19/10/2024
Adopting slower fitness 👇🏼
“The benefits of switching to a slower form of exercise such as slow cardio, yoga, or Pilates during this sensitive time are tenfold,” explains https://www.moreyoga.co.uk/ instructor Scarlett Woodford. “When we undertake challenging cardio such as HIIT, our stress hormone, cortisol, can raise over time and put us at a higher constant stress level—even long after you’ve left the gym.”
With this in mind, I’ve swapped out all but one HIIT session a week for longer, slow runs, which are still great for promoting the release of “feel-good” hormones, as well as being good for burning fat, which has helped towards stabilising my perimenopause weight gain. I’ve also added yoga and Pilates alongside strength training to support flexibility, bone strength, and ward off osteoporosis.
“Then there’s the mindful aspect of yoga,” explains Woodford. “A common symptom of perimenopause is increased anxiety and brain fog, and many yoga styles have been proven to not only ease this symptom but actually alter the state of the nervous system as your body begins to call for a slower pace. During softer styles of yoga such as yin, restore and yoga nidra, practitioners guide you into a tranquil mental space that can lead to a calmer mood and improved sleep, concentration and overall emotional balance.”
As part of these workout tweaks, I’ve become more mindful when it comes to fitness nutrition. I would often skip breakfast before or after a workout to save time, but in an effort to combat fatigue and promote muscle recovery, I’m making sure to eat carbohydrates before training, even if it’s just a banana, and ensure I ingest protein post-workout. By altering my exercise regime, I’ve definitely noticed that my joints feel stronger, I’m less tired, and I’ve even seen an improvement in performance, which is a bonus.”
- Vogue
The 5 Small Lifestyle Changes That Eased My Menopause Symptoms—Fast
BY https://www.vogue.com/contributor/devinder-bains
