Why I care about Women's Health

With so much talk about women's health, it's important for me to share why I care about Women's Health and how I can support you. I'm on a mission to support women to heal their relationship with food, exercise and their bodies. I do this by helping women overcome obstacles, dispel myths and ease fears around caring for their health through pregnancy, post natal recovery and beyond. I want women to become fearless in their health and their lives. Do you want to be fearless?

Benefits of Caring for Women's Health

The Impact on the Whole Family

How often do we, as women, put other people first? We make sure our kids have enough after school activity for their physical and mental development. We see our partners take time for themselves at the gym or playing golf with their mates. We prioritise spending more time at work caring for clients or customers, instead of taking that time to care for ourselves. We say yes to friends when we would prefer to be home taking the rest we need. I've even seen female clients book their husbands in for a massage before they look after their aches. Often it's the wife that books her husband in too.

When we see our female clients start to take care of their health first, we see the knock on effect it has for her family. We see her living life with less pain and doing more with the family. We notice her confidence increase and stress decrease. Her family see a role model for health and want to follow in her footsteps. Her friends and extended family or community see the changes and benefit from how much more she is able to give or achieve. I believe that focusing on the woman will ultimately help the whole family.

Opening up the Conversation on Taboo Topics

I have lost count of the number of times women have said "I just thought that was normal" or "why didn't anyone tell me that?". We see this most in our pregnant clients. Women are sharing the movie version and horror stories of labour but often we forget to talk about the more intimate or embarrassing parts. Many women still believe that's it's just a part of having children that you will now experience incontinence. It's a common effect of childbirth but there is help available so that it's not an issue long term.

Another common topic is period pain. Women believe it's normal to be in pain each month. Painful periods are a sign of something going on in our bodies that should be investigated. One in ten women are now diagnosed with endometriosis which can be a cause of these painful periods. Opening up on taboo topics, helps women seek medical advice and realise they don't have to live like this forever.

Enjoy a Better Pregnancy Experience

Sometimes Pregnancy Sucks! We see the images of glowing women with perfectly round baby bumps, clear skin and luscious locks. Unfortunately, the pregnancy experience can be much different for some women. We often don't know how to manage the pain, the changing body or the hormonal symptoms that occur. We feel that we just have to deal with it and don't know where to get help. It's also a time of high anxiety, fear and misinformation. There are some health providers who will not touch a women in her first trimester for fear of miscarriage. There are others who will only provide gentle pressure to aching muscles which does not provide relief. I've heard the flip side where pregnant women are getting treated while laying on their stomach without support.

I've spent plenty of hours and continue to learn more about pregnancy and the postnatal period. Personally, my pregnancies have been tough so I'm passionate helping women experience a more comfortable pregnancy period. I support mums-to-be by providing firm massage with safe positioning to relieve muscular aches and pains.

Understanding How to Have a Safe Return to Exercise

Post Natal recovery is poorly represented. Women look at other women 'bouncing back' and feel that their body should be doing the same. Our bodies need time to rest and recover. Every body is different so for some, it will be easier to return to exercise and for others it will take some more TLC. I am very passionate about making sure women know what can be done following pregnancy and how to prevent any long term pelvic health issues. Following my own post natal recovery experience, I did a lot of study (and continue to do so) to understand what was happening with my body and how to heal issues. I experienced abdominal separation, recovery from a c-section, pelvic pain residual from pregnancy, breathing difficulties and migraines. All of these were able to be managed with corrective exercise, remedial massage, foam rolling, self massage and giving my body more time to recover before returning to intense exercise. Sharing what happened in my own body helps other women know that there is help available. I also hope to prevent women from rushing back into exercise without retraining some areas of the body changed through pregnancy.

Connecting us Together

I care about women's health so much and was sick of seeing so much rubbish being pushed into social media for women. I created a private Facebook Group - Empowered Women's Health Community to allow a space to exist where women could connect about health related issues. I am currently working alongside Erin Bailey - Naturopath and Holistic Nutritionist. She shares her expertise on nutrients for the body. I share information about pregnancy massage, exercise and important women's health topics.

I don't believe in telling people what to do but I want to show what is available and possible. I want to set a positive example through my own actions and it's not about being perfect. The group connects on many topics and while some don't share in the group, it opens up conversations with me in private. It's helping women connect and share even the most embarrassing issues.

To celebrate Women's Health Week on 6th September 2021, we have a jam-packed schedule to help you improve your health. All sessions are delivered online so they are free and accessible.

Women's Health Week Schedule:

Monday - Move it Monday
7:30am: Strength Training Workout with Melissa

10:00am: Daily Theme Chat - Melissa
Modifications with Exercise to help you get started.

Tuesday - Tricky Periods
10:00am: Daily Theme Chat - Erin
What your period is telling you about your hormones

Wednesday - Private Lives
10:00am: Daily Theme Chat - Erin and Melissa
Libido Boosters through nutrition and exercise

8:00pm: Special Guest - Kristen Briggs
Talking all things sexual health

Thursday - Mind Matters
10:00am: Daily Theme Chat - Erin and Melissa
Mental Health, Mindset and Self Care

8:00pm: Meditation Session with Erin

Friday - Slumber Party
10:00am: Daily Theme Chat - Erin and Melissa
Nutrients to calm the nervous system for sleep

4:30pm: Stretch and Relax Class for Better Sleep with Melissa

To be part of the action, join our free Facebook group - Empowered Women's Health Community today.

Categories: Women's Health