During Week 1 I introduce you to the relevance of menopause in relation to women’s health and ageing evidence and explain why the menopause transition is so important for women’s health.

We will also delve into the history of menopause, including why it has been medicalised. During this module I will challenge the current menopause medicalisation paradigm with lifestyle solutions. I can’t wait for you to learn what I did.

Week 2 and 3 is all about menopause physiology and hormonal physiology. We will explore the three stages that women transition through in midlife as the ovarian function declines – perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause.

At the end of Week 3, you will be able to describe the major physiological changes and symptom changes at each stage and identify common disorders of the HPA – Thyroid Axis in relation to menopause changes. 

We will also talk through the key complementary and alternative menopause supplement solutions that your clients might be taking and how these could affect their health through menopause. 

Women in menopause need tailored risk stratification pre-screening processes. In Week 4 we explain the important pre-screening questions you should be asking your clients and develop a profile so that you can select a case-study client for Week 7.

You will also learn how you can ethically and responsibly bridge the gap between your client and their GP based on their risk stratification.

Have you tried endless diets with your clients, which don’t reduce their menopause symptoms and/or don’t work in the long term?

Nutritional type and timing are crucial for your client’s symptom management. Diets may destroy the hormones which help to manage appetite, fullness and long-term health. For numerous women who have lived busy, stressful lives over many years, this may have led to a disturbance of the factors that influence their eating patterns and behaviours.  In Week 5 we cover the specific nutrients evidenced to reduce menopause symptoms and why you need to adapt your approach for leaner women and overweight women. The factors affecting women’s food choices during menopause in relation to hormonal changes are also important to understand, so you can foster successful behaviour change.

From Week 7, trainees are encouraged to have 1 – 2 case study clients to begin working , whilst on the course. This will enable attendees to integrate the MyMT™ menopause strategies into practice with confidence, with our support. Minimum 1 case study client is required as part of the assessment process. So, let’s prepare you in Week 6.

To prepare you for your case study client we will share some examples of the most common questions that women on our programme have asked about their menopause transition. Furthermore, because there are no ‘magic pills’ in MyMT™’s Programmes, behaviour change strategies are critical for transforming your client’s symptoms and health. During Week 6 we will explore TTM Theory, Motivational Theory and Self-efficacy Theory in the context of menopause. We will also go through some real-life problem-solving examples from Women in my MyMT™ Community.

A lack of sleep exacerbates women’s symptoms, and can lead to high insulin levels, weight gain, worsening hot flushes, increased inflammation and much more. It’s vital that this symptom is addressed first with women. In this module, we will explore the circadian rhythm’s role in sleep regulation and why this gets out of balance during menopause. Then, we will walk through MyMT™’s proven strategies for assisting women to sleep all night.

Hot flushes occur because the body’s thermostat does not function as well when it is deprived of oestrogen. It also becomes worse when melatonin (sleep hormone) is reduced with the changing hormonal environment too. Learn about why hot flushes occur and the MyMT™ strategies for assisting women to reduce their hot flushes and night sweats.

Love the Liver: Never before has our liver had to cope with so many changing foods, toxins, drinks, chemicals and ingredients. The liver and gut accumulate inflammation over our lifetime. Fatigue, anxiety, brain fog, depression and other menopause symptoms including weight management problems are partly due to changing liver and gut health in mid-life.

Sustain energy: After you understand why the liver and gut are so important in menopause symptom management you will be able to better understand the role of oestrogen changes which impact energy levels in women. In this module we discuss whether it is adrenal fatigue or peri-menopause causing exhaustion in your clients and I teach you the MyMT™ strategies for assisting women to turn around their liver health and energy levels.

I can’t wait to share this module with you. It is one of my favourites.

Re-address Stress: This module isn’t ‘just’ about psychological stress. It’s also about the internal environment of the body and how women’s cells and tissues also become ‘stressed’. Internal stress in our tissues and fat cells is called oxidative stress and causes numerous inflammatory changes that can lead to worsening health problems as we age. A women’s mid-life years are the perfect time to re-address her stress. In this fabulous module, I draw on the rapidly emerging stress research and teach you how to re-address your client’s stress.

Lifestyle solutions for women on HRT: Whilst there is no interference in any medications women are on, this information may help you to support their medication choices specific to HRT with evidenced lifestyle solutions.

In this module I introduce you to the business of menopause – sharing examples from my experiences both pioneering the Personal Training Industry in New Zealand and building a large customer base for My Menopause Transformation. During this week you will plan your vision for bringing menopause clients into your business.

At this point, I will explain how you can create a unique career opportunity by coming on board with me as a MyMT™ Practitioner. I have some exciting plans for MyMT™ and I can’t wait to share these with you.

The last week is a chance for us to reflect on your journey and share your progress with your case study client. Together we will do some problem solving and plan for your future as a menopause specialist or MyMT™ Practitioner.