Menopause is a natural transition for all women. Nevertheless, it often brings a whirlwind of physical and emotional changes. But did you know stress can take this rollercoaster adventure and crank it up to eleven and that yoga has all the tools to smooth the ride? But before we get to the powerful impact of yoga on menopause symptoms, let’s look at the complex relationship between stress and menopause.
Stress: The Uninvited Guest at the Hormone Party
Our bodies produce stress hormones like cortisol to help us respond to challenges. However, chronic stress throws this system out of whack. Due to long-term stress and adrenal fatigue, the adrenal gland stops making an abundance of oestrogen and progesterone. Instead, it makes the stress hormone, cortisol.
The domino effect:
- Intensified Symptoms: Hot flashes, elusive sleep? Stress can exacerbate these classic menopause symptoms, making them more frequent and intense.
- Emotional Rollercoaster: Stress can amplify emotional fluctuations, leaving you feeling even more irritable, anxious, or teary.
- Cognitive Cloud: Stress can worsen memory and concentration issues, already common during menopause.
The hidden symptoms
Counsellor and author John Gray explains: “In our culture, whether the supposed symptoms of menopause are subtle and occasional or full-blown seems to depend on the hormonal health of the body. And, the impact on overall health and well-being can be significant.”
According to him in addition to the most popular symptoms of menopause, there are others that can masquerade as hard-to-diagnose diseases and conditions:
- Acceleration of the ageing process – wrinkles appear almost overnight
- Anxiety or panic attacks
- Bloating and indigestion, gas
- Increase in blood pressure
- Bone pain associated with osteoporosis
- Inability to breathe deeply
- Low energy
- Increased facial hair, particularly around the chin and upper lip
- Heart palpitations
- Cold feet or hot feet, particularly in bed at night
- Joint pain and muscle aches
- Lightheadedness, dizzy spells, vertigo
- Migraine headaches
- New food allergies or environmental sensitivities
- Urinary incontinence (worse when laughing or coughing)
The cascading effect on your health and wellbeing
While all of these symptoms are commonly attributed to menopause, they are actually the symptoms of adrenal fatigue, thyroid dysfunction, toxic liver congestion and Candida/yeast problems in the intestines, explains John Gray. Let’s look step by step at how these conditions arise:
1. Due to long-term stress and adrenal fatigue, the adrenal gland stops making an abundance of estrogen and progesterone. Instead, it makes the stress hormone, cortisol.
2. When cortisol levels are chronically high, the thyroid, which is designed to regulate the metabolism during non-stressful times, begins to under-function.
3. Elevated stress levels lead to cravings for junk foods that make our liver more toxic.
4. The byproduct of a more toxic body is the creation of fertile ground for the intestinal fungus Candida (yeast) to grow and permeate the terrain of our body. The yeast causes a variety of systemic problems, many of which are seen on the list above.
Here we can see in great detail how chronic stress has a cascading effect on our well-being or lack of it, concludes Gray. It’s stress, not ovary dysfunction, which produces many of the symptoms that occur alongside menopause. Here, too, is proof that women would have an easier time in menopause if they were doing more to keep stress levels down and organ function up, along with adequate support for the production of healthy, feel-good hormones. The closer we look at this, the more it’s clear that menopause can be longer and less manageable if you’re not healthy and relatively stress-free.
Breaking the Cycle: Yoga Tools for Taming the Stress
So, a lot is at stake! Nevertheless, while stress can be a powerful force, you have the power to fight back. By understanding the impact of stress and incorporating stress-management tools, you can empower yourself to navigate this transition with more grace and ease. Here are some tools to help:
Here’s how yoga works its magic:
- Breathwork: Focusing on deep, controlled breaths activates your parasympathetic nervous system, the “relaxation response.” It’s like hitting the brakes on your stress reaction.
- Movement: Gentle stretches and postures release muscle tension, where stress often likes to hide. Think of it as unwinding knots and letting go of worries with each movement.
- Mindfulness: Yoga encourages you to be present in the moment, quieting the mind chatter that fuels anxiety. It’s like hitting pause on your worries and focusing on the here and now.
The benefits? Reduced stress, improved sleep, better mood, and increased energy. Yoga doesn’t require fancy equipment or athletic prowess, making it accessible to everyone. You can start wherever you are and witness the transformation yourself.
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