Women's Wellness: Hormones & Graceful Aging
Navigating hormonal transitions requires more than just surface-level advice. My approach integrates yoga and Ayurveda to help you build bone density, balance your hormones, and cultivate vitality during perimenopause and beyond.
A clipping from my Harper's Bazaar interview on managing menopause from a holistic view. I explain how to deal with the emotional and physical stress of perimenopause using natural, time-tested remedies.
Another page from my wellness feature, where I discuss how to manage symptoms like insomnia and hot flashes. My approach is to address the root imbalances, primarily of Vata dosha, that are magnified during this transition.
This image from my Harper's Bazaar feature highlights my two decades of teaching experience. I draw inspiration from experts like Dr. Claudia Welch to offer a holistic path for balancing hormones and life.
In this video, I talk about how yoga and Ayurveda provide a roadmap for women navigating life's transitions. We can learn to live symptom-free by understanding our interconnected systems.
An introduction to my series on building bones and muscle, especially for women in their 40s and 50s. We focus on weight-bearing activities, resistance movements, and balancing postures.
This video demonstrates dynamic drills like lunges and downward dog, which are excellent for maintaining joint health and building muscle mass, crucial for women's health as they age.
Using a bolster for modified push-ups is a great way to build upper body strength safely. This is a key component of my program for maintaining bone density.
About this collection
You do not need to push through exhaustion to manage hormonal symptoms. My sessions use modified resistance training and weight-bearing yoga postures, often using a wall or ledge for support, to safely build the bone density and muscle mass that typically decline after forty. We balance this with restorative breathwork to settle the nervous system, addressing the root imbalances rather than just the symptoms.
Understanding the Transition
Menopause and the years leading up to it is a natural life passage, but it is often treated as a crisis. Drawing on my work and interviews, I view this time as the 'Great Unveiler'. Underlying imbalances that were not addressed in your twenties or thirties often rise to the surface during perimenopause. Most of these, including insomnia, anxiety, and hot flashes, are rooted in an imbalance of Vata dosha.
My Approach to Hormonal Health
My wellness sessions are not about generic fitness. They are designed as a 'spirit lab' where we focus on:
- Bone Density: We prioritize weight-bearing activities using your own body weight to combat the 20% bone density loss common in this phase.
- Nervous System Regulation: We use Pranayama (breathwork) not as an afterthought, but as a central pillar to calm the mind and reduce cortisol levels.
- Practical Modifications: Whether it is using a bolster for modified push-ups or a wall for lunges, we adapt the practice so you can build strength without strain.
Why Ayurveda Matters
Yoga alone is only part of the solution. I blend Ayurvedic lifestyle coaching into our sessions, looking at your daily rituals, seasonal routines, and nutrition. We look at simple, actionable habits like oiling your skin or adjusting your morning routine to nourish your nervous system. My goal is to help you build a practice that feels sustainable in your Westend Colony studio or from your own home, giving you the tools to navigate this transition feeling balanced, informed, and capable.
Mini Shastri
I started with a background in high-intensity strength training, but yoga taught me how to find strength in stillness. Today, I use those lessons to help women understand their body's changing rhythms rather than fighting against them. My goal is simple: helping you navigate your forty-plus years with ease and awareness.
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