This is a face-to-face workshop (max. 6 participants) which is appropriate for all women approaching the peri-menopause through to the post menopause stage. You will learn how using breathing and lifestyle changes can help you manage many menopausal symptoms and boost your longer term health.

 

How Breathwork can help

 

Common menopausal symptoms may include hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, disturbed sleep, headaches, palpitations, mood swings, anxiety, forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating. Many of these symptoms can be aggravated or even caused by poor (dysfunctional) breathing habits (i.e. mouth breathing, using the upper chest rather than the diaphragm, breathing too fast and hard, taking big breaths).

 

Many of us don't realise we are breathing sub-optimally and that these breathing patterns can have an adverse effect on our physical and mental health, our sleep, energy levels, focus and concentration. If we are then breathing like this during the menopause and post menopause years, we may be worsening our symptoms and our general health. Learning better functional breathing habits (nasal breathing 24/7, using the diaphragm correctly and fully, breathing lighter and slower) helps to balance our nervous system, boosts our immune system, calms the mind, improves the quality of our sleep, focus & concentration and sports performance.

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When assessing and working on functional breathing habits, we look at three areas:

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• Respiratory Biochemistry - the volume and the depth of our breath and our tolerance to carbon dioxide

• Respiratory Biomechanics - the correct bones, muscles and body parts designed for functional breathing and how to use them fully

• Respiratory Cadence - the speed of our breath and how this impacts our mental and physical state

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We will address all three aspects of breathing during this workshop and establish which aspects each of you may need to improve, using some simple assessments. Most people know or have heard someone talking about the biomechanics of breathing, but the biochemistry and cadence are often ignored or not known about. However, all three aspects need to be functioning well for optimal mental and physical wellbeing, especially during the menopause years.

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​Lifestyle Changes

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There will be an opportunity to look at other lifestyle factors that will influence your menopause transition, such as diet, exercise and sleep routines. Probably most importantly, this workshop provides a supportive environment to share experiences, worries and solutions, as well as having fun!

Hot drinks/snacks will be available from the Apron Bar and Coffee House during the workshop.

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Following the day, you will have access to audio recordings and summaries of the breathing exercises we cover via my website and on a free app, along with a plan of how to integrate these into your life, so you can continue to practice these and benefit from them on a daily basis. 

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Marianne is a Certified Buteyko and Advanced Oxygen Advantage Instructor. Both techniques teach people to breathe more efficiently in their daily lives to balance their nervous system to reduce stress, sleep better, improve focus and concentration, energy levels, sports performance and recovery.  She is also a  Menopause Wellbeing Practitioner, a Thermalist Instructor and winter swimmer, and uses heat and cold water immersion combined with these breathing techniques to alleviate her own musculoskeletal pain, migraines, menopause symptoms, and to reset when feeling stressed. See other workshops/events that include Contrast Therapy.​​

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