Carolyn Martyn didn’t want her wrinkles edited out. No filters, nothing smoothed, nothing softened. See me as I am, she says, and honestly, that’s the whole point. Carolyn has spent more than thirty years in women’s health, talking about menopause long before the rest of the world caught up, because she spots what people need and goes and does something about it. She’s fifty-eight and she’ll tell you she’s never been more confident. She sparkles, on purpose, and she wants every woman she meets to know she can too. She lit up my studio, which will surprise absolutely no one. Here she is, in her own words.
What does being a ‘maverick’ mean to you?
At first, I wasn’t sure this was me. However the more I thought about it – I am and always have been an independent woman, thinker, doer. Over the years everything I’ve offered others has come from a place of seeing a need and filling it, when it comes to all-things women’s health. I’ve been in the world of helping clients with menopause for instance, for more than 10 years now. It was a passion of mine before the world was talking about it, since so many Clients older than me were going through it – and I wondered incredulously “why is the conversation not louder here”. Be it menopause, confidence events for girls, inspirational events for women… I see a need and do something about it. So I guess in some way, there’s a part of me who is Maverick!
Tell us about a time you felt powerful, proud, or truly yourself.
There honestly isn’t one. And: each one has built into the next stage for me and made me stronger through it. Because of it. I’ll answer the third one first. Being truly myself: at the gym, teaching yoga, speaking to groups big or small (essentially helping or inspiring), and around others socializing over coffee.
Powerful has been “post” each challenge sent my way. Whether health challenges of which there have been many, or life challenges which have been significant, I get to a point where I look at what I need to do to move forward, upward.
Each one has emboldened me, and I take what I learn from each and incorporate these into my Coaching with clients. Proud? Honestly, most nights when I go to bed I’m proud. I can put my head on my pillow knowing I’ve helped people in significant ways during the day.
What’s one challenge you’ve overcome that shaped who you are today?
Again, there are too many honestly to list. However, each one has truly made me a better person (you’d think I’m perfect with all the lessons, but obviously not!). I have had epilepsy since a young girl. So lucky it’s controlled; however this sent me into the world of lifelong learning about health and our brain. To this day.
At 28 I almost died and it’s absolutely crazy, but in that moment my body and brain knew what to do to keep my eyes open and keep me alive (no joke, I’m in a Medical Journal somewhere from a conference referred to as the “Enigma”). So this took me into the world of “yes you can” and meditation, breathwork, stresswork.
The health and life challenges have continued. They’ve all made me a fighter. A “let’s see what I CAN do about this”, vs. letting them take me down. They’ve made me stronger, more resilient and… humbler. I’d have to say at 58, having just come out of another life-changing challenge: I’m the most compassionate and confident I’ve ever been.
I guess the lesson here is challenge truly can be taken and turned into opportunity and inner-strength. Each one literally built me to be the woman I am today (sparkles and all).
What’s something most people don’t know about you, but should?
I don’t talk to people at night. Once work is done, I rarely will text and definitely don’t talk. Since a young girl I’ve needed my quiet time at night, to recharge my brain to be top-notch for the following day. I’m sure it’s related to my epilepsy, however I’m definitely one to walk the walk. We need to do what we need to do for ourselves, to fill our cup, to be able to “be” for those we love. Mine is at night. With my Husband, our Cat (my Son, DIL and Parents are allowed to text and call lol) and the calm. Bliss.
What legacy are you building or living?
Hmm. This one always makes me stop and think.
I was named after my Dad’s Mom: Caroline. They remember her as having an amazing sense of humour (even when she was in her 80s) and wise. I’d like to think I’ve a bit of both. However… every day is about bringing some sunshine into someone’s world, either personally or professionally.
I am SO passionate about women’s health, midlife health and helping women see they aren’t becoming invisible with age. Instead it’s a time to be VERY visible (funny: I notice at this point, my typing has become very fast!). I’ve been in this world for 35+ years: from instructor to Personal Trainer, Health Coach and Yoga Instructor, Resilience and Mindfulness Specializations and Behaviour Change. I’ve taken the education to be able to cover all-things woman (I chose women’s health because this was basically who most of my clients have always been).
I want everyone I come across and every woman I work with, or who is in my world, to feel better today than they did yesterday. To have the tools if they don’t have them. To know they have inside them a strength that if they can’t quite reach it, I’m here to give them a helping hand. I am not prepared to let the status quo, well, be the status quo. I want to be part of the movement and make the conversations louder not just when it comes to menopause and being midlife (Friends: POST-menopause is just as important), but helping people understand what power over their life they can have. We all have our challenges; it’s helping people live a life understanding that challenges don’t take them down.
I guess at the end of the day? The answer to this is inspiring, motivating and helping people move the dial forward. Period.
What message would you share with other women who are still finding their voice or their confidence?
I love the quote “everything we want is on the other side of fear”. Sometimes, so often, the thought of something is so much more than the action of doing it. We know, as per the Confidence Code (I believe), that women can be prone to “waiting until”: such as waiting until we’ve lost the weight before going to classes at the gym or got all the qualifications needed before jumping on an opportunity.
I’d say: learn to jump. I speak with SUCH experience, that moving through the fear, uncertainty and saying yes despite that voice inside. Saying yes despite not knowing every piece of it. There is being intentional and careful when needed. Being intentional and just doing something when it will benefit us is a whole different ballgame.
As well, as we age, many women feel they are becoming more invisible. I say now more than ever, this is our time of VISIBILITY. Our voice is full of such wisdom, brings with it the experiences that we’ve worked through, won, lost and achieved. I know for me, I’m my most confident self and I’m 58. Way more confident than the woman I was at 25 who was always questioning herself. I’ve experienced highs and lows. I’ve learned from each of them. And bring such wisdom to the table because of these experiences. Embracing the good and the bad, because at the end of the day: THAT is what allows us to learn through each experience and grow as people.
And absolutely, I’ve not only learned to say yes “despite”. I make myself do this intentionally and regularly, especially when I’m at a place of discomfort, yet it is an opportunity that will benefit me or those I love.
And I have to say, it’s been a game-changer.
How did you feel seeing yourself in this portrait experience? What shifted for you?
I loved it. My branding has always been about sparkling. Whether I’m trying to bring a feeling of sparkle into someone’s world or whether it’s myself, everyone knows something I wear has to sparkle!
This experience for me, took sparkling to a whole new level. The vibrancy in colour, the depth in the photo backgrounds. This for me has been another lift, another step in this Journey of my Beingness. How I want others to feel comes through in these photos. And I’m even more on a mission to help women do just that.
I also realized, I’m so happy just as I am. Whether wearing sparkles or not, this Portrait Experience made me realize even more (and reinforced the feeling) that I’m where I’m meant to be and more importantly, SO happy with the woman I am.
If you could describe yourself in three words today, what would they be?
Authentic: I’m nothing if I’m not this. An example: on social media I’m not one to use filters; in photo shoots I ask to not have the wrinkles edited out. I want you all… to see me as I am. I’ll be honest, open and hide nothing. I walk the walk and people know it.
Loving: I come from a place of love with all I do. Clients know this (and know that sometimes love means saying with support what is hard to hear). I bring people together, want to connect those in my world with those who don’t know each other, love to enjoy others’ company.
Sparkly: one of the words MUST be this! People who know me would be wondering! I’m either sparkling or trying my darndest to help others add sparkle into their world.
At the end of the day: my goal is to bring some sunshine, positivity, motivation and support to the lives of those I’m around.
Find Carolyn
Carolyn is a women’s health and midlife wellness coach with more than three decades behind her, on a mission to help women feel powerful and very visible in the second half of life. If she resonated with you, here’s where to find her.
- Coach Carolyn Wellness: https://www.coachcarolynwellness.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourwellnesswhy
