My Midlife Wellness Rituals
Off The Mat
Investing In My Future Self
When I first discovered yoga, my goals were very different. I was fascinated by headstands, arm balances and finally touching my toes! Flexibility, strength and mastering the next impressive pose felt like success.
But as the years have gone by, my yoga practice has become far less about contorting my body into shapes and far more about creating healthy habits that support my body, mind and nervous system. I still love turning myself into a pretzel, but I know I need to nourish my body if I want to keep doing what I love yoga, running... and yes, sugar!
I'm certainly not planning on becoming a bloated couch potato! So my experimenting with simple wellness practices that support longevity, energy and healthy ageing alongside my yoga practice has led me to this. Because it's not just about how well you move today, it's about how well you'll move in the years to come. It's an investment in your whole self, mind, body and spirit.
That philosophy inspired my book, Yoga and the 36 Menopause Symptoms, which shares practical lifestyle tools to help women navigate midlife. Since writing the book, my own journey has continued to evolve. Alongside yoga, I've introduced additional wellness practices, ''off the mat'' into my daily routine.
These are products and tools I've invested in after much research and many conversations with doctors, teachers and educators along my path. They support how I want to age, with strength, energy, balance and vitality.
These are not miracle cures. They are simply tools that complement a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
The smallest habits are often the easiest to maintain, and consistency is where lasting change begins.
Thank you for trusting me, supporting my work, and allowing me to continue creating educational yoga and wellness content.
Life, Love and Light,
Sue Yen xx
Castor Oil Packs
This has become one of my favourite daily rituals.
Whilst castor oil has been used traditionally for generations, my teacher taught me that the quality of both the oil and the materials used really matter. If you're going to invest in a castor oil routine, in my opinion it's worth investing in quality.
When choosing castor oil, these are the factors I personally consider:
• Organic, hexane-free, cold-pressed castor oil.
• Stored in a dark glass bottle.
• Never stored in plastic, not even during transportation from source to bottle. From my learning, this is where contamination can occur, so don't be afraid to ask the company how their oil is handled before bottling.
• An organic cotton castor oil pack with an organic cotton flannel to help preserve and extend the life of your pack.
• Avoid synthetic fabrics and plastic layers anywhere near the oil or pack, as castor oil is a carrier oil and can absorb substances it comes into contact with.
Sue Yen's Tips:
Applying a castor oil pack over my liver has become a self-care ritual that I believe supports my detoxification, supports my nervous system and reduces inflammation.
Personal Recommendation: Castorvida
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I generally leave my pack on for at least one hour a day for 21 consecutive days. I use the same organic flannel throughout those 21 days before replacing it. Between sessions, I either hang my pack and flannel to air or store them in a glass mason jar, never in a plastic zip-lock bag.
When I receive new organic flannels, I pour boiling water over them before their first use and allow them to air dry naturally before first use.
It literally takes seconds to apply, and then I go about my day (at home) without giving it another thought. Some people I know sleep with the pack on overnight. I don't personally get on with overnight use, I find it too constricting.
Other areas of my body where I have also used my pack include my tummy, thyroid and breasts to help manage pain and help balance hormone health. In addition, I apply castor oil daily to my eyebrows, eyelashes, hair and skin to deeply nourish them.
These are simply practices that have become meaningful to my general health and are shared as my personal experience rather than as recommendations for treating any medical condition.
Vibration Plate
This has been a game changer in how I recover from my daily runs.
Not all vibration plates are created equal, and one of the most important things to consider is the frequency (Hertz), especially if you're investing in a machine that you hope will become part of your life long-term wellness routine. (I know that sounds a little dramatic, but it really is worth considering.)
As a midlife woman, I'm particularly interested in its potential to support muscle strength, balance, mobility and healthy ageing.
Having completed seven marathons, my goal isn't necessarily to run faster anymore, it's simply to keep running, or what resembles more of a gentle jog these days, for all my years to come.
What intrigued me even more was discovering that vibration plates, along with rebound training, have been explored as part of rehabilitation following the effects of weightlessness experienced by astronauts returning from space. Research has investigated their potential as an effective, low-impact form of exercise.
Some of the reasons I personally enjoy using a vibration plate include:
• Improving circulation
• Encouraging lymphatic flow
• Supporting muscle activation and strength
• Helping reduce muscle soreness
• Improving balance and stability
• Supporting bone health
• Encouraging the body's natural detoxification processes
Running has become a lifelong practice for me. My morning runs are sacred for my mental wellbeing, and I'd love to keep them pain-free for as long as possible. Stepping onto the vibration plate after a run has become one of my favourite recovery habits before getting on with the rest of my day.
Rebounder
As many of you know, I teach lymphatic drainage techniques through Bareface Yoga, and rebounding beautifully complements this work.
Because the lymphatic system doesn't have a pump like the heart, movement is considered one of the ways to encourage healthy lymphatic circulation. A few minutes of gentle bouncing each day is a wonderfully enjoyable way for me to move my body, elevate my heart rate. I’m hoping rebounding will continue to support my fitness, strength and mobility as I move through midlife and beyond.
Some of the reasons I love rebounding include:
• Lower-impact cardiovascular exercise
• Gentle on my joints
• Encourages full-body movement
• Supports balance and coordination
• Builds stamina
• It's fun and always lifts my mood
Fitting in an outdoor run simply isn't possible every day, especially on busy teaching days, so my rebounder helps me maintain my cardiovascular fitness. I usually spend a few minutes on it after my evening meal, which I personally find it helps with my digestion. I've also noticed that I tend to sleep particularly well on the evenings I've used my rebounder.
Here is a little food for thought: According to a 1980 NASA study, rebounding is 68% more efficient than running because it produces higher acceleration and body workload at equal oxygen consumption.
That certainly caught my attention… although I'm not quite ready to hang up my running shoes just yet!
La Sassy La Femme
One of the simplest additions to my daily routine has been wearing my La Sassy La Femme magnetic jewellery.
I originally became interested after reading about magnetic therapy and wellbeing, particularly in relation to hormone health, balance and overall wellness. Whilst research in this area continues to evolve, I personally enjoy wearing mine every day (for the past five years), especially while sleeping, as it fits effortlessly into my lifestyle.
Personal Recommendation: Le Balance
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Medical Disclaimer
I am not a medical doctor and cannot provide individual medical advice or recommend products for the treatment or management of any medical condition or menopause symptom.
Everything shared here reflects my own personal experience, learning and observations as a yoga teacher, menopause educator and wellness practitioner.
Nothing on this page should be taken as medical advice or as a guarantee of results. We are all beautifully unique, and what works for one person may not work for another.
Please consult your GP or another suitably qualified healthcare professional before introducing any new health product or wellness practice, particularly if you have a medical condition, are taking medication, or have any concerns.
Affiliate Disclosure
The products featured here are affiliate partnerships.
I have genuinely fallen in love with these products because I personally use them and they have become part of my own wellbeing journey. If you decide to purchase through one of my affiliate links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
In return, many of these wonderful companies have arranged exclusive offers and discounts for my community, allowing you to enjoy these products at a preferential price.