Michelle Howard is a yoga teacher and holistic therapist with a special interest in women’s health and well-being. In this month’s Press Pause feature, she explains how she completed her advanced yoga teacher training accreditation shortly after turning 50
What led you to becoming a yoga practitioner and what were you doing before?
I had been working as a holistic therapist for over 30 years – offering therapies deeply rooted in Ayurveda, reflexology and massage therapies. I have been practicing yoga regularly for 30 years also.
It is so important to offer support that clients can take away from the clinic and I trained in Yin yoga initially to do just that – to teach techniques and specific poses to help counteract daily life.
During the Yin teacher training process I met so many amazingly supportive women who encouraged me to carry on with my yoga teacher training journey, and with the help of Covid lockdowns – which gave me the time I wouldn’t have usually had to study – I completed my advanced 500hr yoga teacher training accreditation shortly after turning 50!
To be honest I never thought I would be able to teach. I suffered from very low self-esteem during my 20’s and 30’s, and during my 40’s there was no time. And then approaching 50 thought I was too old. All the Instagram yogis are gorgeous 20 somethings pulling pretzel shapes and I did wonder who would want to be taught by a middle-aged woman wearing baggy T-shirts.
However, the passion I have for yoga and the benefits I know it’s given me (as that middle-aged woman) overrode those feelings of doubt and it’s such a privilege to teach this ancient practice and science of yoga.
What is it about yoga that you love?
Yoga for me is ‘liberation’ to meet myself exactly as I am when I step onto my yoga mat – giving myself the time and space to just be, even if it’s only 10 minutes.
It goes beyond the physical practice, which in itself is releasing, strengthening and freeing, and helps support mind body and soul. It’s also fun to challenge myself in certain poses – it’s not all serious yogi time.
Yoga gives the practitioner time to observe and to breathe and bring oneself back to the present, which is so incredibly important especially during challenging times and times of change.
My husband has primary progressive MS and since his diagnosis 12 years ago my relationship with yoga has changed. I lean into it a lot more and it’s vital to my own health and well-being.
When did you realise that there was a demand for menopause yoga in particular – and how can it help women going through the menopause?
I realised I was in peri menopause around the age of 50. In my Menopause Yoga we associate this phase of the menopause with the season of Autumn. If you imagine how unsettled the season Autumn is – the changes in temperature, the winds, leaves falling and that destabilisation of nature – well that sums up what’s going on with women’s hormones at this stage, so I began experiencing lots of the symptoms associated with the fluctuations of hormones. For me, rather than hot flushes it was anxiety about driving, achy joints, severe irritability, brain fog and recurrent UTI’s – lovely…
I had been doing lots of research into the best way to support my own menopause experience, and yoga as well as lifestyle changes, nutrition, HRT were all part of the 360 approach to this support.
I also wanted to explore the best yoga had to offer to help and this led me to Petra Coveney. Petra is the founder and creator of Menopause Yoga; she is a member of the British Menopause Society which backs all of her teachings. I completed her teacher training programme in September 2022, and I learnt so much.
Menopause Yoga combines western medical information with eastern wellbeing practices. So women get the scientific medical information about what the menopause is and why they may be experiencing what they are, along with practices, mindsets and philosophies from other cultures that are generally more positive and optimistic.
I learnt so much from Petra, who is incredible, but also from the 30 other women from all over the world who shared their own experiences about the menopause.
It’s a powerful thing when women come together, connect and communicate then share yoga practices together that nurture, empower and educate.
I knew from talking to my therapy clients and yoga students that there is a huge need to offer this support to as many women who would like it as possible, and the beauty is you don’t need any previous yoga experience to enjoy the classes.
What yoga events are you offering?
During February I am holding both online and in person Menopause Yoga classes. I then hold a variety of in person and online classes throughout the year and some special events too.
I have just had the pleasure of collaborating with menopause clinical specialist Victoria Howell on a day retreat where I also invited a nutritionist to give a talk. It was a fabulous day, fully attended by the most wonderful women and I am sure another one will be planned later in the year.
If you had one message to someone experiencing the menopause, who had perhaps not tried yoga before, what would it be?
The Menopause Yoga mantra is ‘rest, do less and reduce stress’ and yoga is the absolute perfect way to start this process. We know that stress amplifies pretty much all menopause symptoms and yoga is proven clinically to reduce stress.
Also, yoga is not about wearing the latest Sweaty Betty outfit or being able to touch your toes – it’s about showing up for yourself. The hardest thing about yoga is showing up, but I promise you will feel great once you do and no previous yoga experience is necessary.
Visit michellehowardyoga.com and follow @michellehoward_wellbeingyoga on Instagram. To book the classes, email michelleh70@icloud.com
Menopause Yoga events in February:
Sunday February 11, 5-6.30pm (online via Zoom): anxiety, fatigue and overwhelm.
Sunday February 18, 5-6.30pm (online via Zoom): strength and empowerment.
Friday 23 February, 11.30am-1pm, Roxley Hall, Thorpe St Andrew, Norfolk: all about the heart.
(Featured images – supplied)
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