What this episode is about
Explore the seasonal model of menopause and find out why post-menopause might just be your 'second spring'.
Key takeaways
- Gabriella says it's never too late to reflect on what your symptoms are telling you. She says what we suppress will come back up, in menopause or in our 60s, 70s, or 80s.
- Kate Codrington says the pull to withdraw in perimenopause is healthy. That quieter time lets you emerge into post-menopause, your second spring, well rested.
- Kate Codrington says the struggle many women feel comes from a world with little room for them to care for themselves. She wants women to know they're not broken.
Moments from this episode
Word for word from the recording. Tap a time to hear it.
Full of desire and full of fear
“How can I at the moment being in this body full of desire, full of pleasure, full of creativity, full of fear and incompetence and vulnerability, how can I meet the world?”
Choose a practice for how you want to feel
“You can choose one that has a very clear intention that chimes with whatever you need, whether it's feeling pleasure in the body or feeling rested or feeling powerful or feeling alive or feeling balance.”
“We can focus so much on what we don't want, but what is it that you really truly deeply want?”
Gabriella Espinosaat 35:23
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Show notes
When I first started experiencing perimenopause symptoms, I felt lost and overwhelmed. The narrative I'd internalized about this life phase was one of decline and struggle.
But my conversation with Kate Codrington, author of "Second Spring: The Self-Care Guide to Menopause," completely transformed my perspective.
Kate's approach to menopause is refreshing and thought provoking. She sees it not as an ending, but as a powerful new beginning – a second spring. As we chatted, I found myself nodding along, feeling seen and understood in a way I hadn't before.
Read the full show notesShow less
"Perimenopause and menopause are times of reflection and introspection," Kate explained. "There's a natural falling back into ourselves, a dreaminess, a withdrawal from the world. And this is actually so healthy and helpful."
This resonated deeply with me. I'd been feeling guilty about my desire to retreat, to spend more time alone. Kate's words gave me permission to honor those needs, to see them as an essential part of my journey.
The Seasons of Menopause
Kate introduced me to her seasonal model of menopause, which I find brilliantly insightful. She describes perimenopause as autumn, a time of letting go. Menopause itself is winter – a time for rest and surrender. Then post-menopause becomes our second spring, a time of renewal and reinvention.
"We land full of possibility and 50 years of life experience," Kate said, painting a picture of post-menopause that filled me with hope and excitement.
This framework has helped me make sense of my own journey. In my own menopausal winter I've learned to slow down and surrender to the messages of my body for rest knowing that this will resource me for renewal and rebirth in my second spring of post menopause.
The Power of Rest and Reflection
One of the most powerful tools Kate introduced me to is Yoga Nidra. As someone who's always struggled with traditional meditation, I was intrigued by her description of it as "like being a small child and being tucked up in bed in a safe place, and someone reading you a story while you drift off to sleep."
I've since incorporated Yoga Nidra into my own routine, finding it immensely restorative. It's become a way for me to honor that need for retreat and reflection that's so crucial during this phase.
Listening to Our Bodies
Throughout our conversation, Kate emphasized the importance of listening to our bodies and trusting our intuition. She encouraged tracking symptoms and experiences, not to self-diagnose, but to deepen our understanding of our own needs and rhythms.
This approach has been transformative for me. Instead of seeing my symptoms as problems to be fixed, I'm learning to view them as messages from my body, guiding me towards what I need.
Embracing Pleasure
As we wrapped up our chat, I asked Kate about what pleasure – a topic close to my heart. Her response was beautiful: "Where I can be present, particularly in my senses, there is pleasure."
It's a simple yet profound reframing that I've been exploring in my own life. I'm learning to find pleasure in small moments of presence, whether it's savoring a cup of tea or feeling the sun on my face.
A New Perspective on Menopause
Talking with Kate felt like a breath of fresh air. Her work is helping to shift the narrative around menopause, empowering women to see this transition as a time of growth, self-discovery, and renewed purpose.
For those of you on this journey, I highly recommend Kate's books. Her newest book, "The Perimenopause Journal," available for pre-order now, promises to be an invaluable tool for navigating this transition with grace and self-compassion.
Remember, as Kate so wisely puts it, "We are not broken. The system that expects us to be constantly available and productive – that's what's broken." Let's embrace this second spring, nurturing ourselves and each other as we step into this new phase of life.
📚 Explore more of Kate Codrington's insights on menopause:
- The Perimenopause Journal - Available for pre-order now.
- Second Spring: The Self-Care Guide to Menopause - Find it in paperback, ebook, and audio at your local bookshop.
About our guest: Kate is a mentor, author, speaker, facilitator, artist and podcaster. The author of Second Spring: the self-care guide to menopause, which is part of the 'menopause cannon' according to the New York Times. Kate mentors people in perimenopause and beyond, 1-2-1 and in groups, is a nature-based Yoga Nidra meditation guide, hosts Life - An Inside Job podcast, has been a therapist for more than 30 years and creates multi-level art textile projects. When she’s not doing these things you’ll find her playing in her compost heaps. Her second book, The Perimenopause Journal, is available to pre-order now and will be out 10th September.
- Free resource library: mailchi.mp
- Website katecodrington.co.uk
About the guest
Kate CodringtonMentor, author, speaker, facilitator, artist and podcasterGuest on this episode of Pleasure in the Pause.More about them
