Menopause is not a one-size-fits-all experience! Here, our Thrive Journey Yoga teachers, Sarah and Katie, open up about their own personal stories…
My menopause experience – Sarah Manning, 62.
Thrive Journey Qi Gong and Yoga expert
At just 40, I went into early menopause. At the time, my husband and I were living in Singapore for his work, and our sons were seven and five. Life was busy; my husband was often away with his job, plus I was battling a health issue, which left me exhausted (I later discovered I had a parasite).
Like most mums, I put everyone’s needs before my own. Even though I was teaching a couple of yoga classes a week, I wasn’t noticing what my body was telling me.
How did you know you were in menopause?
My periods had stopped, so I went to see a gynaecologist who did a blood test and confirmed I was in menopause. It was a huge shock. I don’t know if it was hereditary, as my mum died from lung cancer when she was 37. I think my menopause was brought on by stress (a combination of physical, emotional and mental load).
How did you react?
My gynaecologist believed in getting as much information as possible, so I had all kinds of tests, including a DEXA scan to check my bone density. That’s when I discovered I had osteopenia – low bone density. It was mind-blowing because I hiked, I exercised, I’m fit, but clearly, there was an issue, and it was related to hormones.
What treatment did you use?
My GP didn’t want me taking any hormonal supplements, as she believed there was a consequence to all medications. So, I used compound pharmacy supplements to help improve my bone density, and this was monitored every three months. I am currently on a combined supplement of calcium, vitamin D and magnesium.
What have you learnt from your menopause?
I’m very lucky to be based in Singapore, where I have an Ayurvedic practitioner, a TCM practitioner and a GP. I refer to them as my health team. I recommend every woman has a health team, working on their whole body: physically and emotionally.
A Western doctor doesn’t have the time or resources to support those other aspects of your being (besides physical). I feel menopause is a damage or disorder in the other layers of the body: energy, mind, intellect and spirit, so you need more than a Western doctor to deal with menopause.
I had to learn to put my own needs first, as I was so used to fitting around everyone else. And the more I put my needs first, the healthier I become.
Any other advice for women in or about to step into menopause?
There are no magic answers on how to be a mother to your child, and I feel it is the same in menopause. You just have to do the work and make the best of it. I trust my body, and I trust nature’s wisdom.
Menopause symptoms are a wake-up call to initiate change. It is a transition to a new you – empowered, strong and powerful. Don’t stay stuck in the old you.
It’s a time when you don’t need to fit around the needs of your family, children, society, or to produce children. You can be authentic to your dreams and desires and not make do any longer!
What stage of menopause are you at now?
I’m well and truly over it and into my power phase!!!
My menopause experience – Katie Brown, 55
Thrive Journey Yoga expert
I had my third child at 37, but it was hard to know if my rise in anxiety and sleeplessness was due to perimenopause or being a working mum of three! Plus, I was breastfeeding, which meant I wasn’t having periods.
At the time, I had just finished my first book: Mother Me, caring for my other two children aged six and four, writing and teaching yoga. My husband was working long hours, and life was hectic.
I was feeling a great deal of trepidation about the prospect of menopause, as I knew my mum had struggled through this stage with mood swings, osteoporosis and insomnia.
Mum died at 61, when I was 30 years old, so not only did I miss her terribly, but I wasn’t able to confide in her or ask her about my symptoms.
How did you know you were in menopause?
After I stopped breastfeeding, my periods became erratic, and I developed a range of health issues from heart palpitations to sleeplessness. It was challenging, but as a yoga teacher, I wanted to treat perimenopause naturally.
I saw a naturopath, and each night I’d listen to yoga guided relaxations on repeat, trying to piece together some sleep. I also struggled with brain fog and memory lapses – it wasn’t fun!
I continued like this for around five years, but despite slight improvements, it was still negatively affecting my quality of life.
At around 49, I went a year without periods, so I knew I was officially in menopause. Then a few months later – once I’d thrown out all my sanitary items – I had a very heavy two-week period, I had some tests done, including an ultrasound, but was given the all-clear and then I had to wait another year before officially being in menopause again!
What treatment did you use?
At 51, I was post-menopause, but to my dismay, the symptoms still remained. By this time, I’d had more than a decade of erratic sleep, anxiety and was still concerned about my bone density. A DEXA scan had shown I had osteopenia – the precursor to osteoporosis. It was my GP who suggested I attend The Menopause Clinic at one of the hospitals.
I remember the specialist handed me a script for hormone therapy. He urged me to give it a week and see if it made any difference. I was reluctant as I wanted to use natural therapies and yoga to manage my symptoms, but within a few days, I felt dramatically better.
My sleep improved, I had more energy, and my brain just seemed to function again. I researched different hormone therapies and discovered they had made significant improvements in recent years, so I decided to try the treatment.
What is your advice for other women in peri and menopause?
Everyone’s journey is different. There is a lot of judgment, and really, it is down to what you believe suits your body best.
I use a mix of hormone therapy with daily yoga, meditation, Qi Gong, massage and acupuncture. I take magnesium supplements, but try to get my nutrients from the food I eat. I follow an Ayurvedic diet as much as possible, and I also prioritise sleep and rest.
How do you view menopause?
I’m no longer scared of it! It is a time of freedom, and it’s all about attitude. I feel stronger, fitter and have more energy than I did when I was racing around as a new mum. I also value connection with other female friends – I am lucky that I live near the beach in Sydney and am in a group with other women in various stages of menopause. We call ourselves the Snorkel Squad! We chat, connect, and snorkel (of course), and it has really helped my mental health.
This is why I love Thrive Journey – we don’t have to cope with menopause alone, it’s about connection and sharing information in a supportive and nurturing environment.