Let me set the scene: It’s 6:30am, the alarm goes off, and I no longer bounce out of bed. I seem to roll enthusiastically, but slowly. There’s a symphony of clicks from my hips and shoulders, and I swear my spine takes at least 15 minutes to fully join me in the vertical world.
Welcome to life in your mid-40s.
Don’t get me wrong—I’m grateful for this body. It’s been through a lot: illness, injury, rebuilding, recovery, and now… peri menopause, the ultimate plot twist. But can we just take a moment to say: WHAT is happening?!
The Mornings Are Getting Crunchier
Once upon a time, I could wake up and head straight into a gym session or yoga flow without thinking twice. Now? I need a warm-up to get out of bed. I do a little “pre-stretch” stretch before I even hit the mat. There’s a new level of negotiation with my joints every single morning.
And let’s talk about the gym. Once I’m there, I’m fine(ish). But the post-gym hobble is real. There’s no longer a magical recovery fairy that sprinkles fairy dust on sore muscles overnight. Nope, I spend the next three days negotiating with my body how we are going to get through general day to day activities.
Menopause Has Entered the Chat
Hot flushes? Check. Brain fog? You bet. Random emotional waves that bring you to literally crying over spilt milk? I’m there! But the biggest shift has been in energy levels. The motivation to train hard just isn’t always there. And that’s okay.
What I’ve come to realise (after trying to fight it) is that this season of life calls for kindness, not just grit. It’s not about pushing harder—it’s about tuning in. And for me, that means two non-negotiables:
1. Stretching After EVERY Workout
Even if it’s just 10 minutes, I make time. I treat it like a ritual. My body quite literally thanks me for it. It’s not just about preventing injury anymore—it’s about keeping mobility, reducing that post-leg-day limp, and giving my muscles a chance to recover with a bit of dignity.
2. Yoga is My Reset Button
Yoga has become less about “the workout” and more about “the undoing.” The unwinding. The quiet space where I check in with my body, breathe, and stop trying to be the 30-year-old version of me. It’s the thing that grounds me when my hormones are on a rollercoaster and my knees think I’m 80.
Some days it’s gentle stretching, some days it’s stronger flow—but every time, it’s a gift to my nervous system and my mindset.
Ageing Doesn’t Mean Stopping—It Means Adapting
Turning 50 is no longer a distant milestone. It’s the next big marker—and honestly? I’m not scared of it. I just want to arrive there mobile, grounded, and still laughing at the chaos of it all.
So, to anyone else waking up stiff, wondering if it's normal to make sound effects when you bend down—yes, it is. You're not broken. You're evolving. And you’re absolutely not alone.
Let’s stretch. Let’s breathe. Let’s keep moving—not because we “should” but because it feels good, because it helps, and because this phase of life deserves all the support we can give it.
And if all else fails, lie on your yoga mat under some red light therapy and pretend you're recharging like a phone. (Because honestly, that’s what you’re doing.)
Want to come stretch, laugh, and recharge with me? I offer 1:1 sessions, red light therapy, and group classes where you can move, groan, and glow in good company.
Let’s embrace the midlife magic—creaks and all.