How is my hot yoga going, you ask? Good question. It’s still hot (The room is 105 degrees with a humidifier going.) and filled with scantily clad people of all ages sweating and stretching.
I am the woman at the front of the room in a black yoga outfit that could serve as a mix-and-match for a nun’s habit. My blondish gray hair is pulled back in a harsh ponytail. My face is radish-colored, and I’m breathing so hard I look like Secretariat after the Derby.
But here is the good news: As I was leaving class the other night, the instructor asked for my name. That’s not the good news, because I’ve been going there for more than two months and she still doesn’t know me.
However, she wanted my name so she could tell me that she was really impressed with my yoga poses. I looked around to make sure the bikini-clad college student behind me heard her. I worked up an exhausted smile along with a wheeze that sounded like “Thank you.”
I felt strong. I was woman. I was invincible.
Exercise Benefits I’ve Worked Hard to Disprove
I’ve spent the last three years lamenting the stomach menopause brought to me as an unwelcome gift. Seriously. I woke up one morning and my stomach, like the Grinch’s heart, had grown five times its normal size.
I was sure it was an inevitable part of the menopausal experience, so I conceded and developed a love affair with elastic waistbands.
Then I started yoga, and low and behold that stomach began to flatten out. My waist started peeking out saying, “Is it okay to return?” My legs are firming up and are yearning to move more often. My swinging upper arms are swinging less and taking themselves a little more seriously.
If You Don’t Want to Exercise, Don’t!
I’m not here to lecture anybody on why they should exercise. If you had done that to me a year ago, I would have hunted you down, and there would have been no good will involved in that hunting. Do what you need to do.
For a while, I found my couch an incredible comfort as I relentlessly watched HGTV. I improved my conversational skills with phrases like, “Wow, this room has lots of natural lighting” and “This deck is great for entertaining.” I also learned the skill of eliminating a spouse on Snapped, and why I should avoid antiques on Haunted Collector. That was valuable stuff.
But for now, hot yoga is making me feel competitive again. I’m getting better at something, and my body is acknowledging the effort. Who knew?
If I stop doing this in a month, I don’t want any lectures. Our lives are our choice, and we don’t have to apologize for them.
By the way, I’m still watching HGTV. That’s why I want control of all future options — I love an open floor plan.
What fitness program has helped you tone your post-menopause problem areas?
To all those Vibrant Women who have, like me, left abusive relationships - whether verbal, emotional, psychological, spiritual, physical, financial, social...or all of the above! - I say congratulations to us!
When I read this post, I think to mys
HI, Annamarie,
Thanks for joining in. Whether co-renting or co-owning, getting a compatible mix of people, and ensuring financial and personal security, are certainly number one.
There are so many intentional community and shared housing models o
Without question, yoga contributed to a smooth post-menopause existence for me. I started the practice when I was 44; I’m 61 now. My waist has thickened slightly due to gravity, I guess, but I wear the same size clothing and no elastic waistbands. Other exercise: daily walks with my dog, hiking on weekends. A no-sugar, no flour diet helps, but yoga is what keeps me feeling fit and strong.
At one point I joined (or subsidized) a gym, and stopped going after three months. The physical benefits were not as helpful as yoga+housework+gardening, and there was all that loud music and TV to put up with. Driving across town to climb onto another machine and invite hearing loss was not for me.
I travel frequently and carry a spare yoga mat with me. I don’t consider yoga “exercise” or (God forbid) a “workout.” It is a practice that engages the whole person — including the waist.
My favorite way to exercise? ZUMBA!! I love it. If the music is loud and the lights are low and the instructor just lets you go without over-instruction, I’ll figure it out. I am hooked.
To round out this fun aerobic exercise, I was thinking of getting back into yoga for strength and flexibility. Hot yoga? Maybe! Are you sure you don’t feel like passing out?
Beth: I have to admit that a couple of times I got a little light headed, but you just stop and sit until you feel better. That only happened once for me, and it was when I did it on a Saturday at noon without eating anything first. Give it a try!
Annmmc: SO true – yoga really is a lifestyle more than an event. I’m so glad to hear that you have stuck with it. And, maybe it shows my age, but the silence is such a big part of the benefit. 90 minutes of an instructor using the same language each week (with no music) creates a water-like rhythm that is soothing. Appreciate your thoughts!
I’ve enjoyed NIA, myself, which may be a cousin to ZUMBA. I don’t do hot yoga. I live in a hot climate already.
I’ve gone thru alot to comment on your post (new password). WHAT is
I have done Pilates for the past few years, but find the drive
NIA?
to….gas….traffic …..etc. has me bummed out. I know I NEED to exercise
but in a funk as to what to try. I do walk.
ANY HELP????
Hi Julie: Here is a link I found concerning NIA — have never tried it myself but it sounds interesting! Hope this helps and thanks for commenting!!
http://www.nianow.com/
donnah22, your writing skill is phenomenal, thank you! Inspirational, funny and very effective. I would not have appreciated full-out advice but you added just the right amount of sugar & humour to allow me to swallow some important medicine.
Suzydu: Thank you so much for your comment – you, absolutely, made my week
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I love to exercise. I do Zumba occasionally but am truly addicted to Jazzercise. Right now I’m suffering from a pulled tendon in my foot. I think I have a Yoga tape somewhere. I think it is time I tried it.
I applaud anyone who is working at staying healthy and fit, but it seems that so many people make it seem so involved and difficult! I am 57 years old and still have a flat stomach and my hourglass figure! I’ve walked and rode my bike all my life and I’ve always maintained a healthy diet. It’s really so simple to stay fit! I still get tons of compliments on my figure and I still wear a bikini! It’s so easy, just make eating right and some form of exercise part of your everyday life! The key for me keeping a flat stomach and trim waist is eating very low carb foods–it really works! Stay away from bread, cereal, rice cookies, crackers, ice cream, pizza—all the foods you know are not good for a girlish figure! Try eating salads with shrimp and chicken–baked chicken with spinach – fish with tomatoes and mushrooms —fruit for dessert and stay away from juice and soda!!!! This is something I’ve done for almost 30 years and it shows! It really is easy! You can walk a little in the morning and again in the evening if you feel like it! Dance around your house, chase your grandchildren around the yard, run with your dog! Good luck to all of you trying to get your waist back–it doesn’t have to be hard or expensive!!
I have gained about 15 pounds of lovely abdominal bulge, fat, menopaunch, whatever you’d like to call it. I went from being 128 lbs with a nice flat stomach to THIS! It happened in just over a year…I got cancer, (who knew you’d GAIN weight with cancer) AND I turned 50. After a year of treatment I finally have hair, and I am feeling a bit better EXCEPT!!!! I want my figure back! I try really hard by eating a very balanced diet, no sweets or diet pop. I exercise regularly (love to cycle and swim) but since I’m Canadian, well, weather has to permit, so I do aerobics and weight training. I joined a gym but find I get better results here in the basement. I just feel very defeated with my weight. I am on tamoxifin which I hear helps keep that lovely belly, but heavens..do I have to look pregnant??? My daughter is pregnant and I bet I could rival her LOL. Any suggestions would be helpful. I do know that I am not what I used to be pre-cancer, but I think I can get back to it eventually??? By the way, I really am a positive person, it’s just that this gets to me even more than being sick did if you can believe that!
Havemore, I am a cancer survivor also. I am taking Aromasin. The extra weight came after me too. It is your body reacting to having all the estrogen withdrawn. You can defeat it though. Smaller portions and more activity. You can do it, keep at it……
Havemore: I think you should celebrate your amazing strength in getting through the past year! I’m not an exercise expert, but, like you, I was doing all of the aerobic stuff and getting little to no results for my stomach. Yoga, 2-3x a week, has flattened it out for the first time in a long time. Weight from medicine can be difficult, but just keep moving forward and love yourself regardless of your weight gain. That body just fought a battle and won
. Congratulations, and if you get a chance try Yoga. I think it really focuses on the “core” of your body.
I too am a cancer survivor — make that chemo survivor. It is chemo at the source of changes. i also thought I would lose weight and said it out loud and the nurse quickly disabused me of that notion. no wonder, I recall looking at my watch and noting it was 10:30 a.m. and i “ONLY” had until 3:30 pm to feel better and pick my son from school. It took a toll. Mainly the strip of my body’s memory on how to counter arthritis is what I miss the most. Anyway time toils away and I have found water exercise to be the best. too inflexible for yoga, and too sore for bouncy sort of exercise. The water helps a lot and we are a group of regulars. No bikini for me. The water jogging does keep my legs moving and will strengthen the hip in prep for a second hip surgery. For me, it took two years to get my mind working again following chemo, and to date (18 years) I do not have my body “back”.
Hello all you lovely ladies- what is NIA?- Not Interested (At) All ?
I must commend Lady Hawk and Havemore on their resilience and strength- I lack the will to exercise as my back hurts so much every day and I dislike taking meds- Ive found a way to move more even though I do a little gardening every few days ( small back garden in a complex) and I talk to my plants and flowers to the extend that I threaten them if they dont grow nicely- like talking to your pets perhaps- Does it sound crazy? totally agree about the weather in Canada though we’ve had a lovely summer in BC so far.Anyway kudus to all you ladies and keep up the good work- I’ll be doing a week’s temporary work and will have a chance to “hula hoop” or skip rope during lunch hour- lots of fun- I’m 64 yrs young but need to lose that belly- Love you all- Seki Suleman
seki: I love the strength that comes through your words. We have a lot of people in the “hot yoga” that have back problems. In fact, one of the international master coaches had 5 vertebrae herniated in a car accident and refused back surgery. It took her a year, but she finally started feeling better through the hot yoga. Something about the heat and the movements. I’m not a fitness expert, and am not sure that regular Yoga would help (some have had back problems because of it), but the hot yoga was created for people who have had injuries. I had frozen shoulders and a bulging disc in my back, and both are 100% better.
Hi Ladies,
I am a Zumba instructor – teach 4 days a week. I just turned 59 and nobody believes it. Zumba is the most fun exercise you can have. It is dance therapy. Just move, enjoy the music, add your own style – you don’t have to be perfect. I also teach at the Senior Center and have 78 year old women dancing with me. It’s great for balance, learning new moves helps prevent Alzheimer’s and it’s social.
It doesn’t really matter what kind of exercise you do – just boost your metabolism and have fun.
Malia
Malia: That does it – I might have to add Zumba to my yoga repertoire. Yoga is awesome, but alternating quiet, meditative workouts with music and dance might be perfect. Thank you!