Spring into Action at Activate Body
Carlie Wacker is on a mission to flip the narrative on ageing and menopause and treat it as an exciting new chapter, with a little help from some friends.
My research into perimenopause has become obsessive and while it has become a topic that’s more widely discussed, most of the information we are being fed is negative.
If, like me, you find yourself doomscrolling on social media it feels like every post highlights the hot flushes, joint pain, brain fog, depression and weight gain that ‘cougar puberty’ brings (yes, that is what the cool kids are calling perimenopause).
Our office’s nominated ‘Sporty Spice’ Content and Creative Director Ali Smith was interested in how to prepare for perimenopause so we booked her into Activate Body for an assessment and mobility analysis for women over 40.
I tagged along to see what the team had to say about exercise as we age and what I discovered completely changed the way I feel about ageing – suddenly I was excited about getting older.
Activate Body’s co-owner and expert physiotherapist, Dr Viktoria Molloy, told us that in Japanese culture menopause is referred to as the ‘second spring’.
“The first spring is when you start becoming fertile and menstruating,” she said. “The second spring is menopause when you stop menstruating and you’re liberated from your fertility journey – it’s a time for women to nourish themselves and regenerate.”
Doesn’t that sound better?
At Activate Body, the first step in regeneration is understanding where you currently are, so a detailed assessment is where Dr Viktoria starts with ‘second spring’ clients. As we age, we often experience new aches and pains and it’s not uncommon for people in their 40s and 50s to experience back and knee issues and general discomfort.
To begin, Ali undergoes an assessment with Dr Viktoria to understand her health history and review any injuries that need to be treated before a personalised fitness plan can be created.
Ali has had issues with her Iliotibial band (ITB) so Dr Vik went through some tailored exercises to support her love of running and keep her moving safely.
Dr Vik also shares that perceptions of fitness after 40 have shifted with more women turning away from intense cardio in favour of resistance training, especially during perimenopause.
The science backs this up: declining estrogen can lead to decreased muscle mass and increased fat, while drops in progesterone and testosterone further affect strength. Resistance training helps combat these changes, preserving muscle and bone density, which reduces the risk of osteoporosis and injuries. This is where Performance Coach Tom Molloy, Viktoria’s husband and business partner, comes in. He takes clients through a thorough mobility and function assessment in the training studio to develop a custom fitness plan.
Ali is super fit and is no stranger to the movements Tom has her perform.
“Having a Performance Coach assess my technique is helpful as I want to be sure my movement is not damaging my body,” Ali said. “The resistance training was more challenging than expected; I loved it.”
Activate Body’s SMART (Strength Movement Allbody Resistance Training) program is customised for each individual client with a focus on sustaining strength and confidence.
Some women shy away from weight training fearing they will ‘bulk up’ but building muscle mass is difficult, especially post-50 without the same levels of growth hormone and testosterone as younger bodies. Tom reassures women that resistance routines are designed to build strong, functional bodies, not bulk.
“You’ll feel better and function better and be more stable with less chance of injury plus reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis by building bone density,” he says.
I remind him that this demographic is ‘always tired’ but I cannot argue with his response: “There is no better passport to longevity, health and wellbeing than being STRONG,” he says.
Ali and I both agree that we have learnt much more than we expected at today’s Activate Body session. Women are embracing their ‘second spring’ and placing more importance on their health and fitness once the kids have grown up and this phase is a real opportunity to invest time on our health and wellbeing.
Dr Viktoria and Tom Molloy are our allies in the regeneration chapter.
“It’s time to retrain the brain and body for this phase of life,” Viktoria says. What better way than with a thorough assessment with Dr Viktoria to understand any previous injuries or conditions; physiotherapy followed by a program tailored to your individual needs – and further supported by massage for ultimate relief.
“Activate Body’s massage therapist, Ashleigh, managed to find every single sore spot and relieve the tightness in my legs and, particularly in my shoulders from sitting at a desk,” Ali said. “It was the best massage I have ever had!”
Activate Body believes that moving your body the right way can lead to stronger muscles, improved mobility and enhanced overall wellbeing to activate our ‘second spring’ where life is embraced with a newfound sense of vitality and purpose.
More resistance and weight training, less cardio (yee ha!) will not only improve our physical health but also improve our emotional wellbeing and make the journey even more rewarding.
So, spring into action ladies. It’s time to retrain the brain and body and enter your regeneration liberation.
