‘Lifestyle medicine helped me reinvent midlife’

‘If you’d told me 20 years ago that I’d swap a successful career and a regular income for yoga mats, wild swims, and women’s retreats, I’d have laughed. And yet stepping away from that old life has opened doors to new-found freedom, health, and happiness that I’d never imagined was possible.

I spent more than two decades working in probation and criminal justice, rising through the ranks from a volunteer to senior leadership. It was challenging, often rewarding, sometimes heartbreaking. As I turned 50, the time I was giving to the job versus the amount I was being paid compared to my male peers started to grate. I was ready to reclaim my life. So, one day, I simply said, “Enough.” And I resigned.

I still remember my last day clearly. It happened to be my 50^th birthday. I was sitting in yet another meeting, watching the clock while my daughters were at home preparing for a trip we’d planned together. In that moment, I realised I didn’t need to be there. I banged my hands on the table, told my colleagues I was going and walked out.

That moment was the start of my midlife reinvention.

Grief, yoga, and a new beginning

I started working for a probation charity, enjoying the support and collaboration of empathetic colleagues, but, not long after, life handed me another turning point – my mum died suddenly. Grief hit me like a tidal wave.

For weeks, I was floored by fatigue and sadness. One afternoon, I spotted my yoga mat rolled up in the corner. I’d dipped in and out of yoga over the years but three children and a toxic marriage (thankfully over by then) meant I’d never had the time or headspace to do any more. But in that moment, I thought, maybe I’ll just lie on it. That tiny act was the beginning of healing.

From there, I discovered yoga could be more than exercise—it was medicine for my body, mind, and soul and helped me through the loss. Within a year, I’d signed up for teacher training, spending weekends in a village hall with an inspiring group of women. It was transformational, a way of reconnecting with myself after years of pouring energy into everyone else.

Yoga was key to Louise’s midlife transformation

Menopause: a time of awareness

As I moved deeper into yoga, I began to notice changes in my own body. Irritability, brain fog —the signs of menopause crept in. At first, like many women, I didn’t make the connection. But through my yoga practice,  I began to notice the patterns.

I realised menopause wasn’t something to fear—it was something to meet with curiosity. Breathwork helped calm my racing mind. Cold water swimming lifted my brain fog and gave me a sense of exhilaration I hadn’t felt in years. Strength training, yoga, and balance practices helped me protect my bones and pelvic floor. Herbs like ashwagandha supported me when anxiety spiked.  I discovered that lifestyle itself could be medicine. It was time to leave the probation world and dedicate myself to sharing what I’d learned with other women.

Creating a new path

Today, I call myself a yoga teacher first and foremost, but really, my work is about guiding women through midlife with compassion, humour, and practical tools. I teach yoga classes online, run retreats in the UK and Portugal, and offer something I call a “meno-break”—a personalised retreat at my home in Northern Ireland where women can rest, reset, and discover what works for them.

Some women come with best friends, others arrive solo, but what they all leave with is a sense of renewal. One guest told me that plunging into cold water for the first time was the only thing that had ever truly silenced her busy mind. Another said she finally understood how to work with her body instead of fighting against it. Those moments remind me why I do this work.

Wild swimming at Portavoe Beach near Louise’s home in Northern Ireland

Lifestyle as medicine

When people talk about “lifestyle medicine,” it can sound lofty or complicated, but to me it’s simple. It’s about the everyday choices that either deplete us or heal us. Movement. Rest. Nourishment. Community. Breath. Stillness.

I always tell women: think of it as a toolbox. What do you need in yours? Something for body, something for mind, something for spirit, something for joy. Fill it with practices that you love, because if it doesn’t feel good, you won’t stick with it.

I know women are really busy, but if we don’t make time for wellness, we’ll have to make time for illness.

Sunset at Louise’s meno-break retreat

Looking back, moving forward

Looking back, I feel proud of my career in probation—I learned resilience, empathy, and courage in the face of tough challenges. But I also feel proud that I had the courage to walk away and choose something different. For years, I doubted myself, plagued by imposter syndrome. Now, standing in front of a yoga class or leading a retreat, I feel completely at home. This is the work I was meant to do.

Midlife isn’t the end of something—it’s the beginning of a powerful new chapter. Yes, menopause brings its challenges. But it also brings clarity, freedom, and the chance to put ourselves back at the top of the priority list.

So my message to every woman reading this is simple: don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself. Try new things. Build your toolbox. And remember—you are never too old, too tired, or too far along to start living fully.

This is our time.

Louise at Helen’s Bay

To find out more about Louise’s retreats, meno-breaks and other services, head to www.louisepitmanyoga.com

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