During perimenopause and menopause it’s particularly important to focus on flexibility and stretching. Yoga and Pilates are fantastic in this phase, helping maintain joint mobility and reducing muscle tension, because aching joints can be quite severe in perimenopause.
As well as strength and flexibility benefits, yoga can help with stress reduction. It can calm your mind, reduce stress and promote relaxation. Breath work also activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which triggers the relaxation response and supports overall emotional wellbeing.
Menopause can be a period of transition and self-reflection, when you start a new chapter and reevaluate things. Yoga can encourage a strong mind-body connection, helping you to connect with your body and listen to it more. It also promotes sleep—doing a couple of stretches before bed will aid relaxation.