Menopause Wellness Retreats: Can They Help Me During the Transition?
Several studies have found that menopausal women often feel isolated in their struggles. They also report being unrepresented and dismissed by their physicians. To make things worse, they rarely talk openly about these difficulties with other female friends or even family members.
However, a new trend in the wellness industry may be just the right thing to help break the stigma around menopause and start filling in existing gaps. Explore what menopause retreats are, what services they offer, and see whether they can inspire you to take the first step towards feeling better.
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What Are Menopause Wellness Retreats
Menopause wellness retreats are programs that offer support to women going through the menopausal transition, from perimenopause through postmenopause.
Many programs are often a collaboration between various professionals, ranging from fitness trainers, meditation teachers, and herbalists to physicians, physical therapists, and nutritionists.
While the programs have their own focus and structure, they all aim to guide women through the hormonal changes occurring in their bodies and give them the tools to improve their quality of life.
What Services Are Offered During a Menopause Retreat
The selection of services a menopause retreat offers varies greatly.
Some programs put specific emphasis on exercise or nutrition, while others are more structured around stress-relieving and relaxation techniques. Some may resemble medical wellness retreats. However, many take on a more holistic approach, combining a variety of beneficial practices for the body and mind.
They may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Nutritional counseling, including healthy cooking classes
- Exercise trainings, like Pilates and yoga
- Herbal remedies, like aromatherapy
- Wholesome techniques, like meditation and breathwork
- Relaxing spa treatments, like lymphatic drainage
- Educational workshops
- Psychotherapy and counseling
- Medical assessments
Perhaps the most important benefit of menopause retreats is that they bring menopausal women together, giving them a chance to share their experiences, combat the loneliness, and inspire one another.
A Word of Caution
Without a doubt, menopause wellness retreats are a step towards addressing a long overdue problem of menopausal women not being well taken care of.
However, one should keep in mind that the services they offer or the knowledge they promote oftentimes are unregulated. As such, it’s a good idea to thoroughly research various programs to make sure that what they offer suits one’s personal or health needs.
One way to look at the initiatives like menopause wellness retreats is as an invitation for women to take action about their health. Get inspired, and look through the options you have to find one that speaks to you the most. When you’re at it, check out the benefits of Macafem, and let it accompany you on your midlife journey.
BMJ. (n.d.). Medicalising menopause may be unhelpful for some women. Retrieved September 7, 2023, from https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/medicalising-menopause-may-be-unhelpful-for-some-women/
Mayo Clinic Proceedings. (2018). Menopause Management Knowledge in Postgraduate Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Obstetrics and Gynecology Residents: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Retrieved September 7, 2023, from https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(18)30701-8/fulltext
Menopause. (2021). “It just makes me feel a little less alone”: a qualitative exploration of the podcast Menopause: Unmuted on women's perceptions of menopause. Retrieved September 7, 2023, from https://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/Fulltext/2021/12000/_It_just_makes_me_feel_a_little_less_alone___a.9.aspx
Menopause Foundation of Canada. (2022). The Silence and the Stigma: Menopause in Canada. Retrieved September 7 , 2023, from https://menopausefoundationcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/MFC-Report_The-Silence-and-the-Stigma_Menopause-in-Canada_October-2022.pdf