Menopause Yoga for Brain Fog
“You are not losing your mind. It's not all in your head. Your brain is undergoing a transition and a transformation. The brain is actually rewiring itself during menopause."
Dr Lisa Mosconi PhD, The Menopause Brain
In November’s menopause yoga class our theme was Brain Fog.
This choice of theme was largely inspired by my own personal experience, as well as that of many of the women I meet in class.
Interesting then that The Mega Menopause 2025 Survey of 15,000 women in the UK listed ‘brain fog and memory problems’ as second in the top 3 worst symptoms. It was also reported by 24% of women as the most common first symptom of menopause in the same research.
Even more interesting when just a couple of days after our class, brain fog actually made it into the news when this story of the BBC technology editor having on air brain fog moment hit the headlines. It got a huge response - another indication of just how common this symptom is and why we need to be talking about it more!
So what is Brain Fog and what causes it?
Starting in perimenopause, the fluctuations and decline in oestrogen may affect cognitive function in some people. Short term memory or word retrieval, a lack of mental focus, clarity or slow processing are commonly called 'Brain Fog'.
The good news though is that Dr Mosconi has also found that even if we feel like our performance is not nearly as good as it used to be, ‘the average woman still outperforms men of the same age and educational level [on cognitive tests]’ - hurrah!
How yoga can help
While yoga isn’t a magic pill, it is a holistic mind-body-soul practice that can help women to manage the cognitive - as well as the physical and psychological - symptoms of menopause, such as brain fog and short-term memory loss.
If you’re interested in exploring the therapeutic benefits of yoga for menopause or if you’re looking to connect with other women who are on the same journey in a kind and compassionate space, please drop me a line or book a class (beginners very welcome!).
