The Positive Pause

In this episode, Dr. Evan M. Rabinowitz, the founder of the Yao Shan Center for Chinese Medicine in Washington, DC, joins us for a conversation about acupuncture for menopause symptom treatment relief, the importance of treatment for the individual, how the body is an ecosystem and how holistic & Eastern medicine focus on addressing and balancing the entire system rather than just a single problematic issue.

Acupuncture as a medical practice has existed for thousands of years and it used to be the predominant healing practice, yet the Western world still sees it as “alternative medicine.” Eastern medical practice is more than just sticking needles and mixing herbs together. Underneath lies a worldview that all living things are connected and that everything has its own course and cycle. This perspective brings a holistic approach to health and medicine, recognizing that changes in one part of the body or the external environment can cause seemingly unrelated symptoms.

Dr. Rabinowitz has been in clinical practice for over 25 years, is a professor at Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts in Asheville, NC and a lecturer at Georgetown University School of Medicine's Integrative Medicine Program in Washington, DC. He’s the former Director of Chinese Herbal Medicine at the Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH), where he helped create the University's Masters and Doctorate programs in East Asian Medicine during his eight-year tenure. He also taught and supervised Chinese herbal medicine at the Academy for Five Element Acupuncture in Gainesville, FL. He is a graduate of the George Washington University (B.A.), Traditional Acupuncture Institute (M.Ac.) and Maryland University of Integrative Health (D.Ac.). Dr. Rabinowitz maintains an active teaching schedule, offering continuing education for practitioners online and in-person across the US and internationally.

Dr. Rabinowitz's goal is to see each person as unique and whole, and offer to them individualized, compassionate care for both chronic and acute pain. He has specialty training in gynecology seeing a broad range conditions throughout the lifecycle, including painful or irregular periods, fibroids and cysts (including PCOS), endometriosis and menopause related issues.

In this episode, Dr. Rabinowitz discusses:

• The history and definition of acupuncture
• Eastern medicine's approach to and treatment options for menopause
• Understanding menopause from a holistic, empowering perspective
• Finding and receiving individualized treatment by a qualified, licensed practitioner

Dr. Rabinowitz also shares an empowering perspective for women: since puberty, our bodies have been working to sustain and bring new life. With menopause, our body's energies and systems shift to sustain and nourish just our own life. This is an important and significant time for a woman, and there’s a unique power that comes with it.

Tune in to this enlightening episode to gain a deeper understanding of acupuncture and how Eastern medicine offers a holistic, empowering approach to managing menopause and overall health.

Connect with Dr. Evan M. Rabinowitz:

• Website: https://evanrabinowitz.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evanrabinowitzseminars
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/yaoshancm

In this episode, Rebekah Rotstein, NCPT, joins us for a conversation about the unique health challenges women face at midlife particularly regarding bone health and osteoporosis, and ways in which women can maintain and build bone health and muscle strength.

Rebekah Rotstein, a leading expert in Pilates, bone health, and movement education, is the founder of Buff Bones®, a medically endorsed exercise method focused on bone and joint health. Buff Bones® offers on-demand programming, online coaching, and professional training at esteemed institutions like Johns Hopkins Rehabilitation Network. With trained instructors in over 30 countries and free public education webinars through UCLA Health, Rebekah is a global advocate for bone health. She also shares valuable tips, exercises, and information through social media.

Rebekah’s journey began as a ballet dancer, leading her to work in the Sports Medicine department at Smith College as a student athletic trainer in 1994. She later trained and certified in the Pilates method and has taken extensive course in other modalities. After being diagnosed with osteoporosis at the age of 28, she was motivated to advocate for others with low bone mass and to provide innovative education and programming.

Rebekah serves on the Ambassador Leadership Council for the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF) and has partnered with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Women’s Health. She also contributes to the Bone Health Working Group for the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR), contributing toand the 2021 recommendations published in the Journal for Women’s Health.

In this episode, we learn more about the Buff Bones® program, as well as Pilates and strength training, exploring their role in bone health and menopause support, and how they benefit individuals with osteoporosis and low bone mass

We can lose 3-5% of our muscle mass each decade after age 30 if we aren’t active. We also loose bone mass in our early 30s and we reach our peak bone mass at age 30-35. And, once we hit menopause, we can lose 20-25% of our bone mass. So, it’s important to take some action now because the lack of action is destined to lead to decline of bone mass that could potentially lead to fractures down the road.

In this episode, Rebekah discusses:

• Tips for midlife women to maintain bone density and prevent osteoporosis
• Exercises we can do to improve our bone and muscle strength, balance and mobility
• Addressing joint pain and stiffness through fascia conditioning, movement, and strength training
• Benefits of somatic practices and improving interoception

Rebekah emphasizes that while Pilates is excellent for many elements of health, it should be complemented with other forms of exercise like strength training for bone health.. When looking to begin your health journey, start with activities that are enjoyable and seek professional guidance and accountability to make gains and stay consistent.

Connect with Rebekah Rotstein, NCPT:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekah-rotstein
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebekah.rotstein
• Instagram: https://www.i

In this episode, Stephanie Mitchell, a certified personal trainer (CPT) and the inspiring wellness coach behind Stephanie Mitchell Fitness, joins us for a discussion around how women can prioritize wellness through the complex journey of perimenopause and menopause. In our conversation, Stephanie shares insights on staying connected to our "why" in our wellness routines, staying resilient as our bodies change, and building community as a powerful support network during this phase of life.

Stephanie is a dedicated wellness, meditation and fitness professional who helps women to become stronger and more mindful so they may live their most fearless life, especially during their perimenopausal and menopausal years. Through a balanced and holistic approach to wellness, she helps women discover what’s right for them when it comes to changing up their routine when they reach midlife.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Build the life you want moving forward: One of Stephanie’s key insights is that motivation to stay active and healthy shouldn’t come from a desire to “get back” to our past selves but to build the life we want moving forward. Too often, we focus on goals like losing weight or looking younger, but Stephanie encourages women to go deeper and ask, "Why do I want this?" Whether it’s the energy to keep up with family or the strength to pursue new adventures, finding a motivating factor for the future helps us prioritize what truly matters.
  
• Small sustainable changes to build systems: Stephanie is a firm believer in small, sustainable changes over extreme, quick-fix solutions. Drawing inspiration from James Clear’s book, "Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad One", she encourages clients to build systems, like starting their day with just the act of putting on workout clothes before progressing to a workout routine. This approach keeps us from feeling overwhelmed and leads to long-lasting, positive changes in how we care for ourselves.
  
• Community’s role in keeping healthy habits: Whether we need to get healthy or maintain our health, community can play such an essential role in sticking with healthy habits. Studies show that people who exercise with friends or in groups are more likely to maintain a consistent routine. Whether working one-on-one with a trainer or joining a group class, community can provide accountability, encouragement, and a much-needed sense of camaraderie.

Connect with Stephanie

• Website: https://www.stephaniemitchellfitness.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-mitchell-074497335/
• Instagram: @stephaniemitchellfitness
• Your Empowered Evolution, A Podcast Dedicated to Women in Mid-Life Podcast

In this first episode of The Positive Pause, we interview Dr. Andrea Singer, MD, FACP, CCD, associate professor and chief, Division of Women's Primary Care and director of bone densitometry, in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., about women's sexual health at menopause. We discuss physical changes for women during menopause, treatments for physical symptoms related to sexual health at menopause and how women can approach their doctor or healthcare provider about questions or concerns they may have about sexual health.

In this episode, Dr. Samantha Dunham joins us for a conversation on the crisis around menopausal care as often, women experience menopausal symptoms without understanding what’s happening and without knowing where to go for help.

Dr. Samantha Dunham is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN), a certified menopause practitioner, and the co-director of the Center for Midlife Health and Menopause at NYU Langone Health. She’s also a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Dr. Dunham practices general gynecology and preventive women’s health, with a special focus on perimenopause and menopause and their roles in disease development. At the Center for Midlife Health and Menopause, she educates patients on what to expect during perimenopause and menopause and collaborates with them to develop treatment plans tailored to their symptoms and goals.

Menopause is a unique and individual experience. Women experience different symptoms at different stages of their lives, and they’re affected by factors such as ethnicity, genetics, nutrition, diet, exercise, and fitness. Symptoms can include mood changes, sleep disturbances, hot flashes, joint pains, weight changes, brain fog, heart palpitations and more, and can last for up to ten years.

In this episode, Dr. Dunham discusses:

• The need for holistic and integrative medical care for women in midlife
• Diagnosis of and education about perimenopause
• Different hormonal, non-hormonal and complimentary treatments available for the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause
• How women should advocate for themselves to receive the integrative medical care they need, including when they are dismissed when trying to talk with their healthcare provider about what they believe are menopausal symptoms

The women who see Dr. Dunham range from those experiencing symptoms to those who want to know more about what to expect during menopause. The unpredictability of menopause is what drives all of them want to understand the changes happening in their bodies.

Listen to this very informative episode to learn more about how menopause might affect you and the medical care you can and should seek to receive to help you navigate and manage your health at midlife to optimize your well-being.

Connect with Dr. Samantha Dunham:

• Bio: https://nyulangone.org/doctors/1124045802/samantha-m-dunham
• Website: https://nyulangone.org/care-services/center-for-midlife-health-menopause
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthadunham
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/NYULangone
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NYULangone
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/nyulmc/custom