Yoga for Menopause

Many women have found that yoga can ease the undesirable symptoms of menopause and perimenopause, including hot flashes, insomnia, irregular menstrual cycles, and hormone swings.

Hormones are very powerful and affect just about every tissue and system in the body. As the body tries to adjust to these hormonal shifts, the brain is affected as well, resulting in erratic patterns in sleep, mood, memory, and menstrual bleeding. These natural physiological changes can wreak havoc for women years before they actually enter into menopause and for many years after. Hormone replacement therapy has been the usual go-to since the ‘60’s but it has been linked to many health issues, so women are seeking alternatives.

Restorative yoga can ease symptoms by calming the nervous system and improving the functioning of hormonal systems. Hot flashes can worsen with stress, fatigue, and irritability, so supporting the body in a reclining position can calm the brain and relax the nerves.

When the body is under continuous stress, the sympathetic nervous system and adrenals manufacture stress fighting hormones along with male hormones that get converted into estrogen. These hormones can get stuck in overdrive and cause depletion and lethargy. A wide-legged forward bend can soothe the mind by shutting out external distraction and signal the nervous system that all is well so it can…