13/02/2026
Menopause may be a natural life transition, but for many women it can feel confusing and isolating.
Hot flushes, brain fog, sleep disruption and a host of other symptoms can leave people feeling disconnected from their bodies โ yet open conversation about this shared experience remains surprisingly rare.
Starting this month, local yoga teacher and therapist Katie Garnett is helping to change that, offering evidence-based menopause workshops in Busselton that blend science and movement, with a focus on supporting quality of life through perimenopause, menopause and beyond.
Katie's inspiration came from her own experience.
"I've struggled over the last three years to identify the cause of multiple health issues and to seek appropriate help," she shared.
"A girlfriend sent me a podcast on menopause and the many symptoms that can result from hormonal changes.
"That information empowered me to seek the right help."
That moment of understanding soon became a desire to do more.
"It was this gap in women's education that inspired me to complete further Yoga Therapy training in menopause and offer these workshops to the community," Katie said.
"My aim is to empower women with information and knowledge so they can seek the support they need."
Her Menopause Yoga Therapy workshops directly address that need.
They offer a warm, supportive space where women can learn what's happening in their bodies, share their stories and explore practical tools to help them cope.
By bringing together information, understanding and community, the workshops support an area of women's health that is often overlooked.
No two women experience this stage of life in quite the same way.
For some, the transition can feel relatively smooth; for others, it can be a deeply disruptive, bumpy road.
Around one in four women experiences menopause symptoms severe enough to significantly affect daily functioning.
This reality has led Katie to adopt a more comprehensive approach to support.
Her work integrates medical understanding with complementary practices.
"Hormone replacement therapy is the gold-standard intervention and can be life-changing for many women.
"However, it doesn't always eliminate all symptoms, and some women may not be able to take it or choose not to," she explained.
In such cases, yoga therapy provides valuable support.
"Complementary therapies don't replace medical care - they complement it.
"Yoga practices โ movement, breathing, meditation, mindfulness, nervous system regulation, and mindset work โ can be combined with medical treatment to support self-management of symptoms, stress regulation, sleep, and physical function."
The workshop series comprises nine sessions, each focusing on a different aspect of the menopause transition.
"Each workshop offers its own blend of theory, practice and philosophy," Katie said.
"Participants can expect practical, evidence-informed content that combines up-to-date menopause education with mind-body practices to support wellbeing."
The sessions also focus on long-term health beyond immediate symptom relief.
"Oestrogen plays an important regulatory role in multiple systems, including brain function, vascular and musculoskeletal health, and bone metabolism," Katie explained.
"After menopause, oestrogen plateaus at a lower level, which is why evidence-based approaches that support these systems are so important for healthy ageing and longevity."
The final workshop, Menopause for Men, will be co-delivered by Katie and husband Dave.
"It's for partners of menopausal women to help them understand the changes their partners are going through and to offer practical ways to support them during this transition," she said.
The senior yoga teacher of 15 years, therapist and studio owner supports her students with a strong foundation of experience, and is a qualified school teacher and workplace trainer.
"It's time to shine a light on the shadow of menopause. Greater awareness, education, support and destigmatisation are crucial to normalising what is a natural life transition that affects half the population," Katie said.
"Rather than seeing menopause as something to simply 'get through', this life stage can be an opportunity to reassess lifestyle habits and establish daily health and wellbeing practices."
The first workshop in the series, Menopause 101, begins on Saturday 21 February, from 1 - 3 pm.
For more information or to book, contact Katie on 0408 938 495 or info@katieyoga.com.au
