At The Edge we have created a Menopause Toolkit workshop. This eight week course will be run by experts in their field. It includes a variety of sessions aimed at targeting common menopausal symptoms such as Yoga to help calm anxiety, as well as a session with a physiotherapist on how to manage joint pain, a Pilates based session utilising exercises to help with pelvic floor issues and 2 sessions teaching you how to strength train, an important thing to learn as a reduction in bone density is a factor of the menopause. This course will be useful to anyone experiencing menopausal symptoms, its open to non members as well as members and is bookable at The Edge.
How can exercise help with Menopause?
Michelle, our group exercise coordinator at The Edge, has set up the menopause toolkit workshop after dealing with perimenopause herself. She would like to help people manage their symptoms through exercise.
Michelle Smith,
I have worked at the University for 6 years. After going through treatment for oestrogen positive breast cancer, I was pushed headlong into perimenopausal symptoms. After being a very solid sleeper, I was suddenly waking up nightly with sweats; the ensuing fatigue was all encompassing. Dressing for summer in the depth of winter due to hot flushes, having to constantly take notes due to memory issues and the worst symptoms for myself as a keen fitness enthusiast was the painful joints.
Having been a fitness teacher for 30 years, at the age of 44 I was still teaching lots of classes per week and had a high level of fitness. As the perimenopause symptoms increased, so did my joint issues. Running became out of the questions, long walks suddenly became painful, 2 hours after exercise I was so stiff it hurt.
So what to do? My release has always been exercise-so I looked for classes that would help relieve my symptoms. Running was painful but I knew I still need to do cardiovascular exercise to help maintain my shape so I turned to spinning. I knew this would give me the similar mental release of running but without the impact on the knees and would have long term benefits to my heart. Although I’ve always enjoyed the higher intensity classes, I started to turn to Pilates, knowing this had huge benefits to pelvic floor issues and to Yoga, to help with my increased anxiety levels. Exercise does not take away the menopause but it definitely helps me manage my symptoms and has considerably improved my way of life.
I realised that there were probably a lot of people in a similar situation across the University; experiencing symptoms of Menopause/Perimenopause whilst trying to maintain a successful home and work life.
When is the course running?
The course will run from 3 May – 21 June every Wednesday at 5:15pm – 6:30pm. Sessions will be held at The Edge in studio 1. The entire eight week course will cost £40. To book on contact The Edge reception on 0113 343 5095.
