Will My Ethnicity Impact My Menopause Experience? – With Fitness Expert Lavina Mehta

How does your genetic, social and racial heritage affect your menopause? And how can you future proof your body right now? In today’s episode of ‘Is It Hot In Here?’ Dr. Naomi Potter is joined by Lavina Mehta MBE, who shares her deeply personal and compelling story about embracing menopause in the face of it being a “taboo subject” socially and culturally. She tells how making her husband do an IG Live about what she was experiencing saved many marriages. And how, as an award-winning personal trainer and wellness coach, she has developed multiple one-minute tricks to future proof her body and brain during mid-life. Join Naomi and Lavina as they play with armchair exercise and deep-dive into the ways our cultures can affect our experiences. Further reading and resources: Follow Lavina below: Lavina's Instagram: @feelgoodwithlavina Lavina's YouTube channel: ⁨@feelgoodwithlavina⁩ Lavina's book The Feel Good Fix: https://feelgoodwithlavina.com/lavina-shop/ Stay up to date with Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below: Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter Is It Hot In Here's Instagram: Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/ Submit a question for Naomi to read at: [email protected] #lavinamehta #drnaomipotter #menopause Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:30 South Asians go through menopause 5-6 years earlier 00:02:36 Menopause and fitness 00:03:08 Anxiety and perimenopause 00:03:30 Brain fog 00:06:51 Women's health being taboo 00:08:19 South Asian experience of menopause 00:10:10 Involving men in the menopause conversation 00:11:38 A fear of judgement within Lavina's culture 00:13:45 "We need trust" 00:14:59 Lavina's journey to becoming a personal trainer 00:18:24 Exercise snacking 00:19:54 Making exercise accessible 00:20:52 You only need 11 minutes of exercise 00:22:22 We're all sitting for too long 00:23:41 How to future proof your body 00:24:27 Lowering stress levels 00:25:07 Exercise vs HRT 00:25:31 Strength training is the answer (start now) 00:26:56 Resetting your nervous system 00:27:35 Lavina's experience on HRT 00:31:00 Talking to your mum about menopause 00:32:18 Entering menopause 00:34:37 Lavina is having a menopause party! 00:35:35 Periods being a "shameful thing" 00:36:37 Will my menopause symptoms go away? 00:38:14 Dealing with hot flushes 00:39:59 Exercises for joint pain 00:43:03 Exercises for back, neck and shoulder pain 00:44:41 Outro