How do you view the menopause? Until recently it’s commonly been seen as taboo to talk about this stage of every woman’s life.

But things are changing. Suddenly the menopause is a hot topic, taking centre stage in the media with celebrities like Davina McCall, Zoe Ball and Meg Matthews making TV programmes, writing books and talking about their experiences to empower women.

Many women begin to experience symptoms of the menopause in their mid-to-late 40s, a time when most women are at or reaching the peak of their careers, whilst juggling busy family lives and other caring responsibilities.

Not all women suffer from problems commonly associated with the menopause, such as hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and mood changes. But for those with severe symptoms, the debilitating effects can last for years, badly affecting their personal and professional lives.

There is a lot that women can do to manage their symptoms, such as taking HRT and making dietary and lifestyle changes. Women are often amazed the difference making some changes to what they eat and how they exercise can make.

Three local health and fitness professionals, Natasha Watkinson (registered Nutritionist), Phoebe Kay (personal trainer) and Becky Parker (weight management practitioner), are hosting a free talk “Moving through the Menopause” on Monday 28th February at 7.00pm at Totley Library.

This free talk will provide practical tips to help women balance their hormones and control menopause symptoms naturally using food and exercise. It will also provide a setting for discussion to encourage women to share their own experiences and learn from each other.

Natasha Watkinson is a registered Nutritionist based in Sheffield. She helps women in their 40s and 50s who want to get control over crazy hormone imbalances and get back to their happy weight.

Phoebe Kay is a Personal Trainer based in Sheffield. She loves helping wonderful women develop a strong, supple and happy body. Improving their fitness, strength and mobility through energising, fun and diverse workouts.