Embracing menopause with Ayurveda, vitality and a deeper connection to ourselves
Perimenopause and menopause are not illnesses to be fixed, but natural and profound transitions in a woman’s life. Yet these years can bring unexpected challenges. Hot flushes, disrupted sleep, anxiety, brain fog, weight gain, fatigue, joint discomfort and digestive changes can leave us wondering what has happened to the body we once knew.
Much of the conversation around menopause focuses on declining estrogen, but the hormonal picture is more complex. Progesterone begins fluctuating and declining during perimenopause, followed by significant changes in estrogen, while testosterone and other hormonal and metabolic pathways also shift. Together, these changes can influence our nervous system, metabolism, muscle and bone health, mood, sleep and sexual wellbeing.
Ayurveda offers another lens through which to understand this transition. Menopause naturally occurs as we move towards the Vata stage of life. Increasing Vata may contribute to dryness, anxiety, irregular sleep and sensitivity to stress. Pitta can show itself through heat, irritability and hot flushes, while Kapha may manifest as heaviness, sluggishness and weight gain.
Rather than treating every woman the same way, Ayurveda asks: What is happening in this particular woman, and what does her body need now?
Food and how we eat become increasingly important. In The Menopause Reset, Dr Mindy Pelz explores intermittent fasting as a tool for supporting metabolic flexibility during menopause. Time-restricted eating may support metabolic health and weight management for some women, but fasting should always be individualised, particularly when we are depleted, stressed or struggling with sleep.
We also need to consider environmental exposures. Through plastics, cosmetics, food, water and our surroundings, we encounter substances that may interfere with hormonal health. Reducing unnecessary exposure and supporting the body’s natural elimination pathways can form another part of caring for ourselves during midlife.
Ayurvedic herbs can offer additional support. Our Sattva Botanicals Women’s Health Formula combines four traditional Ayurvedic herbs: Ashwagandha, Shatavari, Brahmi and Ashoka. Together, they are traditionally used to nourish the female reproductive and nervous systems and support hormonal balance, stress resilience, restful sleep, mental clarity and emotional wellbeing through changing hormonal seasons.
Alongside herbal support, nourishing food, appropriate cleansing, restorative sleep, Yoga, movement and stress management can work together to restore balance. For some women, Panchakarma may also be appropriate following individual assessment.
This subject is personal to me because I am navigating menopause myself. By incorporating Ayurvedic principles, nourishing routines and conscious lifestyle choices, I have found this phase surprisingly enjoyable. I feel energetic and positive and am grateful to experience relatively few symptoms. It has helped me see menopause not as something to fear or endure, but as an invitation to listen more deeply to my body.
This November, Kirsty van de Geer and I invite you to RECLAIM YOUR MIDLIFE at HUM Yoga, a collaborative afternoon exploring Ayurveda for peri-menopause and menopause, complemented by Kirsty’s gentle, nourishing Yoga practice.
Saturday, 14 November | 1pm–3:30pm | HUM Yoga,
Grey Lynn
Together, let’s embrace this new chapter with greater wisdom, vitality and feminine strength.
