Everyone take a deep breath in, hold for four, let it out, and hold there for four. Now breathe normally.
In those 16 seconds, you interrupted the fight or flight signals from your amygdala to the rest of your body. That reduces stress, increases focus, and lowers your heart rate. Box Brething, also called Combat Breathing, is deceptively simple, but so effective that it's used by first responders and navy seals to manage their stress loads.
Now, menopause may not be combat, but it sure feels like it some days. So, I focus on simple, repeatable acts like this that improve a woman's ability to cope. Because, in menopause, precious little feels simple.
I'm a good referral for Fran, the gym nut who wears tie-dyed t-shirts and is obsessed with Zuumba. Ask her how many sneakers she owns.