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Who am 1

Hi, 

I’m Despoina  a menopause movement coach,single mom, and primary school teacher who truly understands the weight of midlife and menopause . Because I've walked this path myself — from chaos to calm, from pain to peace.

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My Body Became a Stranger — And Then I Found My Way Back

I need to tell you something I do not say lightly.

I am a former dancer. A yoga teacher with decades of practice. A woman who has always lived joyfully, powerfully and gratefully in her body.

So when perimenopause arrived, I was completely unprepared.

 

The hot flashes came first. So intense, so relentless, that even in the middle of winter I slept with the window half-open — drenched in sweat, waking in the night to hang my bed sheets to dry because they were completely soaking. The heat did not come from outside. It came from somewhere deep inside me — a fire I could not cool, no matter what I tried.

Then came the pain. Stiffness in the morning. Aches in the joints I had danced with, stretched with, depended on for expression and joy for my entire adult life. The body I had trained so carefully, for so many years, suddenly felt locked. Heavy. Not mine.

 

And then — the thing that shook me most of all — my mind began to slip.

I finished university in three years. I speak three languages. I have always been someone who relies on her mind — a sharp, capable, curious mind that I built and trusted completely.

And suddenly I was forgetting words mid-sentence. Mixing up languages. Standing in a room, utterly blank, wondering why I had walked in. That loss — that particular loss — was the hardest thing I have ever had to sit with.

 

 What Changed Everything

I did not give up. I went back to what I knew — movement — but I completely changed how I approached it. Slower. Gentler. More intentional. I listened to my body instead of pushing it.

And I studied. I completed specialized training after training: accessible yoga, trauma-informed practice, Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, EFT tapping, ThetaHealing, the Silva Mind Control Method. I became my own first student — and I tested every practice on myself with full honesty about what was working and what was not.

 

Slowly — not overnight, but steadily and surely — my body began to respond. The morning stiffness eased. My energy returned. The hot flashes became manageable. My mind began to clear. I started to recognize myself again.

 

Then I brought these practices to the women in my classes. Every single one of them experienced change. Less pain. Better sleep. More energy. Calmer minds. A sense — precious, hard-won — of coming home to themselves.

That was the moment I knew: this is what I am meant to do.

 My Trainings & Credentials

With over 30 years of personal practice and training in:

  • Hatha Yoga Teacher

  • Accessible Yoga (for all bodies and abilities)

  • Trauma-Informed Yoga

  • Yin Yoga

  • Yoga Nidra

  • EFT — Emotional Freedom Technique (Tapping)

  • ThetaHealing®

  • Silva Mind Control Method

  • Specialized training in Menopause Coaching  & Movement

What Makes My Approach Different

I do not teach one method. I draw from many — because you are not one thing either.

Depending on what your body needs that day, we may move gently together, breathe deeply, work with the nervous system through Yoga Nidra, release emotional blocks with EFT tapping, or use the Silva Method to reprogram the mind-body patterns that menopause disrupts.

Every session is built around you — your body, your history, your symptoms, your life. Short enough to fit into reality. Powerful enough to change it.

How i work with you

I understand the unique challenges of being a woman going through perimenopause,menopause because I've lived them. You're not just dealing with physical changes — you're navigating a complete life transition while everyone depends on you.

That's why my approach goes beyond typical coaching sessions and  movement classes.​​

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All sessions are online, one-to-one, and completely private. We begin with a free 15-minute discovery call — a real conversation, not a sales pitch — to understand what you are carrying and where you want to go.

Sessions are 30 minutes. We set clear, specific goals together. Between sessions, I provide a simple weekly tracker so you can see your own progress — because seeing it on paper changes everything.

I would love to meet you — book your free 15-minute call here  

Despoina doing yoga

What i believe

At the heart of everything i do is ahimsa"do no harm." I believe in practicing with kindness, honoring your pace, and never forcing your body. This isn't about performance. It's about coming home to yourself.

My clients often tell me they feel lighter, more peaceful, and more in control after our sessions. But my greatest joy is seeing them reclaim their power — choosing self-care without guilt and seeing midlife not as an end, but as a beginning.

I believe in freedom, happiness, kindness, and strength — and I carry these values into everything I do. My practice isn’t just about movement; it’s about nurturing a hopeful, empowered future for women navigating midlife and beyond. 

If this speaks to you, I’d love to support you. 

With love and light,

Despoina

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Online Menopause Movement Coach 

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© 2025 Despoina Samaltani  |  All rights reserved

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