Dear readers,
What I learned at the “Hot for Hormones” retreat that’s reaffirming how I support your hormone health
I just returned from Hot for Hormones, a weekend retreat in Topanga with Dr. Sara Szal and Schuyler Grant. It was a chance to step away from the day-to-day and reconnect with the foundations of what truly matters in hormone healing.
This wasn’t about new data or protocols—it was about embodiment, presence, and remembering what so many of us, even as practitioners, can forget in the busy swirl of life.
Here are three insights that felt like homecoming moments—and ones I want to gently share with you, as reminders of what matters most in your own healing journey.
1. The Nervous System Runs the Show
Hormone therapy can correct the numbers on your labs. And I love optimizing those markers—we can absolutely do that together. But if your nervous system is in survival mode, the body won’t fully receive those corrections.
You’ve probably heard me ask:
How’s your sleep?
What does stress feel like in your body?
When do you actually feel calm?
I ask those not just out of curiosity—but because regulation, safety, and repair begin with the nervous system. If you’re stuck in fight-or-flight, the body keeps prioritizing stress hormones. The deeper healing doesn’t quite land.
So let this be a reminder: the most powerful work is the quietest. The breathing. The pausing. The boundary you hold. The way you create moments of calm amidst chaos. That’s where hormone healing really takes root.
2. Movement Speaks to Your Hormones
We moved a lot during the retreat—yoga that was challenging, powerful, and also restorative. It reminded me that movement isn’t just exercise—it’s communication.
When you move your body, you send a message. Sometimes that message is, “I’m strong.” Sometimes it’s, “I’m listening.” Other times, it’s, “I need to slow down.”
There’s no one-size-fits-all. It’s not about less or more. It’s about what your body needs today.
This is something I invite patients to explore: not just the type or duration of movement, but the intention behind it. Does your body feel supported by how you’re moving? Does it feel respected?
Your hormones listen to that.
3. Connection is Part of the Protocol
We spent the weekend in community—eating together, laughing, moving, sharing. And the medicine of that connection was as powerful as anything else we did.
Feeling seen and supported creates real biological shifts. Oxytocin rises. Cortisol softens. Sleep improves. Hormones stabilize.
When I think about the patients who feel the best over time, they’re not just following protocols. They’re supported. They have people they can talk to, lean on, or simply sit in silence with. That kind of connection buffers stress in ways no supplement ever could.
So I’ll gently remind you: you don’t have to do this alone. And you’re not meant to. Whether it’s a friend, a group, a shared meal, or a safe conversation—connection is medicine.
The Takeaway
These aren’t extras. They’re not “nice to have.” They’re foundational.
I can help correct your hormone levels. But the real magic happens in what you do between visits—in the quiet, nourishing choices you make for your nervous system, in how you move your body, and in the way you let others in.
Thanks to Dr. Szal and Schuyler for reminding me of these truths. I’ll be holding them close—and I hope they offer something meaningful to you, too.
Warm regards,
Dr. Alex Gajer
