Short answer: yes, for most women, but not for the reason most articles give you.
Perimenopause changes things nobody fully warns you about. Sleep gets unreliable. Strength you used to take for granted seems to slip away faster than it should. Some days your own body feels like it belongs to someone else.
We’re movement educators, not medical practitioners, so we won’t pretend to have all the answers about what’s happening hormonally. What we do see, consistently, is what happens when women in this stage of life start moving with intention again. Strength comes back. Sleep often improves. That sense of feeling like a stranger in your own body starts to fade.
Fiona J. came to POC during this stage of her life and noticed changes beyond the physical. In her words: “I feel stronger in my posture. I have increased mental clarity and enjoy general wellbeing.”
That’s a common thread. The benefit isn’t only in the muscle. It shows up in mood, clarity and a steadier sense of self.
It is not only women deep in perimenopause who feel this. Kerri E. began strength work with us and, in her words, has “gained 5.5kg muscle and lost 6kg”, the sort of change that does far more than shift a number on the scales at this stage of life. Muscle is what protects your bones, your metabolism and your independence as the years go on.
Where to start
Everyday Strength is often the right starting point here, because building muscle and bone density matters more than ever during this stage, and doing it in a small, attentive class means you’re never left guessing whether you’re doing it right.
If you’d like to understand more about navigating this stage of life, Jean Hailes has excellent, trustworthy resources written specifically for Australian women.
If this sounds like where you’re at, come and talk to us. We’ll listen first, then work out together what kind of movement actually fits what your body needs right now.