Betty Conroy, PT
When I began my MTY journey during the onsite M8 module, I was hopeful to learn how to integrate my passion for yoga into patient treatments and to gain competence in teaching yoga classes....
Yoga for Menopause: Part 2
In part one we considered general ways in which yoga helps you through menopause. In part two, we will discuss yoga and Ayurveda.
In yoga and Ayurveda (the Indian system or medicinal side of yoga), menopause is considered an air/ether element, or vata (pronounced “vah-tuh”), condition. Characterized by dryness, the vata type (constitution) is typically recognized by the following signs or symptoms: cold, dry, light, subtle, mobile, sharp, hard, rough, clear.
Although the first symptom, coldness, may seem contrary to menopause’s many “hot flashes,” the foundation of managing your menopause will include cooling techniques for the fire element of the hot flashes, including decreasing menopause’s other vata characteristics.
Since the use of Ayurveda increases yoga’s effectiveness in managing menopause, it is easy to see why a regular non-Ayurvedic yoga class might not suit the informed woman going through menopause. In addition, an Ayurvedic yoga class is more likely to take into consideration a woman’s individual needs for menopause – since every woman is different and experiences the journey of menopause differently.
If you don’t have access to an Ayurvedic practitioner or Ayurvedically based yoga class, here is a simple test you can take to help you determine which attributes are negatively affecting your health, and therefore, blocking progress toward successfully managing the menopause maze.
Remember, Ayurveda and yoga are sister sciences, meant to be practiced together. Yoga can be more effective for menopausal symptoms when it is tailored to meet your specific needs through Ayurveda. See the resources below to help you locate a teacher or therapist.
Further Resources
- Download the 20 Attributes Test that tailors yoga to fit you
- Find a licensed therapist who can blend the best of eastern and western medicine, as well as yoga and Ayurveda here.
- Find a teacher who meets minimum standards for teaching yoga without the use of Ayurveda or western medicine here.
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