Ruth Dewar’s Interview with Emma Quittenton

Ruth Dewar’s interview with Emma Walkerdine

NU-U LAB is delighted to welcome Emma Walkerdine, a menopause coach, onboard. Here, Ruth grabs five minutes with Emma to discuss why she feels so passionate about giving women the correct advice and support about menopause. 

Hi Emma, We all have a story about why we are where we are today – I am intrigued by yours. Can you tell me what drove you to be a menopause coach?

My first career was in the emergency services, which taught me the importance of staying fit and strong for physical and mental well-being. In 2018, I qualified as a Personal Trainer with the leading teaching company in the country, gaining my NASM qualification. 

My passion has been functional fitness - fitness that mimics your everyday life. Your body is your most significant investment and deserves the best. A substantial body can help to promote a robust and healthy mind.  

In 2019, we decided to leave suburbia and buy a hilltop farm in beautiful West Yorkshire, where I was born. The farm had no heating and a very leaky roof. The access was via a dirt track, and within the first month, we'd written off our car. Just four years on, and we're now running a small but successful working farm. 

In 2021, after suffering from anxiety and physical health issues, I finally realised I was menopausal. I had sought advice from healthcare providers and realised their knowledge was often limited and contradictory. I reached out to friends who also felt let down and confused. This convinced me to train as a menopause coach.

What support do you give as a menopause coach?

Many of my personal training clients are women in their mid-forties, and I noticed a pattern in their conversations with me—aches and pains, anxiety and often anger. Most have been offered anti-depressants - as I had, and were told to rest and take it easy as they were getting older. 

I spoke to friends and realised no one was getting any menopause advice. A medical practitioner had given me incorrect information, so I decided to educate myself, which led to my gaining a certificate in menopause. 

I now run 121 group sessions. The groups are small, with a maximum of ten women at each one, so we all feel safe and secure sharing. We look at the symptoms and how small changes to nutrition and movement can help with some symptoms. 

I then teach them gentle exercises to help with muscle and bone mass. I also explain HRT, giving the ladies the knowledge to make the right choices for their bodies and lifestyle. We chat about experiences with health care professionals, leading to role plays to help build confidence when speaking to their doctor or nurse. It's part conversation and part education and lots of myth-busting. We end with breathing techniques for anxiety and relaxation. As much as I give knowledge, we all learn from each other. They then choose to join our WhatsApp group to carry on sharing and learning.  

Is there anything women can do before they hit menopause to ease the symptoms?

Some women may not get any apparent symptoms; we all react so differently to the fluctuations and eventual loss of much of our oestrogen, but one thing that we will all get is muscle loss and, to one degree or another, bone density loss. Adopting a good exercise routine with varied movements, including cardio, resistance, and impact, will undoubtedly help our journey into this phase of our lives. 

Can you give 5 top tips for women heading towards menopause who are unsure about the right body choice?

1. Please pay attention to your body, learn to recognise changes and listen to what it’s telling you

2. Lift weights 

3. Talk to your mother if it's possible, as menopause often follows patterns in families

4. Talk to friends about changes. DO NOT be ashamed of menopause. 

5. Seek medical advice, but don't be pushed in a way you don't feel comfortable. 

You mention you bust menopause myths   - which is a key one you have heard? 

There is a misconception that you have to have a blood test to get HRT over 45 years old - this isn’t true. Once you hit 45 years old - you don’t need a blood test at all before they can prescribe it.

There are many myths surrounding menopause and HRT - iIt's pretty frightening. Luckily, I bust them all during my course, and the ladies get all my notes, enabling them to spread the word. 

For more information on how NU-U LAB can support you during menopause and to book a session with our Menopause Coach Emma Walkerdine drop the clinic an email and we will get back to you.