Isvara Wellbeing

12/03/2026

I am honoured to be working and studying with Sarah at Horse Serenity

We've Been Nominated for an Award for our Work Behind the Wire!

Animal Partnership Award

Horserenity CIC is nominated for its extraordinary commitment to the Armed Forces community, specifically its pioneering trauma-informed work "behind the wire." By delivering horse-led programmes within the prison estate, Horserenity provides a vital lifeline to two distinct but interlinked groups: veterans within the justice system and the prison officers who work alongside them. In an environment often defined by high stakes and hyper-vigilance, Horserenity introduces a rare sanctuary of safety, dignity, and emotional regulation.

Supporting the "Forgotten" Veteran

The Armed Forces community does not end at the prison gate. Many veterans in custody struggle with a "double stigma"—the shame of their current circumstances layered over the invisible wounds of their service, such as PTSD and moral injury. Horserenity recognizes that these individuals often feel "beyond help" or forgotten by the community they once served.

Their work with veteran prisoners is transformative because it bypasses the barriers of traditional talk therapy. For a veteran who has spent years "camouflaging" their emotions, the horse acts as a biological mirror. Through quiet observation and groundwork, veterans learn to:

• Regulate the Nervous System: Moving from a permanent "combat mindset" to a state of calm.

• Rebuild Self-Worth: Rediscovering their identity as someone capable of care, patience, and leadership.

• Break the Cycle: Addressing the root causes of service-related trauma, which is essential for successful rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.

Empowering the Frontline: Prison Officers

Horserenity’s impact extends to the staff who maintain the safety and humanity of the prison environment. Prison officers face some of the highest levels of occupational stress and burnout in the public sector. Crucially, a significant percentage of the prison officer workforce are themselves veterans, meaning they carry the combined pressures of past military service and current frontline duties.

Horserenity provides these officers with the "permission to pause." By supporting their mental health and resilience, the organization ensures that these professionals can continue to serve with integrity and compassion. Horserenity understands a fundamental truth: a regulated, supported officer is better equipped to manage a complex environment, directly impacting the safety of everyone—staff and residents alike—within the prison walls.

The Power of Sentient Partnership

What makes Horserenity’s work exceptional is their relational model. Horses are not used as "props"; they are respected as sentient partners. This mirrors the military values of mutual respect and trust. In the prison setting, where trust is a scarce commodity, the horses provide an honest, non-judgmental connection that allows participants to lower their guard.

Horserenity’s practitioners operate with deep professionalism and ethical grounding. They do not force outcomes or rush the process; they allow trust to emerge naturally. This approach is highly effective for a community that can be skeptical of clinical intervention. By holding everyone—veterans, serving personnel, and officers—with equal respect, Horserenity creates an atmosphere where healing is possible even in the most challenging settings.

Conclusion: Service Without Exception

Horserenity CIC embodies the spirit of the Armed Forces Community Awards by ensuring that no one is left behind, regardless of where they are currently serving or living. Their work "behind the wire" is often quiet and unheralded, yet its impact is profound. Relationships are repaired, nervous systems are settled, and individuals who have given so much to their country are finally given the space to be seen, heard, and valued.

Horserenity is a beacon of what is possible when we support the whole person, recognizing the enduring value of our veterans and the critical importance of those who guard them.

Veteran in custody impact statement

"When I entered the prison system, I felt I had failed twice: once as a civilian and once as a soldier. I was stuck in a 'combat mindset'—always scanning for threats, unable to sleep, and reacting with aggression because it was the only tool I had left.

Working with the horses through Horserenity changed the physics of my day. You can’t 'fake' calm with a horse; they know the truth of your heart rate before you do. For the first time in years, I had to learn to down-regulate. I wasn’t just a prisoner or a veteran with PTSD; I was a partner to a sentient being who didn't care about my past, only my presence. That silence and connection gave me my dignity back. It didn't just help me survive my sentence; it gave me the emotional tools to ensure I never come back."

04/03/2026

Do you prefer a more intimate space for your Yoga or Meditation Practice? I am now sharing my private Yoga studio in Broadstone. Thanks to many years experience teaching yoga, mindfulness and Sound Therapy, I can taylor the session to exactly what you need and want. Get in touch if you want to find out more. I can accommodate up to 3 students Email me on Babs.freeman333@gmail.com or text 07749-342040 for further information.
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04/03/2026

I know this has been written about and highlighted already. But this IS the very essence of the book. Surely this time we cannot simply look away.

Charlotte Dujardin footage is back in the press, and however uncomfortable it is, we cannot look away. What makes moments like this difficult is not simply the individual involved; it is what they expose. They force us to pause and consider what we are actually seeing — and perhaps more importantly, what we may have gradually come to accept as normal within equestrian culture.

When we watch a horse showing signs of tension, conflict or confusion and the pressure continues, it can create a quiet sense of unease. That discomfort is important. Not because it tells us immediately who is right or wrong, but because it invites us to examine why we feel unsettled. Instead of dismissing that feeling, or rushing to defend or condemn, we might ask ourselves what the horse is communicating in that moment.

Horses speak constantly through their bodies. Through tightening along the topline. Through a mouth that opens or braces. Through a tail swish that is not decorative but expressive. Through the subtle shift of a nervous system moving from regulation into stress. These signals are not minor details; they are information. And whether at Olympic level, area championships, riding clubs or in a private yard, when those signals are repeatedly overridden, we are no longer in conversation — we are in control.

This is not about condemning a sport. Many of us love equestrian sport and the skill, dedication and partnership it can represent at its best. But it is also true that parts of equestrian culture have normalised pushing beyond what the horse is clearly expressing. When we feel uneasy witnessing that, we should not turn away from the feeling. We should become curious about it. Because horses do not choose medals or rankings, they seek safety, clarity and consistency. When safety is compromised in pursuit of outcome, something essential shifts in the relationship.

For a while now, I have been writing about this tension — about the need to step back to Horse, with a capital H, and giving a voice to the horse. To recognise the horse not as a vehicle for ambition, but as a sentient being whose communication is constant, subtle and honest. Our work at Horserenity CIC, and the book that is growing from it, are rooted in a simple, but often challenging principle: regulation before performance, relationship before result. Skill and excellence matter, but they must be built on a foundation of emotional safety and genuine partnership.

At Kites Farm, our horses live at liberty and have choice in their interactions. If something does not feel right, they step away — and we pay attention. That is not a disruption to the work; it is the work. It is information about how the interaction is being experienced. Welfare is not just about feeding regimes or veterinary checks., it includes emotional experience, the state of the nervous system, and whether the horse feels safe within the relationship.

The headlines this week are uncomfortable, and perhaps they should be. Not so that we can react loudly or divide into camps, but so that we can look more closely at what we are seeing and at the standards we are willing to uphold. The horse has always been communicating. The question is whether we are prepared to remain present long enough — and humble enough — to truly listen.

06/02/2026

✨ Seasonal Restorative Yoga & Sound Baths ✨

Flow with the rhythm of the year through four seasonal workshops designed to support rest, renewal, balance, and grounding.

❄️ Winter | 🌱 Spring | ☀️ Summer | 🍂 Autumn

We start off with our Spring event on Friday 20. March from 7-9pm. All events are held at the Studio in Farnham. Restorative yoga • Guided relaxation • Sound bath
Email me for details babs@isvarawellbeing.co.uk.

21/12/2025

We enjoyed a wonderful cacao ceremony with Joanna to welcome the longest night and the shortest day of the year. Winter Solstice serves as a reminder of the cyclic nature of life. It is the time when the Sun reaches its lowest point in the sky, allowing the night to envelop the day. Symbolically, this day represents the rebirth of light over darkness and signals the return of longer days.

At its core, the Winter Solstice embodies a moment of transition — a shift from darkness to light, from deep rest to vitality, breathing life back into the dormant landscapes. It is a time of introspection and invites us to pause to contemplate our journey, express gratitude for the past year’s harvest, and to set intentions for the coming year. solstice. setting

21/12/2025

15/12/2025

How nasty to annoy a foal like that - shame on you!!’

28/11/2025

Just arrived ready to transform this lovely space for my restorative Yoga workshops this evening 😊

25/11/2025

As the nights grow longer, take time to slow down and rest.
Due to a late cancellation one space has become available if you want to join us this Friday 28th November, 7–9pm at Durham House Studio for an evening of restorative yoga and a peaceful sound bath with Babs.
Let the gongs and bowls melt away tension and leave you feeling calm and renewed, ready for the festive season. 💫email babs@isvarawellbeing.co.uk

20/11/2025

I am very excited to spend the next four days in the black Mountains, Wales. This is the second part to a course I did with Rosie last year and I am sure will be just as excellent this time round.

24/10/2025

Join us for a cosy winter workshop at the peaceful Durham House Studio—a welcoming retreat to support your well-being during the colder months.

You’ll be led through soothing, restorative yoga practices, deep stretches and relaxation designed to release tension and bring comfort to body and mind. Let the rich vibrations of gongs and singing bowls create a cocoon of warmth and calm—helping you restore balance and leave with a renewed sense of peace.

This winter, give yourself the gift of rest, time to reflect, and inner stillness.

Namaste, Babs Isvara Wellbeing

To Book Your Space
Email: ‘babs@isvarawellbeing.co.uk or text 07749 – 342040 to register.

28/08/2025

As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, autumn invites us to turn inward, release what no longer serves us, and restore balance. Join us for a nurturing seasonal workshop at the peaceful Durham House Studio—a cosy sanctuary to support your well-being as we transition into the quieter months

You’ll be led through grounding and restorative yoga practices, gentle movement, and breathwork designed to align with the rhythms of autumn to soothe both body and mind.

Sink into stillness during a deeply relaxing sound bath, where the warm, resonant tones of gongs and other instruments will wash over you—helping to release stress and tension, clear mental clutter leaving you with a profound sense of calm.

This autumn, gift yourself the space to let go, rest, reflect, and reconnect.

Namaste, Babs

There are just three spaces left, so book now to secure your place. If you have any questions or need more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

To book Email: ‘babs@isvarawellbeing.co.uk or text 07749 – 342040 .
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