A WOMAN who took up open water swimming and marathons during the menopause is on a mission to educate UK workforces about the ‘taboo’ subject.
Diane Evans, from Matlock, believes that there is still a long way to go before the menopause is ‘normalised’ and that more needs to be done to spread awareness of the side-effects, which can include hot flushes, anxiety and fatigue.
The 56-year-old said: “Every individual who goes through the menopause will experience different symptoms. I believe that more needs to be done to educate both women and men about the menopause and that should start at a young age, during sex education in schools.
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“For me, I began questioning every decision I made during the menopause. I lost my way a little. I found that there was very little information out there for women going through the menopause.
“I had been a successful well-being coach for several years but was lost and wasn’t sure what direction my life was going in.”
Diane turned to Derby life coach Kul Mahay for support and guidance and credits the former police chief superintendent with helping to turn her life around. He was also on hand, offering advice and meditation sessions, when she had a panic attack prior to her first open water session.
“Kul is very humble and truly wants to make a difference in the world,” she said.
“I attended a couple of his Ignite Your Inner Potential conferences and was blown away with how good they made me feel. I had all these ideas on the direction I wanted my life to go in – but wasn’t sure what to do next.
“Kul and his team made me feel empowered and I had a massive mind-shift following our meetings. He made me realise that age is no barrier to success and happiness and not to compare myself to others.”
Diane used her new-found confidence to move her well-being business into a new direction; she is now a menopause consultant offering educational workshops, support and coaching to organisations looking to retain female talent. The grandmother of two has worked with Nottinghamshire Police and the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), educating them on how to support their staff during the menopause.
“Self-care is the ultimate care,” she said, “people really need to start taking better care of themselves, being a little more selfish and embracing ‘me’ time.
“Diet and what we eat can have a profound effect on women during the menopause. Middle-aged women living in Japan have very few menopausal symptoms because of their diet; a traditional Japanese diet includes eating beans, especially soybeans, which can help to combat hot flushes. Only 7 per cent of Japanese women experience menopausal symptoms because of their diet.
“Exercise is proven to help with mental well-being and, for me, was essential during the menopause. I’ve always been an active lady but, during the menopause, I took up open water swimming and started training for marathons. I wanted to push myself and exercise is a release for me.”
Recently, Channel 4 launched a ‘menopause policy’ for all employees. It is believed to be the first media organisation to offer its staff a private, cool and quiet workspace and a range of support and guidance. Their HR team will also have a dedicated menopause champion to assist with this.
“We need to get people thinking and talking more about the menopause,” added Diane, “currently, only 10% of the UK’s workforce have some sort of menopause policy in place.
“The side effects of the menopause can be debilitating but, with help and support, we can continue to nurture female talent.”
Diane is looking forward to working alongside Kul as his Ignite Your Inner Potential conference returns to the Riverside Centre near Pride Park, Derby, in January.
Ignite Your Inner Potential work with leaders and companies in the UK encouraging them to think about the power of creating people-centred cultures. The conference, which will take place on Saturday, January 11 will see a wide range of speakers take to the stage to share their stories of success. Each speaker has been personally coached by Kul through his unique intensive public speaking programme.
Early bird tickets are available by visiting www.kulmahay.com
ENDS
This press release was issued by Penguin PR. For more information or to arrange interviews please contact Kerry Ganly on 07734 723951 or by emailing [email protected]
