My own journey has taken about eleven years. In 1992, my left ovary and fallopian tube were removed, making me perimenopausal at the age of 36. Eight years later, my body manifested uterine fibroids and the requisite enlarged uterus. I knew something was up when I could no long suck-in my bulging stomach to fit into my favorite jeans. I soon abandoned the effort to fit into jeans and took to wearing blousy tops and loose-fitting pants or dresses.

Throughout my transition, I often battled for control of something that was simply a natural process. I’d sometimes forget or just plain ignore the fact that my body was perimenopausal. Reading books, changing my diet, trying yam cream, checking in with ob-gyns’ (both medical and naturopathic), and receiving therapeutic massage and energy work were wonderful sources of information and release, but I needed to do major inner work, something both emotionally and spiritually based. Striving for balance and a sustained awareness of my transition, I called upon eighteen years of Vipassana meditation, movement, and journal writing.

Working from my passion, I designed Menopause Sanctuary, a class where women explore movement, meditation, and journal writing on their journey through perimenopause and menopause. All three activities have wonderful qualities of play and exploration that are inspirational and transformative.

Remember when you used to skip, twirl, do somersaults or turn-up the volume on a favorite song and dance? When was the last time you moved your body to your own rhythm? Moving your body—when done with awareness—can put you back in touch with sensations and thoughts that increase your trust in the natural rhythm of perimenopause and menopause. Yoga, Tai Chi, and Continuum Movement are examples of how the mind-body connection supports well-being. Certain dance forms (such as belly dance, modern and African dance) can also support women as they seek positive self-imagery. In Menopause Sanctuary, women are encouraged to move to their “own beat” in addition to trying structured forms of movement from invited instructors.

Through meditation, we become clearer about our needs for balancing the body, mind, and spirit. Applying basic meditation techniques (paying attention to the inhale/exhale of breath and thoughts as they occur in the present movement) is a profound way of discovering how we resist change, especially those changes in our body!

In the workshop mentioned earlier, I asked the woman who had a strong desire to be alone to explore using visualization to create her own sanctuary, a place of comfort and beauty she could go to in her meditations before bedtime. With practice, she could retreat to her sanctuary whenever and wherever she felt the need.

Journal writing is another way to increase awareness. Through writing, you can journal your progression. My suggestion to the woman in menopause who grieved the loss of her period was to journal her thoughts and create some ritual ceremonies - one for the loss, one to welcome the transition.

Last year, during a day of unusually heavy bleeding, I wrote in my journal: “I’m 46 going on crazy. My body has deserted me just when I need it the most. What is up with this?” I then remembered a book I had that contained yoga exercises to reduce heavy flows. I found it, blew the dust off the cover and commenced the exercise. It worked!

Earlier this year, after doing a loving-kindness meditation that involved looking in the mirror, I wrote, “This is me, in all my glory. This is me, in all my perfection. Any imperfections I might have are only the world’s perfect illusions.”

Women are not powerless during the two to 13 years it may take to transition to menopause. Women who have artificial menopause from surgical removal or illness that disrupt the reproductive tract or related hormones are not powerless. From the day we are born, our bodies gift us with amazing bio-chemical and hormonal transformations. Perimenopause and menopause represent phenomenal life phases that are just as powerful as when we began our pubescent journey.