Feb 24
Julie has a BFA in dance from the University of Michigan and has been teaching creative movement and ballroom dancing since 1977. She completed her yoga teacher training and began teaching in 2000. She has taught a wide variety of classes in the community for all age groups and continues to teach classes at West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation. In 2008, she completed training in a yoga therapeutic program, “Yoga of the Heart,” based on Dr. Dean Ornish’s study on reversing heart disease. She feels proud and fortunate to be an employee at Henry Ford Vita Wellness Center, teaching yoga classes which focus on the health benefits of yoga. In addition to the daily yoga classes, she also teachs Zumba, Ballet Stretch and Tone and Dance Your Way to Fitness. She recently answered my questions about how Yoga may benefit women during menopause and beyond.
I know you teach a Yoga for Wellness class now and have offered a Yoga for Menopause class in the past. What prompted your interest in yoga and specifically yoga for menopause?
When I began my first yoga classes in 1995, I truly had little understanding of yoga. I was recovering from a dance injury and thought yoga would be a good way to stay in shape while I was recovering. I quickly recognized that yoga was as much about the body as it was about the mind. In short order I began to notice the many benefits from practicing yoga. I was inspired from my earliest classes to become a yoga teacher, guiding others to discover the benefits. The overall benefits of yoga, which include stress reduction, improved focus, mood regulation, improved sleep as well as strength, balance and flexibility have served me well as I have made the transition through menopause.
Yoga is well known for its benefits in managing stress. How is it specifically helpful for menopausal symptoms?
Firstly, yoga promotes greater self-awareness. As with stress, we may not recognize it until it becomes overwhelming. For example, yoga draws our awareness inside so we may be better able to identify the subtle signs of stress as in muscle tension and shallow breathing. As menopausal symptoms begin, we as women can begin to identify these changes. We cannot begin to manage them without being aware. Diaphragmatic breathing which is used in the yoga for menopause classes, elicits the relaxation response, allowing endorphins, (feel good hormones) to be released, creating a sense of calm and improved focus. In addition, there are ”cooling” breathing techniques that can be used for relieving hot flashes. Specific yoga poses are valuable for improving sleep, regulating mood and building bone density.
What are the other health benefits of Yoga for women as they age ?
A regular yoga practice can build both strength and flexibility in both body and mind. Research shows that a regular yoga practice can improve the function of nearly every system of the body from the cardiovascular system to the digestive system. Yoga helps to keep these systems fine tuned and running smoothly.
Is Yoga safe for everyone? Are there any precautions women need to be aware of?
Yoga is for EVERYBODY!!! Of course, it’s important to get permission from your physician before beginning a regular yoga practice. Modifications for specific poses are necessary for women with high blood pressure, or osteoporosis for example. It’s important to find a teacher with knowledge and experience.
How would you recommend someone get started with Yoga? Do you have any good resources you can share?
Yoga is experiential and cannot easily be grasped by reading about it or watching DVD’s. It’s important to begin with an experienced teacher with a watchful eye. It’s important to ask if the yoga room is specifically heated for classes. Some yoga studios and gyms will heat the room as certain styles of yoga like Ashtanga, Vinyasa and Bikram require heat that can be 80 degrees. While the heat can be very good for loosening muscles, some menopausal women will find the heat very uncomfortable as their own personal thermostat is running on “hot”. All of the classes that I teach at Vita are suitable for menopausal women. New students are asked to fill out a questionnaire and with this information I will be able to make recommendations for our students, noting contraindications and adapting to their specific needs.
Go to the Henry Ford Health System link at the right to get more information about wellness classes or call 1-800-henryford.
February 24th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
I think yoga and menopause are a wonderful combination.
I added yoga to my toolkit when I decided to get fit for 50 (and menopause) and I even added it to our tracking tools at menopausetracker.com.
Many people say diet and exercise as in cardio and strength. Not enough recognise as you do that balance and flexibility are just as important. Preventing falls is a better than hoping your bones can deal with the outcome!
May 25th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
Yoga is great for controlling menopausal symptoms. As women we live such imbalanced lives, this is one way to re-center and focus within ourselves. Over the years, I have interviewed many menopausal women and all of them have said that stress makes menopausal symptoms worse.