…I don’t care what your trainer, your cousin, or that influencer on TikTok told you—perimenopause is not the time to punish your body.

I said what I said.

And I know it’s controversial, because we live in a culture that worships “no pain, no gain,” hustle, and dieting your way into submission. But here’s the truth: if you’re struggling with hot flashes, mood swings, bloating, weight changes, or exhaustion, all that pushing is making your symptoms worse.

Your body isn’t broken.

It’s changing. And it needs care, not punishment.

I can’t tell you how many women I see in my classes who come in burned out from over-exercising, under-eating, and shaming themselves because their bodies don’t look or feel like they did at 25.

But perimenopause is not the season of life to bully yourself. It’s the season to listen. To slow down. To honor the fact that your hormones, your nervous system, and your energy are shifting—and you can either fight it (and feel miserable), or learn to flow with it.

Here’s what that looks like in real life:

• Choosing restorative movement (like yoga, walking, strength with rest days) instead of killing yourself with HIIT six days a week.

• Saying “no” more often and building rest into your daily routine instead of waiting for exhaustion to knock you flat.

• Eating in a way that stabilizes your energy instead of chasing the next “quick fix” diet.

I know it feels radical—especially if you’ve spent your whole life hustling and grinding—but caring for yourself in perimenopause is not optional. It’s survival. It’s healing.

So no, you don’t need to work harder. You need to work with your body.

And if nobody has given you permission to do that yet, here it is: you are allowed to soften. You are allowed to slow down. You are allowed to rest.

✨ If this hit a nerve (in the best way), come practice with me. My yoga classes are designed for this exact season of life—where healing and energy come from slowing down, not speeding up.