Finding Balance in Menopause with jill

In today's episode I talk to Margaret Bryden, Margaret Bryden, MBA, CMHC, is a therapist, author, and speaker who is passionate about making mental health more accessible. With degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, San Jose State University, and Westminster University, Margaret brings together expertise in psychology, business, and communication to make mental health concepts engaging and practical. She works in both private practice and psychiatric hospital settings, specializing in helping individuals and couples through trauma, addiction recovery, and life transitions. Her debut book, How I Understand It: A Bad Poet's Guide to Mental Health & Resilience, introduces the concept of "Bad Poetry"—a therapeutic tool to quiet the inner critic, deepen emotional awareness, and foster meaningful connection.

In this podcast you will learn: 

How bad poetry benefits people by providing a way of speaking to your life experiences in a way that eliminates that inner critic.  

Seeing Bad poetry as an alternative to drawn out journal writing that takes just 5 minutes 

Poetry can help you to process, express, share and put feelings down on paper especially during menopause when so many things are changing and can feel disconnected and difficult  

That bad poetry and other forms of writing decrease cortisol and help us heal, Coritsol helps with reducing stress and some symptoms of menopause 

and

How to get prepared for writing your bad poetry and some writing prompts 

If you want to read some of Margaret’s poems, get some more writing prompts or maybe you're a professional who wants use Bad Poetry" in your work with others or in your own life, buy her book wherever you buy books “ How I Understand It: A Bad Poet's Guide to Mental Health & Resilience, 

If you want to work with me to further explore those things holding you back or that are coming up in this perimenopause transition  or to learn about my yoga classes and free menopause gathering reach out to me on my website www.closedlotusyt.com or follow me on facebook, instagram and you tube.  

Be Kind to Yourself 

Jill 

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My guest for this podcast is Dr Pebbie Kranz. 

Pebble Kranz, MD, FECSM, IF, MSCP, a family physician, menopause medicine, and sexual medicine specialist, graduated from Brown University's Medical School in and completed residency with the University of Rochester Family Medicine Residency Program with a focus on psychosocial aspects of primary care. Dr. Kranz has additional training in sexual, menopause, and gender medicine, earning fellowships from the European Committee on Sexual Medicine, the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health, certification from the Menopause Society as a menopause medicine practitioner, as well as status as an Advanced Practitioner in Optimal Sexual Experiences Group Couples Therapy.  She is founder and medical director for The Rochester Center for Sexual Wellness, providing comprehensive care for sexual, relational, and gender concerns in Western New York. 

What you will learn from this podcast: 

The Key to successful sexual aging   

How Genitourinary syndrome of Menopause can change the structure of genitourinary organs, and how topical estrogen can help  

Why it's important to talk to your partner about what’s happening in your body and if your sexual needs have changed so sex can be more rewarding. 

How to talk to your doctor or a menopause specialist about your goals for treatments so you can start feeling better and improving your qualify of life 

In this podcast we will talk about the changes that happen in the body during aging and how you can still have good sex and strong relationships even during this transition. If you're like me, as Pebble said "it's easier to have sex than to talk about sex" it can be edgy but let's be real, we all want good sex as we age and Menopause can be a game changer so let's learn what's really going on. 

To work with Pebble contact her here: 

www.RochesterCenterForSexualWellness.com 

Pebble works with men and women all over the state of NY so reach out to her via any of these platforms if you want to work with her. Until next time. Take care of yourself  

https://www.facebook.com/rochestercsw 

https://www.instagram.com/rochestersexualwellness/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pebble-kranz-md/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/rochester-center-for-sexual-wellness/ 

https://www.youtube.com/@rcsw

If you enjoy the episode leave me some feedback. Maybe there's an episode you want to hear or a favorite one. Let me know why and who you have in mind as a guest if you know someone who'd be perfect. 

I can be reached at http://www.closedlotusyt.com for upcoming events related to Menopause  

Facebook Http://www.facebook.com/closedlotusyoga, 

Instagram http://Instagram.com/closedlotusyoga 

Linked in http://linkedin.com/jillcovert 

Take Care of Yourself. 

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Hi! Welcome to Finding Balance in Menopause. 

My guest for this Episode is Daniella Hess. Daniela Hess is an Autoimmune Educator and Coach, a Functional Wellness Consultant, a Yoga and Qigong Teacher Trainer, a Spiritual Mentor, and an Ayurvedic practitioner. She holds a Master's in Health Education, co-founded the school Great Energy with her husband, Christopher Grant, and is the founder of the Autoimmune Recovery Method, the Perimenopause Recovery Method, and the Midlife Mastery course. She lives and thrives with Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism, and she teaches the science and the Soul of the Midlife journey, from the cell, to the Soul, to the Spirit.

Join us as we talk about: 

How autoimmune diseases can show up during perimenopause

what labs can be helpful to find out where you are deficient or above where you should be and how to read your labs

what are the benefits of yoga and Qigong to support during Menopause

why ayurveda can be supportive in Menopause to support well being

Here are some freebies from Daniella to get you thinking about your own unique situation:

Daniela_Hess_Functional_Lab_Wishlist.pdf

guide-how-to-move-autoimmune-toward-remission.pdf

guide-fully-alive-with-hashimotos.pdf

Contact her at [email protected]
Text her: 607-323-7272

Do you want to learn more about Jill at Closed Lotus Yoga? 
Visit www.closedlotusyt.com for events or to work with Jill 

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During this episode listen to my conversation with Petra Coveeny. Petra is a yoga therapist based in the UK.  A senior yoga teacher, yoga therapist, teacher trainer, author and the founder of Menopause Yoga - launched in 2013. Based in the UK, her Menopause Yoga teacher training courses are internationally recognized, and she has trained over 1500 teachers in 50 countries so far. Petra is also a Personal Trainer level 3 and practices tai chi qigong. She has two children and lives by the sea in Brighton, Sussex, UK, with her dog Alfie. Her website is www.menopause-yoga.com

As a yoga therapist myself it has been so helpful getting to know Petra. Her work on behalf of women in Menopause is  complete but her extended reach into Strength Training goes above and beyond in providing women with a full exercise routine well beyond yoga. 

In this podcast you will learn:

• How yoga provides a way to calm the nervous system, build strength, create balance and provides a gateway into understanding this new self.
• The history of Menopause and how our perceptions of ourselves are largely based on this and germinate the care we take or don't take of ourselves
• A simple practice you can do to get cardio without overdoing or taxing your nervous system.
• How to ensure when you exercise you aren't overdoing and spiking your cortisol causing more stress. 

If you want to work with Petra Coveney, you can find her online at wwwwMenopause-yoga.com and on Instagram and Facebook. Her books can be found on Singing Dragon and Amazon.

If you want to attend one of my classes based on some of Petra's book and tailored for Menopause including strength resistance using your body weight and relaxation you can find me at www.closedlotusyt.com or on Instagram and Facebook. I am also on yoga Tube under Yoga for Healthy Aging and Menopause. Here you will find some Menopause focused practices. 

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In this podcast join Jill and DPT Kimberly Tonovitz in our discussion of pelvic health and how we can age while still maintaining our continence and our quality of life. Kim is a DPT at Thompson Health in Canandaigua NY where she works with women and men to regain and retain their continence and sexual function. Fifty four percent of women ages 20 and up state they have had some kind of leakage in the past year. 

You will learn:

• The causes of incontinence and why it doesn't have to be a part of aging
• How does taking care of the musculature of the pelvic floor help to decrease kinds of incontinence and maintain sexual function as we age.
• What are some things you can do today to help yourself maintain your continence
• How to connect with someone who can help you get back to controlling your continence. 

If you want to connect with a Physical Therapist in your area, reach out to your provider and tell them what you're experiencing. Don't be shy or afraid that you are the only one who is having these concerns. This happens to lots of people, men and women, and there are ways to get better and strengthen or relax your pelvic floor. A specialized PT can tell you what your main issue is and prescribe you an exercise plan to get back where you want to be. 

Yoga is another way to relax and strengthen your pelvic floor with deep breathing and relaxation. 

Want to engage with me. Visit my website www.closedlotusyt.com or my you tube channel Yoga for Aging and Menopause. 

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In this Podcast you will learn about my journey through Menopause. I started having symptoms of Menopause almost exactly one year ago.  Since then, it's been a wild ride filled with mood swings, joint pain and hot flashes (OMG the hot flashes). It has been hard to get used to these crazy changes happening in my body but it has also led to some moments of clarity and growth. 

I have learned to prioritize myself, to use herbs, make lifestyle changes, use yoga to support and calm my nervous system, and to use supportive relationships to improve my mood, symptoms and connection with others. 

Join me in this episode as you learn:

• the benefits of yoga; a breathing practice you might try to calm hot flashes
• benefits of connection with others
• how to get past the societal stereotypes to promote self care
• the benefits of being open about what's happening to those you love

You will hear the story of how this podcast came about and why and personal stories about my journey. Hopefully some of the experiences I have had sound familiar and will help you to feel not so alone in what you are experiencing.

Contact me to work with me, to ask questions, or just to connect. 

www.closdlotusyt.com or email me: [email protected] 

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Join me, Jill Covert, LMSW, C-IAYT yoga therapist in this conversation with Dr Ruth Odoi as we discuss nutrition, self-care, hormones and other changes in Menopause.  

Dr. Ruth Odoi is a Functional Medicine Physician specializing in women’s health, with a focus on helping women navigate perimenopause and menopause with clarity and confidence. 
Her approach goes beyond symptom management to identify and address the root causes of issues like fatigue, weight changes, poor sleep, and hormonal imbalances. By combining conventional medicine with a more personalized, whole-person approach, she helps women restore energy, improve their quality of life, and feel like themselves again. 
Through her practice, Oasis Women’s Functional Medicine, Dr. Odoi is passionate about educating women, empowering them to understand their bodies, and providing practical, sustainable solutions for long-term health. 

You will learn: 

How getting adequate protein through animal proteins or vegetable proteins can help with mood swings

Learn why self-care is so important during Peri-Menopause and Menopause

When Hormones are best prescribed for management of symptoms

And more discussion about weight gain, sleep issues, relationships and making changes during the Peri-Menopause and Menopause season 

Dr Ruth Odoi can be reached at www.Oasisfunctionalwellness.com

I can be reached at www.closedlotusyt.com and on Facebook and Instagram at closedlotusyoga

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In this podcast meet my guest Hallie Schoff, Halie Schoff Cieslica is a functional practitioner, nutritionist, and the founder of Alpha Chiropractic Health and Wellness, a clinic that works with clients both in person and virtually around the world. Her approach focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of chronic health concerns rather than simply managing symptoms.

Halie specializes in hormone health, gut health, metabolic dysfunction, and nervous system regulation, often working with clients struggling with issues such as fatigue, thyroid dysfunction, hormone imbalances, fertility challenges, and chronic inflammation. Through personalized nutrition, targeted supplementation, and lifestyle strategies, she helps clients restore balance and build sustainable long-term health.

She is also the host of the Alpha Health and Wellness Radio podcast, where she shares educational conversations with practitioners and experts across the wellness space, breaking down complex health topics into practical tools people can use in their everyday lives.

In addition to her clinical work, Halie is the co-founder of Sunna Wellness Elixirs, a functional beverage brand focused on creating thoughtfully formulated drinks that support metabolic health and overall wellness using real, functional ingredients.

Her mission is to help people reconnect with foundational health practices and understand how the body is designed to heal when properly supported.

Socials: instagram @ drhalieschoff and @alphahealthwellness

Tiktok @dr. halieschoff

website www.drhalieschoff.com

We discuss: 

menopause and nutrition including how vitamins, and supplements can be helpful throughout Menopause

what foods help to keep your energy up, maintain your gut health, naturally regulate your hormones, and keep you balanced

the importance of stress management and healthy diet, what to eat and how much and what the benefits are of taking care of yourself fully in this stage of life

the nervous system and how foods, good life practices, movement practices like yoga and vitamins can help to keep your metabolism and mood in check

Want to reach me? 

website: www.closedlotusyt.com

Facebook: Closed lotus yoga

Instagram: @Closedlotusyoga 

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Welcome to my podcast, Finding Balance in Menopause. I am a social worker, yoga therapist and women in Peri-menopause. This is the first of my podcasts and in this one and future  podcasts we will talk about all things Menopause including my experience and those of my guests. If there's something you want to know about, and I will try my best to find someone with whom to have the conversation. I can be reached at [email protected].

In this episode I interview my friend and Psychologist Dr. Lorna Busch, of MindTrove healing, a licensed psychologist who specializes in ketamine assisted psychotherapy. She is a certified Spiritual Emergence Coach and uses Quantum Healing Hypnosis to help people connect and align with the highest version of themselves. Join us as we talk about Menopause, both of our experiences with it and how other cultures celebrate the wise woman who emerges with this life changing transition. Learn how to move into your second half of life in a positive way that focuses on thriving not just surviving. 

Contact Dr Lorna Busch at mindtrovehealing.com or [email protected]

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