The Midlife Reset: Sleep, Strength & Joyful Living for Women 50+

What if menopause wasn’t an ending… but the beginning of your second spring?

For most of us raised in Western culture, menopause has been framed as decline, loss, disruption, or at best, something to “get through.” But in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), menopause is not a problem to fix — it’s a natural turning point. A gateway. A season of renewal.

This week on the Midlife Reset Podcast, I spoke with Clarissa Kristjansson, an expert in TCM and Qigong for women. If you’re tired of pushing, striving, and powering through, this conversation is your invitatio...

Midlife has a way of serving up plot twists we never saw coming. Some are beautiful. Some shake us to our core. But every once in a while, the twist is so sharp and so dark that it stops us in our tracks and makes us wonder: What now?

My guest on this week’s Midlife Reset Podcast knows that feeling intimately.Suzy Rosenstein was in her 50s when she faced a sudden job loss after nearly 20 years. No warning. No gentle transition. Just a knock on the door and a life she’d outgrown—but didn’t yet re...

Are you already dreading stepping on the scale after the holidays? Looking to get your routine back on track?

Real, lasting change is possible. Next year’s holiday season can feel lighter, calmer, and more joyful — and it starts with understanding the mindful way to initiate change.

Thanks for reading The Midlife Reset - Sleep, Strength and Joy for Women 50+! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Stay tuned as I share the three phases of change and provide solid support on how to implement them. I’ve...

Tis the season of parties. All those rich foods… fancy drinks. It’s no time to start dieting right?

Hell no! I’m going to give you three solid strategies for surviving the party jungle this holiday season.

I lost 25 pounds of menopausal weight and still enjoyed chocolate and crab cakes. Using the time tested tricks from mindfulness, you’ll be able to navigate the food minefields too without losing track of your goals.

Welcome to the Midlife Reset Podcast episode #40. I’m your host, Cheryl Gordon. Even as a yoga therapist, healthy eater and...

Pace of Change is Exhausting!

Cheryl Gordon:Do you ever feel the pace of change is just… exhausting? Every time you finally figure out one new app or platform or “must-have” tool, another one pops up — and suddenly, you’re behind again.

For many midlife women, technology has become a new kind of stress — one that quietly chips away at our confidence and keeps us from sharing our purpose or following those long-held dreams.

By the end of today’s episode, you’ll be on a path to reconnect with your courage, purpose, and possibility...

How many times do you get up in the night to pee? And is it easy to get back to sleep after?

Fariya and I have helped hundreds of women improve their breathing, which has resulted in better sleep, calmer bladders, and greater focus. Today, we’re going to explain the connection, provide accessible strategies, and get you on the road to greater energy for what you love. So let’s go!

Welcome to episode number 38 of the Midlife Reset Podcast. I’m your host, a yoga therapist, mindfulness coach, and your trusted friend when you ne...

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at the ceiling in the middle of the night, mind racing, you’re not alone—and you’re not broken. Modern life glorifies busyness and overstimulation, but our nervous systems haven’t evolved to handle the constant flood of light, noise, and information. Rest isn’t wasted time. It’s medicine.

In this video, I open with a story about my father, who grew up on a quiet farm where days were shaped by natural rhythms and nights were truly dark and still. Today, we’re bombarded by hundreds of faces, screens...

My guest today was a lifelong athlete — boot camps, spin, Body Pump, you name it. But one day, she looked down and thought, “Where did all this belly fat come from?”

That moment set her on a journey that might rewrite everything you thought you knew about midlife fitness.

Lynn Sederlöf-Airisto joins me from Finland to unpack the truth about what really works for women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond — and why so many of us waste hours at the gym doing the wrong kind of exercise.

We talk about wha...

Most midlife women I work with know they should take care of themselves—but guilt and old conditioning still whisper, “That’s selfish.”

My guest today, Robin Brock, shares how she flipped that narrative through the SHE Mindfulness Program. Once she began prioritizing her own health and happiness, her relationships deepened, her confidence grew, and life opened up in new and beautiful ways.

“It’s like an awakening.”

Cheryl: The funny thing is, once you started looking at life that way, your communication with your sons got richer, your health improved, and you became more vi...

Have you ever secretly dreamed of writing a book one day? Or maybe you just crave a good story that makes you feel seen in midlife — with all its challenges, changes, and surprising chances for reinvention. Today’s guest proves that it’s never too late to start something bold.

Gretchen Anthony published her first novel at age 48, and her latest, Tired Ladies Take a Stand, is striking a chord with women everywhere who are tired of being everything to everyone — and are ready to claim their own space.

So if you’ve ever wondered how to bal...

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Welcome back to the Midlife Reset Podcast, episode 33! I’m your host, Cheryl Gordon. Today, we’re diving into something every midlife woman has experienced—mood swings, irritability, that sudden sense of “I can’t believe I just snapped over nothing!”

Now, I want you to know—this isn’t just in your head. It’s real, physiological, and completely normal. Hormones, stress, sleep, and even nutrition all play a role in how we feel in midlife.

By the end of this episode, you’ll understand why your moods shift, what’s happening in your br...

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cherylgordonyt.substack.com

Do you look in the mirror and think… ‘What on earth happened to me?’”

It’s not like you’re being vain. It’s about the extra weight, bloating, the discomfort that creep in during midlife—making you feel unlike yourself. Today I’m sharing how hormones, stress, and mindful eating all play a role in midlife weight—and why the gentlest, most effective changes are often the ones we overlook.

Welcome to the Midlife Reset Podcast, episode #32. I’m your host, Cheryl Gordon and today I want to share a few secrets about how to lose midlife weight...

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Don’t get me wrong… I’m all about the fun. In fact, WTF? That was mine … but my acronym meant “where’s the fun?” Gotta figure out how it all morphed so terribly wrong.

Anyway…

Today’s topic is about F-U-N!

I’ve been in places in my life where it wasn’t much fun. I bet you have too.

What I didn’t really understand was that I was making a choice. Yup. A choice about the fun. I can make fun happen at a funeral (I’m bound to get letters on...

Are stairs getting trickier every day? Do you worry about needing surgery for your knees?

One of the most common reasons people seek out my yoga classes is that they think they have tight hips.

What if I told you that in my decades of experience, the most under-utilized strategy to ease knee pain or loosen hips had nothing to do with those joints specifically?

Every step you take starts with your feet. If they’re stiff, weak, or can’t move well, that lack of motion travels up the chain into your knee...

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cherylgordonyt.substack.com

Have you spent years pouring your heart into everyone else—only to feel drained, resentful, or even invisible?

You’re not alone. In this week’s episode of The Midlife Reset Podcast (Ep. 29), I sit down with life coach, author, and podcast host Denise Drinkwalter to talk about reclaiming your joy, setting boundaries, and putting yourself back at the centre of your life.

✨ In this empowering conversation, you’ll discover:

🔹 The difference between coaching and therapy—and when each is right for you🔹 How journaling can help you release anxiety and reconnect with your authentic sel...

watch the midlife metabolism podcas

If you’ve ever wondered why your body seems to respond differently to diets, exercise, or even your favorite comfort foods now that you’re in midlife, you’re not alone. In episode 28 of the Midlife Reset Podcast, I sat down with holistic nutritionist (and metabolism mechanic!) Sharlene Styles to answer your burning questions about midlife metabolism.

Together, we dug into hot topics like anti-inflammatory diets, intermittent fasting, collagen supplements, and how to navigate cravings with mindfulness instead of guilt. Here are the highlights.

The Anti-Inflammatory Diet: What Really Works

When it comes to fig...

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Cheryl Gordon: Yoga is supposed to heal you, so why did it hurt me? In this episode, my guest and I reveal the hidden risks of yoga for women over 50, and the essential steps to keep your practice safe, strong, and sustainable for decades to come.

Today, I'm so excited to have a great gab with Gillian Soder of Body Labs Yoga in Edmonton, Canada. Gillian is the creator and primary facilitator for Body Labs classes, workshops, and courses. She's been studying yoga and the human body for over 20 years, spanning a university...

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cherylgordonyt.substack.com

Has touch and connection quietly slipped off your radar since menopause? You're not alone—and you are not broken.

In this heartfelt episode of The Midlife Reset Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Sadaf Lodhi, a gynecologist and intimacy coach who helps midlife women reconnect with pleasure, confidence, and their sexual selves. We talk vaginal dryness, tanked libido, societal shame, and why midlife is actually the perfect time to unleash your inner goddess. Whether you're partnered or solo, you deserve thriving intimacy—and this conversation is a beautiful place to begin.

As women in midlife, many o...

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cherylgordonyt.substack.com

Does this sound familiar? I eat healthy all day long… green smoothie for breakfast, high fibre salad for lunch. Even at dinner, well, I start carefully. But then it tastes really good. And I’m not supposed to eat after dinner, so I’d better tank up now. Wouldn’t want to be hungry or I won’t sleep. And then I finish it all and think good, I’m full. But…. The night stretches out long ahead. I’m tired. But a little wired. My sweet tooth starts grumbling. What about a little chocolate??? Dark chocolate has antioxidants you know. Yup...

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cherylgordonyt.substack.com

A few weeks ago, while camping, my husband had a heart attack. It wasn’t his first cardiac crisis. But this time, it dawned that our lives would dramatically change. This wasn’t a fluke. It wasn’t a one time event. I could no longer live in that lovely dreamland of denial.

Welcome to episode 24 of the Midlife Reset podcast. I’m Cheryl Gordon, a yoga therapist committed to educating midlife women around losing weight, feeling stronger and sleeping better using the tools of yoga and mindfulness.

Today I’m sharing how I used awareness...

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cherylgordonyt.substack.com

Cheryl Gordon: I have a confession to make. I have a huge sweet tooth, and absolutely love anything salty and crispy. And I eat these things when I'm not hungry.

And I have eaten a lot of these things when I've been feeling stressed, or lonely, or depressed, or hopeless, or overwhelmed, and or, in general, states of grief. This is called emotional eating.

I don't think I'm alone, and my guest today is an expert in helping us understand and change our emotional eating patterns.

So welcome, everyone, to the...

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cherylgordonyt.substack.com

C: Let’s get real, girlfriends—how is it that we’ve had babies, managed families, worked our butts off, and hit midlife still unclear on our own plumbing? We whisper about leaking when we laugh or cry quietly about pain during sex, all while pretending everything’s fine. But it’s not. And we deserve better. This episode of the Midlife Reset is your permission slip to get curious, get informed, and take back control of your pelvic health, your pleasure, and your confidence. 

I’m talking with the one and only Dr. Teresa Irwin—aka The...

How many people do you know who’ve had knee replacement surgery… and were shocked when it didn’t fix the pain or restore their mobility? The truth is, your knee may be screaming — but your hip might be the one whispering the root cause.

In this episode, I’m breaking down what no one tells you in standard rehab: why working your hips might just be the smartest thing you can do for your knees — before or after surgery. If you or someone you love is dealing with chronic knee pain, don’t skip this one.

🔑 Key Themes:

* Bladder issues in midlife aren’t just about Kegels, surgery, or medication.

* The root cause is often dysregulation in the autonomic nervous system—especially chronic fight-or-flight activation.

* Pelvic floor muscles are deeply connected to nervous system function, not just mechanical strength.

🧠 The Nervous System Connection:

* The pelvic floor is innervated by the autonomic nervous system, which has two branches:

* Sympathetic (fight or flight): sends resources to the heart, lungs, and big muscles.

* Parasympathetic (rest and digest): nourishes the pelvic and abdominal organs.

* When w...

We’ve all heard it: “Gotta do your cardio!” I used to believe that too—spending hours sweating on the treadmill, chasing calorie burn in the hopes of shedding pounds. But here's the truth… it didn’t work. And honestly? It just made me exhausted and hungry.

Now I can promise you, that if you follow my advice, you can achieve your fitness goals and gain another 8 free hours this week. Yup. Eight hours wide open to spend doing something fun!

In today’s episode, we’re busting the cardio myth wide open. I’ll walk you th...

Many of you reached out after yesterday’s post. Thank you! I love y’all for your big hearts and caring.

Thought I would give you an update on how the rest of the day went and what I exactly did to navigate that craziness.

First, it was just what I said in the video. I had my own back. All through the snotty mess, I did not talk s**t to myself. Not once. I had 100% confidence that I would find my way to the other side of this dense mood. I trusted the proc...

In the above video, you are seeing the raw and real emotions of a midlife woman experiencing a difficult morning.

You usually see me bouncing about, full of enthusiasm for yoga and life. I love to teach. I live to share what I’m learning and get super pumped to see the wisdom blossom in your life too.

But life is full of contrast, isn’t it? In yoga, we talk about the sun and the moon… the male and the female energies. And that ancient practice understands that half the time…. yes, a full 50% of life…...

What if your weight loss journey had nothing to do with willpower... and everything to do with your relationship with yourself?

If you’re tired of diets, food guilt, and feeling like a failure every time you “fall off track,” this episode is for you.

Welcome to episode 18 of the Midlife Reset Podcast. I’m Cheryl Gordon, yoga therapist and educator for midlife women who want to lose weight, sleep better and feel stronger using the tools of yoga and mindfulness.

Today, I’ll walk you through 5 simple steps to start mindful eating

—a co...

What do you do when you’ve always been active—skiing, skating, cycling, playing racquet sports well into your 70s—and suddenly, your body says no more?

Let me tell you about June. By her 70th birthday, chronic pain had crept in. Nights were sleepless. The joy of walking had vanished. She was picturing a future where she was trapped in a chair, watching life go by.

Sound familiar?

If you’ve ever felt betrayed by your body… if you’ve tried everything from physio to pills, and still feel stuck… this episode is for you. Duration: 00:16:17

My clients always ask me: ‘Why can’t I fall asleep even when I’m exhausted?’ And my answer always surprises them: ‘Let’s talk about your morning.’

Because believe it or not, your sleep struggles don’t start at bedtime… They start the moment you wake up.

Welcome to the Midlife Reset podcast with Cheryl Gordon. I’m excited to show you how to sleep better, feel stronger and lose weight using the tools of yoga and mindfulness. Because a good night’s sleep is crucial to all these things.

Yes—what you do in your first wak...

You’ve seen the x-ray. It’s bone on bone. The pain’s been building for years and now surgery feels like the only option.

I get it. I’ve walked this path with so many clients—and here’s what I want you to know:

You don’t have to wait until after surgery to start feeling better.

Today we’re talking about prehabilitation—what it is, why it matters, and how it can help you recover faster, reduce pain, and feel stronger before you ever enter the operating room

Hi, I’m Cheryl Gor...

🧘‍♀️ Embracing Midlife Wellness

Midlife brings unique challenges—restless sleep, joint stiffness, and fluctuating energy. In this episode, we explore holistic approaches to reclaim vitality through mindful movement and breathwork.

🤝 Meet Fariya Doctor

With over 25 years in wellness, Fariya specializes in helping individuals enhance movement, alleviate pain, and improve breathing patterns. Her integrative approach combines manual therapy with movement education using the Feldenkrais method.

🧠 The Power of Habitual Movement

The Feldenkrais Method sheds light on unconscious movement habits. By exploring alternative ways to move, individuals can uncover patterns that may contribute to dis...

So welcome to episode 13 of the Midlife Reset podcast. I'm Cheryl Gordon, and I educate midlife women on sleeping better, feeling stronger, and losing weight using the tools of yoga and mindfulness. We release a new episode of this podcast every week, so be sure to subscribe so you don't miss anything. And, you know, share with your friends. We're really committed to supporting midlife women to rock the most exciting phase of their lives.

So let's share with our girlfriends. Now one of the biggest bonuses I've enjoyed since starting this podcast, not even a full...

Looking for some direction on how to begin your yoga journey? Click here for a FREE Essential Guide to Yoga for Women over 50.

Contact Heather through her website. Order the 100 Days of Care Workbook.

C: Welcome to episode number 12 of the Midlife Reset podcast. I am thrilled you're here. Today, you're going to meet a woman who is totally tuned into her heart vibration and made a wholesale shift midlife to follow her dream. So, please welcome Heather Fenton, from Gently Down the Stream Yoga, in beautiful lakeside, Port Colborne, Ontario...

C: Today on the Midlife Reset podcast, which is episode 11, by the way, you are going to finally get the answers you need about your hormones.

I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Laura Imola, naturopathic doctor and passionate advocate for women's health.

Getting this essential information out to women is a big focus of our work.

So Laura, can you tell me a little bit about your practice as a naturopathic doctor? Where are you located? How long have you been there?

L: I'm in Niagara Falls at Wynn Health Performance...

C: Welcome!  This is the Midlife Reset podcast, episode number 10!  I’m Cheryl Gordon.  I am dedicated to educating midlife women about sleeping better, losing weight and feeling stronger.  

Now here’s an embarrassing question.  Do you pee when you sneeze?  Do you avoid jumping or running for that same reason?  Do you spend way too much time in bathrooms in your life?  I totally get it!  My incontinence, which nobody knew about by the way, was affecting my life.  I stopped going for walks with friends because I was embarrassed how often I had to squat behind...

Get the complete one hour class FREE here.

We think of our bones as solid structures. They hold us up! But in reality, bone tissue is some of the most dynamic in the body. It’s changing all the time.

As we age, hormonal and other lifestyle changes can cause our bones to change in less than healthy ways. Our bones can become more porous as in the case of osteoporosis. We often don’t have any outward symptoms. Until there is some weird, unexplained pain and the X-rays reveal a fracture. Then the fear of G...

C: Blow my mind! Here we are at the last of our 8 part series on blasting that midlife belly. I’m Cheryl Gordon. I help midlife women sleep better, feel stronger and lose weight using the tools of yoga and mindfulness.

S: I’m Sharlene Styles, certified holistic nutritionist, life coach and metabolism mechanic.

C: We have delivered some essential info for women our age as we struggle with midlife metabolism melt down. But we have not discussed any diet. That’s because diet trauma is what is probably responsible, in part, for holding on to you...

S: Hey everyone, welcome! This is episode #7 in our series about midlife metabolism and weight loss. Today we’ll dive in to something rarely discussed. It might even be “taboo”! woot woot I’m Sharlene Styles, certified holistic nutritionist, life coach and metabolism mechanic.

C: And I’m Cheryl Gordon, I help midlife women sleep better, lose weight and feel stronger with the tools of yoga and mindfulness. And Sharlene, I’m so committed to having this conversation. Spoiler alert: we’re going to talk about S-E-X as well as some other key aspects of community and connection. Duration: 00:19:17

C: Hey, hey, hey and Welcome! You are discovering how to shed that midlife belly holistically and while having a lot of fun. Today we dive into drinking your water! I bet you are going to walk away “mind blown” when you realize how essential this is to your weight loss.

S: I’m Sharlene Styles, certified holistic nutritionist, life coach and metabolism mechanic.

C: I’m Cheryl Gordon. I help midlife women sleep better, feel stronger and lose weight with the tools of yoga and mindfulness. “I’m too busy to drink water”... “I don’t like the t...

S: Welcome, welcome, or welcome back! Today we’re going to take a look at how poor sleep sabotages metabolisms and give you real solutions. I’m Sharlene Styles, certified holistic nutritionist, life coach and metabolism mechanic.

C: And I’m Cheryl Gordon. I educate midlife women about losing weight, feeling stronger and sleeping better with the tools of yoga and mindfulness. This is episode five in our series Midlife Reset.

This is a huge and super important topic. For a deeper dive, Sharlene and I will be offering a four part video course later this y...

C: Episode 4!!! We’re so amazingly psyched to finally give you the action plan for managing the stress - weight connection. I’m Cheryl Gordon. I help educate midlife women about sleeping better, feeling stronger and losing weight using the tools of yoga and mindfulness.

S: And I’m Sharlene Styles, certified holistic nutritionist, life coach and metabolism mechanic. You want to lose that menopause middle or belly? The stuff that just appears out of nowhere it seems!

C: I know! And I was still exercising, eating healthy, etc. Where did all that flesh come from...

S: Welcome to Episode 3! Today I’m excited to bust a few myths about hormones and weight gain. That jazzes me - being a nutrition nerd.

C: This is Sharlene Styles, certified holistic nutritionist, life coach and metabolism mechanic. I’m Cheryl Gordon. I provide education about sleeping better, losing weight and feeling stronger for midlife women using the tools of yoga and mindfulness.

This is such an essential topic. All most of us know at this stage of life is that hormones are wonky and ruining my life!

S: For sure. What we m...

C: Welcome back to episode 2! Today, we’ll cover why caloric restriction is doomed to fail AND you’ll get some great strategies for befriending your metabolism. I’m Cheryl Gordon, yoga therapist.

S: And I’m Sharlene Styles, certified holistic nutritionist, life coach and metabolism mechanic. Here are the answers no one is talking about because selling you a medication, diet product or a supplement generates big recurring profits. Healing yourself naturally doesn’t generate ongoing revenue.

C: Sharlene, let’s show the Total Daily Energy Expenditure pic. For me, it totally made it clear why ca...

S: Welcome! It is so amazing that you’re here. This 8-part series is intended to break myths, empower women, and provide real, actionable steps. We’re going to help midlife women manage their weight without extreme diets or over-exercising.

I’m Sharlene Styles, a holistic nutritionist, metabolism mechanic, and life coach.

C: And I’m Cheryl Gordon, a professional yoga therapist. The real reason I’m here - partnering with Sharlene - is because I wish this resource had been available to me ten years ago

S: After years of helping women transform...