Petra Coveney is the founding father of Menopause Yoga™ (launched 2013) and is an internationally acclaimed instructor, coach, yoga therapist, creator and visitor speaker, specialising in supporting folks via the levels of perimenopause to submit menopause which she positively reframes as your Second Spring.
What does a typical day seem like for you?
My typical day entails waking at 7am for inexperienced tea in mattress and listening to BBC radio 4 information. As a former BBC journalist (a few years in the past) I nonetheless like to remain linked with present affairs and in addition listening in to tendencies in social change. Then I both stand up and bathe, yoga stretch, seated brief meditation and set an intention for the day. But when I’m educating shoppers or coaching academics at 8am, I solely have quarter-hour – time for 2-3 asana, pranayama and a optimistic affirmation. These are important for staying grounded and linked to what I want by way of self care.
I’m a morning individual, so my vitality is excessive and I actually need to maneuver my physique. If I’m educating later within the day, I’ll stroll my canine on the ocean entrance, or meet buddies for an 8am sea swim, or go to the out of doors 50 meter swimming pool, or a brief jog (very slowly). If there climate is stormy (which it’s in winter), I could lifts some weights in my front room (we have to keep our coronary heart well being, bone density and muscle power in submit menopause).
Mid morning, if I’m not educating, I typically have work conferences, document podcast interviews, write blogs or newsletters, and replace social media. Within the afternoon, I’ll do analysis, or write or examine, then stroll my canine once more. I take pleasure in consuming a big lunch quite than a giant night meal as a result of my metabolism is slower as of late. Within the night I often meet buddies, watch a film, or give myself some headspace to only sit back. I can’t emphasise how essential it’s at this stage of life to permit your self to dream, think about and easily BE.
How did your yoga journey start and what impressed you to change into a yoga instructor?
My first expertise of yoga was being a youngster taught at college by an exquisite Indian lady who got here in each week. I keep in mind the precise second when she led us via a leisure savasana and respiratory on the finish of her class – I felt relaxed, reworked. Burt yoga within the 1970’s-80’s wasn’t as accessible as it’s at this time so I ended till a lot later once I was pregnant, and in addition after my daughter was born. I discovered yoga was a option to regulate my vitality and nervous system as a working dad or mum. It was the late 90’s and Madonna was displaying off her biceps and selling Ashtanga yoga. I attended courses with some fantastic, type academics for 8 years. However once I hit my perimenopause, I wanted a softer type of yoga, so I used to be drawn to vinyasa move and qigong with my instructor Jean Halls and Mimi Quo-deemer. These superb ladies skilled me as a instructor and helped me via many emotional rollercoasters such a household bereavement and a divorce. Their philosophical, somatic, softer strategy was life-saving. I later skilled in Interior Axis with Max Strom, Restorative yoga with Judith Hanson Lasater and Anna Ashby, scorching yoga with Kristen Stewart, Yin yoga with Sarah Powers, Yoga Remedy with Colin Dinsmuir from True Yoga plus a myriad of different academics alongside the best way. These days, I really like to slide into the again of one other instructor’s class (typically a lot youthful than me), and allow them to lead me. Typically I follow with my eyes closed and simply benefit from the vitality and sense of group.
What impressed you to specialise in your follow?
I went into perimenopause sooner than my buddies and my older sister. My mom had handed away, and I now perceive that the grief and different stress components triggered my barely earlier change in hormones.
After I went to my physician, she mentioned there was nothing they may provide, and refused to provide me HRT, so I used to be left by myself. It was the ‘darkish ages’ earlier than the expansion of social media and the brand new wave of menopause consciousness. As a former journalist, I knew analysis points, so I utilized myself, drew on sources of knowledge from everywhere in the world, and created the primary Menopause Yoga follow and wellbeing programme to incorporate diet, natural and pure cures, specialised yoga practices tailor-made to menopause signs, and included a group facet (sangha) so that girls may discuss to one another and never really feel misplaced, alone or mad! Underlying this holistic strategy was my analysis into historic conventional chinese language drugs the place I discovered outdated texts describing menopause positively as your Second Spring. I liked that as a result of it made me really feel enthusiastic about this modification in life.
I felt offended that different ladies didn’t have these assets to assist them via what generally is a destabilising transition. So I channeled that outrage into creating Menopause Yoga and the remainder is historical past.
How have you ever seen yoga profit your college students?
I haven’t performed scientific analysis, however I ask folks to provide nameless suggestions after my workshops, coaching programs and retreats. With out exception,95-99% of the ladies attending say they liked the expertise. Aside from the yoga, they all the time say they loved assembly different ladies and the optimistic idea of Second Spring. My courses are tailor-made to therapeutically assist ladies handle their very own signs equivalent to cooling scorching flushes, channeling menorage, calming nervousness and overwhelm, clearing mind fog and fatigue, easing joint and muscle ache, soothing insomnia. These methods embrace vinyasa move, somatic, yin and restorative yoga with particular respiratory and meditation methods. These signs are probably to start out in perimenopause to menopause. However once we attain previous menopause, we alter up the tempo to carry a low temper (anhedonia) and lethargy (typically accompanied by social withdrawal). And ladies my age have to re-energise as they step into their Second Spring. We now have courses which might be strengthening and empowering, construct emotional resilience and information ladies to embrace their new sense of self, discover their voice and step into their very own energy. So the outcomes for ladies are completely different.
What’s your favourite quote or life motto?
There are such a lot of that encourage me, and Menopause Yoga consists of uplifting and galvanizing poetry, quotes and lyrics. Language is so essential – it may possibly change your self notion which might rework how you are feeling bodily, emotionally. For instance, two of the track that I play in my courses are “Every little thing Should Change” sung by George Benson, and “Feeling Good” sung by Nina Simone. I first heard these songs once I was a youngster they usually made an impression- and now I’m a queenager they resonate with me much more. These lyrics encourage us to see that all the things in our lives is all the time altering, nothing stays the identical, which faucets into yoga and Buddhist philosophy. Nina’s track is uplifting inspiring us to step into a brand new daybreak, a brand new day, a brand new life.
What’s developing for you in 2024?
That is one other BIG yr! I’ll lastly full a yoga diploma course, launch a brand new Menopause Yoga instructor coaching course for Australia with Yoga Australia and will even train there….tbc. I’m writing my second e-book on Menopause: The Every day Observe Information on. Tight deadline with my writer. Launching a brand new web site with extra content material for ladies, for academics, for employers and healthcare professionals. And I’ve two retreats and plenty of in individual and on-line coaching programs. There are at the moment 700 certified yoga academics in over 40 international locations so I’m all the time updating and including new visitor audio system content material and making certain they really feel supported.
I even have a Restorative Menopause Yoga CPD course in April that’s open to everybody however particularly academics, and a Menopause Yoga & Wellbeing academics coaching course in July that’s timed at 8am in UK for academics in Australasia who’re 10-12 hours forward.
They are saying that the key to happiness is nice well being, a way of group or belonging and a way of objective. I’m lucky to take pleasure in al of those plus the heat of my household and buddies, and Alfie!
Discover out extra about Petra:
Web site: www.menopause-yoga.com
Instagram: menopause_yoga
Fb: menopauseyoga
Plus, be a part of Petra for two Menopause yoga courses, particulars beneath:
Subject: Menopause Monday’s – APRIL ONLINE
Time: Apr 15, 2024 07:00 PM London
Hyperlink to affix: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87839368665
Assembly ID: 878 3936 8665
Subject: Menopause Monday’s – APRIL ONLINE
Time: Apr 22, 2024 07:00 PM London
Assembly ID: 858 5924 9050
