Yoga in your 40s - The Female Perspective

by Caroline Gozzi

Many people struggle to see the benefits of the ageing process, but with age comes more understanding and (I hope) more wisdom and knowledge. Women enter a new phase of our lives as we move into our 40s, and we are likely to start to experience a shift in our hormones. Being in my 40s, I’ve definitely felt this shift and over the last couple of years I’ve tried to understand more about the changes, their impact and how best to respond. Everything I write here is based on my personal experience - I am not a medical expert and can only speak about yoga and how I can use my yoga practise to support my health and well being. 

It has become apparent to me that in order to manage this rebalancing of our hormones, women need to MOVE MORE and improve both our strength and flexibility to withstand the changes that come with age. If you weren’t keen on exercise before the big 40, now is the time to get into it. If you've always exercised but still do what you did in your 20s, now is the time to reexamine your movement and adapt to what your body needs now. I've realised that yoga is just as important now as ever before. Here is how yoga has helped me cope with the changes in my body:

1. Pick up the Pace: Add more cardio elements to your practice to improve your endurance, perhaps by adding a Vinyasa or Hot Power class to your weekly schedule
2. Focus on Building Strength: Strength training is key to avoiding injury as we age. You don't need to lift weights to build strength - in yoga, we use our body weight. Try a Hot 26, Power or Jivamukti class. These classes have plenty of options like single leg balances, side planks and arm balances to help you build strength.
3. Too busy? Try HIIT: We've all got busy schedules - thankfully, you don't need much time to try HIIT! High Intensity Interval Training is an energising practice that gets your body out of its comfort zone, boosts your mood and supports your heart health. We have 10-20 minute HIIT and Core Boost classes in our On Demand Library. You don't need more time than that!
4. Make Yoga a Part of Your Routine: Managing hormonal shifts while carrying on with our everyday responsibilities can bring sleeplessness, stress and mood changes. There is nothing like a yoga class to help adjust our emotional state. It is very common for women in their 40s to hold a lot of tension, particularly around the neck, shoulders and hips - we are carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders! The best thing you can do is get on a mat, breathe and move. Every yoga class at YV will help. For some, this may mean adding in a Slow Flow class every week to ground and relax. Others might refocus and calm the mind with a Hot 26 class. Whatever your practice looks like, we all know how great we feel after a yoga class. Often it feels like a renewal: like a massive weight has been lifted off our shoulders and we are ready to face the challenges ahead. 

As I said, I’m no expert, but what I do know for sure is that there is nothing like movement to make me feel renewed and refocused. If a yoga practice has everything you need to calm and strengthen the body and mind -  well, it is definitely worth a try, right? 

Feel better today: join us in studio or online for yoga classes at YogaVenue.

Caroline is the co-founder of YogaVenue and teaches Hot 26 on Saturday mornings