Power of the Pause: Menopause, Pain & Your Nervous System (ep 133)

In this episode of The Pain Free Athlete Podcast, Dana is joined again by longtime mind-body and women’s health expert Jennifer More, creator of The Dolphin Method and founder of the Power of the Pause menopause community on Facebook. They dive into how hormonal shifts in perimenopause and menopause impact the nervous system, pain perception, and everyday symptoms like anxiety, hip pain, sleep issues, and mysterious itching.Drawing on over 30 years of experience supporting women through pregnancy, postpartum, and now menopause, Jennifer explains why our generation is the “guinea pig generation” that is finally talking openly about this transition—and how that knowledge alone can calm an overactive fight-or-flight response. Dana and Jennifer share personal stories of panic attacks, chronic migraines, hip pain, and caregiving stress, and how nervous-system tools helped them move from fear and symptom chasing to curiosity, compassion, and choice.You’ll learn why estrogen interacts with neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, how it changes pain perception, and why many women are told “everything looks fine” even when their bodies hurt. Jennifer breaks down simple, accessible nervous-system practices you can do in 2–5 minutes a day, plus why movement, rotation work for hips and shoulders, and thoracic mobility are essential in this season of life.They also talk about the power of community healing—how sharing symptoms and stories in safe spaces reduces shame, quiets anxiety, and helps women stop suffering in silence. Jennifer shares details about her menopause-focused retreats in Sedona, Sonoma, and Monterey, where women get personalized nervous system support, corrective exercise, and time away to resetAbout Jennifer:Jennifer More is a global leader in prenatal and postnatal wellness, with over 30 years of experience as a yoga teacher, doula, childbirth educator, and clinical and medical hypnotherapist. She is the creator of The Dolphin Method, an integrative approach to pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery that weaves together yoga, corrective movement, hypnosis, and nervous system education. She is also the Executive Director of Prenatal International, a nonprofit supporting pregnant and postpartum people through trauma-informed care, with ambassadors in nine countries.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrenatalyogaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/Prenatalyoga/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@prenatalvinyasayogaWeb: https://prenatalinternational.org/https://dolphinmethod.teachable.com/www.dolphinmethod.comThe Power of the Pause is a space for navigating perimenopause, menopause, and beyond — a place to ask questions, share experiences, and feel supported during a powerful (and often confusing) chapter of life.This is a space for learning, shared experience, and community — not medical advice.SEDONA APRIL 29-MAY 3.https://www.retreatswithjennifer.com/sedona2026/If you’re curious but unsure whether it’s the right fit, connect for a short Zoom conversation to see if this is aligned for you. Schedule here: https://calendly.com/prenatal/retreat-consultDana’s Links:⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠Podcast Disclaimer:The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.