For too long, menopause has been treated as a taboo topic. Maria Luque, PhD, hopes to change the conversation around the transition. A health science professor, fitness expert and menopause specialist, Luque is on a mission to empower women with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate menopause with confidence.

Luque serves as Halle Berry’s menopause coach, guiding the Oscar-winning actress through her personal journey as part of Respin Health, the just-launched wellness initiative Berry co-founded. Her expertise in menopause and fitness is built on decades of research and hands-on experience.

“My background as a health science professor means I’ve always been committed to science-backed strategies, ensuring that everything I teach is rooted in evidence,” she explained. “But science alone isn’t enough—real change happens when knowledge meets practical, individualized application. That’s where my 20 years of coaching experience come in.”

She has spent years guiding women through the challenges of menopause, helping them understand their bodies and build effective habits.

“This dual perspective—bridging research with real-world coaching—defines my approach,” she said. “It’s not about generic advice; it’s about creating personalized strategies that empower women to thrive.”

When Halle Berry set out to experience the Respin Health pilot program, she wanted to do so as a participant.

“She understands the power of coaching and community,” Luque shared. “She wanted to go through the process herself to fully embrace what we’re building. With my extensive experience and personalized approach, she chose me as her coach to guide her through this journey. It’s been an incredible collaboration because she’s deeply committed to sharing real, science-backed solutions for menopause. She embodies the message that every woman deserves this level of support.”

A cornerstone of Luque’s menopause coaching is strength training, which she insists is critical for women going through perimenopause and menopause.

“Resistance training is non-negotiable for women in perimenopause and menopause,” she stated. “It’s not just a fitness trend—it’s backed by decades of science showing its critical role in preserving muscle, metabolism and bone density, as well as improving cognitive function and mental well-being.”

Declining estrogen levels during menopause contribute to muscle loss, which in turn affects metabolism, increases fat storage and weakens bones.

“Strength training is the most effective way to counteract these changes and maintain long-term vitality,” she said. “But the benefits go beyond just the physical. Strength training has a profound impact on mental health and body image. Instead of focusing on what’s being ‘lost,’ strength training shifts the perspective to what’s being gained—strength, capability, confidence and a renewed sense of control over one’s body. Studies also show that resistance training reduces anxiety, depression and stress, making it a key tool for overall well-being.”

Luque emphasized that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach and that menopause care has been fragmented for too long, often leaving women to navigate the transition on their own. Respin Health is working to change that by offering proactive, personalized coaching.

“For too long, menopause support has been reactive—women are left to figure it out themselves or rely on outdated, one-size-fits-all advice,” she said. “At Respin Health, we’re changing that by providing science-backed, personalized coaching that is proactive, precise and deeply personal.”

One of the biggest gaps Luque and Respin Health aim to fill is empowerment.

“We don’t just offer guidance—we give women the tools, education and support to become their own best advocates,” she says. “Instead of passive, single-dimensional care, we create tailored solutions that help women understand their bodies, make informed choices and take control of their health.”

Another key differentiator is community.

“Menopause can feel isolating, but it doesn’t have to be,” Luque stated. “Women thrive when they have a supportive space to share experiences, ask questions and learn from one another. Our coaching model brings women together so they can feel heard, validated and empowered.”

Luque’s message is clear: menopause isn’t something to fear—it’s a new chapter and with the right tools, it can be a strong one.

“At the core of my coaching is this simple truth: movement should feel like a gift, not a punishment,” she said. “When we make that shift, everything else—consistency, strength, confidence—falls into place.”

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Coral, a women’s digital health startup, has secured $4.1 million (CAD) from a seed funding round for its new virtual care platform centered on women navigating perimenopause and menopause.

Brightspark led the round, which included participation from Diagram, The51 and angel investors.

“Women navigating menopause should live their best years,” Coral co-founder and chairwoman Anna Chif said. “Yet, far too many of us unnecessarily struggle with health issues. We offer effective solutions for women to achieve optimal health by leveraging the latest validated research and best practices.”

Chif is no stranger to the preventative health space, having co-founded Dialogue, a Canadian telemedicine provider that went public in 2021 before being acquired by Sunlife Financial in 2023.

“Women navigating menopause should live their best years. Yet, far too many of us unnecessarily struggle with health issues,” Chif added. “We offer effective solutions for women to achieve optimal health by leveraging the latest validated research and best practices.”

The new platform offers women health assessments such as at-home blood testing, body composition scan analysis, in-depth health questionnaires, personalized care plans supported by medical experts, and integrated support, including access to prescriptions when necessary and lifestyle guidance.

“Coral aims to solve the health impact of menopause symptoms by empowering women with accessible, personalized care,” Coral co-founder and CEO Fiona Lake Waslander said. “It integrates a medical-first approach with lifestyle behavior change support, all delivered through leading-edge technology. Our digitally-powered platform and seamless experience ensures our members feel supported and thrive during their menopause journey and beyond.”

Sophie Forest, partner at Brightspark Ventures, noted that the firm is proud to back the Coral team.

“Women’s digital health has long been underserved, and Coral is set to redefine care, improve millions of lives, and seize a massive opportunity,” Forest added.

Elsewhere in the industry, perimenopause and menopause-related programs have been recently added to Equinox Hotels and Canyon Ranch, signaling a growing trend.

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Supplement and gummies brand Olly has Ashley Graham as its brand ambassador, where the model and entrepreneur will have a hand in Olly’s upcoming creative multichannel campaign launching this spring and share content related to her health and wellness journey. 

Signing ambassadors to fitness and wellness brands has provided a way for brands to stand out in a crowded space. Human performance wearable brand Whoop added Christiano Ronaldo (who is also an investor), Amazfit announced Hyrox world champions Meg Jacoby and Hunter McIntyre  joined its roster of international athletes and wellness tech brand recently named Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl champ Cooper DeJean as a brand ambassador.

“I’ve been a fan of Olly since 2018, and it’s amazing to come full circle to partner again with a brand that has grown so much, similar to how my own life and family have grown,” Graham said. “I’ve always trusted their products, and it’s been so fun to introduce my family to them over the years. Sharing a realistic approach to all things work, motherhood, and wellness is my goal, which has made this partnership feel all the more natural.”

“Working with like-minded partners who are grounded in their values is very important to Olly, so we’re thrilled to welcome Ashley back in an even larger capacity as our brand ambassador,” Olly’s vice president of marketing, Renee Fuller, said. “Ashley has consistently been a voice for living an authentic lifestyle—prioritizing self-care, balanced nutrition, and a positive mindset—which perfectly complements how OLLY makes health and wellness approachable for everyone.”

Last fall, the San Francisco-based wellness company expanded its women’s line with Mellow Menopause, a hormone and estrogen-free supplement designed to support menopause and help manage symptoms.

“Menopause is a stage of life all women will experience, yet we’re offered very little education or support on the topic,” said Olly’s senior director of scientific affairs, Dr. Shikha Snigdha. “Our approach to developing Mellow Menopause was guided by a deep commitment to addressing the unique and varied symptoms women experience during menopause. The goal was to create an offering that provides comprehensive relief during the menopause transition, making this often-challenging phase of life a bit easier to navigate. We’re incredibly encouraged by the results from the product’s clinical study and know that this product will make a real impact on women.”

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The Spa by Equinox Hotels has partnered with actress Naomi Watts’ pro-aging beauty and wellness brand Stripes Beauty to address the needs of women navigating perimenopause and menopause with an innovative spa treatment circuit, curated in-room offerings and signature retail products.

The latest offering introduces Pause + Renew, a 2.5-hour spa treatment that includes Stripes Beauty’s products. Guests who book the service can expect a 45-minute body-shaping therapy paired with Stripes Beauty “The Full Monty” Squalane Hydrating Vitamin C Body Oil, a 90-minute Dr. Lara Devgan dermal renewal facial and scalp massage using Stripes Beauty “The Root of It” Ectoine Densifying Scalp Serum and a 5-minute NutriDrip CoQ10 booster shot to improve energy levels and address hot flashes and mood swings. A take-home gift is also part of the experience.

“Menopause deserves attention, respect and care,” Stripes Beauty founder and chief creative officer Watts said. “This partnership is a pivotal step in our mission to take the stigma out of menopause and make science-backed solutions and luxury wellness more accessible to women navigating this life transition. Together, we’re reshaping the narrative and raising the standard for menopause-focused treatment and services.”

Watts founded the brand in 2022 after experiencing the uncomfortable midlife symptoms, which she detailed on the Stripes Beauty website. Last June, the company was acquired by L Catterton. As for Equinox Hotels, the addition enhances its expanding wellness offerings, including services tailored to sleep health.

“At The Spa by Equinox Hotels, we’re committed to providing innovative, science-backed treatments that empower our guests to feel their best at every stage of life,” said Ara Patterson, vice president of food, beverage and spa at Equinox Hotels. “Our partnership with Stripes Beauty is a reflection of that mission, addressing the beauty needs of perimenopausal and menopausal women with a program that combines advanced technology and luxury care.”

On a broader scale, 2025 could be the year when the seeds planted in the femtech and women-centered space begin to bloom. Long overlooked, the sector is already seeing prominent brands elevate the conversation around the unique needs of women 35 years old and older. 

In addition to Equinox Hotels, Canyon Ranch has announced M/Power, retreats for those experiencing menopause and perimenopause. The retreats —limited to 15 guests—begin in March and include one-on-one consultations with Canyon Ranch experts, where women can address their concerns with a multidisciplinary team that includes physicians, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, licensed mental health therapists and spiritual well-being professionals. There is also a medical component, with comprehensive blood work, a women’s hormonal panel and a Dexa body scan.

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Navigating the complexities of perimenopause and menopause can be daunting. Pamela Light, a peri/menopause expert and instructor at Bay Club, has over 30 years of experience as a health coach and wants to change the narrative around hormonal changes. In a conversation with Athletech News, Light advised fitness professionals on how best to help clients navigate their hormonal shifts.

Light emphasized the importance of quality over quantity when it comes to fitness.

“The days of quantity are over, and our workouts should be all about quality,” Light told ATN. “Choose exercises that work the large muscle groups all together like deadlifts, bench presses or squats and lunges. Make workouts efficient and effective, never long and complicated. This will maximize results while minimizing the time our cortisol is elevated.”

Strength training can provide enough demand for bones and muscles to get stronger without spiking cortisol, which is higher for perimenopausal women.

“It has also been found that resistance training increases cardiovascular fitness, which usually takes a hit in the menopause transition,” Light added. “Women also burn fat for fuel while resistance training, the ultimate bonus!”

All About Balance

Pamela’s approach to lifestyle changes is centered around moderation and balance.

“Women in menopause transform into Goldilocks,” Light said.

“Balance becomes the rule in all things. I work with a load of smart, disciplined women who come to me discouraged because they can’t imagine eating less or exercising more. I help them edit their workouts down to find a good balance between hard, moderate and easy, as well as teach them how to fuel with real foods throughout the day. In addition to feeling better right away, they are on a sustainable path to help avoid all of the typical menopausal health pitfalls: inflammation, bone loss, fat gain, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.”

Light also advises fitness professionals to support their clients on more than just hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and supplements to alleviate their symptoms (note: This is not within a fitness professional’s scope of practice without the proper education, training and certification. Work in concert with allied health professionals when dealing with supplements or exogenous hormones).

“While HRT/supplements can set the stage for success, they aren’t a magic bullet,” Light said. “We need to guide our clients on how to move, eat and rest to increase and maintain bone and muscle mass, and decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease.”

She also shared her skepticism about fasting.

“To me, fasting reads like a gimmick or shortcut to avoid the effort, and patience involved in making a lasting lifestyle change,” Light said. “Often, women walk away from their fasting experiment with decreased heart health, lost muscle and bone, a slower metabolism, and feeling very discouraged. Why not put that same level of effort into eating quality foods, balancing our nutrients, and making movement a priority?”

Most fitness professionals and medical providers overlook the complexities of perimenopause and menopause. By focusing on strength training and balance in lifestyle habits, women can better navigate this transformative phase.

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Oura, the smart ring company, released its first-ever Perimenopause Report to provide insights into how physical changes impact daily functioning. The company conducted a study comprised of data from over 100,000 female Oura members over one year to better understand sleep patterns, emotional health, and cardiovascular risks.

Sleep Disruptions

One of the study’s major findings was the detrimental impact of perimenopause on sleep. The transitional state from perimenopause to postmenopause caused a progressive decline in both quality and quantity of sleep. On average, women lose up to two hours of sleep each week during this period, with reduced REM and deep sleep. Over 50% of women report experiencing hot flashes and night sweats, with up to 69% of these events associated with nighttime awakenings.

“Fragmented sleep from waking during the night increases the risk for sleepiness, reduced performance at work or school, fatigue, irritability, and car accidents and illness, while a night of consolidated sleep offers the optimal benefit to our help, mood, and ability to combat viral infection,” said sleep scientist Dr. Rebecca Robbins.

Emotional Health

Perimenopause also profoundly impacts women’s emotional health. Women in late perimenopause are 33% more likely to experience anger, 28% more likely to feel sadness, and 44% more likely to experience migraines compared to premenopausal women. Acne also impacts 51% more women in this stage.

“Women do not realize that the symptoms they’re experiencing are signs of perimenopause because of a lack of knowledge, both among women and among clinicians,” said Sara Szal, MD, precision medicine practitioner and author of Women, Food, and Hormones.

Heart Health

Cardiovascular health also becomes a significant concern during perimenopause. The report shows a 20-30% decline in heart rate variability (HRV), an important marker of cardiovascular health, during early and late perimenopause. Lower HRV is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Other changes can contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular problems, like decreased estrogen, increased belly fat, sleep disruption, and stress.

New Features and Partnerships

In response to the report’s findings, Oura is enhancing its platform with 17 new symptom tags that allow members to better track and understand their perimenopausal journey. These tags include indicators like hot flashes, mood swings, low motivation, and urinary issues, helping users make connections between their biometric data and their symptoms. This personalized data can empower women to take control of their health and have more informed conversations with healthcare providers.

Additionally, Oura has announced new partnerships with menopause-focused brands, including Mira, Proov, Hertility, and sanoLiving. These collaborations are designed to provide women with more resources and support as they navigate the complex changes of perimenopause.

“This report highlights our work to redefine the narrative around perimenopause, shining a much-needed light on the overlooked and under-researched range of physical and mental changes women experience,” wrote the Women’s Health Lead at Oura, Neta Gotlieb, PhD in the introduction to the report. “We remain steadfast in delivering a comprehensive, meaningful approach to women’s health and well-being, no matter their stage of life.”

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