The M Word (MENOPAUSE!)

In this episode of The Stories That Sparkle, I sit down with my good friend Mandy for the kind of chat we might have at brunch and talk about the many different symptoms of “The Change,” aka menopause, or, in her case, perimenopause. Along the way, we take some significant detours, reveal some major stuff to each other that we did not know before, and discover all the different ways we now know how to advocate for ourselves.

So, I invite you to get comfortable, sit back, and listen in.

Scroll down to connect with Mandy, find links about menopause, perimenopause & osteoporosis, and read the beautiful and personal note Mandy wrote for all of you after we recorded this episode and for which she gave me permission to share and post. (You can also get all of that on my Substack).

MORE ABOUT MANDY LOY

Mandy Loy is a yoga teacher, personal trainer, and wellness advocate who blends modern movement science with ancient healing practices. With a special focus on yoga for the nervous system and bone health, Mandy supports women navigating perimenopause and helps clients build bone density safely and effectively through strength training, yoga, and holistic practices. She teaches group yoga classes at Valley Health Wellness Center and works privately with clients at Body Elite Wellness Center where she works directly with clients with osteoporosis and osteopenia. She also offers specialized workshops and private yoga sessions at Body Elite.

To connect with Mandy, find her on Instagram @mandyloyyoga or reach out to her via email at [e-mail]

LINKS TO RESOURCES

some suggestions for places to include as you start or expand your own inquiry. take what you like, add your own, and leave the rest.

THE (M) FACTOR – Shredding the Silence on Menopause (This documentary film (first aired on PBS in October 2024) is a great place to start for both some history to how we got here, where things stand now and where we want to go in helping women navigate menopause).

Mayo Clinic - Osteoporosis (Overview)

Strength Training Builds More Than Muscles

Society for Women's Health Research

What You Should Use To Treat Vaginal Dryness (This just one resource. Ask your doctor for more information including inserts such as VagiFem and YuvaFem that can help. Both of those require a prescription and either should be covered by most insurance prescription drug plans. Coverage and costs will vary depending on insurance and pharmacy so confirm with your doctor or pharmacist).

Perimenopause - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

Menopause Symptom Checklist - National Menopause Foundation

To hear more about hormones and ADD/ADHD, visit Harmonise You on the web or on Instagram (Adele is a women’s health practitioner in the UK)

A PERSONAL NOTE FROM MANDY

Life isn’t always graceful. Sometimes it’s gritty, heartbreaking, and tangled in shame. And sometimes, it’s all of that and beautiful.

My story isn’t linear. My parents divorced when I was in third grade. My dad wasn’t around. My grandmother—my heart—was the only one who truly saw me. I had a baby in high school, and while everyone loved him, I didn’t feel like anyone loved me. I wasn’t told I was doing a good job. I was just quietly drowning in the weight of responsibility and the absence of comfort.

When the co