Contrary to what you may think, reaching menopausal age doesn’t mean you should stop exercising or that your life has taken a turn for the worse.  In fact, when you get to that age, exercise is more necessary than ever, as it helps prevent osteoporosis, maintains the fluid in the joints, energizes you, and improves your general health.

There are many exercises that are appropriate for menopausal women; your choice should be based on your physical abilities, but you can vary the intensity during every routine.

Here we present you with a variety of water and land-based exercises that will surely boost your wellbeing during menopause:

Water Exercises
These are natural resistance exercises.  They are very powerful but do not impact the joints, thus, are very appropriate for women with low physical capability.  Water exercises are used a lot in therapy programs, as the body is free of gravity.

Some of these exercises are:

-    Pool walking or jogging.  Make sure you always touch the bottom and speed up regularly.  It is easier to move while on water, but at the same time there is double the resistance.

-    Pretend to ski.  Sync your arms and legs to move together, you can add weights for more resistance.

-    Water aerobics.  Same as normal aerobics but in the pool.

Land Exercises
As you may already know, the best exercise ever is walking.  While it helps maintain weight, it also increases circulation and decreases the risk of heart disease.  You can walk at your own pace, but as you gain some strength, speed up a little.  Make sure you get a good pair of walking shoes, and get ready to walk when and where it is convenient for you, anywhere and any time are great!

If you want to go a little further, try hiking.  There are all sorts of terrains, distances, and elevations to hike, and you will have the added value of enjoying the outdoors while exercising.  Nothing cures better than contact with nature.

No matter what exercise you choose, make sure you always consult with your doctor prior to engaging in any exercise routine.  Whether you are under a bioidentical hormone treatment or any other kind of treatment, professional consultation is a must to ensure you do not hurt yourself while trying to heal.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention our Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy blog as the original source).

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The stereotypical image of a yoga master is that of a slender, nimble, strong-featured person with a tiny waist line. Therefore it’s no surprise to find out that the practice of yoga is an excellent fat buster.

A recent National Cancer Institute study found that people from 45 to 55 years old gain about a pound per year. However, within the study sample, those people who practiced yoga gained three pounds less in that same ten year period. Even better: the study found that people who were overweight had a bigger benefit, at five pounds less weight gain in the ten year period.

The reasons for the above remain unclear, although one can assume that any kind of physical activity helps with weight loss. Some experts theorize that correctly assuming yoga poses (called asanas) require the development of a body-awareness that gradually brings about a heightened desire to take care of the body. Others explain that the physical effort in yoga comes about when a position has to be held, for a certain amount of time, against a mild discomfort.  This discomfort of course lessens with practice, and more difficult asanas are then tried. The adaptation to tolerate discomfort brings about a tolerance for other discomforts or urges, such as the urge to overeat, drink alcohol and other stimulants, or slouch in front of the television with some comfort food. It can also help you combat the discomfort caused by menopause symptoms, such as leg cramps or aching, sore joints; it is an excellent complement to bioidentical hormone treatment.

Whatever the reason, yoga students report weight loss, increased flexibility and strength and, more importantly, a newfound inner peace that allows them to lead a healthier life. These are benefits that no one can underestimate.

Middle-aged people need a low-impact, high-effectiveness physical activity to keep them from gaining too much weight and to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Both anecdotal and study related data seem to indicate that this activity meets the requirements.

There are several styles of yoga, nine of which come from India. Some are tougher than others, and the instructor’s style plays a big part in defining the overall yoga experience. If you are considering starting yoga training, consider the following:

• Working smart, not hard, is the rule in middle age. You want to preserve your joints.
• A yoga instructor is not a coach. He or she is not meant to push you, but to guide you.
• Yoga is more about long-term gain than short-term effects.
• The style of yoga you choose to practice should fit your lifestyle.

Above everything, look forward to both the physical and emotional benefits that come from this ancient practice.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention our Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy blog as the original source).