The estrobolome is the community of gut bacteria involved in how oestrogen is processed and recirculated. It runs both ways — your hormones shape your gut, and your gut helps shape your hormones. Here's what that means in perimenopause and menopause.

WHAT THE COURSE OFFERS: The point is that somewhere inside the program, most women find something they weren't expecting. Not an answer. Not a cure. But a reason. Their own reason to understand. Their own reason to try. Their own direction to move in.

When a woman finds her WHY — she finds the door. And when she finds the door, she finds her own way through it.

You are welcome here

When a woman finds her WHY — she finds the door. And when she finds the door, she finds her own way through it.

What if the woman you were before wasn't the final version of you?

What if this disorientation — as uncomfortable and frightening as it is — is not you losing yourself, but your biology asking you to find a version of yourself you haven't met yet?

That's not a wellness slogan. It's where the science points.

The self you are grieving is real. But she was never static. She was always evolving — quietly, gradually, in ways you barely noticed. Perimenopause makes that evolution visible. Undeniable. Sometimes frightening.

Evolution does not go backwards. The question is not how to return to who you were. The question is whether you are willing to meet who you are becoming — and to a degree, shape that new version that you want to shape — with knowledge, curiosity, and the same attention you have spent a lifetime giving to everyone else.

Discover why perimenopause symptoms aren’t a sign your body is failing-they are a sign of allostatic recalibration. Learn what allostatic load means for your health.

For many women, perimenopause doesn't arrive in a calm, stable life. It arrives alongside demanding careers, ageing parents, growing or leaving children, relationship changes, and a world that keeps accelerating. It is impossible — and unnecessary — to untangle which symptoms come from hormones and which come from life. They weave together.

What matters is understanding the internal part — your physiology, your psychology, how your brain and body are changing — because that is the part where knowledge actually gives you some background.

Ready to take the next step? Here's how.

By the end of the six sessions, most participants feel they have a genuinely different relationship with their symptoms. Not because the symptoms have necessarily disappeared, but because they understand them — in both their body and their psychology — they have tools for them, and they no longer feel alone with them. That shift — from overwhelmed to informed and equipped — is what the course is built around.

I want to say this clearly: what you're experiencing is real, it makes complete physiological sense, and there is a great deal you can do about it. That's exactly why I created the Mastering Menopause course — and why I'm writing this three-part blog series to share what it's all about.

Many women notice changes in their sexual desire during perimenopause — and while it’s often seen as a secondary concern, it can be a powerful doorway to more profound healing. This article explores why libido changes, what helps, and how reconnecting with desire can support emotional, hormonal, and physical balance in midlife.

Learning to Channel Emotions

Rather than repressing or inappropriately expressing emotions, McLaren advocates for channelling emotions. Channelling emotions involves:

Recognising and naming your emotions.

Regulating emotions by simultaneously considering both your needs and those of others.

Engaging with empathy means understanding your emotions as well as the emotions of those around you and responding from an emotional intelligence perspective.

These skills are crucial during perimenopause and can be developed with practice, providing a pathway to greater emotional resilience.

From my personal and professional experience, the "cracking the code" moment starts by addressing our stress management strategies, reviewing and possibly adjusting our communication style toward ourselves and others, and developing better and deeper emotional awareness and literacy.

Perimenopause reminds us that slowing down, reflecting, and realigning our habits can be our most powerful actions in a world that constantly pushes us to keep rushing and comparing. By embracing this intentional approach, women can navigate this transition authentically and resiliently, making thoughtful choices that nurture their bodies, minds, and overall well-being.

By incorporating Restorative Yoga into your routine, you can experience reduced stress, improved sleep, hormonal balance, pain relief, enhanced emotional well-being, increased energy, and the support of a like-minded community. What looks simple is not always insignificant.

Whether or not you choose hormone replacement therapy (HRT), it's essential to review your resting habits as you navigate this physiological crossroad of your life. What do you know about rest? Do you know that sleep is just one of the many ways we can rest? How do you rest? Do you feel guilty if the rest crosses your mind? When was the last time you felt well-rested and able to deal with life challenges confidently and steadily? Do you know that as we transition through perimenopause, some of us are experiencing the loss of the protective role of estrogen in all cells of our body? Therefore, our nervous system is more vulnerable and requires different prioritisation regarding rest. Our need for rest is changing accordingly, but it is very individually different for each woman. When was the last time you allowed yourself to think about your need for rest, not to mention to accommodate it in your daily life? What does the rest look like to you? A good night's sleep and a once-a-year lovely holiday are often not sufficient to fulfil our needs as we navigate the perimenopausal transition. Let’s pause and talk about rest!

Stress is ubiquitous in modern life, but its impact can be magnified during perimenopause. The hormonal fluctuations of this stage can heighten our stress response, making us more susceptible to its detrimental effects. Chronically elevated stress levels can exacerbate various perimenopausal symptoms.

Menopause transcends mere biological milestones; it embodies a profound journey of personal growth and cultural enrichment. This transition encompasses psychological, biological, and cultural dimensions. By embracing the wisdom, resilience, and cultural significance inherent in this process—despite its occasional elusiveness—women emerge as empowered individuals, poised to embrace the subsequent chapter of their lives with grace and dignity.

Reviewing our lifestyle habits as we transition into menopause is necessary regardless of our decision to take or not to take HRT.