Two Ōamaru women are determined to fill in all the blanks for those staring down the barrel of menopause.

Movement Hub owner Stacey Pine and Yoga teacher Margie Mitchell have put together Ōamaru Menopause Conference: Thriving through the stages.

Margie says the menopause industry has become a little bit like the weight-loss industry, and women are made to feel like they need to “fix the thing”.

“And that’s not true.”

She has recently completed her teacher training in yoga, through the stages of menopause.

“They talk about later reproductive years, just before perimenopause and then perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause.

“And it's something that's affected me personally, and then you learn about it, and it's like, the more you learn, the more you realise you’re not going crazy, and that's really nice.”

She hopes one of the things to come out of the day is women talking to each other, to go, “oh, that's happening for you? That’s happening to me”.

Stacey, who is an exercise physiologist and pilates teacher, has recently completed a Girls Gone Strong course on menopause and feels compelled to share her learnings with as many people as she can.

“I finished that course, and it was like, ‘how do I take this information now and deliver it?’. She wanted a way to get it out to the most people..

“So, it looks at all the lifestyle factors. We learn about HRT, but it's outside of my scope of practice to advise on that.”

“I know what part I'm comfortable talking about and delivering, and it's like, ‘what if you take all the experts?’ Because there's so much to know.

“And then depending on what your values and symptoms and issues are, you get to focus on the part that's going to make the most impact for you,” she says.

The conference runs for a full day on September 20, at the Ōamaru Opera House, and includes keynote speakers such as holistic menopause coach Marja Captjin who will give the introduction - Menopause 101, followed by obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Hannah Rose Hart discussing the medical management of menopause.

They are joined by lifestyle physician and GP, Dr Erika Hollow, for a panel discussion.

Dr Hollow is also offering a session on sleep later in the day, Stacey says.

“She's studying endocrinology of sleep, which I'm so excited about, because if you're not sleeping, there’s no point thinking about your nutrition and your exercise, because it all goes out the window.”

Another expert, clinical psychologist Nicola Brown, who is also a comedian, will talk about mental health.

Outside the sessions provided by the keynote speakers, conference attendees can pick their own path for the rest of the day.

“You’ll be able to kind of dictate what’s going to make the most impact in your life,” Stacey says.

There is advice on nutrition from Ōamaru health and fitness expert Mel Smith, Nicola Brown will offer executive coaching to help women deal with their busy lifestyles, and Stacey will run a session on pelvic floor and core.

“Linda Direen looks at pleasure in terms of not just sexual pleasure, but pleasure, touch and vulva health and education,” Stacey says.

“Because again, things can change in menopause and it can also be a time to come into yourself. I feel as if it's, 'I can do all of this for me', rather than always caring for other people.”

Margie agrees menopause is a chance for women to “really transform”.

“And actually feel empowered that there can be some benefits of it, as well.”

There will also be post-menopausal women speaking about their experiences, and being on the other side of it, Margie says.

“So, talking about things they've experienced and things that are better for them. I feel like it'd be nice, rather than just going, ‘it’s all shit’.”

Tickets are limited to 100, but the workshop numbers are not capped, Stacey says.

“We're kind of hoping there'll be a nice spread, but we're not gonna limit one, if more people want to go one way.

“Because in keynote sessions, there's just a lot of information to go through and you're kind of being talked to, whereas the workshops, we really want people to be able to share and hear, have a voice heard, and to realise they're not alone in their symptoms.”

The event includes morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea, catered by That Food Guy, Mark Townsend, and most dietary requirements can be met. 

Stacey says she has already sold tickets to people from places such as Central Otago and Christchurch, and encourages local women not to leave it until the last minute, and risk missing out.