In this blog post, Clarissa Kristjansson shares her inspiring journey from facing personal health challenges to becoming a holistic menopause coach. After enduring years of anxiety, insomnia, and other symptoms during perimenopause, Clarissa discovered mindfulness and holistic practices that helped her regain balance. Now, she empowers women navigating the transformative stages of perimenopause and menopause by integrating Eastern practices like medical qigong with Western health coaching. Through personalized, mind-body-spirit support, Clarissa guides women to reclaim their vitality, emotional well-being, and sense of purpose during this powerful life phase.
What inspired your transition from facing personal health challenges to becoming a holistic menopause coach?
My journey into holistic menopause coaching began with my difficult transition through perimenopause. I experienced years of anxiety, heart palpitations, weight gain, and persistent insomnia, yet received minimal support from my doctor, aside from medication when my blood pressure spiked. It all came to a head during a panic attack at work that left me feeling completely broken.
That was the turning point. I discovered mindfulness and began a slow, steady path toward healing. As I learned to manage stress, my sleep improved, and I started to approach nutrition and movement in a way that genuinely supported my wellbeing.
As I began leading mindfulness classes for women struggling with stress, anxiety, and insomnia—many of whom were also in midlife—I recognized familiar patterns in their experiences. This led me to dig deeper, and I realized that what many of us were facing was perimenopause and menopause.
That insight inspired me to enroll in the 3rd Age Woman training by Jenny Burrell in the UK. It was a transformative experience that gave me the tools, knowledge, and confidence to support other women through this life phase with compassion, clarity, and a truly holistic approach.
How do you integrate Eastern practices like medical qigong and TCM nutrition with Western health coaching in your programs?
In my approach, I weave together the wisdom of Eastern traditions with the structure and evidence-based strategies of Western health coaching to offer truly holistic support.
From Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), I draw on principles like seasonal eating, energetic balance, and the use of foods and herbs to support organ systems, particularly those involved in hormonal health, such as the kidneys and liver. TCM nutrition helps women reconnect with their bodies more intuitively and cyclically, which complements the goal-setting and habit-change techniques from Western coaching.
Medical qigong brings in the somatic and energetic component. Through gentle, meditative movement and breathwork, qigong helps calm the nervous system, improve sleep, and support emotional regulation—areas that are often deeply affected during perimenopause and menopause.
Western health coaching adds a layer of structure, accountability, and measurable progress. It helps women implement sustainable changes while feeling supported, empowered, and seen.
Together, these practices form a bridge between body, mind, and spirit, supporting not just symptom relief, but deep transformation and self-understanding during midlife and beyond.
What are some common misconceptions about menopause that you often encounter in your work?
There are quite a few myths and misconceptions about menopause that can leave women feeling confused, isolated, or even ashamed. Here are some of the most common ones I encounter:
- “It only lasts a year or two.”
Many believe menopause is just about the end of periods, but the transition especially perimenopause, can span several years, often beginning in the early 40s (or earlier) and lasting into the mid-50s. - “Hot flushes are the only symptom.”
While hot flushes are well-known, many women are surprised to learn that anxiety, brain fog, insomnia, weight changes, joint pain, and even heart palpitations can be part of the picture. - “You just have to suffer through it.”
This is one of the most harmful myths. There are supportive options—lifestyle changes, nutrition, mindfulness, movement practices, and sometimes medical interventions—that can make a huge difference. - “If your bloodwork is normal, you’re fine.”
Standard hormone tests can be unreliable during perimenopause due to daily fluctuations. A normal result doesn’t always reflect what a woman is actually feeling or experiencing. - “Menopause means you’re past your prime.”
This cultural narrative needs rewriting. I see menopause as a rite of passage into a powerful, wise phase of life. With the right support, it can be a time of clarity, growth, and renewed purpose.
How do you personalize support for women navigating menopause while also using a holistic, mind-body-spirit framework?
Every woman’s menopause journey is unique, so personalization is at the heart of my work. I start by listening deeply. Through conversations, assessments, and sometimes journaling or reflective exercises, I learn about her symptoms, lifestyle, stress levels, emotional state, beliefs about menopause, and what kind of support feels right for her.
From there, I draw on a holistic framework that addresses the mind, body, and spirit:
- Body: We look at nutrition (both Western and TCM-informed), movement (including gentle practices like qigong), sleep hygiene, and how the body is responding hormonally and physically. Recommendations are tailored to her current phase, whether that’s perimenopause, menopause, or postmenopause.
- Mind: Emotional well-being is central. I integrate mindfulness, breathwork, and coaching techniques that help shift unhelpful thought patterns, reduce anxiety, and build resilience. We also work on setting boundaries, managing overwhelm, and reconnecting to a sense of purpose.
- Spirit: This phase of life often stirs deeper questions around identity, meaning, and change. I hold space for that inner work. Whether it’s through guided reflection, values alignment, or creative rituals, I support women in reconnecting to themselves—not just as mothers, partners, or professionals, but as whole individuals stepping into a new chapter.
The result is a personalized, empowering experience that honors the full spectrum of what this transition can bring—challenges, yes, but also growth, healing, and renewal.
Can you share a transformation story that illustrates the impact of your approach on a client’s health and vitality?
Client Transformation Story: Reclaiming Energy, Sleep & Self-Worth at 47
When Lisa (name changed for privacy), a 47-year-old recruitment executive, came to me, she was running on empty. She was constantly fatigued, surviving on just a few hours of broken sleep, multiple coffees a day, and one rushed meal at dinner time. She told me she felt like a shell of herself: anxious, foggy, and emotionally flat. Previously, she had been an active person, keen on running and fitness. Her doctor had suggested antidepressants, but she sensed there was more going on.
During our first session, it was clear Lisa was in the throes of perimenopause, experiencing the hormonal turbulence, stress load, and depletion that so often go unrecognized. She was deeply disconnected from her body, and her nervous system was in a constant state of overdrive.
Client Case Study: Reclaiming Vitality at 47
When Lisa, 47, first came to me, she was exhausted, surviving on coffee, broken sleep, and one rushed meal a day. A high-achieving professional, she felt disconnected from her body and emotionally drained. Her doctor offered medication, but Lisa sensed there was a deeper imbalance at play.
As a holistic menopause coach, my first step was to understand the person in front of me. Her lifestyle, relationships, food habits, emotional triggers, and even the sparkle in her eyes, which in Chinese Medicine reflects the strength of the Shen, or spirit.
We began by stabilizing her energy and blood sugar with warm, nourishing meals aligned with Yang Sheng principles. Lisa kept a food diary, and we gradually replaced caffeine with herbal alternatives. Next, we focused on restoring natural rhythms. I introduced calming evening rituals and a simple Qigong sequence to soothe her nervous system and support sleep.
Movement became medicine. Lisa adopted daily Qigong to nourish her Yin and later began strength training with a menopause-informed personal trainer. As we worked through deeper coaching conversations, she uncovered long-held perfectionism and people-pleasing patterns at the root of her burnout. We reframed success as vitality and ease, not endless productivity.
Three months later, Lisa told me, “I feel like I’ve come home to myself.” Her energy had returned, her sleep improved, and she was finally enjoying food and life again.
