‘So many women fear menopause, not because of what it is, but because of what they were never taught,’ says Dani Barnett, founder of Unpaused.
‘We educate young people about puberty and pregnancy, but when it comes to hormonal changes later in life, there’s still a lack of understanding – and that silence leaves women feeling confused and alone.’
For Dani, this mission is deeply personal. At 40, she experienced surgical menopause following preventative surgery as a BRCA gene carrier. Having been told symptoms would be limited to hot flushes, she was unprepared for the full range of menopause experiences – but the reality was far more complex.
‘What no one explained was that menopause isn’t just one or two symptoms. Hormones influence hundreds of functions in the body. I experienced anxiety, brain fog, muscle and joint ache, and sleep disruption – things I didn’t immediately connect to menopause.
‘At the time, there simply wasn’t the level of awareness or conversation around menopause that we’re starting to see now. I didn’t understand what was happening in my body, which left me feeling confused and isolated.
‘I had to do my own research to make sense of it. That’s exactly why I created Unpaused so that no woman has to feel that way or figure it out alone.’
Beyond the immediate symptoms, menopause can have serious long-term health implications. The drop in oestrogen significantly increases a woman’s risk of osteoporosis and heart disease – two of the leading causes of illness later in life. Yet many women are never told this.
The positive is that lifestyle changes, including strength training, nutrition and stress management, can play a powerful role in reducing these risks.
Unpaused helps women understand their bodies and navigate menopause with confidence through community events and one-to-one coaching. Dani also works with organisations to create more supportive workplace environments.
On 18 April, Unpaused, alongside Alice Marshall Yoga, Andy Perkins Fitness and Carol Champion Nutrition, will host The Unpaused Next Chapter, a one-day retreat supporting women through menopause with a holistic approach to wellbeing.
‘Menopause isn’t just a women’s issue, it affects families, workplaces and communities. The more we understand it, the less stigma and confusion there will be,’ Dani says.
More information can be found at www.unpausedliving.co.uk
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