Understanding the complete hormone picture
Hormonal imbalance is rarely a single-hormone problem. Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, thyroid hormones, and insulin all interact in complex ways. Addressing one hormone in isolation — taking a supplement for estrogen dominance, for example, without understanding the cortisol and thyroid picture — can make the overall pattern worse.
This is why Tiffany's approach begins with collaboration. Oftentimes, the complete hormone picture is best understood with the help of a functional medicine practitioner who can run the appropriate testing — DUTCH test, thyroid panel, fasting insulin. Once the pattern is identified, Tiffany can then help through food and nutraceuticals to support the hormonal system, alongside a yoga practice that is designed for the individual's specific pattern.
"The endocrine system is a symphony. You cannot tune one instrument without affecting all the others." — Geeta S. Iyengar, Yoga: A Gem for Women
Yoga and the menstrual cycle
In the Iyengar tradition, the yoga practice is adapted to the phases of the menstrual cycle. There are certain times of the month where inversions can be very beneficial — they support the hormonal system by increasing circulation to the pelvic organs and stimulating the endocrine glands. At other times — specifically during menstruation — inversions need to be removed from the practice. Geeta Iyengar's work on yoga for women documents this in detail, providing specific sequences for each phase of the cycle.
This is not a restriction — it is a form of intelligence. The practice becomes a tool for listening to the body's natural rhythms rather than overriding them.
Food and nutraceuticals for hormonal support
The hormonal system can be supported through the addition or removal of certain foods. Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts) support estrogen metabolism through the liver. Healthy fats — avocado, olive oil, fatty fish — provide the raw material for hormone production. Refined sugar and alcohol disrupt the hormonal system by spiking insulin and burdening the liver. Specific nutraceuticals — magnesium, B6, DIM, adaptogenic herbs — can support the hormonal system when the pattern is known.