How much do we really understand about our bodies as women, particularly as we move through pregnancy, childbirth, perimenopause and menopause?

In this episode of The Farnham Health & Wellness Podcast, I'm talking to Linda Stephens, a Farnham-based women's health specialist, yoga teacher and founder of Women's Wellbeing.

Linda's career began in television production, but her experiences of motherhood took her life in an entirely different direction. After a traumatic first birth, the challenges of caring for two very young children and navigating her son's complex health needs, Linda found herself struggling with her own wellbeing. A chance conversation about yoga teacher training eventually led her to a completely new career.

We talk about her experiences of pregnancy and childbirth, including a serious pelvic injury during her third birth, and how her own recovery inspired her to develop ways to help other women rebuild their strength and confidence.

Our conversation then moves into perimenopause and menopause, and the physical changes that can take women by surprise. Linda describes her own experiences of exhaustion, brain fog, sleep problems and burnout, despite already having years of experience working in women's health.

We explore pelvic floor health in particular, including bladder leakage, pelvic organ prolapse, the effects of hormonal changes, and why pelvic floor exercises aren't necessarily as straightforward as many of us have been led to believe.

Linda explains how she approaches pelvic health through movement, breathing, posture, releasing tension and strengthening the muscles that support our bodies. We also discuss the relationship between emotional stress and physical tension, and why understanding what's happening in our bodies is so important as we age.

Throughout the conversation, Linda shares her frustration that so many women reach midlife without the information or support they need. She's passionate about helping women understand their changing physiology, so they can continue working, exercising, enjoying relationships and participating fully in life.

We also talk about the pressures women put on themselves, the idea that being busy makes us valuable, and how difficult it can be to recognise when we push ourselves beyond our capacity.

Whether you're approaching perimenopause, already navigating menopause, recovering from childbirth, or simply interested in understanding women's health, there's a great deal to think about in this conversation.

FIND LINDA STEPHENS

Linda offers women's wellbeing classes, courses, individual sessions and mentoring, both locally in Farnham and online.

Website: https://www.lindastephenswellbeing.com

Women's Wellbeing online classes and resources: Homepage - WomensWellbeing.meLinda's InstagramABOUT THE PODCAST

The Farnham Health & Wellness Podcast is hosted by Juliet Hollingsworth and recorded in Farnham, Surrey. Each episode explores the science, stories and ideas behind living well through conversations with local people you can meet, learn from or work with.