QiGong for Menopause
In this Journal Post, I ‘d like to say a few words about an exciting new program: QiGong for Menopause. It’s a series of three monthly 90 min. sessions.
First, I’ll give you the practical details (when, where and why).
Then I’ll share my thoughts and personal feelings about this unique opportunity.
Dates and Time:
Tuesdays from 5 to 6:30pm: September 26th, October 24th, November 28th.
Location:
Lyle S. Hallman School of Social Work, 120 Duke Street West, Kitchener, Ontario, N2H 3W8.
Street parking nearby. Click here for an area map and location details.
Fees:
Free. Optional contributions in cash or in kind will be donated to the food bank.
To Register:
Contact me: patricia@Qiintelligence.com, 519-496 8973
Why Join:
Menopausal years can be a very difficult time for women, who may feel on their own, and suffer from symptoms often discounted by the medical system.
These sessions will give you an opportunity to connect with women who have a lot in common with you, and learn QiGong and health practices that will make you feel better, physically, mentally and emotionally.
How to Prepare:
Wear loose comfortable clothing. Indoor shoes with a thin sole are more comfortable for this type of gentle exercise.
Bring a yoga mat.
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I am honoured to run these monthly sessions for women experiencing menopause (pre-, peri-, and post-menopause).
Early in 2023, when my friend Christine asked for my input for a study of Wilfrid University’s Lyle S. Hallman School of Social Work, I was quite excited! As an MSW student, Christine is working on a project to study the real life experiences of women in their menopause transition, in relation to themselves, others, cultural views, the medical world, etc. I was interviewed as one of the study participants. This initiative is a result of a research protocol which was dedicated to understanding the experience of women in menopause and was lead by Professor Lafreniere at the Lyle S. Hallman School of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University.
Many menopausal women are of the “sandwich generation”, caring for aging parents, and supporting teen kids living in the basement or moving onto campus. They have many balls to juggle, eg. difficult relationships, work stressors, family demands… Without mentioning the brain fog, insomnia, weight gain, hot flashes, anxiety, etc. that our medical system sometimes ignores or does not consider “real.”
So I started to reflect on my own menopausal years. During that time I went into a mode that I can sometimes resort to when confronted with a challenge: analyze, rationalize, and conceptualize, to avoid having feelings that are too intense, and make sure I remain “highly functional”.
In addition, when I was going through menopause, my husband passed away tragically. And I was not prepared… (as one may guess). So I had multiple reasons to experience distress, and feel lost in the complexities of life. I experienced loneliness even while I was surrounded by many nice people. I was not coping with time pressure from work anymore, and I experienced headaches from being sleep deprived. I was fortunate that I did not have night sweats. But juggling between a busy schedule, adding extra acupuncture sessions to help my patients after a leave of absence, volunteering with healthcare related boards, taking my Tai-Chi class, remotely organizing family projects, completing my usual admin tasks plus those following my spouse’s death, house chores… Well… I was a mess and not coping!
I simplified my schedule, had to cut down my work hours, gave up contributing to a number of projects, and tried to go back to relaxation practices I knew.
What saved me was the support of dear friends locally, and my family remotely. Every letter, invitation for a breakfast or dinner, or sign of affection was like a buoy that I was grabbing onto, to avoid drowning.
The other thing that saved me is my Tai-Chi and QiGong practice, and this is what I would like to share with you.