Yoga Alliance Professionals is supporting the launch of the UK’s first menopause yoga specialist teacher training course, in November 2019. The Menopause Yoga & Wellbeing© (MY) course will be taught intensively over three days and is a 40 hour module that includes 28 hours studio contact time, with additional online content and contact hours, and homework to be submitted within a month of course completion.
MY has been developed by Yoga Alliance Professionals Senior Yoga Teacher Petra Coveney as a result of her own experience of menopause. This led her to research and adapt yoga, breathing, meditation, qi gong breathwork and movement, as well as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy techniques that studies have shown to help women manage some of their menopause symptoms. She has been running menopause workshops, retreats and one-to-one private sessions since 2017.
Petra was the first yoga teacher to be accepted as a member of the British Menopause Society (BMS) for healthcare practitioners. The wellbeing aspect of the course includes BMS and Women’s Health Concern guidelines on nutrition, natural remedies, supplements (such as magnesium), as well as lifestyle changes that women can make to support themselves through this stage in life.
The inaugural training will take place from November 13th to the 15th at the Newson Health Menopause and Wellbeing Centre in Stratford Upon Avon, which is run by Dr Louise Newson – a leading campaigner on women’s menopause rights. Dr Newson, who practices yoga, will give an introductory talk on Menopause and HRT.
Dr Newson says: “Petra is a really experienced yoga teacher who has a superb knowledge of the menopause and I am really excited that she will be running this course in my menopause and wellbeing centre. Yoga is a fantastic exercise for the entire body and also for our minds. Yoga can improve strength and muscle tone. Core muscle strength improves, including pelvic floor muscles, which often weaken as our hormone levels reduce. Controlling our breathing and doing a powerful practice can work to clear our bodies of any negative feelings and thoughts. I certainly find that I am much calmer when I practice yoga regularly and can then deal with stressful situations in a more positive and relaxed way.”
Petra says: “I am excited to be running this first Menopause Yoga & Wellbeing teacher training module with Dr Louise Newson, and Yoga Alliance Professionals whose education and training standards are respected worldwide.I created the Module in response to the frequent requests from women and teachers attending my workshops. These women travel long distances, including outside the UK because there isn’t a specialist course near them. I am so grateful to Yoga Alliance Professionals for supporting this specialist module so that more women can be supported through the menopause.”
The Specialist Training can be approached as both a professional and personal development course earning CPD points, and on successful completion of the course, graduates will be equipped to run menopause workshops or group classes. However, it is only open to experienced teachers who have some personal experience of perimenopause, menopause or post menopause.
Please note that it does not qualify teachers to offer individual women specialist medical, nutritional, naturopath or counselling advice. They should always be referred to a professional expert.
The first two courses, in November, 2019, have already sold out – however, Petra is planning to run more courses across the UK in 2020. Get in touch with her if you would like more information.
Contact Petra on email: info@mind-bodyyoga.co.uk or tel: 07590831966. Visit
http://www.Menopause-Yoga.com and http://Mind-bodyyoga.co.uk
