Meet Sarah
Menopause Health Mediator and Strategist
Personal Trainer, Women's and Menopause Coaching Specialist, Health Researcher
I was a health economist for nearly 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry and then lost my job during COVID. I turned to health policy consulting but found that what gave me the most satisfaction was working one-on-one with clients at the gym, and conducting health research to support my own and other people’s health goals.
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My business is greatly influenced by my own health journey. I recently noticed that my body is changing and discovered I have started peri-menopause. Being a health researcher, I found out that this is a transition that can last up to 10 years until menopause hits, during which a woman may experience many new and frustrating symptoms that significantly impact her quality of life. She may not feel like herself, she may question her value in society, and she may be driven to make big changes in career, relationships, place of residence, hobbies and passions, etc.
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Post menopause a woman’s risks of cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, arthritis, osteoporosis, cognitive decline, and mental health issues skyrocket due to low levels of estrogen and progesterone (as well as testosterone). Despite this being a natural progression like puberty, there remains social stigma and gaslighting among the medical community, and women can end up feeling alone and defeated, which can exacerbate symptoms and negative experiences.
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Clinical practice has some tools for the management of menopause symptoms, assuming a woman is fortunate to have a menopause-trained health provider. But when it comes to lifestyle and self-care, it’s the wild west with many health "experts" promising to have THE answer. The truth is, women are all different, and what works for someone or even a large population of women may not work for your unique body, life, and preferences.
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Moreover, most people aren’t taught how to discern medical headlines and research to understand what is supported by high-quality evidence. Women have also routinely experienced dismissal in medicine because of a lack of education and research on women’s health, and due to societal gender bias. So, they end up outsourcing their authority to doctors or other health practitioners or experts, who may or may not have the right solution for them.
I started teaching strength training classes to women over 40 because strength training is the #1 evidence-based exercise type and lifestyle hack generally that can prevent and even reverse many common health symptoms during perimenopause and postmenopause.
Consistency in exercise and other healthy habits can also become a bigger struggle during this stage of life for many women, and community can help. Personal training is also expensive and can feel out of reach for many women - exercise classes can make it more accessible. I offer one-on-one coaching for lifestyle routine accountability.
I also created a support community where I map out menopause and women’s health specialists and wellness professionals in Ottawa, host educational sessions led by local experts on evidence-based solutions, and offer discounts to women-owned wellness businesses that meet women’s midlife needs.
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I also offer one-on-one support and teach workshops on becoming your own best health detective by learning skills to discern what information to trust and strategies you want to explore.
