Let’s talk about something that every single one of us will go through, aging.

And let’s talk about it without shame.

This month in Chi Flow with Jo, we’re embracing our core, our curves, our changing hormones, and even that taboo topic… Incontinence. 

Because the truth is: we’re not broken, we are not failing. We’re evolving.

And we don’t have to do it alone.

That’s why I invited the incredible Dr. Karen Ward, psychotherapist, Irish Celtic shaman, energy therapist, Holder of Moon Mna, sea swimmer, and author of many books including, Secrets of Ageless Aging, to join us for a heart-opening chat about vitality, menopause, sensuality, and core strength.

She’s also giving a free mid-month talk as part of Chi Flow with Jo, and believe me, you don’t want to miss it.

Before then, here are 3 daily practices you can start right now to reclaim strength, prevent leakage, and feel juicy, joyful, and fully alive, whatever your age.

1. Strengthen Your Core… and Your Confidence

Core strength isn’t just about abs,it’s about dignity, energy, and grounding. Karen swears by daily pelvic floor exercises (also known as Kegels or ana bandha in yoga) to keep her pelvic floor strong, her breath deep, and her body juicy.  These muscles are deeply connected to how we stand, how we breathe, and even how we express our sexuality.

💡 Practice:

Right now, take a deep breath and gently draw up your pelvic floor, imagine sipping a smoothie through a straw placed in your vagina and up to your womb.
Hold for 3–5 seconds, then release. Repeat 5 times.
Do it daily. Do it while brushing your teeth. Do it while waiting for the kettle to boil. Just do it.

And if you feel any shame around this topic, know this: your body is wise, not broken. 

2. Make Your Practice Your Superpower

When life falls apart,and it does, your daily practice will hold you together.

Karen says, “The real secret of ageless aging is what you do every day,what you eat, drink, think, and how you move.”

Whether it’s Qigong in Chi Flow with Jo, yoga, a sea swim, or a simple walk in nature,what matters most is consistency.

Practice: Connecting Heaven and Earth Qigong

This gentle yet powerful Qigong movement connects you with yin energy from the Earth and yang energy from the Heavens. It stretches the spine, clears emotional tension, and resets your whole system, body, breath, and mind.

How to Do It:

1. Stand tall and soft.
   Find a peaceful space. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Let your arms hang naturally.

    

2. Inhale – draw up yin energy from the Earth.
   Slowly raise your arms out to the sides, palms facing downward toward the ground. As your arms float up, inhale deeply and imagine drawing nourishing yin energy from the Earth through the palms of your hands.

    

3. Turn palms upward – gather yang from the sky.
   When your hands reach shoulder height, gently rotate your palms to face up. Continue lifting your arms above your head. As you do, visualise inhaling the vibrant yang energy from Heaven into your body.

    

4. Exhale – release through the central channel.
   Begin lowering your hands down in front of you, palms now facing the body. Exhale slowly. Imagine the breath flowing down your central channel, from the crown of your head (Bai Hui) through your torso, down to your perineum (Hui Yin), and out through the soles of your feet.

    

5. Let go.
   With each exhale, allow any emotional tension, physical toxins, or stuck thoughts to release downward. Feel yourself becoming lighter and more grounded.

    

6. Repeat for 6–8 rounds.
   Move slowly, with breath and focus. Let your intention guide the movement, this is not just exercise, it’s a moving meditation.
   

🌿 Why it works:

In Qigong, we don’t just move the body, we move Qi (life force). When breath, focus, and movement align, we plug into something much bigger than ourselves. We connect, we clear, and we come home to the body.

This is one of the gentle yet transformational practices we do together every morning in Chi Flow with Jo.

“Human is a bridge between Heaven and Earth” ; Chinese Proverb

Talk to Your Body Like a Beloved Friend

Instead of battling your body, start listening.

Karen swims in the sea every day and describes it as a conversation with her body, her community, and the earth. The cold water, the movement, the wind, all reminding her that she’s alive, vibrant, and connected.

Practice:

Go outside. Breathe in.

Ask: Body, how are you today?

Then listen. You might feel an ache, a whisper, a craving for rest or movement. That’s your body talking.

Respond with kindness.

This kind of loving attention is not just healing, it’s revolutionary.

Honour Your Season: From Maiden to Crone

Aging isn’t a decline, it’s an unfolding.
In Celtic shamanism, women journey through three sacred rites of passage: Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Each phase brings its own wisdom, power, and purpose.

Yet for many women, entering the Crone stage, the post-menopause years, can be met with silence, shame, or the false belief that we are “past our prime.”

But in truth, the Crone is the Queen of the Flames, a woman who’s no longer driven by external demands, but who burns with her own inner fire. Her sexuality doesn’t vanish; it transforms. It becomes sovereign, expressive, and self-sourced.

Instead of battling your body, start listening.

In Chinese Medicine, the Huang Di Nei Jing maps out a woman’s energetic changes every seven years:

• Age 7: baby teeth fall, the first cycle of change.
• Age 14: fertility awakens, the first period.
• Age 21–28: peak of reproductive energy.
• Age 35: the Jing (essence) begins to subtly shift.
• Age 42: perimenopause begins for many.
• Age 49: menopause. The Crone arrives, not as an ending, but as a spiritual homecoming.

Practice: Express Your Light Without Shame

So much of our sexual and creative energy gets trapped in the pelvis, especially when society tells us to shrink, to dim, or to “act our age.” But your body is not shameful. It is shining.

1. Place your hands gently on your lower belly, just below the navel,this is your Dan Tian, the wellspring of your creative and sexual energy.
2. Breathe into this space. Feel it warm, soften, expand.
3. Let your hips sway, roll your pelvis in gentle circles, allow movement, breath, expression.

Say aloud or silently: “I honour this body. I express my light. I release all shame.”

Your sensuality is not about sex. It’s about life-force, how you speak, move, create, and connect.

Karen reminded us beautifully in our conversation: “You don’t have to be in a relationship to be sensual. Solo pleasure is powerful. And post-menopause, you might just find your desire for life and pleasure skyrocket.”

Let’s not hide our fire. Let’s stop shrinking.
Let’s stop whispering about menopause and instead stand up and sing.

This is your season to shine, not in spite of your years, but because of them.

Find out more in my books GOOD FOOD BETTER SEX.

WATCH THE FULL PODCAST EPISODE WITH KAREN BELOW

Self-administered acupressure or Chinese Medicine is not a substitute for visits to qualified healthcare practitioners.

Knowing how to treat yourself and your loved ones with complimentary therapies like acupressure can be greatly beneficial and convenient. However, for serious and chronic conditions, you’ll want to visit an Shiatsu therapist / Acupuncturist or other qualified healthcare practitioner who can develop a treatment plan based on your unique medical history and combination of symptoms.  

The information provided should not be considered medical advice.