Mind and Motion Therapy

23/11/2025

🌄 Sunday Sunrise Therapy 🌄

Up above Loweswater at 7am — the sky waking up, the fells glowing, and that peaceful moment before the rest of the world rises. Sundays are often labelled rest days… but rest doesn’t always mean stillness.

For some of us, “sitting quietly and switching off” is harder than the steepest climb. My brain doesn’t do calm-on-cue — and that’s okay.

Movement is my mindfulness.
Fresh air is my reset.
The fells are my place to breathe.

There’s more than one way to recover:

🌿 Active Rest — gentle movement like walking, cycling or swimming to reduce stiffness and support mental health

🧠 Brain Breaks — a change of scenery to refresh focus and lower stress

✨ Nature Therapy — proven boosts to mood, creativity and wellbeing

💪 Adapted Recovery — choosing what works for you, not what works for everyone else

Your rest day doesn’t have to look like someone else’s.

If stillness soothes you — amazing.

If movement resets you — embrace it.

Find your balance.

Tune into what your body and brain need.
And if that happens to be a sunrise hike with a snack stop… I’ll see you on the trail. 😉⛰️

Happy Sunday from the fells 💛

22/11/2025

🧀🍰 Cheesecake, Good Company & Even Better Wellbeing 🍰🧀

Brian has been living his best life recently… and yes, that includes pulling up a chair at the dinner table and helping the humans enjoy some cheesecake! 😄🐶

Moments like this — good food, laughter, connection — are actually powerful tools for wellbeing. We often think of health as only exercise, nutrition, or treatment… but joy plays just as important a role.

✅ Social connection reduces stress and improves mood
✅ Sharing meals encourages relaxation and mindfulness
✅ Laughter boosts endorphins and supports immune health
✅ Feeling included (even for bears!) strengthens emotional wellbeing

At Mind & Motion Therapy, I believe in the whole human — mental, emotional and physical wellness all working together. Recovery and resilience come not only from treatments… but from friendship, fun and feeling part of something.

So here’s to balance.
Here’s to cheesecake.
And here’s to the friends that make everything taste even sweeter. 💛

Brian says 10/10… would share dessert again. 😋

21/11/2025

✨ A Little Glam in the Big City ✨

I swapped my usual fell boots for something a bit more… fabulous! A trip to London to see The Devil Wears Prada musical with my lovely friend Dita — and what a brilliant day out it was! 💃🎭

Great company, great food, and a theatre show filled with sparkle, sass and a whole lot of laughter. Sometimes it’s the simple joy of stepping out of routine that gives us the biggest lift.

Whether it’s a night at the theatre, a walk in nature, coffee with a friend, or singing in the car like nobody’s listening — making time for the moments that fill our cup is essential for both mental and physical wellbeing.

Because when we feel energised, connected, and happy, we show up better… for life, for work, and for the people we care about.

So here’s your little reminder: do something this weekend purely because it makes you feel good. You deserve joy — not just when you’ve “earned” it, but always. ❤️

That’s all. 😉

20/11/2025

☁️ What Lies Beneath ☁️

We recently had the most stunning cloud inversion in the Lakes — fells bathed in sunshine while the valleys were hidden beneath a thick blanket of cloud. From above, everything looked calm and peaceful… but underneath, life carried on unseen.

It made me think about how similar we are to that landscape. What we show on the surface might look composed, strong, and “fine”… while inside we’re navigating challenges no one else can see.

This is why compassion, curiosity, and connection are so important — not just for ourselves, but for those we care about.

Here are a few gentle ways we can support the people around us:

Signs someone may be struggling beneath the surface:

• Withdrawing from social activities
• Changes in sleep, appetite, or mood
• Becoming easily overwhelmed or irritable
• Saying “I’m fine” a little too often
• Loss of interest in things they once enjoyed

Ways to help without prying:

• Check in with something simple: “How’s your week really been?”
• Invite them for a walk, a brew, or fresh air — low pressure connection
• Really listen — not to respond, but to understand
• Celebrate small wins and positive steps
• Remind them that support is available and seeking help is strength

Whether you’re above the clouds right now or finding your way through them — both are normal parts of being human.

And if you’re reading this and thinking, that’s me — please know you don’t have to handle the weight alone. There is always someone willing to stand beside you, to see you, and to help you find clearer skies again. 💛

19/11/2025

😂 Egg-citing Adventures in London! 🍳

So… I recently ventured down to the big smoke to catch up with my lovely friend Dita, and we decided to go somewhere a little… different for brunch. Enter: Egg Slut.

Yes, you read that right. EggSlut. 😳
I’ll admit, it’s not a name you forget in a hurry — and I may have blushed ordering my breakfast out loud! But, name aside… oh my word. The food was absolutely cracking. (Pun very much intended.)

I had the most delicious warm brioche bun filled with buttery scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, cheese, and caramelised onions — pure comfort food perfection. Honestly, they’ve mastered the art of making something simple taste downright luxurious. And let’s face it, everything tastes better when you’re in good company and not rushing between clients or fells!

The whole trip reminded me how important it is to take time out, enjoy good food, laugh with friends, and soak up life’s little moments — even if that moment involves saying, “Can I have one Egg Slut, please?” to a very straight-faced server. 😂

Life’s about balance — movement and rest, discipline and indulgence, seriousness and silliness. This was definitely one for the “silly but satisfying” category.

So, here’s your reminder: go see your friends, eat something delicious, and don’t take life too seriously… even if the restaurant name makes you blush!

18/11/2025

Change of Venue for tomorrow’s Free Pain Management Event - now located to Evolve Somatics Studio behind Stricklandgate House - 92 Stricklandgate, Kendal, LA9 4PU. Walk through the car park and in through a big blue door with blue flower pots outside.

See you all there for a start time of 6.30pm. ☺️🥰❤️🙏

18/11/2025

The Healing Power of Heat 🔥

A little warmth can go a long way — for both body and mind. I recently took some time to unwind in a whirlpool bath pool, and while it might look like pure indulgence, it’s actually a fantastic form of therapy.

Heat therapy — whether from a whirlpool bath, sauna, steam room or even a hot bath — can help increase circulation, ease muscle tension and reduce stiffness in joints. When your body warms up, blood vessels dilate, oxygen and nutrients are delivered more efficiently to tired or sore muscles, and the nervous system gets a gentle reminder to switch from “fight or flight” into “rest and digest.”

But you don’t need a spa day to enjoy the benefits of heat. There are plenty of simple, affordable ways to bring warmth into your recovery routine at home:

🌡️ Use a hot water bottle or heat pad on tight areas of the back, hips, or neck.
🛁 Take a warm bath with Epsom salts to relax muscles and calm the mind.
🚿 Alternate warm and cool water in the shower to stimulate circulation.
🧦 Try heated blankets or a microwavable wheat bag before bed to ease tension.
🚶‍♀️ Gentle movement after heat — like stretching or walking — helps the tissues stay supple.

Heat also has an emotional benefit. That sense of comfort and calm can help settle the nervous system, lowering stress hormones and allowing the body to repair itself more efficiently. Often, pain feels worse when the body is in a constant state of alertness — and a bit of warmth can be the signal it needs to finally exhale.

So, next time you feel stiff, achy, or simply frazzled — give warmth a try. Whether it’s a soak, a steam, or a snuggle under a heated throw, you’re helping your body to do exactly what it’s designed to do: heal.

17/11/2025

🌥️ Finding Beauty in the Grey 🌿

Not every day in the fells is blue skies and sunshine — sometimes it’s grey, damp, and the clouds sit low over the valleys. But even on those days, there’s still so much beauty to be found.

Amber and I spent the day exploring the fells above Thirlmere, wrapped in mist and drizzle, but it was still calm, grounding, and restorative in its own way. Days like these are such a good reminder that things don’t need to be perfect to be meaningful — and that applies just as much to our bodies and our pain journeys as it does to the weather.

Progress, healing, and self-care aren’t always clear or bright. Some days it’s about showing up anyway, taking the small steps, and finding peace in the grey moments. Often, that’s where real strength and resilience grow.

So whether it’s your training, your recovery, or just your week ahead — remember that even when things feel a little cloudy, there’s still value in the journey. 🌫️🐾

16/11/2025

🧗‍♀️ Fear, Focus, and Finding Your Grip

Looking back at my days teaching and climbing in the military always reminds me how much fear and focus go hand in hand. Rock climbing is a strange mix of control and chaos — you’re constantly managing risk, trusting your kit, your partner, and most importantly… yourself.

Leadership isn’t so different. Sometimes you’re leading from the front, other times you’re hanging on with your fingertips — but either way, you’re responsible for staying calm under pressure and helping others do the same.

Fear isn’t a weakness. It’s information. It tells you where your edges are — physically, mentally, emotionally. The real skill is learning how to breathe through it, find your next foothold, and keep moving upwards.

Those lessons from the rock face still shape how I work today — whether it’s helping clients manage pain, tackle personal barriers, or simply rediscover their own strength. We all have climbs to make, just in different forms. 💪

15/11/2025

🐻 Brian’s in the Doghouse! 🐾

Well… it’s official — Brian has found himself in the doghouse! 😂 He’s currently making himself very comfortable on Hector’s bed while I decide what adventures he’s heading off on next.

Sometimes we all need a bit of a timeout — whether it’s to rest, reflect, or just recharge for the next challenge. It’s easy to forget that downtime is just as important as activity when it comes to recovery, pain management, and general wellbeing.

So this weekend, take a leaf out of Brian’s book — find your “doghouse,” get comfy, and allow yourself a bit of rest. Your body (and your mind!) will thank you for it.

Happy Saturday, everyone — whatever you’re up to, make sure there’s a little balance in there. 💛

15/11/2025

I say it all the time — massage and soft tissue therapy aren’t luxuries, they’re essential maintenance. This article sums it up brilliantly.

Regular treatment supports your physical wellbeing, calms the nervous system, and has huge psychological and emotional benefits. It’s the accumulation that really makes the difference — not just a one-off when things get bad.

Have a read, and start thinking of your body the same way you would your car or your home: it needs consistent care to stay at its best. 🙏🥰

While they can be seen as a luxury, massages are often part of healthcare – here’s how they affect physical and mental health

14/11/2025

Don’t Judge me people but it had to be done, and yes…I know it’s only 14th November. 😍🎄✨

But for me, it isn’t about the date on the calendar. It’s about creating a little pocket of warmth and joy in my home and clinic space. I absolutely love Christmas – the lights, the cosiness, the sense of comfort – and I want my clients to feel that the moment they step through the door.

If putting the tree up early brings a smile, softens a stressful day, or adds a bit of magic to someone’s session, then I’m all for it. Life is busy enough; we’re allowed to embrace the things that make us feel good.

So yes, it’s early… but it’s also lovely. And I’m here for it. ✨🎄❤️