How yoga reduces menopause symptoms and improves sleep ...

It?s been 20 years since I enrolled in my first yoga class. I was running a center for reproduction and women?s health and was looking for a means of reducing my stress. I enrolled with a yogini named? Hari Khar Khalsa and took classes from her over a period of time. One day I approached her to see if she would have interest in helping some of my patients lower their stress. We began a series of yoga classes with the first hour consisting of us sitting on the floor on mats and discussion a health topic. I called them Mat Chats. The second hour was devoted to yoga with a focus on the medical topic we had just covered.

Over time, I not only received the benefit of lowering my own stress level through yoga, but also the benefit of her friendship and ultimately collaboration on A Woman?s Book of Yoga, a book that combines Eastern and Western medicine to help women at different stages of their lives. Since that book came out, I?ve suggested yoga to many of my patients. One group that I found it to be particularly useful for is women in and around menopause. It seemed to help them deal with their symptoms. Because many women either can?t or won?t take hormone therapy, finding an effective alternative is really important.

I was delighted to discover that the February 2012 issue of the journal Menopause?chronicles research that finally proves yoga reduces menopause symptoms, hot flashes and improves sleep.? This is the first study to do so. The article studied women between the ages of 50 and 65 with no yoga experience and who were not taking hormones or antidepressants. The study lasted 4 months and included two one-hour yoga sessions per week, which combined stretching exercises and breathing techniques. Compared to a group of women who only did stretching, the yoga group improved their sleep and their mental health, and also their menopausal symptoms.? The researchers believe this is because yoga increases levels of the brain hormone ?-aminobutyric acid, which calms the brain. Yoga also seems to increase levels of the sleep inducing hormone melatonin.

Another benefit of yoga is that it amplifies the parasympathetic tone in the body, which aids relaxation and reduces the sympathetic tone ? the so-called fight or flight hormones. This may be an important part of why sleep patterns improve and hot flashes are reduced. Most women observe that when they are stressed, their hot flashes increase.

As more and more women question whether or not to take Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), alternative approaches to alleviate symptoms of menopause and improve sleep can be immensely beneficial. But for anyone looking to eliminate insomnia, improve mental health, and alleviate symptoms yoga is a great thing. Simply grab your mat, find a class with a good instructor, practice several times per week, and sleep tight. Namaste.

Dr. Seibel is offering a?FREE EBook on HRT?or?FREE Sleep Diary?for Intent readers.?

Machelle (Mache) Seibel, MD, a pioneer in many areas of women?s health and a member of the Harvard Medical School faculty for 19 years, treats women in and around menopause who have gynecologic disorders interfering with mental health and/or sexual function and creates award-winning educational content for women. She is??also noted for working with companies and organizations to help them reach, teach and motivate their audience to stay well with award-winning health educational content through his ground-breaking interactive product, HealthRock?.?Visit her website.

?photo?credit:?Helga Weber

About Mache Seibel

Mache Seibel, physician, speaker, author and consultant is one of America's most innovative health educators. He combines easy to understand health information with entertainment to help America stay well. Seibel's websites, www.DoctorSeibel.com and www.HealthRock.com include videos, eBooks, music, podcasts and more to help women and their families stay well. Dr. Seibel spent 19 years at Harvard Medical School and is currently a professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Repeatedly voted by his peers into Best Doctors in America, he has authored over 200 articles and 14 books, most recently Save Your Life: What To Do In A Medical Emergency co-authored with Shelly Glazier and Eat to Defeat Menopause, co-authored with Karen Giblin. Contact: mache@DoctorSeibel.com 617.916.1880 233 Needham Street, Ste 300, Newton, MA 02464

Source: http://intentblog.com/how-yoga-reduces-menopause-symptoms-and-improves-sleep/

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