot, we lay down for 20 minutes? Kat referred to it as ‘radical rest’. What a wonderful concept (and I don’t know about you, but we’re so much more likely to try it now she has made it feel subversive!). And what a beautiful thought. Why not try it this weekend? Allow yourself the time. Trust your brain and body to find replenishment in pausing. And see where it takes you.
BREATHWORK:
we know the value of movement - for our mental health as well as our physical health. And we’ve written much about the power of breath too. But we forget breathwork, the conscious act of controlling our breath is movement too. As little as 2 minutes can reduce cortisol levels, calm our minds and bring us back into focus. In yoga, the breath is central to everything. By focusing on it as we move, we achieve flow. On a physical level it softens our form and eliminates joint compression. There are some amazing apps out there that allow you to follow breathwork exercises. Pick one. Download it to your phone for a week and commit to breathe, consciously once a day.
THE PRACTICE OF SELF COMPASSION:
we touched on the ‘practice’ of self compassion, and the recognition that it requires effort, following our workshop with sleep specialist Dr Lederle. And in yoga, self acceptance and compassion are key. By accepting our bodies and minds, as they are in that moment in time, on the mat, we can move forward. By connecting to our core self, we can work out what we need next.
The act of introducing a yoga practice doesn’t need to be daunting. It doesn’t require a huge commitment of time. You simply need to get on to the mat. And if you’re looking for a little guidance, do check out the wonderful Gabriella Espinosa, our consultant yogi and the Movement for Modern Life platform.
With love, the MPowder Team.
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