In this article I share insights from my transformative 20-year mindfulness journey, from battling burnout as a junior doctor to becoming a passionate mindfulness teacher. My early discovery of the health and healing effects of mindfulness propelled me into an exploration of the scientific foundations of mind-body medicine.

Menopause is a natural phase of a woman's life, marking the end of her reproductive years. While it's a significant transition, it often comes with various challenges, both physical and emotional.

The 26th Australasian Menopause Congress brought together health professionals from many different disciplines to hear about the latest advances in this field. This article highlights just two of the many topics that were covered and shares a few key resources with you, which you can use as valuable tools when seeking evidence-based knowledge and support.

Menopause can have a significant impact on how women perceive their work performance. Women who used to feel confident may now experience decreased productivity or a change in their work experience. Symptoms such as fatigue, memory issues, and anxiety are common, which can affect their professional lives. Shockingly, almost a third of these women report that the impact is significant.

While research suggests that the average weight gain during menopause is around 2 - 4 kg, many women I speak to share a different story. Not only have they gained considerably more weight but their body shape has also changed significantly and it all seemed to happen overnight!

Are you feeling out of sorts? Unusually irritable, bad-tempered, or anxious? Do you find that you’re second-guessing yourself, worrying irrationally, or that your self-confidence is slipping?

Everybody has some fat around their belly. How much and where you carry it is related to your genes, hormones, age and birth weight, and whether or not you’ve had children.

As a woman’s cycle reduces and eventually stops, their ovaries slow down and the production of hormones like estrogen and progesterone decline over time, which in turn brings on hot flashes (and other uncomfortable experiences).

Are you eating the same but have noticed menopausal weight gain? Maybe you’ve reduced your serving sizes but it didn’t work. What if you could drop a dress size by eating more protein? This article helps you understand how a high protein intake in menopause can help you to fit back into your favourite clothes.

Is it really possible to relieve bothersome hot flashes by simply changing your diet? I admit, I am totally hooked on the power of nutrition, especially having experienced first-hand its potent therapeutic force. So, when I experienced my first few hot flashes and night sweats, it was no surprise I looked to food first to help ease me through this next phase of my life.

When I hit menopause, I noticed that my pants were getting tight and wanted to get on top of things before my middle blew out. Here are eight things I’ve done to trim menopause belly fat and keep my belly at bay.

Are you struggling with hot flushes (aka ‘hot flashes’) and wish you knew what was causing them? When you know the common triggers, it can help you to work out yours, so that you can minimise or even prevent annoying hot flushes.

Has anxiety become a big deal for you as you approach menopause? It can be challenging to find calm with a mental storm raging. Maybe you catch yourself shallow breathing, or holding your breath, or struggling with a racing mind or heart. If this is you, here are four mindfulness practices that can help you to manage anxiety during menopause.

Are you going through menopause and wondering whether medication can help with weight gain? Let’s explore the options available to help you make an informed choice.

Ever feel like you can’t cope with life’s challenges the way you used to? Are you crippled by endless worrying and constantly scanning for danger? If you are a woman in her forties or fifties you could be experiencing anxiety in menopause.

Have you ever felt like your body suddenly turned up the thermostat, causing your skin to flush and your heart to race? If so, you may have experienced a hot flush, a common symptom of menopause that affects millions of women worldwide.