Holistic Wellness For Women Over 50

Women over 50 can face challenges like stress, joint discomfort, and disrupted sleep. Navigating changes often requires a fresh perspective on wellness.  Laurie Hamano, a yoga teacher, trauma counselor, business owner, cancer survivor, and tea enthusiast is thriving in her 70’s.. Laurie’s holistic approach offers practical solutions specifically for women over 50. With her diverse expertise, Laurie provides support and guidance to thrive through these transitions, offering strategies to enhance well-being and embrace the season with confidence and vitality.

Laurie’s Wellness Journey

Laurie’s wellness journey began over thirty years ago. After battling cancer and undergoing surgeries, she turned to swimming and YMCA exercise classes to rebuild her health. She lost 15 pounds during her ordeal and, as a former swimmer, knew she needed to regain muscle strength. Laurie has taught YMCA exercise classes for 39 years, adding yoga 12 years ago. Yoga has become a cornerstone of her routine, integrated with mindfulness and breathing techniques in her work as a trauma counselor.

Laurie has worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and business owner for 26 years. She chose the YMCA to rebuild her strength and address the impacts of cancer treatments. Her approach tackles challenges faced by women over 50, offering valuable guidance and effective strategies.

In her personal life, Laurie enjoys the support of her husband of 41 years, her two daughters—one a Doctor of Nurse Practice working with high-risk breast cancer patients and the other a Mortgage Loan Officer—and three dachshunds she walks daily. Three years ago, Laurie gave up meat and now eats more fish, which has helped maintain her weight, though she still enjoys desserts. These practices and lifestyle changes support her holistic approach to wellness, helping her maintain balance and well-being.

Laurie serves as a beacon for women over 50, offering relatable guidance based on her experiences. She says, “Life at 68 can only be said to be good... It’s what we make of it... Find joy as Marie Kondo says! No, my house is not organized but there is plenty of joy.” Her diverse expertise and personal journey make her an excellent resource for managing transitions and embracing aging with confidence. Laurie’s insights and strategies resonate with many, making her a trusted figure in enhancing well-being and navigating this stage of life.

Wellness Challenges: Holistic Solutions for Women Over 50

Hydration: Do you need more hydration?

Laurie emphasizes the importance of staying hydrated and shares her favorite teas, showing how easy it is to integrate hydration into your routine. She explains, “During the pandemic, Satomi and Byron introduced me to their teas, and now I mix Mana and 'Olena in a large pitcher to drink throughout the week.”

The National Heart and Lung Institute (2023) highlights that proper hydration helps prevent health issues and enhances overall quality of life as you age. Laurie’s tea routine demonstrates how straightforward it is to stay hydrated. Although caffeine in tea might be a concern, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2015) notes that tea can be a good hydration choice when consumed in moderation. 

To incorporate this into your life, try adding flavored teas from our Iced Tea Collections or our Hawaiian Natural Tea Collections to your routine. Brew a large pitcher and keep it in the fridge for easy access. This change can help you stay hydrated, enjoy soothing moments, and reduce your need for other caffeinated drinks.

Nutrition: Does diet affect your aging?

Laurie’s focus on nutrition has transformed her wellness routine. PubMed Central (2022) highlights that a healthy diet is crucial for aging well, lowering health risks, and improving well-being (Zhao, 2022). Laurie explains tea is her, “go-to after dinner. I don’t recall exactly when this started, but it’s become a regular habit. It’s soothing after a meal.”

Green and Black teas are rich in antioxidants and a great addition to your diet. The National Library of Medicine shows that tea’s beneficial compounds help prevent diseases and support overall health (Khan, 2014). Laurie finds that Green teas and Herbal teas meet her nutritional needs and boost her vitality.

To integrate this into your routine, try adding herbal tea, black tea and green tea blends like Hibiscus Bliss Tea, Pineapple Strawberry Tea, Mango Peach Tea, and Passion Fruit Orange Tea to your daily routine. Enjoy a cup after meals or during breaks to benefit from their soothing and health-promoting properties. Small changes like this can enhance your diet, support well-being, and improve overall health. 

Staying Active: Does staying active help with aging? 

Laurie’s commitment to physical activity is evident in her daily life. She explains, “As a counselor, I often discuss how to address issues and release trauma stored in our muscles. Yoga teaches us to breathe through experiences, face them, and let them go. It was a perfect fit for me. It helps us stay true to ourselves, be authentic, and find happiness despite challenges.”

Harvard Health Publishing (2014) highlights the importance of exercise in reducing the risk of serious health problems and promoting well-being. Laurie integrates regular exercise, including brisk walking and yoga, into her routine to stay active. She adds, “Green tea is my after-dinner drink,” and finds that it supports her workouts and enhances their effectiveness.

To adopt these practices into your life, integrate regular physical activities like brisk walking or yoga into your day. Set specific times for exercise to make it a consistent part of your schedule. Add teas such as Black tea blends or Green tea blends like Energitea and Matcha to your pre-workout and post-workout routines. Enjoy a cup before or after exercise to aid recovery and boost workout benefits. Adopting these habits can enhance your well-being and keep you active effectively. For more tips, check our blog, Tea & Exercise: More Fitness With These Workout Teas.

Managing Stress: What does chronic stress do to your body?

Laurie manages stress with mindfulness and relaxation techniques, making tea a sidekick to her yoga practice. She explains, “During the day, having 1-2 cups of Mana and 'Olena helps soothe muscle aches and keeps me alert while working at the computer. It also reduces my need for another cup of coffee.”

The National Library of Medicine (2020) reports that chronic stress accelerates aging and increases inflammation. Laurie uses tea to relax and relieve muscle stress. A recent study found that tea drinkers had lower cortisol levels and felt more relaxed after stressful tasks (Khan, 2013).  Laurie enjoys herbal teas like Mana for Immunity and Olena Tea for Inflammation to manage daily stress and enhance her sense of calm.

To implement these practices, add herbal teas to your daily routine. Choose teas with stress relief and anti-inflammatory properties, like Nanea Tea for Anxiety & Stress and Olena Tea for Inflammation. Drinking 1-2 cups daily can soothe muscle tension, maintain alertness, and reduce reliance on caffeinated beverages. These habits can help manage stress and support well-being. For more on stress relief, visit our blog, Tea for Anxiety and Stress. 

Quality Sleep: How to improve sleep as we age

Laurie understands the importance of good sleep and uses strategies to improve it. She explains, “The after-dinner tea is my soothing go-to.” The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (2018) shows that sleep issues are common for women in midlife. Laurie uses tea to support restful sleep. Cleveland Clinic (2024) recommends calming herbal teas, such as valerian root blends like Mahina Tea for Sleep, and highlights that poor sleep can lead to various physical and mental health problems.  Laurie finds that teas like Olena Tea for Inflammation help relieve evening aches and pains.

To incorporate this, add herbal teas to your evening routine. Choose calming teas with valerian root and chamomile, like Mahina Tea for Sleep or Lemon Chamomile Tea. Drinking a cup before bed can help you relax and improve sleep quality. Teas that address specific concerns, like inflammation or muscle pain, such as Olena Tea for Inflammation, can also enhance comfort and support restful sleep. Integrating these habits can help you achieve better sleep and maintain balance. For more details, check our blog, Tea for Sleep.

Starting Your Holistic Wellness Journey

Laurie Hamano’s approach demonstrates how simple changes lead to significant improvements. By incorporating yoga, tea, and mindfulness into your daily routine, you can address common health issues and enhance your well-being. Laurie’s practical tips help us feel more vibrant and make everyday moments more enjoyable. She says, “I don’t tell; I share. I always give my friends and family tea and tell them how I use it and hopefully they try it. I buy a whole batch when it goes on sale for my meetings with friends or gifts when meeting new people or friends I haven’t seen in a while. They always seem happy to get these teas.” Laurie’s advice encourages us to explore and share the benefits of tea, enhancing your wellness and that of those around us.

Tea Recommendations from the Article

• Mana for Immunity
• Olena Tea for Inflammation
• Mahina Tea for Sleep
• Nanea Tea for Anxiety & Stress
• Green tea & Blends
• Black tea & Blends
• Herbal Teas Blends
• Hibiscus Bliss Tea
• Pineapple Strawberry Tea
• Mango Peach Tea
• Passion Fruit Orange Tea 
• Lemon Chamomile Tea
• Energitea
• Matcha

References

Clinic, C. (2024, May 24). Restless? Try these bedtime teas for better sleep. Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/tea-for-sleep

Good hydration linked to healthy aging. (2023, January 2). NHLBI, NIH. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/news/2023/good-hydration-linked-healthy-aging

Harvard Health. (2014, March 9). Exercise and aging: Can you walk away from Father Time. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/exercise-and-aging-can-you-walk-away-from-father-time

Jones, H. J., Zak, R., & Lee, K. A. (2018). Sleep disturbances in midlife women at the cusp of the menopausal transition. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 14(07), 1127–1133. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.7208

Khan, N., & Mukhtar, H. (2013). Tea and Health: Studies in Humans. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 19(34), 6141–6147. https://doi.org/10.2174/1381612811319340008

Ruxton, C., Phillips, F., & Bond, T. (2015). Is tea a healthy source of hydration? Nutrition Bulletin, 40(3), 166–176. https://doi.org/10.1111/nbu.12150

Yegorov, Y. E., Poznyak, A. V., Nikiforov, N. G., Sobenin, I. A., & Orekhov, A. N. (2020). The Link between Chronic Stress and Accelerated Aging. Biomedicines, 8(7), 198. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines8070198

Zhao, H., & Andreyeva, T. (2022). Diet quality and health in older Americans. Nutrients, 14(6), 1198. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14061198