“It’s not cookie cutter—it’s individual,” says Kyla Faganely about her latest initiative. The MenoMastery Program at her studio offers tailored guidance on movement, nutrition, and lifestyle changes during menopause.
Local fitness & wellness studio Fit Bodies Fit Minds is putting the focus on menopause, helping women transform how they feel and live at every stage of the menopausal experience
Owner Kyla Faganely’s approach with her clients goes beyond traditional fitness. She focuses on movement coaching, breathwork (which she calls a non-negotiable pillar), and holistic lifestyle habits to create lasting change. “These are the game-changers that help women feel stronger, more balanced, and more grounded in their bodies,” says Kyla.
“We need to start making women a priority,” she adds.
After two years of research and preparation, Fit Bodies Fit Minds launched a new “MenoMastery Program” this fall. The program does a deep dive into the changing bodies of women— to teach them how to manage their hormones, not be defined by their symptoms, and live more fully.
Kyla and her team have worked with female clients at this stage of life for years, but since 2023 they have made it a priority to study the topic. Kyla and the studio’s sports nutrition therapist, Jaime Brideau, work as a team— with Kyla coaching women on movement and Jaime focusing on nutrition. The two have created an accompanying manual for the MenoMastery Program.
Kyla Faganely & Jaime Brideau
The program is available as three different options. The Core Program includes the manual, online community, two private coaching sessions, and online coaching throughout the program. The Plus option offers all that, plus access to the studio’s fitness classes for one month and four private coaching sessions. The Premium option adds on private holistic coaching, a full holistic coaching program, a one year private coaching plan, and 10 one-hour sessions with Kyla.
Kyla has been training clients of different genders and ages for over 27 years. She found that in her experience training menopausal women, they were desperate for answers about their changing bodies. “We want them seeing their doctors— we want them being guided when it comes to the hormonal help they might need,” says Kyla. She recommends women stay in contact with their health care provider or naturopathic doctor for bloodwork and any necessary testing, so they can understand what their body needs.
Kyla also emphasizes that menopausal women need to be their own health advocate— tracking how they’re feeling physically, emotionally and hormonally, as well as in areas like pelvic floor health and digestion. “Bring this information to your appointments, ask questions, and listen to your body,” says Kyla. “The symptoms you notice are signals, and they matter.”
As for nutrition, mindset coaching, and movement— the MenoMastery Program is here to help. The loss of estrogen and testosterone during menopause speeds up a decrease in bone density and muscle atrophy. Metabolism decreases, and strength and power start to be more challenging to maintain. This is why the program focuses on building strength, increasing protein in women’s diets, and focusing on quality vs. quantity in how they train.
“There is a true science to this, and that’s why we feel it is crucial that people are guided by educated fitness professionals. The younger we start paying attention to our cycles and health, the easier this journey will be for us,” says Kyla.
“Training needs to change as we age,” she explains. “Less is more. Quality over quantity.”
Kyla recently had a coaching session where they focused on the client’s sleep regimen. Menopause can affect sleep, which in turn can increase the chances of getting injured, as well as have a negative impact on mental health. Kyla and her client went through the section of the MenoMastery manual that focuses on recovery, to design an individualized plan to improve her symptoms and quality of life.
Kyla emphasizes that when she and her team work with their MenoMastery clients, it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. Just as menopause is different for everyone, the steps to improve menopausal symptoms —whether it’s sleep regimen, exercise or supplements— must be too. “It’s not cookie cutter— it’s individual, this stage in our life,” says Kyla.
In addition to the new MenoMastery Program, Fit Bodies Fit Minds provides many other programs and services— such as pilates, yoga & meditation, strength training, mobility training, holistic nutrition, massage therapy and more. They also offer certification for personal trainers, holistic life coaching, strength training, and yoga teacher training.
This year was the studio’s eighth year of their Glow & Flow yoga annual fundraiser, where proceeds are donated to a charity in Algoma. This year’s charity is Women in Crisis (Algoma) Inc. Glow & Flow is an all-levels yoga class under black lights. Participants are encouraged to wear white or neon clothing and use the provided body paint or tape to give themselves a beautiful glow.
To sign up for this night of movement, mindfulness, and community spirit, purchase tickets via this link.
As Kyla and her team continue to support the wider community through charitable partnerships and their everyday fitness programs, she feels optimistic about how the MenoMastery Program can benefit local women.
“I really feel we can thrive if we make the right changes. And then it can actually be an unbelievable time in our lives.”
For more information about Fit Bodies Fit Minds, visit: www.fitbodiesfitminds.com/wellness-programs
Listen to “the Fit Bodies. Fit Minds. podcast” on Spotify or Apple Podcast