Why Ancient Yoginis Never Faced Menopause Symptoms

by Lalitha Viswanath | May 1, 2025

Exploring the Wisdom Behind Traditional Yogic Lifestyles

If you’re a woman living in Dubai—juggling deadlines, managing a household, and navigating hormonal changes—you’ve likely wondered why menopause feels so overwhelming. Hot flashes, mood swings, disrupted sleep, and anxiety become part of the daily vocabulary. But what if we told you that ancient yoginis didn’t face these symptoms the way we do today?

It wasn’t magic. It was methodology—a lifestyle built on rhythm, movement, food, and breath.

In this blog, we explore how traditional yogic living helped women glide through menopause with grace—and how you can adapt those insights to your modern, fast-paced life in the UAE.

The Modern Menopause Experience in Dubai

In a city as vibrant and demanding as Dubai, many women find themselves silently battling the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Between work meetings, parenting, and maintaining social commitments, the body’s hormonal shifts can feel like a heavy load.

But here’s the good news: menopause doesn’t have to be a struggle. And yoga shows us why.

The Yogic Way of Life: What Were Ancient Yoginis Doing Differently?

Ancient yoginis lived by principles that supported the body’s natural hormonal transitions long before the word “menopause” was even used. Their daily routine (dinacharya), seasonal practices (ritucharya), and yogic philosophy promoted a lifestyle that worked with the body—not against it.

Here’s how:

1. Consistent Daily Rhythms

Yoginis followed a strict yet nourishing daily routine aligned with the sun and moon cycles. Waking up before sunrise, practicing movement and breathwork, eating meals at fixed times, and sleeping early all contributed to hormonal balance. These routines helped regulate the circadian rhythm, which directly affects the production of cortisol, melatonin, and estrogen.

Modern tip: Aim to wake up and eat meals at consistent times—even during busy Dubai workweeks. Your hormones thrive on predictability.

2. Movement That Evolved with Life Stages

Instead of high-impact workouts, yoginis practiced asanas tailored to their age and energy levels. As they transitioned into midlife, they leaned into more grounding, cooling, and restorative poses that supported their joints and endocrine system.

Modern tip: Incorporate gentle yoga sequences that promote circulation and reduce inflammation. At Pratimoksha, our women’s yoga therapy sessions are designed specifically for this.

3. Focused Breathwork (Pranayama)

Breath was—and remains—the core of yogic longevity. Ancient practices like Sheetali (cooling breath), Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing), and Bhramari (humming breath) helped manage heat, anxiety, and mood swings.

These are not just spiritual practices—they’re tools for nervous system regulation and hormone control.

Nutrition Rooted in Nature

Yoginis consumed seasonal, sattvic (pure) food that supported gut health and digestion. Ayurveda teaches that hormonal imbalance is often linked to digestive fire (agni). A sluggish digestive system can hinder the metabolism of hormones like estrogen, exacerbating menopause symptoms.

Modern tip: Eat whole, easy-to-digest foods. Add spices like cumin, fennel, and turmeric to improve gut function. Stay hydrated, especially in the Dubai heat.

Emotional and Spiritual Practices

Many yoginis practiced daily meditation and mantra chanting. These weren’t religious rituals—they were emotional anchors. When emotions surged (as they often do during hormonal shifts), yoginis had internal tools to return to balance.

In a city like Dubai, where stress is often hidden beneath designer bags and boardroom smiles, emotional regulation is key.

Modern tip: Just 10 minutes of guided meditation can reduce cortisol and improve serotonin levels. This makes a huge difference in how your body processes stress and transitions.

Why This Still Matters Today

Our environment may be different—air-conditioned offices instead of ashrams, Zoom calls instead of community circles—but our bodies still speak the same biological language.

Hormonal fluctuations during menopause affect every part of a woman’s life. Yoga offers more than poses—it offers a philosophy of living that harmonizes body, mind, and spirit.

By adopting even a few ancient yogic habits, you can shift from merely surviving menopause to thriving through it.

A Sample “Yogini-Inspired” Day for Menopausal Ease

Here’s what a simple modern adaptation could look like for a woman living and working in Dubai:

6:00 AM: Wake up. Drink warm lemon water. Gentle spinal stretches.
6:30 AM: 20-minute yoga session focused on hip openers and supported inversions.
7:00 AM: Light breakfast—steamed veggies, oats with cinnamon, or moong dal.
Mid-morning: Deep belly breathing for 5 minutes at your desk.
Lunch: Fresh vegetables, whole grains, and a cooling mint drink.
Evening: 15-minute walk or restorative yoga, followed by Bhramari pranayama.
Night: Unplug screens by 9:00 PM. Journal one thing you’re grateful for.

Simple? Yes. Powerful? Absolutely.

Final Thought: Rediscovering the Wisdom Within

Ancient yoginis didn’t escape menopause—they moved through it with awareness and alignment. You can do the same. Whether you’re in your early 40s or already experiencing symptoms, it’s never too late to return to your body and breath.

Yoga is not a replacement for medical care, but it is a powerful complement. At Pratimoksha, we specialize in Women’s Wellness Therapy programs that blend the ancient wisdom of yoga with the realities of modern Dubai living.