Inside Power Pause: A Six-Week Menopause Journey in Warwick

Power Pause: More Than a Menopause Course

As we came together for our final Power Pause session this week, I found myself reflecting on what we've created over the past six weeks. I set out to design a course that supported women through menopause, but what unfolded became so much more than that.

Year Two: Growing Together

This was the second year of Power Pause, and one thing has become beautifully clear: the course is evolving with every group of ladies who attend. Every conversation, every shared experience and every moment of vulnerability helps shape what comes next. No two courses will ever be exactly the same because no two groups of women are the same.

This year, two wonderful ladies returned after attending last year's course, joined by one lady who was completely new to Power Pause. From that very first evening there was an instant connection. Over the following six weeks, those friendships deepened through shared experiences, honest conversations, plenty of laughter and a few tears too. Watching those bonds grow has been every bit as rewarding as seeing their confidence flourish.

Power Pause has become so much more than a menopause course. It has been about education, movement, nervous system regulation, connection and community. Most importantly, it has been about creating a safe space where ladies could show up exactly as they are—without judgement, without embarrassment and without feeling they had to navigate this stage of life alone.

Each week we explored a different theme, opening honest conversations around topics that don't often get the attention they deserve. Together we discussed mobility and balance, emotional wellbeing, nutrition and supplements, the importance of strength training for bone health, and the messages we receive from the beauty and cosmetics industry about ageing. We also tackled some of the more taboo symptoms of menopause, including low libido, bladder weakness, vaginal dryness, bloating and wind. There was no awkwardness—just honesty, empathy and the comforting realisation that every lady in the group had experienced something another could relate to.

Alongside these conversations was a movement session designed to build strength, confidence and resilience. Every week included an exercise element, adapted to meet the needs of the group. One memorable evening, with temperatures soaring above 30°C, we swapped our planned workout for gentle yoga, an Inner Wisdom Journey and a deeply restorative sound bath—a reminder that sometimes the strongest thing we can do is slow down and listen to what our bodies need.

Why the Nervous System Matters

One of the biggest evolutions of Power Pause has been the growing emphasis on nervous system regulation. Each week we practised breathwork, meditation, affirmations and sound healing, gradually building simple tools that the ladies could take home and weave into everyday life.

This element became particularly important following my own experience at the Thrive in Transition retreat in Spain. I accidentally left my HRT at home and spent a few days without it. Whilst I certainly wouldn't recommend forgetting your medication, it became a powerful reminder that slowing down, spending time in nature, prioritising restorative sleep and consciously calming my nervous system significantly eased many of my symptoms. It reinforced something I now feel deeply passionate about sharing: HRT can be life-changing for many women, but supporting our nervous system, spending time in nature and caring for our whole wellbeing are powerful pieces of the menopause puzzle too.

Slowing Down in Nature

One of my favourite moments actually happened outside of our weekly sessions. One Sunday, we met for a gentle four-mile group hike around the beautiful grounds of Compton Verney. There was no agenda, no pressure to achieve a certain pace or distance—just time to walk, talk, breathe and simply be. Surrounded by nature, we were reminded that movement doesn't always have to be intense to be beneficial. Sometimes the greatest gift we can give ourselves is permission to slow down. As we wandered through woodland, across open parkland and beside the lakes, conversations flowed as easily as our footsteps. It was another gentle reminder that nature has an incredible ability to calm our nervous system, lift our mood and help us reconnect with ourselves and each other.

Celebrating Everything We'd Learned

For our final session, we celebrated everything we'd explored with ten fun challenges that revisited the key themes from the course. Some were physical, others sparked thoughtful conversation, and a few simply encouraged us to laugh together. We kept a balloon floating through the air for our "wind and bloating" challenge, carried cups of water whilst practising pelvic floor exercises to highlight bladder health, and reflected on the knowledge, strength and confidence we'd all gained over the previous six weeks.

There was laughter. There were moments of vulnerability. There were tears. There was encouragement. And there was a real sense that three women who had started as acquaintances had become friends.

We closed our journey with a sound immersion using the Koshi Chimes, travelling through the four elements—Earth, Water, Fire and Air. Each element offered its own invitation: to feel grounded like the Earth beneath our feet; to flow and adapt like Water; to ignite courage and transformation through Fire; and to breathe deeply and create space with Air. Together they reminded us that we are held by nature, that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves, and that everything we need to navigate this stage of life already exists within us.

Power Pause isn't about fixing menopause. It's about giving women the knowledge, tools and supportive community to move through it with greater confidence, strength and self-compassion.

Watching these ladies grow in confidence, support one another and form genuine friendships has been one of the greatest privileges of my career.

Power Pause may have come to an end for this group, but I know the conversations, friendships and practices we've shared will continue long after our final session.

And as for Power Pause itself? It will continue to evolve too—shaped by every lady who joins the circle, and made richer by every story that is shared.