If the physiological changes of menopause aren’t enough, there is also a significant spiritual shift. Many women recognize this subtle spiritual shift as a desire for more meaning in their life. But this desire for deeper meaning  is often wrapped in a cloud of uncertainty. Confusion arises around one’s path in life. It is not uncommon for a menopausal woman to quit her corporate job to pursue a new career that fulfills her inner desires, despite the lower paycheck. Other women quit their jobs altogether and then dive head first into a solely spiritual life.

Where am I going with this “Change”?

Not knowing what the future holds and what this spiritual shift is about can be scary to say the least. If I were to travel to a foreign country and I knew nothing about it – I didn’t know the climate, the customs, the people, or the dress code – I’d be scared. This is how many women feel during the spiritual shift at menopause.

Learn the Vedic View of Life

In the Vedas there is a concept of the four stages of life. Understanding these four stages, as they are taught in the Vedas, greatly helped me to understand my purpose in life. Understanding the four stages of life helped me to know what I can expect from each phase, and what’s up ahead.

Education is power. When we have a sense of what’s up ahead, when we know what is likely to happen, we are much more prepared and aware. When become our future self, we have a better sense of what is actually happening when it does happen. We are more easily able to clearly identify what we are feeling; what a relief.

The Four Stages of Life

The first stage of life runs from age 0-25. It’s called Brahamcharya or bachelor/student. The focus in this stage is all about Dharma, or purpose, and about understanding yourself. It is about learning from teachers, figuring out the basics of life and who we are as an incarnate soul

The second stage of life runs from age 25-50. It is called Grhasta or householder. The focus in this stage is Artha which means stuff or security. It is all about accumulating things and creating financial security. We marry, we may have children, we build a house, accumulate wealth, contribute to our communities. This is an important phase as it lays the physical foundation for later stages in life. This second stage is also the busiest as, besides working on Artha, we also refine our dharma and at the same time want to have fun in life. ‘How to fit it all in’ is a central question in this phase.

It’s all About YOU

The third phase of life runs from age 50-75, and coincides with menopause.  It is called Vanaprashta or forest dweller. The focus in this stage is Kama which means pleasure and desire. I was rather pleasantly surprised when I learned about what happens in this stage. Think of it, around your end 40s early 50s, the focus shifts to You, with a capital Y. Yes, that’s YOU! Done are the days of only taking care of your husband and children, cooking for the family, doing the housework, serving others or simply being wrapped up in the business of work. It is time to tap into your deep inner desire as a woman and do what is meaningful to you as a person.

The fourth stage of life is from 75-100 and it is called Moksha. The focus of this final stage is liberation and enlightenment.

Let the Old Identity Go

The second stage is all about heavy grunt work. In phase three we ease up, we are moving into the wise women years. It is time to take the seat as an advisor and supporter. This is a key realization and one where I see many women struggling. We are so used to giving and nurturing, for many of us it is hard to let that identity go. Who else is going to do the housework, if I don’t? Who else is going to feed the family if i don’t? Who else is going to hold the family together, if I am not? Well ladies, it’s time to organize your family and life differently and make chores a team effort so you are free to take care of you. If you live alone, the question may center around ‘how can I make your life more easeful and simple”.

Feed Your Spirit

During the Vanaprashta phase, the veil between you and spirit becomes thinner and thinner. You might notice a deeper sense of intuition arising, naturally. If you focus on it, it will deepen over the years manifold. Spirit wants to be heard, spirit wants to be fed. And if you don’t slow down, your might be missing an important message from spirit. And if you miss it, your soul will not be happy. And an unhappy soul has all kinds of unpleasant implications on your mind, emotions and physiology.

Time and time again I witness how women who struggle with letting go of their old identity from phase two, are also struggling physically. Yet those that are willing to detox outdated belief systems and Brules (bullshit rules) are find more ease in menopause.

You see, the 3rd phase of life is exciting. You get to explore yourself, fill your own cup first before feeding others. With all the hormonal changes going on, you naturally have less physical resistance and ability to uphold the intensity of the 2nd phase of life. Many women rely on high levels of estrogen to run a high intensity life in earlier parts of life. That good gig is going away as soon as you hit perimenopause. It is time for deep self care. As Yoga Health Coaches we can help you with that.

Prepare for the Third Phase of Life

Lots of exciting changes can happen in the third phase of life. My advice is to take a breath and take it in. If you are young, you can let go of the fear of aging. If you are in third phase, get ready for a fun introspective exercise. Well actually this would be a great exercise at any stage of life! Preparing for the future is always a valuable undertaking.

It’s time for a journaling exercise. It is never too late or too early to prepare for the next stage in life. Grab a pen and paper or journal. Set a timer for Four minutes and answer the following questions. Work quickly and don’t put your pen or pencil down.

What is it that you want to do with your one wild and precious life?

Who is the next you that you want to create?

Want to know how to transition through menopause with more ease? Download the 4 part video series on the 5 Secrets to a Better Menopause.

The Marie Kondo method of tidying is becoming quite the household name, it seems. But in case you missed the scoop, let me explain.The magic of tidying is all about an effective method to get your physical space in order and tidy for the long haul. Marie suggests that you only keep what sparks joy and discard everything else.

I found the results of following her method nothing less than magical. There is so much ease, clarity, and freedom in my living space now which allows me to deeply relax after a long day of work. There is also, literally, less stuff in the way for my creative process to unfold which is a  key as a wellpreneur. Because I now only have things left in my space that bring me joy, I am now able to focus on the things I really want to focus on and create the things I really want next in my life.

At this point you might ask yourself, what does all that have to do with menopause. Well, TONS. You see, menopause is a time of transformation. A move into wise womanhood. It is a call to clear out the old self so that your new self can emerge.  Do you feel it? Menopause is a calling to listen to yourself,  your deepest inner desires, your wants, your needs.

“What is it, that you want to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver

Detoxing is an integral part to transition through menopause with ease. Over the years talking to women in their 50s and 60s I have observed that those who were willing to let go of baggage – physical baggage in terms of stuff, or mental and emotional baggage – have a much easier time transitioning into wise womanhood. They have fewer physical symptoms and less emotional turmoil. Letting go and detoxing is also the first step to redefine yourself in creating what you want next in life.

3 Methods To Detox and Let Go

Method 1: Clear your space

The best way I know how to do that is to use the KonMari method. Clearing your physical space brings clarity as to what sparks joy in your life and what is meaningful to you. Decluttering stuff that was tied to your old self releases old patterns and belief systems, clears the emotional body and with it releases memory from physical tissue. An all around win to ensure an easeful transition through menopause.

Method 2: Detox your body with the “hammer method”

This is a very common practice, historically speaking. All major religions emphasize fasting, or detoxing, during certain periods. Think Ramadan in Islam, Lent in Christianity or Yom Kippur in Judaism. Pretty much every major religion has fasting periods.  For a period of 1, 5, 10, 15 days, or however long you choose, you don’t eat anything or only foods that are cleansing. This, combined with tons of self care and spiritual practices has a profound effect in detoxing body, mind and spirit.

Over the years, I have undertaken various cleanses and detoxes and every time I go for it my body runs better, my mind gets clearer and my soul gets more aligned to consciousness. During detoxes physical, emotional and mental Ama (toxins) are being released. The point: get rid of heavy baggage in the form of undigested emotions, old belief systems that no longer serve and physical toxins that may otherwise make you sick. Releasing heavy baggage is a major benefit on a transitional journey like menopause. If you have ever traveled by plane you know how easeful it is to travel light. It is no different on the menopausal journey.

Method 3: Detox your body with a “kaizen approach”

If the hammer method doesn’t much appeal to you, although I highly recommend it twice a year, you could get started with a Kaizen approach. Any of us Yoga Health Coaches can help you do that. Kaizen refers to incremental change over time. In terms of detoxing your body that means you start incorporating foods and beverages into your diet that assist your liver in clearing out toxins. The liver is responsible for filtering out excess hormones. If you are concerned about hormone imbalance during menopause, assisting the liver should be high, and I say very high, on your priority list.

Here are three simple ways you can get started:

1. Green smoothies for breakfast to greet your day right
2. Fresh, green juices. My favorite is Green Lemonade. You could  make that a breakfast alternative all by itself or have it as a side for lunch or dinner.
3. Herbal teas like nettles, dandelion root and rose petals. Drink those throughout the day.

All these foods support the body to release the heavy baggage you definitely don’t want to keep carrying. Or, as Marie Kondo would put it, they support you in only keeping the things in your body that spark joy. And if you are anything like me, you will want to increase the joy in your body manifold.

So get to it. Detox, let go, tidy up. Start small if you need to, go all out if you can. Marie Kondo your body, space and consciousness and menopause will turn into a breeze.