Embodied Menopause by Charlotte Watts and Leo Taylor
Embodied Menopause
Charlotte Watts and Leonie Taylor
Embodied Menopause is the wise friend youâve been waiting for to guide you through this powerful transition into a potent stage of life. No âproblemsâ, âfixesâ or âboostsâ, but rather a steady, compassionate and conscious path through this pause, creating time and space for you to understand and more fully inhabit your whole body and your authentic self. It is a rallying call to reframe and find freedom from limiting beliefs and systems that minimise us as we age.
Through insightful somatic practices, nutritional support, reflective invitations and a sage challenge to social constructs, Leo Taylor and Charlotte Watts guide you through whatâs really happening, physically, emotionally, spiritually and contextually as we meet midlife.
Offering insight and practical steps, they show how mood, gut, sleep and social stress weave together; how to respect your natural resources; and how to meet yourself honestly without chasing impossible standards of perfection.
Embodied Menopause is a vital resource youâll return to again and again to remind you that youâre not malfunctioning or diminished, but on a path to becoming more fully yourself
What's Inside
Foreword by Kate Codrington
Introduction
Chapter 1 A natural transition
How did we end up with the main narrative around menopause being a feared catastrophe to avoid? We have a different perspectiveâŚ
Chapter 2 The arc of the journey
Everything you need to know about what on earth is going on with your hormones â and how not to âfixâ them but to support change.
Chapter 3 What is maturity?
Looking at different cultural perspectives on menopause and ageing in a quest for a brighter âheroineâs journeyâ.
Chapter 4 Your whole body picture
Understanding how your body works as a whole â and not just a disparate collection of unrelated symptoms to fire fight.
Chapter 5 Creating time and space for potential
Why rest is such a radical but game-changing concept and how to make time to dream through and beyond menopause.
Chapter 6 The liminality of the pause
The clueâs in the name but often not the practice: meno-PAUSE, a potent transition to lean into rather than a breakdown to avoid.
Chapter 7 Respecting your available energy
Itâs time to compassionately reevaluate how you generate and where you direct your precious resources.
Chapter 8 Mood and gut connections
From a holistic, mind-body perspective, your feelings and emotions are so tied up in your gut. Letâs look at the psycho-social pressure on your belly.
Chapter 9 Your True Core
Away from all the conditioned hype around toned abs and trim tums, letâs take a look at how your relationship with your middle-aged middle needs to be more well rounded.
Chapter 10 The Sleep Issue
At a point where sleep might be elusive and its absence devastating, whatâs really going on and how can you create the conditions for deeper, more restorative rest?
Chapter 11 What do you need now?
Deciphering what the deeper needs are below the level of your wants and habits, so that you can be more truly nourished and satisfied.
Chapter 12 Positively preparing for Post-menopause
So what next? Letâs take a look at whatâs on the other shore, beyond the wild seas of menopause.Â
Nutritional Support Sections
Boosting the liver
Blood Sugar Balance
Omega-3 Oils
Adrenal and HPA Axis
Phytoestrogens
Mindful Eating
Magnesium
Digestion booster
Intermittent Fasting
Supporting sleep through diet
Protein
Food as a Source of Joy
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Embodied Practices
Subtle Explorations
Nasal Breath
The 4 stages of breathing
Lying Support for Breathing Practices (Pranayama)
Focussed Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Brahmari(Black Bee Breath) with Shanmukhi Mudra
Golden Thread Breath
Autogenic Release
Sound Practices
Simha Pranayama/Lionâs Breath
Krama Breathing
Metta Bhavana (Lovingkindness Meditation)
Moon- and Sun-Piercing Breathing
Body Scan
Sitali or Sitkari Pranayama / Breath
Nyasa Meditation
Heart Mudras (Intentional hand gestures)
Sa Ta Na Ma finger focus
EFT
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Reflective Pauses
Find balance with non-western medicine approaches
Elemental Body Scan
Cultivate self-compassion
Journalling and wild art journalling
 Attune to interconnectedness
Make space for rest
Find peace with difficult feelings
Create your own rituals
How to cope with overwhelm
Find your joy
Recognise your Cravings
Clarify your feelings
Get ready to sleep
Trust your wisdom
Mind-map your future
More ways to connect with Charlotte and Leo
private community
A nurturing space to ask questions, share experiences, celebrate progress, and connect with others embracing an embodied approach to menopause.
whole health
Online somatic & mindful yoga classes & meditations. Subscription include live weekly classes and access to their recordings, as well as on-demand access. Choose from the price level that suits your budget for continual resources in your home.
