A new Coffee Talk for you. I am very happy to share my conversation with Shakti this week. Those who have known me for a while may know how much I care about hormones and how important it is to talk about them.

I got to know and love Shakti through my hormone yoga training. Not only has she had her own yoga school for 18 years, she teaches hormonal yoga and also trains yoga teachers to teach hormonal yoga.

Now learn more about it yourself, treat yourself to your ME-TIME, get your coffee or tea and immerse yourself in the world of hormone yoga.

DW: Dear Shakti, thank you very much for your time. Would you like to share a few words about yourself so that readers can get to know you too? How did you get into yoga yourself?

Shakti: Of course. My husband and I have had our own yoga school for 18 years. It all started much earlier. My husband and I discovered yoga when we were studying. Back then, yoga helped us to leave the stress of exams behind and to find our balance.

I then worked successfully as a biologist at a university clinic and everything went very well. Despite my professional success, I felt that something was missing. I felt that I had to go a different way. I felt an inner conflict. On the one hand there was the successful career, on the other hand I felt this inner struggle that I actually have a different perspective on medicine, wanted to look deeper and not just how to treat symptoms. This inner conflict ultimately led to my thyroid disease. The thyroid has always been my inner weak point. Back then, in a short-circuit action, I had my thyroid operated on. At the same time, I quit my job at the clinic. That was like a literal “cut” in my life back then.

As life goes, two weeks after my operation I saw an advertisement in the newspaper about yoga training. I registered directly and immediately felt at home during this training. As a result of the training, of course, I practiced yoga much more intensively and I don't know whether this was also the reason why my thyroid had completely regenerated a few months after the operation. A few months after the operation, I no longer had to take any medication.

DW: What a wonderful story. How did you finally come to found your own yoga school?

Shakti: I discovered a love for yoga. And luckily my husband too. We then spent several years together in the USA and India and really immersed ourselves in yoga. When we came back we knew that yoga is our way. We started our own school together and then taught yoga full-time.

DW: How did you personally get into hormone yoga?

Shakti: When we had our yoga school full time, all kinds of people came to us. Children, pregnant women and thus also many women came before and during the menopause. At the time I thought that menopause was still a long way off for me, but I found the topic very exciting. I discovered the book by Dina Rodriguez, the founder of Hormone Yoga, by chance and so that was the starting shot for me to deal with the topic.

DW: Would you like to explain to the readers what exactly Hormone Yoga is? So that they can get an idea.

Shakti: hormonal yoga is a combination of physical exercises and breathing techniques, as well as anti-stress [1] and relaxation exercises. The exercises are designed to primarily target the glandular system (the ovaries, thyroid, pituitary and adrenal glands).

There is an activating part during the practice that specifically stimulates the glands and helps to activate our healing powers and then there is the balance, the calming part that helps us shut down and relax our body. This keeps the nervous system in balance. And only in this way can the hormonal system regenerate and the system automatically comes into equilibrium.

DW: For whom is hormone yoga particularly suitable?

Shakti: hormonal yoga is particularly suitable for women going through menopause. Hormone yoga is also particularly suitable for women aged 35 and over, as a prevention for menopause or for women who are struggling with premature menopause. It is also highly recommended for younger women who want to have children or for women with menstrual cramps. It is also for women who do not want to undergo conventional drug-based hormone replacement therapy due to the known side effects or who want to support this with hormone yoga. Hormone yoga is also very suitable for men, especially prostate problems or hormone-related erectile dysfunction. Hormone yoga is also recommended for men and women with thyroid disorders, sleep disorders or depression.

DW: Do you need previous knowledge to practice hormone yoga?

Shakti: No, while hormone yoga exercises are intense, they are easy to practice.

DW: Would you like to share something with the readers? Do you have a tip that you would like to pass on?

Shakti: My experience as a yoga teacher, especially hormone yoga, has shown me how important it is to talk to others about what challenges us. We women in particular so often think that something is wrong with us, that we are doing something wrong, or that something is wrong with us. The more we talk about it, the more we see that others feel the same way. We are not alone and there are others who understand us.

DW: I can only confirm that. I myself have already found myself in situations where I've done wrong for my body. When I was struggling with hormone problems myself, I often thought that something was wrong. So, as you say, I think it's so important that you find a place where you can communicate. I think it's so nice that hormone yoga classes for women form this place and that like-minded people can find each other and that you can communicate and confide in yourself without being judged.

Finally, tell us where to read more about you. Who would like to know more about hormone yoga or what you do. Where can I find more information about you and your wonderful work?

Shakti: on my hormone yoga page www.hormonyogatraining.de there is a lot of information about hormone yoga and on our YouTube channel “Yoga Vidya Speyer” there is a whole playlist to try out and practice.

In addition to hormone yoga, my special yoga love is Yin yoga, functional anatomy and mindfulness practice. Our 2-year yoga teacher training, which starts every year in January and is also possible online, is our jewel and brings a special depth to our lessons every week. You can find all information about this on the website of our school: www.yoga-vidya.de/speyer.

DW: Thank you very much for your time and your contribution to the Coffee Talks. All the best