Transition and change

Transition and change have become the main themes in my life right now. After a few years of stability and a home base in Thailand, I’m stepping into a new chapter—one that feels both familiar, exciting and yet somewhat daunting. I’m returning to a nomadic lifestyle, albeit temporarily, and I’m filled with hope and anticipation for what lies ahead. My overarching desire is to find a home base and be able to support folks like you with all the accumulated skills and knowledge I have in my tool bag.

As I write this, I’m on a plane departing from the greeeeeen countryside of Northern Ireland, where I spent several enriching weeks reuniting with my long-term love Troy and also supporting my dear friend and host, Emma Lowe as she tends to her beautiful retreat space, ‘Mother of the Woods.’ This retreat space is the home of our second Yoga Nidra Teacher Training (YNTT) this year, coming up October 25-27. It has been a joy to witness growth of this enchanting space held by the many trees surrounding the old Georgian hall.

Next on the horizon is Vienna! This is a first for me! 
Troy and I are excited to step back into teaching and holding space alongside each other. We will start at the Re:Treat Yoga Studio. Troy will offer a deeply nourishing Yin class with a special exploration through the Koshas. I’ll guide a ‘Serenity Sequence’ that blends gentle nervous system regulation practices, swara cycles, a touch of Yin, and, of course, a serene Yoga Nidra. If you’re in or near Vienna, we’d love to see you at the Re:Treat yoga studio (register online, details below):

As we roll into September, I’m happy to get some family time in and will be visiting my mom and stepdad in Switzerland, then my dad in Halifax, Canada (my birth place!) in early October. From there I’ll be popping down to New York City to support the launch of the Helix Institute & Healing Collective. I’m honoured to be part of the teaching team on this hybrid (online & in-person) 3-year psychospiritual counselling program. We’ll be offering a number of free online classes in the months to come so you can meet some of the different instructors. Check them out here. 

In mid October I’ll be back in Europe, teaching with my dear friend Lorraine Taylor on her in-residence 300hr Yoga Teacher Training for women. She’s located in a gorgeous french countryside near Bordeaux. I’ll be offering a Yoga Nidra module on Oct 14-19.

Can you keep up?? I barely can… then it’s back to Ireland for our cozy 3 day Yoga Nidra TT and then seeing out the year back in Bali where I’ll be supporting Tina Nance’s Nervous System Rewire & Restorative Yoga training.

As I navigate these transitions and travel, I’ve found myself relying on a few key practices that have been incredibly helpful—not only for myself, but in how I relate to my loved ones and engage with the world at large. One of the most significant tools has been becoming more literate in the language of my nervous system. I work with these tools regularly and it’s fundamental to how I support people in soul sessions.

I’d like to share with you the 5 Anchors, as presented by Resmaa Menakem in his must-read book and guide to somatic abolitionism, My Grandmother’s Hands. 

The 5 Anchors (SNAPD)

1. Soothe Yourself: Quiet your mind, calm your heart, and settle your body. This is the foundation for navigating any challenge.
2. Notice: Tune into the sensations, vibrations, and emotions in your body, allowing yourself to observe them without immediate reaction.
3. Accept: Embrace the discomfort when it arises. Notice how it changes over time instead of trying to escape from it.
4. Present: Stay fully present and grounded in your body as you move through uncertain and ambiguous experiences. This helps you respond from the best parts of yourself.
5. Discharge: Safely release any remaining energy. Be mindful that practices like yoga and tai chi, while beneficial, are more about gathering energy than discharging it. Other methods may be more effective for this purpose.

Understanding the language of one’s nervous system and applying these types of practices have been transformative for me, helping me navigate life’s transitions with greater ease and resilience. I hope they can offer you the same support.