Name: Sandra Senior

Menopause phase: Perimenopause

Place you call home: Newark, NJ

What you’re creating: Business, Community, Products.

Age: 56

1. Rituals can be deeply personal. What is one personal practice you’ve adopted to embrace the transitions of menopause?

Breathework and meditation helps with many symptoms such as hot flashes, anxiety, depression.

2. Have you redefined beauty in this stage? If so, how? Do any of your rituals support this definition?

Beauty develops as I learn to love myself more. Appreciate the beauty within and outer beauty. My meditation with affirmations helps my positive mindset and keeps away any negative self talk.

3. Is there a particular practice—whether it’s movement, meditation, or something else—that has become essential to your well-being in this current stage of your life?

Breathework and meditation.

4. What role does your community or your sista circle play in your menopausal and aging experience, and do you share any rituals with other women that support this journey?

Yes I hold menopause sister circles for the sisterhood. Fire side chats, meditation, Breathework and journaling to support our journey.

5. What does the concept of sacredness mean to you as you age, and do you honor this stage of life through any special rituals?

This is a sacred time as not only is my body elevating, I am also elevating spiritually. I am entering the crone, wise woman period. A time to share my wisdom and rituals with other women.

6. Looking back on your pre-menopausal years, is there anything you wish you had known or done differently to prepare for this transition? How does this wisdom shape your rituals now?

I would have researched more, asked more questions. I also would have approached what I put on and in my body cautiously, not to affect my hormones.

7. How do you define well-aging, and what does it look like for you?

My well-aging approach is natural holistic lifestyle to be able to have the last half more joyous and active life.

8. Everyday Rituals: Share one ritual for each of the following, that you've not shared above

Daily Ritual: Breathwork.

Weekly Ritual: Nature walk for grounding, nature bath, sunbath, relaxing happy hormones.

Monthly Ritual: Visiting a bathhouse or a spiritual bath at home.

Yearly Ritual: A getaway must include the ocean. It’s my happy place.

Connect with Sandra:

Instagram - @iriesalonandspa | @sistersrootsandherbs