081 - Pilates & the Menopause - Dinah Siman & Dr Louise Newson

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Dinah Siman who is a Yoga and Pilates teacher and the founder of Menopause Pilates. Dinah chats to Dr Newson about the history of Pilates and how the method arrived in the UK with Alan Herdman, and how it is now established as a tried and tested system for functional body work. Dr Newson shares her experience of Pilates during her last pregnancy and talks with Dinah about the huge benefits of muscle strengthening, bone loading, flexibility and proprioception it brings during menopause and beyond, and the focus on breathing and pelvic floor health. Dinah also talks to Dr Newson about the one-day Menopause Pilates course that she has have created for Pilates teachers and fitness professionals. The course contains evidence based information and exercise and educational resources and will be launching early in 2021. Dinah has been teaching Pilates to women in the menopausal transition for over 23 years, this combined with her own experience of menopause and passion for sharing menopause education has resulted in this unique one-day course. Dinah's Three Take Home Tips: Try to view the menopause as an opportunity to learn Pilates, it will also benefit your long term health and fitness. If possible, start learning Pilates with a 1:1 session or shared private lesson for a bespoke approach, before joining a class. And finally - give it time. It can seem like learning a new language and that doesn't happen overnight, so have patience! Follow Dinah on Instagram: @menopausepilates Email: dinahsiman@gmail.com