The Power of Strength – Staying Physically Strong in Menopause & Beyond – The Happy Menopause Podcast

Season 6 • Episode 12
Christien Bird, Chartered Women's Health Physiotherapist

In this episode, we’re talking about strength – not weight, not size, but pure, functional strength. Because let’s be honest, we can spend far too much time worrying about one and not nearly enough about the other!

Strength is vital at any age, but as we hit midlife and beyond, it becomes essential. It boosts confidence, protects our bones, and keeps us active for longer. After all, what’s the point of making it to 90 if you’re too frail to enjoy it?

To explore this, I’m joined by the brilliant Christien Bird, a familiar voice on The Happy Menopause podcast. A women’s health physiotherapist with a passion for strength, Christien is in her early 60s, represents Team GB in triathlon for her age group, and has just signed up for an Ironman challenge – because she loves pushing herself! If anyone can inspire us to embrace strength, it’s her.

Together, we discuss:

• The barriers holding women back from exercise – and when they start
• Why strength is so important in midlife
• How it plays a key role in avoiding frailty
• Three different exercise personas – find out which one you are!
• Practical tips for getting started, even if you’re feeling shy

Tune in for an inspiring and empowering conversation that will change the way you think about strength!

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Show Notes

Find out more about Christien’s multidisciplinary White Hart Clinic

Check out Menopause Movement, the online menopause CPD course for health and fitness professionals. Follow Menopause Movement on Instagram and Facebook.

For the register of pelvic health physios, visit the POGP website or the Squeezy app site.

Discover the Moving Through Menopause classes at Place Leisure Centres.

Find out how your diet can support your strength regime in my book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help Your Flourish.

Biography – Christien Bird, MSc, MCSP

After training in the Netherlands, Christien Bird practiced as a musculoskeletal and pelvic health physio at a teaching hospital in London. . She also worked with the clinical research team at Brunel University London after gaining her Master’s degree in research methods at King’s College London. Christien founded the White Hart Clinic in Barnes in 1995, a busy multidisciplinary practice that offers musculoskeletal, pelvic health, psychological and medical services.

Her clinical practice is focusses on providing women’s health pelvic support to women treating bladder, bowel and sexual problems, with a particular interest in providing physio led Menopause MOT’s

She is one of  is the co-founder of the Menopause Movement online certified training and community platform for health and fitness professionals.

The movement has created a community and training platform for the fitness and health world to confidently treat & train women into the menopause.

She loves everything about movement, continues to compete as an age-group athlete for British triathlon representing Britain. Much of her drive is supporting women in enjoying movement and staying strong. Completely stepping out of her comfort zone, she has registered for an ironman in August 25, and will need all the support & advice she can get!