YOGA AND THE MENOPAUSE -HOW IT CAN HELP

According to research at the University of Washington, Seattle, it has been found that stress reduction therapies, such as Yoga can help to reduce the symptoms of the menopause. The positive effect that such therapies have can be an alternative to hormone replacement treatment. Researchers found that learning relaxation and meditation techniques helped to reduce some of the most common side-effects of the menopause such as hot flushes and mood swings. Although further studies are still needed to  confirm these findings Yoga, in particular, seemed to have a positive effect on sleep, mood swings and handling pain. One of the reasons for the success of yoga in dealing with these symptoms probably stems from the fact that all menopause symptoms can be exacerbated if a person is anxious or stressed. Dealing with these as a separate issue will then help the individual on all levels, including the menopausal condition. As more and more women would prefer alternative treatment to hormone replacement therapy GPs should, perhaps, begin to advise them on alternative routes. The stretching and strengthening of muscles during a Yoga session is also a healthy way of staving off osteoporosis, which can often start to kick-in around or after the menopause.