The NIYAMAS of Yoga for Midlife Happiness and Wellbeing.

Yoga Philosophy includes some wonderful practices to enhance ‘self’.  When it comes to Women’s Wellbeing in midlife, they are particularly poignant.

The 2-12 years before the actual menopause is called peri-menopause.  This is when the ovaries slowly diminish production of our key sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone.  It can be a very discombobulating time, disproportionately affecting 80% of all woman with over 30 symptoms ranging from insomnia to anxiety to pelvic floor discomfort to incontinence.

Despite many of the negative connotations associated with ‘The Change’, given the right information and the right help; it can be an enormously empowering time.

Being prepared and being connected in to sources of quality information can actually turn ‘midlife’ into a time of celebration:

Stepping gracefully into the wisdom years, being comfortable in our own skin, putting two fingers up to any notion of what we ‘should’ look like, feel like, be like.

We are hormonally a bit like teenagers in peri-menopause – but with the life experience of sage leaders… so, how about we embrace the archetype of “Queenager”!?

Some days we’re dancing, some days we’re commanding, some days we’re on the couch with chocolate. It’s all good.

Yoga philosophy has been particularly helpful for me in letting go of the past, and stepping in to the now.  The ‘Yamas’ and ‘Niyamas’ are like a map of restraints and actions that guide you on life’s journey.

The Yoga Niyama (observance) ‘Santosha’ means acceptance.

And acceptance is the key ingredient to change.

‘Tapas’ in yoga is taking responsibility for action, doing what you can for a positive impact on the life YOU want for yourself.

‘Ahimsa’ is non-violence, primarily against the self. At this age and stage of our lives dieting, restriction, shaming , minimising can all be seen as ‘violence’ against the self in some form.

‘Swadhaya’ means self study, the looking inwards, the spiritual journey that can be so profound at this life stage. This includes observing those habitual thoughts and noticing patterns that may not be serving our higher good.

‘Ishvarapranidhara’ is a state of Grace that releases any grip on ‘how things should be’ and instead steps into the freedom of  embracing what IS in this moment.

Knowing full well that like everything, this too will change.

Namaste (I bow to you) Queenage Yogi x