I met a friend yesterday who runs a very beautiful yoga studio with spiritual, calm vibes. He got divorced with her partner a few years back. He mentioned their conflicts were rising by the day and she seemed angry all the time. She was frustrated about gaining weight constantly, even though she herself is a very dedicated yoga teacher. He further mentioned, she was constantly becoming very concerned about how her skin health was deteriorating, she was piling up a lot of bloat around her face, her hair had become very scanty over years which was bother her too. Her belly fat seemed cemented there forever, even after much workout & yoga practice. He believes, it was her inner unhappiness with herself and her body image, that made her become very irritated & every single conversation about anything, turned out into irritable responses leading to bigger conflicts & finally divorce.
I was listening to all this, and there was a separate thought going in in my mind. I asked him, what's your ex's age. He said nearly 45 years, & here I could understand & explain to him how the shifts in her body & mind during peri-menopausal years may have been a huge contributing factor for their divorce.
Being in the same stage of life, I know how a troubled perimenopause can completely ruin a women's skin, beauty, confidence, energy, relationships and everything a woman is. Thankfully, I was aware and educated enough in ancient holistic modalities to know what's going in my body & mind in these years & switched my way of life to a very dedicated hormone-friendly lifestyle rooted in Yoga & Ayurveda to create a preventive environment in the body, rather than a destructive one.
Perimenopause is a profound transition, a phase where the body begins its graceful shift from the reproductive to the wisdom years. But while this period marks deep inner evolution, it also brings visible changes especially in our skin, hair, and overall body composition.
Do you know there was a study done on divorcing couples & it was found that most divorces are filed by couple sin their 40s & 50s. That clearly is the phase of perimenopause for women!
What Changes in a Woman in Peri-Menopausal Years that Changes Her Beauty, Appearance & Life?
It's the feminine hormone estrogen! This deeply nourishing hormone estrogen has long been called the 'beauty hormone' for good reason. It gives a woman the drive, the radiance the sensuality and the courage to face the worls right in the eye. It influences collagen production, skin hydration, elasticity, and the natural plumpness that gives the face its youthful softness. Estrogen in the feminine world is the controller of everything in a women's body, mind & life.
Till the time you have enough estrogen moving in the body, skin stays youthful & plump, the hair is lustrous, thick & shiny, body has those beautiful curves & weight is optimally maintained in women. Precisely estrogen is a true feminine hormone in its literal sense supporting & controlling a women's appearance, how she feels about herself & her state of mind.
As estrogen levels begin to decline during perimenopausal years, the skin & body begins to reveal subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle shifts such as:
- Loss of firmness and elasticity due to reduced collagen synthesis
- Dryness and dullness as natural oils decrease
- Increased fine lines and wrinkles
- Thinning hair or change in hair texture
- Shifts in fat distribution, especially around the belly and hips
- Mood fluctuations due to changing neurotransmitter activity
These are not merely 'aging signs', they are reflections of the inner hormonal dance that affects every tissue in the body.
Yogic Connection Between Hormones
In Ayurveda and Yoga, hormonal system is seen as part of the body’s subtle energetic network, governed by Prana (life force) and Apana Vayu (the downward flow of energy).
As estrogen dips, the fire element (Pitta) and air element (Vata) often become imbalanced, leading to symptoms like heat flashes, dryness, restlessness, and insomnia. These imbalances manifest on the skin as dryness, sensitivity, pigmentation, and a loss of inner radiance. Through Yoga and Ayurvedic lifestyle, we can restore Samya, the equilibrium, by calming the nervous system, grounding Vata, and nourishing Ojas, the essence of beauty and vitality.
How Yoga Helps Rebalance the Peri-Menopausal Body & Skin
Yoga becomes a sacred ally during perimenopause. It not only harmonizes hormones but also restores emotional steadiness and skin vitality through its effect on the parasympathetic nervous system. Following approach to yoga practice deeply harmonizes the imabalnce of hormone estrogen in peri-menopausal years
- Restorative and Yin Yoga - Includes deeply calming postures like Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclined Bound Angle Pose) and Viparita Karani (Legs up the Wall) that soothe the adrenals, reduce cortisol, and allow estrogenic balance to stabilize naturally.
- Pranayama (Breath Practices) - Includes cooling breaths such as Sheetali and Chandra Bhedana, that reduce hot flashes and Pitta-driven skin inflammation. Nadi Shodhana balances both brain hemispheres, bringing emotional and hormonal equilibrium.
- Gentle Flow & Twists - Includes gentle Vinyasa movements to stimulate lymphatic flow and circulation, helping oxygenate the skin while preventing midsection stagnation that often leads to belly fat accumulation.
- Meditation & Mindful Stillness - Hormonal fluctuations often bring mood swings and anxiety. Meditation supports serotonin and dopamine balance, the same pathways estrogen influences, helping you feel radiant from within.
Perimenopause doesn’t have to mean the fading of radiance, it is an invitation to shift beauty from outer appearance to inner essence. Through Ayurvedic beauty rituals, nourishing fats like ghee, and mindful yoga, you can nurture your skin, body, and spirit into this new phase of womanhood with grace.
As I explained all this to my friend and how the shifts in the body & mind impact a women's beauty, skin, confidence, life, aspirations & relationships, and how men ought to me more understanding during those years of this beg shifts in her life, he just said one thing, 'I wish I knew all of this in those years of separation!'