Soma Scapes | Menopause

Self-Care for Women Carers
and Menopause

Self-Care for Women Carers is a Soma Scapes workshop series developed by Dunami CIC to support women navigating perimenopause and menopause while holding caring responsibilities.

This series recognises a reality often overlooked — that many women caring for others are simultaneously moving through profound physical, emotional, and hormonal transitions themselves. Balancing caregiving with menopause can bring increased experiences of fatigue, stress, anxiety, disrupted sleep, and isolation.

These workshops create a dedicated space where participants are invited to pause, reconnect, and be supported — not as carers, but as individuals with their own needs, rhythms, and wellbeing.

About the Series

The programme offers a sequence of four small-group workshops, grounded in somatic practice and seasonal wellbeing. Each session integrates:

gentle, accessible movement
breath work and neuro-endocrine system regulation
guided embodied reflection
shared space for peer connection

Together, these practices support participants to build physical and emotional resilience, while developing practical tools to navigate menopause-related experiences such as:

insomnia and fatigue
anxiety and mood fluctuations
overwhelm and sensory sensitivity
feelings of isolation or disconnection

The workshops are trauma-informed and designed to be inclusive, creating a safe and welcoming environment for women from diverse backgrounds and life circumstances.

Aims of the Project

This series is part of the wider Caring for Carers initiative, which aims to:

support the psycho-somatic wellbeing of women carers
promote nervous system regulation and hormonal balance
reduce social isolation and strengthen peer connection
provide accessible, preventative mental health support
empower participants to prioritise their own wellbeing sustainably

By focusing on early support and community-based care, the project contributes to strengthening resilience and reducing longer-term mental health challenges.

The opening session will be part of Healing Arts Scotland '26 week, connecting this local programme to a wider national context of arts and wellbeing practices.

Workshops Design and Delivery: Dr Anna Dako

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Some Latest Testimonials:

"Helpful to be part of a community of others with similar and varying issues to feel less isolated. Wonderful to share, receive validation and offer mutual support to one another and Anna has been an expert guide over the 4 weeks with her skill, intuition, warmth and hospitality. She has felt one of us also, as an equal rather than teacher and student dynamic. With something to take away each week in terms of visual imagery we have been encouraged to create ourselves and explore which is powerful to reflect on and return to. The references to the seasonal theme has been inspiring. I want to continue with and increase my walking and exploring and feel I approach the natural world differently now I feel more aligned with my inner and outer world. This has been empowering." Anonymous

"The wonderful gentle guidance from Anna who felt like one which was inspiring in itself. The meeting and getting to know others at the same stage. I loved the exercises and guided relaxation and the encouragement of creativity with writing and drawing - a wonderful element I will continue with in expressing myself - powerful and helpful." Anonymous