Even though many of us today celebrate the rights we enjoy for which our grandmothers and mothers fought, the fight is far from over.
Health
Lately, I’ve been diving deep into fitness and nutrition through the lens of female physiology, tracking my cycle, tuning into changes in energy and performance, and preparing for the shifts that come with perimenopause, which is soon approaching. This journey has led me to explore research, expert insights, and real-world strategies tailored specifically to women.
One of the resources I’ve found helpful is Dr Stacy Sims, whose work reflects a growing shift in health and fitness: recognising that women are not just smaller versions of men. At the heart of all this is a simple but important goal: I want to be able to surf, lift, hike and do all the things I love for as long as possible, and even though I have been active my whole life, I know that this transitional phase is the most important. In this blog post, I’ll be sharing what I’ve learned and applied, from science-backed approaches to personal observations, focused on helping women move, eat, and live in ways that truly support our bodies.
Activism
The following story is about a trip home I took during the pandemic, but it serves to illustrate a bigger subject - feeling safe in the world, especially as a woman. I promised to write it years ago and never got around to it. A student friend reminded me recently, and I felt today, on International Women’s Day, was the perfect time to reflect. Please note that I mention some statistics that some might find triggering. So, here it goes...
Activism, psychology, yoga
Even though I stay well-informed about global events, including politics, and often discuss these topics in my personal life, I usually avoid bringing them into platforms I use for work, including social media, or blog posts, unless I feel it’s important. A conversation with a new friend, a fellow yogi and self-described “refugee from the US” reminded me that this is one of those times, and inspired me to share some thoughts. She expressed heartbreak over what she sees as the slow erosion of democracy and equality in her country and how many in the yoga community contributed to it. “That’s what hurts the most,” she said. I have to say I agree and am worried about the future.
psychology
While, for many, the holiday season is all about joy and happiness and (re)connecting, it brings anxiety and stress for some. This happens for many reasons, including spending time with friends and family we don't often see eye to eye. A spiritual teacher, Ram Dass, once said, 'If you think you're enlightened, go and spend the week with your family.' Still, the challenges are often opportunities to learn and change. Last year, I wrote about ‘navigating the holiday season using Buddhist principles’. This year, I will focus on a more contemporary type of wisdom offered by Social Psychology and the theory of perspective-taking.
photography: Sanjin Kastelan / web design; Nina Vukas
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