In Ayurveda, there are three types of perimenopause and each type has a different set of symptoms, tendencies and imbalances. But before we dive deep into the individual types, we have to recognize that menopause is a shift from the PItta to the Vata phase of life.

Pitta has a sustaining energy combined with intensity and focus. Vata, being ruled by air and either can bring things in the body and mind into disarray.  Excess Vata can disturb, distress and change things; moving things is its nature. If there is anything stored in the back corners of your body such as undigested food, physical toxins, undigested emotions, emotional toxins, undigested experiences or unfulfilled desires – these undigested things will increase the air element or Vata in your body. Anything undigested in your life will cry out for your attention…relentlessly. However, if you have lived a clean, conscious life and your mental and emotional cupboards are pristine, you will have little to  fear from menopause. In this case, a menopause without symptoms is possible. Get inspired by Lisa Scouba’s uneventful menopause. Lisa had the perfect setup for a dreadful menopause yet she managed through her wisdom, practices and diet & lifestyle changes early on to prep herself in a way that averted almost all symptoms.

Entering the Vata Stage of Life

For all women, there will be this Vata component of change during menopause that we need to pay attention and embrace – remember menopause marks the shift from Pitta to the Vata phase of life. Yet most of us have tendencies and certain place we tend to go out of balance more. This is directed by our constitution at birth and our eating and lifestyle patterns. Typically, whatever our constitution at birth that is where we are most likely to go out of balance. This is where the three types of menopause come in.

If you know anything about Ayurveda, you might guess what the three types are. There is a Vata type, a Pitta type and a Kapha type. If you don’t know Ayurveda there might be a big Hahhhh on your forehead now. Let’s check it out.

Vata Menopause

Vata is the energy of air and either. Women with a Vata type constitution have smaller features, small eyes, nose, slight or irregular built, little muscle mass, rectangular body shape to name a few. Think of your skinny girlfriend who can eat whatever she wants and never gain weight. Vata women have little fat on their bodies and tend towards dryness, irregular or scanty periods, PMS cramps, thin hair and more testy immune systems. At menopause and beyond Vata types have to pay attention the most. With their more delicate constitution and with the Vata energy of age coming in their bodies may show up with most symptoms. The Vata energy of age combined with constitutional vata plus potentially an imbalance in Vata is just a bit too much Vata for anyone to deal with.

Symptoms of Vata nature center around dryness and coldness. This may show up with hot flashes followed by feeling cold, weakening of bones, scanty, irregular or missed periods, vaginal dryness, painful sex, losing weight (yep there is such a thing!!!), insomnia, anxiety, heart palpitations, urinary incontinence, constipation and osteoporosis. Puh, that was some list. On an emotional level Vata’s deal with anxiety and overwhelm the most.

Weight gain may also happen for this type which in the Vata’s case is a protective mechanism by the body. Too much depletion puts the body in alert mode. Extra weight is the body’s way to ground you.

Pitta Menopause

The second type is Pitta. Pitta is the energy of fire and a little water. Often Pitta type ladies live  an intense life (it’s the fire) that they burn up the little water they have available as part of their constitution. They love with intensity, obsession and perfection. Pitta bodies are medium in build, rather athletic, have meditum features and well developed muscles. Ms. Pitta tends to overdo things, but might not even notice that she does. She has so much energy, she thinks she can keep going but ultimately burns herself out.

At menopause the airy Vata energy fans the fire of Pitta making things blazingly hot. Pittas are the ladies who have the most severe hot flashes, bringing all the stored heat out from the back of the closet. Inflammation is one of the biggest issues with this type. Think vaginitis, cystitis, diarrhea and burning indigestion. Also anger, frustration and intense bleeding may show up.

Kapha Menopause

The third and last type of menopause is the Kapha type. Kapha is the energy of earth and water. Kapha ladies are the least fazed by menopause, as the air of Vata has a hard time moving the heavy earth and water elements. Kapha women have the most resilience and strength as they get older. If a woman has has been living her life in a Kapha aggravating way she will struggle with excess weight, lethargy and sadness or other heavy emotions during menopause.

After talking about all these unpleasant possibilities of menopause, things may look gloomy and the initial question of whether menopause without symptoms is possible may seem out of reach.  But, not all hope is lost. In fact, far from it. We certainly have tons of power to create an easeful menopause. In fact, by knowing our Ayurvedic constitution and our personal tendencies, we have the power to counteract them with the formula “like increases like and opposites balance each other.” I want to make sure you understand you constitution and how you can balance each one to decrease the symptoms of menopause:

Vata

Vata is dry, light and cold. If those qualities are present, you need to bring in the opposite qualities of moist, heavy and warm. During menopause, Vata’s need to put attention on nourishing themselves.

Pitta

Pitta is hot, light and dry. If you notice menopausal symptoms mentioned above under Pitta, you need to bring in the opposite qualities of cool, heavy and moist. For Pitta menopause, focus on chilling out and cooling your agitated mind.

Kapha

Kapha is heavy, moist and cool. If you notice Kapha related symptoms in your body you need to bring in light, dry and warm. Kapha’s biggest mantra during menopause should be: Get moving.

Three Tips for All Women During Menopause

All three types (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) enter the Vata stage of life during menopause. For this reason, there a couple of tips all three doshas should follow:  

1. Strengthen and stabilize agni (digestive fire). When Vata arrives our agni tends to greatly diminish. Digestion becomes variable and unstable with age. Have you ever noticed that your metabolism isn’t quite as strong? A simple digestive formula can help:

– For Vata: Mix 1 part each fennel, cumin, coriander, ajwan powder.

– For Pitta:  Mix 1 part each fennel, cumin and coriander powder.

– For Kapha: Mix 1 part each fennel, cumin, coriander, dry ginger and black pepper powder. 

Take ½ tsp of these blends in 2-4 oz lukewarm water with your meal. This will ensure a strong digestive fire.

2. Clean house. By house, I mean your body. Get rid of gunk. Getting rid of toxins both physically, mentally and emotionally will set you up well for the 2nd half of life. If you have never done a detox or cleanse, now is the time. For a simple start, do this: leave a space of at least 4 hours between meals and at least 12 hours between dinner and breakfast. No snacking! Bam. You are helping your body to burn toxins and it strengthens your agni too. Drink only hot water (yes, drink it as hot as possible). If you want to go all out leave 16 hours between breakfast and dinner. This is called intermittent fasting. A sure fire way to burn up gunk you no longer need.

3. Strengthen the mind. Vata energy is closely linked to the nervous system and the mind. Both go hand in hand. If the mind is out of the balance, the nervous system follows very quickly. Having a daily meditation practice is of utmost importance as you enter menopause. Start with two min a day. Be consistent. Work yourself up to five minutes. Then meditate for 10 minutes a day. Consistency is more important than length. The easiest way to to start is to sit down, get quiet and observe your breath. That’s it.

Now, coming back to the original question, “is a menopause without symptoms possible?” Absolutely.

Why? Because you have control. Absolutely possible.

How? With your lifestyle and diet choices. Start with the three things above. If that’s not enough listen to my free webinar on “The 5 Secrets to a better menopause” for more insights.

1. As I explore business opportunities in Germany, I wonder if going fully online makes more sense than running my business locally. It is difficult to find places to give talks, but many local people are not interested in learning online. Finding people online means they are relatively tech savvy, so I therefore won’t reach people who are not competent with Facebook and the like. What strategy do you suggest to get the biggest bang for my buck?
2. Should I offer the courses and resources in German that I already offer in English? I would basically repurpose the resources I already provide: the same talks, same tip sheets, etc., and just adjust it to the local language.
3. I have a lot of pieces in place at a 1.0 level in my wellness business: the podcast, the blog, tip sheets, a newsletter, and a free online talk. My biggest obstacle is exposure. It is time to advertise and build my list. What are the most productive list building strategies both for Germany and America?

Check out how Alexandra’s questions are answered, and how you too can gain the practical tools and insight Cate provides for business growth and exposure in different places around the world.

What you’ll get out of tuning in:

• When to move your business online
• Where to host retreats, and how to make them as impactful as possible
• How to develop your brand to reach people around the world

Links:

• Check out Top 10 Yoga Health Coaching Blogs This Year
• Blog of the Week: From Actress to Yoga Health Coach: Paula’s Transformative Story, By Cate Stillman 
• Podcast of the Week: Lay Your Heart on the Line -Yoga Health Coaching for Artists, Actors and Musicians , By Cate Stillman

Show Highlights:

• 2:20 – If you are in a location with a small population, develop your business online while hosting retreats a couple times a year. That way, your business and its courses can be more accessible while still providing clients some in-person interaction.
• 4:00 – Use retreats to attract people to your wellness business: provide different packages that include retreats and courses in various combinations, with the best deal being the one that combines everything you provide.
• 8:15 – Host retreats in places where people actually want to go! This will give people further incentive to attend, and give you an opportunity to further build your brand.
• 12:50 – If you are bilingual, or live in a place that has less exposure to yoga and Ayurveda, market your business to that space. That population is the one that needs you the most: you understand them in a way that outsiders can’t, and can deliver your health messages in a way that honors their culture and traditions.
• 15:30 – By promoting your brand in places that haven’t been exposed to yoga or Ayurveda, you don’t have to have as much of a niche brand. You can create a community with people of all different backgrounds and walks of life.

Favorite Quotes

• “They want what I have. Good start. Now where do I go?” – Alexandra Epple
• “When you just bring your people together with your values, it enables something else to happen.” – Cate Stillman
• “Go where your native genius is an asset.” – Cate Stillman
• “How can I blend this? How can I make it so people are open to it?” – Alexandra Epple
• “This is really cool, what we’re doing: to have all those generations leaning in and learning together, and respecting each other’s perspectives…” – Cate Stillman

Guest BIO:

You may have had a friend or family member that has gone through “The Change” and have heard horror stories about menopause that linger in the back of your mind. This can result in fear and anxiety about what’s up ahead.

Maybe you got lucky and haven’t heard such stories and menopause doesn’t evoke panic or fear. Yet, you know that menopause is happening to every woman, and questions about it are hovering over your shoulders as you enter your 40s and 50s. When menopausal symptoms hit suddenly and unexpectedly, an unprepared woman can feel disempowered in finding a way to deal with these symptoms.

On the other side of the coin, identifying oneself too much with the word menopause can lead to obsession. Overall having a plan to educate oneself is good. Entering into menopause without a clue is like going into the wild without survival guide.

I think it’s important to start with a couple of super basic questions: What is menopause, how do I know I have arrived and is it important to identify with the label in the first place?

What exactly is Menopause?

Menopause is defined as the natural cessation of menstruation. In other words, if you have not had your period for 12 or more months, menopause has arrived, according to the allopathic model. You no longer bleed and you no longer are able to bear children. Past that one year mark, you are in post-menopause.

What is Perimenopause?

Pinpointing perimenopause is a different story. Perimenopause is defined as a period of time that precedes menopause. On average perimenopause lasts one to ten years. During this time, periods become irregular which is perfectly normal. The body is done with having children and irregular periods are it’s way of communicating this.

There is no specific marker for peri-menopause. For years, a combination of a set of symptoms and age were used to infer that indeed perimenopause had arrived. Some of those symptoms are irregular periods, hot flashes, brainfog, unusual weight gain or loss, slower metabolism, heart palpitations and vaginal dryness to name just a few.

Lab Tests can be Helpful

Today you could get clarity on whether or not you are in perimenopause by having your hormones tested. Some hormones that can be tested are estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, thyroid hormone and FSH/LH. Hormones can be either tested via the blood or the saliva.  During perimenopause the levels of estrogen and progesterone start to drop indicating “The Change” has arrived.

Laboratory tests of hormone levels maybe helpful to rule out other diseases. Perimenopause mimics other illnesses rather convincingly such as thyroid problems, stress, mental/emotional issues, polycystic ovarian syndrome or amenorrhea (abnormal absence of menstrual periods).

Lab tests of hormones have pitfalls though. Hormone tests are only a snapshot in an ever changing process of fluctuating hormones. Hormones fluctuate monthly within a women’s cycle and even daily. Tests should be taken with a grain of salt and only as a general indicator, rather than a black and white ultimatum.  Also be aware that if you get your hormones tested by an allopathic doctor they are likely to prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to treat your symptoms. Doctors will either prescribe conventional hormone replacement HRT or bio identical hormones if hormone levels are inadequate. HRT is the therapy that medical doctors are trained to administer.  It’s their specialty, if you will. They are not trained in herbs, diet or lifestyle–and no blame here. Hormone testing can be valuable as a baseline, but taking HRT makes little sense unless you are in total crisis mode. HRT messes with your body’s innate ability to regulate itself and it increases your risk of cancer, most notably uterine and breast cancer, strokes and heart attacks.

First and Foremost Listen to Your Own Body

Besides testing hormones, the other option is to check in with your body and ask what it needs. For some women who have internalized the allopathic model of healthcare, tuning into the body’s inherent wisdom may seem woo woo. Yet listening to the body is the preferred method of ‘treatment’ even espoused by well respected MDs such as Christianne Northrop. It is also the healing method of choice from an Ayurvedic perspective as well as so many other holistic healing modalities. Yes we use diagnostic tools, coaches, counselors, healthcare practitioners, massage therapists and so many others on the path to help us heal, yet ultimatly the final word needs to come from the body. Listening to your own body is an empowered way to heal yourself.

Develop your Intuition

You spend 24/7 with your body. If you take the time to listen in, you will get more information than a “single point in time test.” By learning your body language, you will develop an ability to listen to your body’s own wisdom. You will learn to perceive and understand much more than a lab test will ever be able to give you. Some signs to pay attention to are your elimination, digestive issues, appetite, energy level, body aches, skin impurities, menstrual patterns and mood patterns just to name a few.You just need body language education to develop a proper communication system, so you can trust your body’s wisdom.Never underestimate your ability to know your own body. The ability to listen to the subtle messages moving through you all day, every day is priceless. Here are three ways I recommend to strengthen your intuition and ability to listen to the body’s vast inherent wisdom:

1. Do bi-yearly detoxes to bring your physical body back to a more balanced state. When the body is far out of balance, it craves what keeps it out of balance. When the body is close to balance, it craves what keeps it in balance. Regular detoxes will give you a big jolt forward to a more balanced physiology and eliminate what you no longer need.
2. Follow a daily rhythm and routine that allows the body to detox gently on a daily basis. Any Yoga Health Coach can help you develop daily routines that support health and detoxification.
3. Establish practices that help you tap into your intuition. Listen to the podcast “how to awaken intuition and trust your soul’s calling” for tips on how to awakened to your intuition.

But let’s go back to our original question, “how do you know you are in perimenopause” and does it really matter if you know it or not?

Does the Question “Perimenopause or Not” Really Matter?

Truth be told, menopause is not a disease. It is a natural transition in a woman’s life that is gradual, over a period of time. Menopause is not mentioned anywhere in the traditional medical texts of Ayurveda i.e. it doesn’t have a label. You could look up individual symptoms like weight gain, constipation or emotional disturbances in Ayurvedic texts, but there is no dedicated section for menopause. If it was a significant ‘disease’ wouldn’t you think it would have it’s own section?

Labeling symptoms with perimenopause or menopause is certainly a convenient way to communicate about these natural changes. And it allows researchers to find data and averages. In general, however, labels can lead to obsession and false identification. They can lead one to be potentially disempowered about the healing process. What if we dropped the label and simply looked at the symptoms and treated those?

While labels are helpful for communication’s sake, IDENTIFICATION with that label is not helpful for true healing.

The words of my friend’s Ayurvedic physician who was obsessed with menopause come to mind as I finish up this blog. “Just drop the word menopause. Just drop it”. Instead of grappling with the question “have I arrived or not?” Ask yourself empowering questions about  your health:

• What symptoms am I experiencing?
• What Ayurvedic qualities do those symptoms have (light or heavy, moist or dry, mobile or stable…)?
• How can I get the opposite qualities back into my body via diet and lifestyle?
• What habits have I cultivated to get me to this imbalanced place?

Looking at your symptoms rather than the label “menopause” allows you to see yourself, not the concept and thus empowers you to make the changes you need to make.
To learn more about menopause, sign up for my free video series “The 5 secrets to a better menopause”. We talk about menopause being an opportunity, what treatment approach makes sense and how you can use your habits and diet to get back to comfort in your body.

If the physiological changes of menopause aren’t enough, there is also a significant spiritual shift. Many women recognize this subtle spiritual shift as a desire for more meaning in their life. But this desire for deeper meaning  is often wrapped in a cloud of uncertainty. Confusion arises around one’s path in life. It is not uncommon for a menopausal woman to quit her corporate job to pursue a new career that fulfills her inner desires, despite the lower paycheck. Other women quit their jobs altogether and then dive head first into a solely spiritual life.

Where am I going with this “Change”?

Not knowing what the future holds and what this spiritual shift is about can be scary to say the least. If I were to travel to a foreign country and I knew nothing about it – I didn’t know the climate, the customs, the people, or the dress code – I’d be scared. This is how many women feel during the spiritual shift at menopause.

Learn the Vedic View of Life

In the Vedas there is a concept of the four stages of life. Understanding these four stages, as they are taught in the Vedas, greatly helped me to understand my purpose in life. Understanding the four stages of life helped me to know what I can expect from each phase, and what’s up ahead.

Education is power. When we have a sense of what’s up ahead, when we know what is likely to happen, we are much more prepared and aware. When become our future self, we have a better sense of what is actually happening when it does happen. We are more easily able to clearly identify what we are feeling; what a relief.

The Four Stages of Life

The first stage of life runs from age 0-25. It’s called Brahamcharya or bachelor/student. The focus in this stage is all about Dharma, or purpose, and about understanding yourself. It is about learning from teachers, figuring out the basics of life and who we are as an incarnate soul

The second stage of life runs from age 25-50. It is called Grhasta or householder. The focus in this stage is Artha which means stuff or security. It is all about accumulating things and creating financial security. We marry, we may have children, we build a house, accumulate wealth, contribute to our communities. This is an important phase as it lays the physical foundation for later stages in life. This second stage is also the busiest as, besides working on Artha, we also refine our dharma and at the same time want to have fun in life. ‘How to fit it all in’ is a central question in this phase.

It’s all About YOU

The third phase of life runs from age 50-75, and coincides with menopause.  It is called Vanaprashta or forest dweller. The focus in this stage is Kama which means pleasure and desire. I was rather pleasantly surprised when I learned about what happens in this stage. Think of it, around your end 40s early 50s, the focus shifts to You, with a capital Y. Yes, that’s YOU! Done are the days of only taking care of your husband and children, cooking for the family, doing the housework, serving others or simply being wrapped up in the business of work. It is time to tap into your deep inner desire as a woman and do what is meaningful to you as a person.

The fourth stage of life is from 75-100 and it is called Moksha. The focus of this final stage is liberation and enlightenment.

Let the Old Identity Go

The second stage is all about heavy grunt work. In phase three we ease up, we are moving into the wise women years. It is time to take the seat as an advisor and supporter. This is a key realization and one where I see many women struggling. We are so used to giving and nurturing, for many of us it is hard to let that identity go. Who else is going to do the housework, if I don’t? Who else is going to feed the family if i don’t? Who else is going to hold the family together, if I am not? Well ladies, it’s time to organize your family and life differently and make chores a team effort so you are free to take care of you. If you live alone, the question may center around ‘how can I make your life more easeful and simple”.

Feed Your Spirit

During the Vanaprashta phase, the veil between you and spirit becomes thinner and thinner. You might notice a deeper sense of intuition arising, naturally. If you focus on it, it will deepen over the years manifold. Spirit wants to be heard, spirit wants to be fed. And if you don’t slow down, your might be missing an important message from spirit. And if you miss it, your soul will not be happy. And an unhappy soul has all kinds of unpleasant implications on your mind, emotions and physiology.

Time and time again I witness how women who struggle with letting go of their old identity from phase two, are also struggling physically. Yet those that are willing to detox outdated belief systems and Brules (bullshit rules) are find more ease in menopause.

You see, the 3rd phase of life is exciting. You get to explore yourself, fill your own cup first before feeding others. With all the hormonal changes going on, you naturally have less physical resistance and ability to uphold the intensity of the 2nd phase of life. Many women rely on high levels of estrogen to run a high intensity life in earlier parts of life. That good gig is going away as soon as you hit perimenopause. It is time for deep self care. As Yoga Health Coaches we can help you with that.

Prepare for the Third Phase of Life

Lots of exciting changes can happen in the third phase of life. My advice is to take a breath and take it in. If you are young, you can let go of the fear of aging. If you are in third phase, get ready for a fun introspective exercise. Well actually this would be a great exercise at any stage of life! Preparing for the future is always a valuable undertaking.

It’s time for a journaling exercise. It is never too late or too early to prepare for the next stage in life. Grab a pen and paper or journal. Set a timer for Four minutes and answer the following questions. Work quickly and don’t put your pen or pencil down.

What is it that you want to do with your one wild and precious life?

Who is the next you that you want to create?

Want to know how to transition through menopause with more ease? Download the 4 part video series on the 5 Secrets to a Better Menopause.

The Marie Kondo method of tidying is becoming quite the household name, it seems. But in case you missed the scoop, let me explain.The magic of tidying is all about an effective method to get your physical space in order and tidy for the long haul. Marie suggests that you only keep what sparks joy and discard everything else.

I found the results of following her method nothing less than magical. There is so much ease, clarity, and freedom in my living space now which allows me to deeply relax after a long day of work. There is also, literally, less stuff in the way for my creative process to unfold which is a  key as a wellpreneur. Because I now only have things left in my space that bring me joy, I am now able to focus on the things I really want to focus on and create the things I really want next in my life.

At this point you might ask yourself, what does all that have to do with menopause. Well, TONS. You see, menopause is a time of transformation. A move into wise womanhood. It is a call to clear out the old self so that your new self can emerge.  Do you feel it? Menopause is a calling to listen to yourself,  your deepest inner desires, your wants, your needs.

“What is it, that you want to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver

Detoxing is an integral part to transition through menopause with ease. Over the years talking to women in their 50s and 60s I have observed that those who were willing to let go of baggage – physical baggage in terms of stuff, or mental and emotional baggage – have a much easier time transitioning into wise womanhood. They have fewer physical symptoms and less emotional turmoil. Letting go and detoxing is also the first step to redefine yourself in creating what you want next in life.

3 Methods To Detox and Let Go

Method 1: Clear your space

The best way I know how to do that is to use the KonMari method. Clearing your physical space brings clarity as to what sparks joy in your life and what is meaningful to you. Decluttering stuff that was tied to your old self releases old patterns and belief systems, clears the emotional body and with it releases memory from physical tissue. An all around win to ensure an easeful transition through menopause.

Method 2: Detox your body with the “hammer method”

This is a very common practice, historically speaking. All major religions emphasize fasting, or detoxing, during certain periods. Think Ramadan in Islam, Lent in Christianity or Yom Kippur in Judaism. Pretty much every major religion has fasting periods.  For a period of 1, 5, 10, 15 days, or however long you choose, you don’t eat anything or only foods that are cleansing. This, combined with tons of self care and spiritual practices has a profound effect in detoxing body, mind and spirit.

Over the years, I have undertaken various cleanses and detoxes and every time I go for it my body runs better, my mind gets clearer and my soul gets more aligned to consciousness. During detoxes physical, emotional and mental Ama (toxins) are being released. The point: get rid of heavy baggage in the form of undigested emotions, old belief systems that no longer serve and physical toxins that may otherwise make you sick. Releasing heavy baggage is a major benefit on a transitional journey like menopause. If you have ever traveled by plane you know how easeful it is to travel light. It is no different on the menopausal journey.

Method 3: Detox your body with a “kaizen approach”

If the hammer method doesn’t much appeal to you, although I highly recommend it twice a year, you could get started with a Kaizen approach. Any of us Yoga Health Coaches can help you do that. Kaizen refers to incremental change over time. In terms of detoxing your body that means you start incorporating foods and beverages into your diet that assist your liver in clearing out toxins. The liver is responsible for filtering out excess hormones. If you are concerned about hormone imbalance during menopause, assisting the liver should be high, and I say very high, on your priority list.

Here are three simple ways you can get started:

1. Green smoothies for breakfast to greet your day right
2. Fresh, green juices. My favorite is Green Lemonade. You could  make that a breakfast alternative all by itself or have it as a side for lunch or dinner.
3. Herbal teas like nettles, dandelion root and rose petals. Drink those throughout the day.

All these foods support the body to release the heavy baggage you definitely don’t want to keep carrying. Or, as Marie Kondo would put it, they support you in only keeping the things in your body that spark joy. And if you are anything like me, you will want to increase the joy in your body manifold.

So get to it. Detox, let go, tidy up. Start small if you need to, go all out if you can. Marie Kondo your body, space and consciousness and menopause will turn into a breeze.

The Struggles With Aging

So many women are struggling through this phase in their lives, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Just look at some of the common symptoms like;

• hot flashes,
• weight gain,
• exhaustion,
• mood swings,
• brain fog,
• anxiety,
• memory loss,
• sleepless nights,
• subtle grief about the loss of youth,
• confusion about what’s next in life…

…you get the idea. It doesn’t sound like a lot of fun – at all.

For many women, symptoms are so obvious they are hard to ignore, for others they are more subtle.

To make matters worse, the media makes us believe that it is totally uncool to look or get older. How often do you really see “older” women in commercials other than for retirement or medical ads? Staying young with smooth skin, firm breasts and mega toned muscles is the way to go. Think botox, breast implants, special face creams for the aging skin, liposuction and the like. Companies can make a lot of money from us believing we need to look or be different from the way we are.

The Shift to Decay

Truth be told, starting at menopause, the body is shifting into a catabolic state. The word catabolic is synonymous with deterioration. You probably have heard the saying “The body gets less forgiving, the older it gets”. It is undeniable that there is some truth to that.

In Ayurveda, menopause marks the beginning of the Vata phase of life, and Vata has the tendency to break things down. At or past menopause it will be more likely that you experience symptoms related to dryness and excess mobility for example; osteopenia, dry skin, achy joints, thinning of the skin, more wrinkles, anxiety, constipation, digestive issues, mood swings, weaker immune system and slower metabolism. It is this breaking down process of the body that so many women dread and loathe.

You may not know this, but there is good news and even an exciting upside to this arriving Vata energy. For real. Here it goes.

The Good News About Menopause

While it is undeniable that Vata energy makes things deteriorate more quickly, there is a way to counteract that tendency. The shift into the second half of life does not have to be  dramatic or debilitating in any way.

What it does mean, however, is that self care has to become absolutely non-negotiable the older you get. No exceptions!!! In your 20s or 30s you can ‘use and abuse’ your body but when you hit your 40s, 50s and beyond it is time to start taking self care seriously.

If you are struggling with any of the common symptoms of menopause it means Vata has arrived. Vata makes things move. It brings all the issues to the forefront that thus far were safely hidden in the back corner of your body’s closet.

Any physical, emotional and spiritual issues that you successfully ignored or were not aware of, are now in your face and want to be attended to.
The solution: Make self care a priority and invest in your health and wellbeing. If you show up for your body, your body will continue showing up for you.

Showing Up For Your Body

One can find plenty of examples of inspiring women beyond menopause, who look amazing and are as vibrant as can be. You can be like that too.

Check out Johanna Quaas, a 86 year old gymnast, or Ernestine Shepherd, an 80 year old bodybuilder, or these gorgeous women in their 70s, 80s and 90s who are not afraid to look outrageous and gorgeous. These women are a testament that menopause is not the beginning of the end, but the beginning of a new era.

As I said before, self-care becomes non-negotiable as you get older. In order to cultivate the strength, spirit and vibrancy that these women exude one needs to establish good habits, and a proper rhythm & routine in daily life. That is exactly what we as Yoga Health coaches help you do. You can connect with one of us here.

There are also several ways you can get started on your own. Here are 3 tips to plug into non negotiable self care:

• Indulge in a daily oil massage – it’s easy, quick and super nourishing. If I had only one practice to give to my clients, this would be at the very top of my list.

• Establish a meditation mantra practice to ground your day and create mental calm.
• Eat a mostly plant based diet to create intelligent and vibrant cells.

But, wait, wait, don’t click away yet! As important as self care is there is one other point I want to share with you…and that is the incredible upside of menopause. Here it goes.

The Upside of Menopause

Although Vata energy seems to be all bad at first sight, it also has an amazing positive aspect, an aspect that I personally look very much forward to.

On a spiritual level Vata makes the veil between you and spirit thinner and thinner. Your intuition will naturally increase as you get older. Your ability to listen to your inner guidance will become more and more pronounced. As you age, the density of the body naturally falls away and an increased inner knowing arises. This process happens whether you are conscious of it or not, but exponentially heightens the more awareness you bring to it.

I don’t know about you but I find living in alignment with spirit amazingly uplifting. I am only 43, yet have already spent the past 15 years exploring my spiritual self. I am happy to report that I feel very connected to this part of myself AND I am very curious to experience how this might heighten as I enter the depth of menopause and explore the wise women years.

So you see, hitting menopause is not the end but a new beginning. It’s the opening to greater wisdom, a more tapped-in feeling, and a more connected self. Most importantly staying vibrant and active physically is possible with skillful self care.

Good things are awaiting you!

Now, you are allowed to click away and get on with your self care.

Annette Shellenbarger interviews Cate Stillman about Ayurveda, Dina Charya, diet, plants, Menopause, and the future of Ayurveda

Annette Shellenbarger invited me to an interview for her audience. We decided to share it here, for those who want to see what it’s like to work with a Yoga Health Coach.

From Annette, “Welcome everyone to my first ever interview – and I couldn’t be luckier to be interviewing Cate Stillman, owner and founder of yogahealer.com and very well known in the yoga world. Before I bring Cate on, let me give you a short introduction – Cate not only is a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and a yoga teacher herself, but she is most importantly an entrepreneur and the founder of Yoga Health Coaching and The Living Ayurveda Course. Cate is a teacher, author, surfer, momma, wife, and she is also my own Ayurvedic teacher and business coach. You can check out her website at yogahealer.com to read more about her and everything she offers because I only scratched the surface here.”

1. Why do you think studying Ayurveda and practicing yoga has been so separate and not combined? I know many yoga students today are learning more about Ayurveda, but we still seem to have a long way to go in accepting the fact that if you practice yoga, you ideally should have a working knowledge of Ayurveda. Why the separation?

2. One of the beautiful things you said and that really resonated with me, is that all the cooked grains we see in the Ayurvedic diet today is actually very recent – this is not how people ate in India thousands of years ago. The real Ayurvedic diet was more plant and raw based because that is how we connected with our plants/vegetables and how prana/consciousness was transferred to us – can you expand on that, or explain this concept to our listeners. I think so many people think that in order to be a good yogi or if you want to embrace the Ayurvedic diet, you must eat kitchari, or a lot of grains and dairy – but you say not so.

3. How important is Dinacharya for our yoga practice, our health and the aging process?

4. What advice can you give women who are about to hit menopause or have entered menopause and are just now trying to figure out ways to go through this transition gracefully and with ease (or a couple of practical things they can start implementing today)? And let’s not forget the men, they go through andropause and their hormones are shifting, how should they approach this new phase in their lives?

5. How do you see the world of yoga and Ayurveda evolving in the coming years here in the West – can you give us some predictions?