SHIRLEY LANE

POWERHOUSE GLOBAL MAGAZINE (PGMAG) INTERVIEW WITH:

SHIRLEY LANE (SL)

PGMAG: Shirley, welcome to today’s interview with Lady Anita.

SL: Thank you, it’s a pleasure to talk to you.

PGMAG: Please introduce yourself to our readers.

SL: I have a very varied background. I worked for many years in the Airline Industry in various roles. I have also worked in the Education sector and I have my own business alongside Forever Living (in the Health and Wellbeing Sector). I have always been very interested in holistic health and alternative therapies, and this led me to qualify in Holistic Massage, Indian Head Massage, Reflexology and I am a Reiki Master. I have also practised yoga and meditation for many years. More recently I studied NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) and I am a certified NLP Practitioner.

PGMAG: You are on a mission to change the narrative of how women in their menopausal age are being treated; how do you intend to achieve this goal?

SL: I confess I did not know anything about the menopause before it happened to me. As a menopausal woman myself, I was therefore surprised at how much this affected both my body and mind every day. Personally

I found there was little support in the workplace and even other women and friends are often reluctant to talk to each other, which means the menopause can be a very difficult and lonely time.

Luckily I have been able to manage my symptoms holistically. However, I recognise that many women are not aware of what is happening to them, and are suffering both mentally and physically because they are not receiving the support they need. I feel strongly that this is a subject which needs to be discussed, so that other women and subsequent generations do not remain ignorant.

I am keen to share my experiences and encourage women to support each other and forge alliances which promote the subject to a wider range of people. I am therefore promoting the subject of the menopause on Facebook, LinkedIn and via my NLP Business. I will continue to raise the profile of the menopause on whichever platforms are available to me in the future.

PGMAG: What is your message for women who are just entering into the menopausal stage of their lives?

SL:

You are not alone! The menopause is a natural stage of life even though it will be a different experience for each woman. Be open and talk about it and reach out for help if you feel you need it.

This is just the beginning of a new exciting phase and not the end. There is no reason why you should not remain healthy, and have many happy years ahead of you focusing on doing what you enjoy.

PGMAG: As an NLP practitioner, how important is it for people to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and what are some of the steps needed to achieve this?

SL: It is really important for people to maintain a healthy lifestyle, as this has a direct impact on how healthy you are both physically and mentally. For me being healthy includes the mind, body and soul. Sometimes we tend to focus on just one aspect of health e.g. exercise. Whilst this is important, the mind is also crucial to our well- being. One of the difficulties of the menopause is that it is different for every woman. However there are some general tips which are helpful for everyone. Reviewing what you eat is always useful. It is good to try to eat less processed food and more fresh fruit and vegetables. Also reducing your intake of sugar, caffeine and alcohol can help the body to work more efficiently.

Regular exercise is important for everyone, but it needs to be something you like and will be happy to do every day e.g. taking a walk. Remember it is consistency which is the key. Working on keeping your mind healthy is vital as well, and I think this is something which has become particularly apparent during the last year and the pandemic.

Practising things such as yoga and meditation regularly can really help with both mental and physical health. Something I have discovered only recently is Laughter Yoga, and this is not only beneficial health wise but also fun to do and watch!

PGMAG: Please tell us about your new programme.

SL: There are three stages to the menopause. The first stage, the perimenopause, can start at any time after the age of 35, and may not finish until a woman is in her mid- sixties. Each woman is different so the age at which she has the menopause and what symptoms she experiences are unique. However one of the symptoms of both the perimenopause and the menopause is a feeling of being overwhelmed. The old usual “self” disappears, and a general feeling of frustration, mood swings and not being able to cope may happen as the oestrogen levels change.

I have a new programme called “Refresh, Reset and Recharge” which consists of four separate one hour sessions, and it is specifically designed with menopausal (and perimenopausal) women in mind. I work with clients on a one to one basis. By using a combination of NLP and holistic techniques I help clients reduce their feeling of being overwhelmed, and provide some practical techniques they can use themselves. I also provide a personalised meditation for each client which they can take away with them and use whenever they need it.

PGMAG: What is your message for world leaders?

SL: To be honest with people. To work together to ensure a safe, peaceful, healthy world for this and subsequent generations.

PGMAG: What are the top three books that changed your life?

SL: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E Frankl. – This book is inspirational and shows how powerful the mind is, and how it can work for you even in the most difficult of circumstances. It is the book that started my interest in self- development. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne – Until I read this book it had never occurred to me how important it was to be positive, and the impact this has on both yourself and others. Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod - I now do the steps suggested by Hal every morning if possible and it makes a significant difference on how my day goes.

PGMAG: What is your message for women who are struggling with low selfesteem?

SL: I think self-esteem is a huge problem with a large number of women for a number of different reasons. However I would say trust your intuition, believe you are worth it, and ask for help if you need it.

PGMAG: Finally, what would you say to your younger self?

SL: Trust your intuition more and enjoy the journey. Time goes quickly so it’s important to enjoy every step. Remain open minded as you never know what is around the corner.

PGMAG: It’s been great having you on today’s interview – Thank you for your time.

SL: Thank you for inviting me.

PGMAG: Please share your links with us.

SL: www.linkedin.com/in/ shirley-lane-balancingbutterflies Facebook - https:// www.facebook.com/ helpingwiththemenopause https://www. facebook.com/groups/ keepcalmwearemenopausal