Yoga’s ability to reduce stress, promote a healthy lifestyle, create a positive attitude and regulate and balance the endocrine and hormonal systems make it an excellent therapy to soften the transition into menopause.

In general, a gentle, slow paced yoga practice that emphasizes floor poses is recommended. Inversions nurture the cooling yin aspect of the body and regulate the endocrine system. Low back bending poses such as bridge, cobra and bow tonify the kidneys, nourish the adrenal glands and alleviate fatigue. Side bends and poses that stretch the insides of the legs regulate the liver’s soothing and stabilizing influence on the emotions. Chest opening poses such as fish and standing yoga mudra calm the mind and reduce anxiety. Shitali and Sit Cari pranayamas can be used to clear heat from the body.