Finding Strength in Transition: A Conversation with Karin Thyselius

Karin Thyselius a former scholar at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Swedish-born Karin went on to have a successful international career as an opera singer. In 2009, she established NW8-mums connecting parents in the local community. Since then, she has worked in partnership with many parenting experts, from paediatricians to psychotherapists, to support parents with their children’s development as well as helping parents with their own parenting journeys.The Hearth has been partnering with Karin since September 2024 to promote conversations around Menopause through our monthly Menopause Circle. Karin is actively involved in promoting education and resources about menopause and perimenopause following her own perimenopausal journey. She has started a virtual menopause community and was chosen to be involved in a prestigious joint UCL and UCLH project to develop a national menopause outreach and education programme.

Hi Karin! Tell us about about yourself, what you do and what led you here?

Hi! I am from Sweden and moved to the U.K. (London) to study singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1997. After studying singing and performing there for 6 years I embarked on a career as a freelancing opera singer performing all over the U.K., Europe and the Far East. Alongside my singing career I had a private teaching studio. As a professional singer, it is vital that you take care of yourself (both physically and mentally). Knowing your body also helps and early on, I developed a keen interest in health and well-being. Fast forward to having had two children and shifting my career to something a bit more family friendly (the vast majority of my performing involved touring) with running two businesses and being peri-menopausal, my interest in the body, mind and health remain.

Can you tell us what some of the biggest myths are about menopause?

Probably that it ‘hits’ you when you are in your 50s. Until I set foot inside the UCLH menopause clinic the first time I had never heard of the ‘peri’ bit! I remember asking ‘Peri-what?!’ when first being told that I was peri-menopausal in my early 40s and that I might be for 6 months, 2 years or 10 years. To me some other myths probably are that the only symptoms of menopause are period changes and hot flushes. There are so many other symptoms and women often only realise they have been peri-menopausal - and sometimes for years! - when they start noticing changes in their cycles.

What are the biggest taboos and why?

That women ‘dry up’ and are somehow old once they have gone through menopause.

What can we do to change the narrative around menopause?

Talking about it honestly (including the beauty and challenges of this transition) and reframing this massive period of change as a chance to go inwards, take stock and enjoy a second spring.

What are 5 of the lowest effort, highest reward tips someone can implement during, before or after menopause to make this second puberty easier to navigate?

I know it sounds like a cliche, but eating well, getting enough sleep, moving (any movement is good!), surrounding yourself with people with whom you can be your true self (with all your ups and downs) and being kind to yourself as you navigate potential brain fog, fatigue etc are my go-to tips. A good friend of mine talks about doing life laundry during this phase which I think is a great analogy.
All of the above I do myself!