Mindful Menopause

Explore Yoga for the Menopause.

Menopause is a time of change… change on a physical level, emotional changes, changes in perception and changes in one’s place in the world. These inner changes are often echoed and amplified by changes occurring in one’s outside world. Change becomes the constant.

With the help of yoga we can engage with these changes with equanimity. In this one-day workshop, we explore some of the many techniques and practices offered by yoga to help us navigate this period of transformation and touch upon the stillness within.

Each participant will leave the day equipped with practices from ‘The Mindful Menopause Toolbox’ – concrete practices which can be taken into daily life in ‘bite-sized’ pieces, practices which can enhance feelings of well-being.{DIV}





The day includes…

Asana: A stimulating yet gentle and nurturing asana class, using postures to bring balance to the endocrine system and the body as a whole.

Pranayama: A selection of breath practices to positively affect the physical and energetic body, as well as impact upon the emotions and mind.

Meditation: Using meditation techniques which bring one closer to our essential stillness, we introduce practices to help recognise thought patterns, as well as develop the useful skill of awareness, and a meditation on the space of the Heart, recognizing and embracing this time of transformation.

Mudra & Bandas: Techniques to direct and affect the prana (energy/life force) within the physical body.

Restorative Yoga: Nurturing postures to bring the body back into harmony - time to touch upon stillness and reflect upon one’s own needs. Deeply restful practices that can be safely and easily adapted in the home.

Yoga Nidra: Through the deep relaxation of Yoga Nidra one is able to be in touch with the deeper inner self, let go of Samskaras (mental impressions) and positively affect one’s life with the use of Sankalpa (intention/resolve).

It was through a conversation while climbing the Carmarthen Fans that Vanessa and Christley recognized they had been thinking along the same lines… that yoga has a lot to offer in approaching and negotiating the menopause and that perhaps it would be no bad thing to create a day dedicated to Yoga and the Menopause.

They agree that although ‘All I know is that I know nothing’ (Socrates) they each have found that this rite of passage known as the Menopause has informed their understanding of Yoga and themselves, and that Yoga has informed their understanding of the Menopause. Their aim is that you will gain experiential knowledge so that you can further explore practices after the workshop, and to provide a day that is informative, nurturing and fun.

Vanessa has been living and teaching at Padmasambhava since 2009, and was first introduced to Yoga in 1994. She trained with Swami Vedantananda, and Sylviane Gianina and at Mandala Yoga Ashram and the Bihar School of Yoga. Vanessa has a particular interest in Stillness and in Meditation.

Christley has been practicing yoga since the early 1990’s She trained at Mandala Yoga Ashram and has trained in ‘Restorative’ yoga in Cambridge. She is currently pursuing training with Judith Lasater. Christley has a particular interest in the therapeutic applications of yoga and Restorative Yoga.



Presenters: Vanessa and Christley

Date: Saturday 14th November Time 9.30 a.m. - 4.30 p.m.

Fee: £35

Venue: Padmasambhava