How can self-care be a catalyst for growth during menopause rather than a source of guilt or shame? In this episode of the Owning Your Menopause podcast, I sit down with Suzy Reading, a chartered psychologist, yoga teacher, and author, to explore the vital role of self-care during this significant life transition. With her wealth of professional knowledge and personal experiences, Suzy provides invaluable insight into how women can embrace this stage of life with resilience and mindfulness.

We discuss how reframing menopause as a time for growth and reinvention can empower women to navigate the challenges with grace. Suzy shares her unique blend of relaxation techniques, mindful movement, and psychological strategies, offering listeners practical tools to enhance their emotional and physical well-being. We also explore the guilt many women feel around self-care and how societal pressures can make rest seem indulgent, when in fact, it’s essential healthcare.

From developing a daily rhythm to embracing gentle movement and adapting to winter’s introspective qualities, Suzy offers actionable advice to help women honour their bodies and minds. Her latest book, Self-Care for Winter, provides further guidance on nurturing our environment and embracing the need for rest during the colder months.

Our conversation is a refreshing reminder that menopause is not just a challenging phase but also an opportunity for reinvention, self-exploration, and deeper connection to oneself.

Suzy is a mother of two, an author, Chartered Psychologist and yoga teacher. She specialises in self-care, helping people manage their stress, emotions, and energetic bank balance. It was her life experience of motherhood colliding with the terminal illness of her father that sparked her passion for self-care which she now teaches to her clients, young and old, to cope during periods of stress, loss and change and to boost their resilience in the face of future challenges.

Her first book ‘The Self-Care Revolution’ published by Aster came out in 2017 and she’s had the opportunity to write extensively on how to nourish yourself, with titles including 'Stand Tall Like a Mountain: Mindfulness & Self-Care for Children and Parents', 'The Little Book of Self-Care’, ‘Self-Care for Tough Times’, her first children’s book ‘