Finding my feet in my 50's
what brought me to menopause coaching.
I have had many different jobs, eighteen and counting. Everything from working at a riding stables, pub, care worker at elderly peoples homes, department store, 80’s fashion boutique, indie record store, book store, childrens nursery, painting furniture, early morning carer for young adults with learning difficulties, child minding, dog sitting, paint effects studio assistant, decorator. I studied holistic massage, then reflexology. And when my daughter started school I started to treat women from home as a bodyworker, added lots of other body work certifications, a diploma in nutritional therapy, then sank my teeth into the Burrell education 3rd age women, menopause coaching certification- and voila. Here I am.
Where it started
My interest in health from a root cause perspective, started pretty young. Maybe as growing up was drenched in blame, shame and responsibility for ones actions? So if you got ill there was a lot of wondering why, and what one may have done or not done to cause it. I do not perpetuate the blame and shame, but I do hold onto what keeps us well- ie prioritising sleep, nutrition, movement, and our thoughts..
I was fascinated by nutrition as a teenager, clearly remember being told I was boring by my Dad, for whittering on about the marvels of vitamin C. Some interesting scientific work was taking place in the 80’s. But I wasn’t exactly encouraged to show an interest…Getting taken out of school mid A levels to another county and a job that I didn’t really want will do that!
Hormones
I always knew when my period was due, not from any grasp of the calendar, but by my mood.. long before we talked about this stuff, It was undeniable to me. Back in the day there was no media discussion, research or information and conversation was often shut down, with other women denying any mood changes, or other PMT symptoms as ‘in your head’ (ironic!) it was pretty obvious that they experienced it too- I could tell- but the shame was enough to silence all but the most open minded.
Dabbling in extra hormones didn’t go well.. Having been ‘put on’ the pill by the doctor in my early twenties, I put on a couple of dress sizes, lost my libido, anxiety levels went through the roof, acne, misery actually.. and so began the start of an interest in female hormones.
Caffeine
I left (actually I was chucked out of) home just as I turned 18- my 20’s were spent seeking joy.. and not in any healthy ways. Always paying my way, so work was just a means to an end, ie rent. I was not happy. At one point I was working with a lovely girl, who struck me as so enviably chilled, I wanted in. She didn’t drink caffeine. In retrospect I had lived with bad anxiety all my life, I just thought it was me, my fault. But I felt so much calmer when I stopped the diet coke, coffee and tea. I was one step closer to my calling!
Sugar
Then a few years down the line, another friend with boundless energy inspired me, and I found out that I had Candida, I was so under-par because my gut health was awful from years of self soothing with booze and sugar. It was time to get serious, and giving up sugar was incredible. I had energy again!
Life Long Learning
Studying massage and reflexology, whilst working in my own decorating business gave me a deep understanding of anatomy and physiology, and the oxytocin from kind touch, suited my brain, knocking that persistent anxiety. It was the obvious job to do once my daughter started school. Working from home, hearing other women’s storys. I also marvelled in the bodies innate wish to be well, and function as it should. Movement is crucial, as is alignment. So I studied a short course in biomechanics so that I could advise clients on how to fix themselves.
As time went on I began to notice my periods changing and other signs of perimenopause. And as CPD (continual professional development) is expected, when you belong to a governing body -ie: the federation of holistic therapists- I jumped at the chance to do a diploma in nutritional therapy, and then the 3rd age women’s menopause coaching certification.
When Covid hit us all, I was home schooling, and couldn’t realistically, safely, (or legally with my insurance), work from home. I lost most of my clients. But I also took a course in life coaching and set up my wellness coaching side of my business, serving men and women with nutritional and lifestyle advice.
Recent life
When me and my daughter lost our home, due to my landlord selling up. We eventually found a tiny house (still for a lot more money)and I lost the 2nd room which had housed my massage couch, so it was time to focus on the coaching side, and I niched into Menopause Coaching. Now I help women through the menopause transition, to feel calmer, more in control, happier, more energetic, healthier, and to move into the next years of life as strong vibrant women. I love it!
What next?
As a recently diagnosed ADHD’er, I am fascinated in how our hormones affect our brains and how past trauma, neurodiversity, our childhoods, our attachment styles, are all linked with hormone sensitivities. So I will be studying! I’ve always been a feminist. Of course I have. And I want a better world for women, so that will play a part. And as this is now my way of supporting us all, I need to make the corporate as well as the 1-1 coaching sides of my business work.
I’d love to talk to you, are you in the menopause transition and bamboozled by all the information out there, but you want to take control of your hormones, health and feel great? Book in for a free call. ( If you can’t find a time to suit you just DM me and we can sort something out) I have three different packages to suit everyone. From the 90 min Deep Dive to six months of coaching. All 1-1 with me.