Perimenopause, finding my footing, and the power of community
Perimenopause has a remarkable way of reminding me that just when I think I have found my footing, the ground can shift beneath me again. This past month, that shift has been anything but subtle.
After recently changing my hormone regimen, the balance I had worked so hard to establish seemed to unravel. The night sweats returned, the brain fog settled in, and the itchy ears (OH MY GOODNESS, the itchy ears!) became a daily reminder of just how unpredictable this stage of life can be. But the physical symptoms, as frustrating as they can be, have never been the hardest part for me. It is the emotional whirlwind that seems to arrive without warning and can leave me feeling completely unlike myself.
This past month, anxiety and depression took me to some incredibly difficult places. My thoughts became heavier and darker than I was comfortable with, at times concerning both me and my partner. It was unsettling to feel so disconnected from the grounded, confident woman I know myself to be.
Before anyone begins to worry, I want to reassure you that I am doing much better. I recognized when things were becoming too much, reached out for support, and made my well-being a priority. I am finding my footing again, feeling lighter, and reconnecting with myself. I share this experience not because I need sympathy, but because I believe there is tremendous value in speaking honestly about women's health, particularly the experiences we are so often encouraged to minimize or quietly endure.
After all, how can I encourage women to listen to their bodies, advocate for their health, and find their voices if I am unwilling to speak openly about my own experience?
Living the Work I Share
If there is one thing I can confidently claim expertise in, it is being a woman living inside my own body. Despite my years in nursing, my education in Ayurveda, and my experience teaching yoga, none of those qualifications makes me immune to the challenges of perimenopause. I do this work because I relate deeply to women navigating midlife while working, tending to families, maintaining relationships, and managing households, all while trying to keep their emotions contained and their rage from becoming fully lit.
I know that experience because I am living it too.
I turn toward many of the same practices I share with others, not because they magically resolve everything, but because they help me reconnect with myself. In fact, I am writing this shortly after stepping out of my Swedana box, a traditional Ayurvedic steam treatment. While I have never particularly enjoyed intense heat, keeping my head outside the box allows me to experience the warmth without feeling overwhelmed. For me, it offers a sense of release, an opportunity to sweat, soften, and let some of the emotional heaviness settle.
It is one of many tools I appreciate, although I also recognize that not every practice works for every woman, myself included. And that understanding has become an important part of how I approach Awaken the Wise Woman.
Learning Alongside One Another
Although I created Awaken the Wise Woman to connect Ayurveda, the chakra system, and women's hormonal health, I am not standing outside the circle with all the answers. I am moving through the same self study, questions, and practices alongside the ten other women participating.
What continues to resonate with me is how interconnected our bodies are. Perimenopause is not simply about estrogen and progesterone. Cortisol, insulin, thyroid hormones, dopamine, metabolism, sleep, and our nervous systems all influence how we experience midlife. Understanding these connections has helped me recognize that finding balance is not about achieving some permanent state of harmony, but learning to respond to our bodies as they change.
More than anything, I hope the women participating develop the confidence to recognize those changes and advocate for what they need. To ask questions, seek support, and understand that just because something is common does not mean it should be dismissed.
My own experience this past month has reinforced that message. Even with my professional background and the tools available to me, I needed help. And recognizing that need was an important part of finding my way forward.
The Power of Coming Together
That shared experience of learning, questioning, and supporting one another is exactly what I look forward to expanding when Awaken the Wise Woman comes to Nosara, Costa Rica, July 17–24, 2027.
My hope is to create a space where women can step away from the demands of everyday life and immerse themselves in yoga, Ayurveda, herbal wisdom, and education exploring the connections between our seven chakras and the endocrine system. But beyond the learning, I envision a week of genuine connection, where we can laugh, cry, ask uncomfortable questions, release some rage, and openly discuss the experiences women have historically been expected to navigate quietly.
What I particularly love about this retreat is that it brings together women at different stages of life. You do not need to have participated in the current Awaken the Wise Woman series to attend, and all women ages 17 and older are welcome.
There is something beautiful about the possibility of mothers and daughters sharing this experience, of younger women developing a deeper understanding of their bodies before the transitions of midlife, and of postmenopausal women continuing to explore their hormonal, metabolic, and emotional well-being. We each bring our own experiences and wisdom, and there is so much we can learn from one another.
Ultimately, this retreat is about more than understanding our bodies. It is about creating community, strengthening our voices, and recognizing the power that comes from women supporting women.
For those who feel drawn to this experience, I would love to share this week with you. More information about the retreat, accommodations, and payment options can be found at
We Deserve More Than “That's Just How It Is”
For generations, women have been encouraged to accept pain, exhaustion, emotional changes, and feeling unlike ourselves as simply part of being a woman. But experiencing something commonly does not mean we should accept it without question, nor should we have to fight to have our concerns taken seriously.
We deserve to understand our bodies, participate confidently in decisions about our health, and have our experiences respected. Knowledge gives us choices, advocacy gives us a voice, and community gives us the strength to use both.
If this past month has taught me anything, it is that empowerment does not mean having everything figured out. It means recognizing what we need and giving ourselves permission to pursue it. I am finding my footing again, and I am incredibly grateful for the women in my life who continue to remind me of the power of connection, honesty, and showing up for one another.
We deserve more than simply getting through the stages of womanhood. We deserve to understand them, embrace our voices, and shape our experiences on our own terms.
And I am right here, doing that work alongside you.
