I slept badly, I got tired for no reason, I looked in the mirror and didn't recognise myself. My test results came back normal. I didn't. If you are between 40 and 60 and any of this sounds familiar, this article is for you.
If this is the first time you have heard of Kundalini, here is my complete guide to what Kundalini Yoga is and who it is for. Here I want to tell you something more specific: why this practice fits perimenopause so well.
What nobody explains about this stage
Between 40 and 60, a woman's body goes through one of its biggest changes. Hormones shift, and with them sleep, mood, energy, skin and memory. Often there is no clear diagnosis, just a feeling: I no longer recognise myself.
At this stage many people offer us solutions that work against the body: more discipline, more cardio, more control. My experience, and that of the women I accompany, goes in another direction: what we need is to listen to the body, not squeeze it harder.
Why Kundalini Yoga fits perimenopause
It calms the body on alert
Slow breathing and meditation tell the body it can lower its guard. If you live on alert and wake at 3 in the morning with your mind racing, this makes a difference.
It moves you without punishing
The exercises are intense in their own way, but they don't pound your joints. You aren't looking for the perfect pose or to be more flexible: you are looking to feel. You can practice at any age.
It gets you out of your head
When the body moves, breathes and sings at the same time, the mind has no room to keep spinning. That is why so many students leave class saying they hadn't felt that silence in months.
An hour for you
No screens and nobody to look after. At a stage when we tend to hold everyone up, sometimes that is what we miss most.
There are scientific studies looking at Kundalini Yoga for stress and anxiety, and the results are promising. Even so, it doesn't replace your doctor or any treatment. It is a companion, and a very powerful one.
Common questions
Do I have to believe in something to practice?
No. You can experience Kundalini as a physical and breathing practice, without adopting any belief.
Why do we sing?
Singing lengthens the exhale and makes the chest and throat vibrate. It is one of the most direct ways to calm the body. It feels embarrassing at first; then it becomes your favourite part.
What if I can't do an exercise?
You adapt it, do it more slowly or rest. There is no competition in Kundalini, not even with yourself.
Is there anything I should keep in mind?
Some intense breathing techniques, like breath of fire, are not recommended if you are pregnant, during heavy menstruation, or if you have high blood pressure or a medical condition. If that is your case, tell your teacher before class.
A practice for today: 3 minutes through the left nostril
If your mind won't stop, try this tonight before you go to sleep:
1. Sit comfortably with your back straight. You can do this in bed.
2. With your right thumb, gently close your right nostril.
3. Breathe slowly and deeply through the left nostril only: inhale and exhale through the same side.
4. Continue for 3 minutes. If you feel dizzy, stop and breathe normally.
5. When you finish, lower your hand and stay in silence for a few seconds.
In the Kundalini tradition, the left side is associated with calm. Do this for a week and notice how you sleep.
What Kundalini taught me
I have been reborn several times in my life. After grief, after losing myself, after not recognising myself in my own body. And each time, the way back began the same way: with a breath.
Kundalini Yoga has been with me for more than twenty years. But it was at this stage that I truly understood what it does: practice by practice, it brought me back to a place I had forgotten. My body stopped being a problem to solve and became my home again. That is what I wish for you.