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https://mindandmotiontherapy.co.uk/

Mind and Motion Therapy, Kendal (2026)

05/02/2026

Life Isn’t Meant to Be Lived in One Colour

These photos were taken in Myanmar (formerly Burma), a place that stopped me in my tracks—not because it was loud or busy, but because it was vivid. Colour everywhere. Layered, intentional, unapologetic. Every shade sitting alongside the next, not competing, just co-existing.

It struck me how often, in life and in health, we try to narrow ourselves down to one colour.

We become the “busy one.”
The “strong one.”
The “tired one.”
The “injured one.”
The “anxious one.”

And before we know it, our world becomes smaller, flatter, more monochrome.

In my work, I see this all the time. People come to me believing their pain, stress, fatigue, or low mood is the whole picture. But just like these colours, you are never one thing. You are physical, cognitive, emotional, hormonal, social—and all of those layers matter.

Pain isn’t just tissue.
Stress isn’t just weakness.
Fatigue isn’t just laziness.
Poor movement isn’t just ageing.

Health is colourful. It’s complex. And it needs a broader lens.

Sometimes the work is physical—restoring movement, strength, and confidence in a body that’s been guarded for too long.
Sometimes it’s cognitive—unravelling patterns, calming a nervous system that’s been stuck in survival mode.
Sometimes it’s simply about giving yourself permission to take up space again, to enjoy life rather than endure it.

Myanmar reminded me that contrast is what creates beauty. Light and shadow. Stillness and movement. Effort and rest.

If your life or your body feels a bit grey right now, that doesn’t mean anything is broken. It might just mean one part has been doing all the talking while the others have gone quiet.

Health isn’t about stripping things back to nothing.
It’s about bringing the colour back in—carefully, intentionally, and at your own pace.

And that’s exactly how I work.

04/02/2026

Hands Up… Who Wants to Feel Better?

This photo was taken on the summit of Skiddaw, in full winter conditions. Cold, exposed, demanding — and yet incredibly grounding.

So let me ask you something.

🙋‍♀️ Who wants to feel better in their body?
🙋‍♂️ Who wants to think more positively?
🙋 Who wants to stop just coping and actually start thriving?

Because here’s the truth I see every single day in my work: feeling better rarely comes from one big dramatic change. It comes from building capacity — slowly, consistently, and with the right support.

Just like being up here in winter:

You don’t turn up unprepared.
You don’t ignore the conditions.
You don’t fight the environment — you work with it.

Health is the same.

When your nervous system is overloaded, your body tight, your thoughts racing, or your motivation low — that’s not failure. That’s your system telling you it needs attention, not punishment.

Feeling better physically helps you think more clearly.
Thinking more clearly helps you make better choices.
Better choices, repeated often enough, change how life feels.

Thriving isn’t about perfection or relentless positivity. It’s about:

• Understanding your body
• Respecting your limits
• Gently expanding what you’re capable of

That’s what I help people do — whether it’s pain management, recovery, stress regulation, or navigating a challenging phase of life.

You don’t need to climb a mountain to start feeling better.
You just need to take the first step — and keep going.

So… hands up.
Who’s ready to feel stronger, calmer, and more capable this year?

03/02/2026

Calculated Risk, Built Capacity

Recently I was descending from Scafell Pike towards Scafell and heading up towards Fox’s Tarn. What I didn’t expect to find was a fully frozen gill — around 400 feet of solid ice — a rare and beautiful winter line.

So on went the crampons, ice axe in hand, and up I went.

Yes, there are risks in winter mountaineering. But risk isn’t recklessness when it’s paired with preparation, experience, and respect for the environment. I’m highly trained, highly experienced, and well equipped for these conditions — and because of that, it was safe, controlled, and honestly… enormous fun.

And this translates directly into my work.

In life and in health, people are often told to avoid challenge. Don’t push. Don’t load. Don’t try. But what actually builds resilience — physically and mentally — is appropriate exposure, done well.

The body doesn’t get stronger by staying comfortable.
The nervous system doesn’t become calmer by avoiding stress forever.
Confidence doesn’t grow without challenge.

What matters is:

• Skill before risk
• Capacity before load
• Tools before terrain

Whether it’s navigating pain, rebuilding after injury, managing stress, or stepping into a new phase of life — the goal isn’t to eliminate challenge. It’s to be prepared for it.

That’s what I help people do every day:

Build strength where there is fragility.
Create calm where there is overload.
Develop confidence where there is fear.

Because when you have the right tools, the right support, and the right guidance — challenges stop being something to avoid… and become something you’re capable of meeting.

A brilliant winter day out on the fells, and a perfect reminder of why preparation always matters.

02/02/2026

Finding Balance

This photo was taken on the Cantilever Stone at Glyder Fach in Snowdonia. It’s a place that demands respect — one wrong shift of weight, one moment of distraction, and you’re reminded very quickly that balance isn’t optional.

And honestly, life isn’t much different.

We spend so much time trying to juggle everything — physical health, mental clarity, work, relationships, expectations — often without realising how finely balanced it all is. When one area is overloaded, something else usually gives way.

Physically, I see this every day. Bodies that are strong but exhausted. Bodies that are capable but poorly supported. Muscles doing far more work than they were ever designed to because other systems have gone quiet.

Cognitively, the same thing happens. Too much stress, too little rest. Too much doing, not enough processing. The nervous system tips towards survival mode, and suddenly concentration, sleep, mood, and pain all start to suffer.

Balance isn’t about standing perfectly still.
It’s about constant, subtle adjustment.

Just like on the Cantilever Stone, you don’t freeze — you adapt. You listen. You respond. You make micro-corrections that keep you upright and moving forward.

In life, that might look like:

• Building physical capacity instead of constantly firefighting pain
• Supporting your nervous system, not just pushing through
• Allowing rest to be as purposeful as effort
• Recognising when something feels off and addressing it early

True balance isn’t found at the extremes.
It’s found in awareness.

And when the balance feels hard to hold — you don’t have to do it alone.

01/02/2026

Different Stages of Life, Different Needs

One of the things I love most about the work I do is seeing how people’s needs change as they move through different stages of life. Pain, movement, and mental health rarely exist in isolation — they’re deeply shaped by where we are in life.

Stereotypically (and there are always exceptions), this is what I tend to see.

Younger people often come to me with injuries — sport-related issues, traumatic injuries, sudden flare-ups. Youth tends to bring natural mobility and tissue resilience, so the focus is usually on recovery, restoring movement, and getting them back to what they love. On the mental health side, it’s often anxiety, life direction, pressure, and learning how to navigate a world that feels fast and demanding.

Middle-aged women, particularly around perimenopause and menopause, present very differently. I see higher sympathetic nervous system activity, increased muscle tension, widespread pain, disrupted sleep, and cognitive overwhelm. Physically and mentally, it can feel like the rules have suddenly changed — and that can be frightening if you don’t understand what’s happening. Much of my work here is about reassurance, regulation, and rebuilding trust in the body and mind.

Older adults often come to me with one clear goal: to keep moving. Flexibility, mobility, balance, and confidence become key so they can maintain independence and continue doing the things that matter to them. Mentally, I see many people — particularly older men — struggling with reduced capacity, identity changes, and the very real emotional weight of an ageing body.

Across all stages, the common thread is this:
people don’t just want pain relief — they want understanding, agency, and support.

Your body isn’t broken.
It’s adapting to life.

And sometimes, it just needs the right kind of help at the right time.

31/01/2026

We Made it! Finally January Ends!❄️

This photo was taken at the summit of Skiddaw, in full winter conditions. Minus 15 at the top, layers on, wind biting, one hand up waving because sometimes you have to acknowledge the moment and say “I showed up.”

And that feels like a good way to mark the end of January.

So… how did you get on with your goals?

Did you set intentions for the year?

Did you move more, rest better, prioritise yourself, or finally address something that’s been niggling physically or mentally?

If you did — tell me about it. I’d genuinely love to hear.

And if you didn’t, that’s okay too. January isn’t a pass/fail test. It’s information.

One thing the mountains constantly teach me is this:

big goals aren’t achieved in one push — they’re built through habits, patience, and adapting to conditions.

You don’t climb a winter mountain by sprinting to the top.
You pace yourself.
You adjust layers.
You refuel.
You keep going — one steady step at a time.

Health, strength, and wellbeing work exactly the same way.

If you want your January goals to last through 2026:

Keep them realistic, not punishing

Focus on consistency over intensity

Build routines that fit your real life

Strengthen both body and mind

Ask for support when the terrain gets tough

You don’t need perfection.
You need capacity, resilience, and a plan that grows with you.

Here’s to showing up — even when it’s cold, uncomfortable, and challenging.
One hand up if you’re still in it. 👋

30/01/2026

Cold Hands. Clear Mind. Right Tools.

These photos were taken up on Great End in proper winter conditions – biting cold, hard frost underfoot, and terrain that demands respect. This isn’t a place to “wing it”. Without the right kit – crampons, layers, navigation skills, and a clear head – things can unravel very quickly.

Winter walking is a powerful reminder of something I see every day in my work.

Challenges don’t usually break us because they’re too big.
They overwhelm us when we don’t have the right tools to meet them.

Whether it’s navigating icy fells or navigating life, preparation matters. Strength matters. Awareness matters. And so does knowing when to slow down, reassess, and adapt to the conditions in front of you.

In the mountains, you don’t argue with the weather.
You respect it, work with it, and adjust your approach.

Our bodies and minds are no different.

Pain, fatigue, stress, injury, burnout – these are often signs that the demands of life have outpaced our current capacity. That doesn’t mean failure. It means it’s time to build better foundations: physical strength, resilience, recovery strategies, and mental clarity.

At Mind and Motion Therapy, that’s exactly what I focus on. Helping people gather the right tools – physical and psychological – so they can move through life’s tougher terrain with confidence rather than fear.

You don’t need to avoid the mountains.
You just need the right kit.

And with the right support, those cold, challenging paths can become deeply empowering journeys.

Stay safe out there – on the fells and in life.

29/01/2026

Your MRI Is Not Your Destiny

One of the most common things I hear in clinic is:
“My scan says my back is damaged.”

And I want to gently but clearly challenge that narrative.

Modern research shows us something really important: MRI findings are actually one of the poorest predictors of low back pain. Disc bulges, degeneration and “wear and tear” are incredibly common – even in people with no pain at all. An image can tell us what your spine looks like, but it tells us very little about how it feels, how resilient it is, or what it’s capable of.

So what does predict persistent back pain more reliably?

Low physical activity
Poor sleep quality
High stress and emotional load
Chronic health conditions
Reduced strength and tissue capacity
Lifestyle pressures and fatigue

In other words, pain is rarely just a structural problem. It’s a capacity problem.

Our bodies are adaptable systems. When tissues aren’t strong enough yet to tolerate the demands of daily life, symptoms appear. That doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means your body is asking for support, movement, education, and gradual rebuilding.

A scan won’t improve your sleep.
A report won’t reduce your stress.
A diagnosis won’t restore confidence in movement.

But the right approach can.

This is why modern clinical guidelines consistently prioritise movement, strength, physical activity, education, and lifestyle change as first-line care – not fear, rest, or avoidance.

At Mind and Motion Therapy, I work with the whole picture: your body, your nervous system, your lifestyle, and your lived experience. We focus on building strength, restoring confidence, improving movement quality, and supporting mental wellbeing alongside physical recovery.

You are not fragile.
Your back is not broken.
And your future is not written on a scan.

If you’re ready to move forward rather than be defined by an image, I’m here to help.

28/01/2026

“Not injured… just underprepared?”

So many people come to me saying, “I’ve injured my back / shoulder / knee,” when in reality, what we’re often dealing with isn’t a true injury at all — it’s tissue that doesn’t yet have the capacity to cope with the demands being placed on it.

Life loads us constantly.
Work, stress, lifting, sitting, standing, walking, training, parenting, poor sleep… it all adds up.

When your muscles, tendons and joints haven’t been gradually prepared for that load, they start to complain. Pain shows up. Tightness appears. Things feel fragile. That doesn’t mean you’re broken — it means your body is asking for support, strength and smarter progression.

This is where I see huge changes with clients:

• Building strength at the right level
• Improving movement confidence
• Gradually increasing load, not avoiding it
• Supporting the nervous system alongside the physical body

Medication can reduce symptoms, but it doesn’t teach your body how to cope with life again. Capacity does that.

And this applies to everyone — desk workers, trades, hospitality staff, athletes, older adults, and those managing long-term pain or fatigue.

Pain is information, not a life sentence.

If something keeps flaring up, ask yourself:

👉 Is my body actually injured… or just underprepared?

And if you’re unsure, that’s exactly what I help people work out — safely, patiently, and without fear.

One step at a time.
Build capacity.
Trust your body again.

27/01/2026

A few moments from a beautiful winter walk up on the fells above Derwent Water ❄️
Shared with my lovely friend Dita, good conversation, steady walking, plenty of fresh air.

Nothing fancy. No targets. Just moving, chatting, chilling, and letting the headspace clear a bit.

These are the moments that do wonders for the soul – gentle movement, nature doing its thing, and time to properly catch up without distractions. It’s a good reminder that exercise doesn’t always have to be intense to be valuable.

Sometimes the best medicine is simply putting one foot in front of the other, breathing deeply, and enjoying where you are.

More of this, please 💛

26/01/2026

These beauties are a little throwback to Christmas 🎂
All courtesy of Sweet Treats by Martin Frickle – and yes, they were every bit as good as they look.

Since 29th December, I’ve been completely cake-free. Not because cake is the enemy (far from it), but because after November and December’s very enthusiastic enjoyment of the good stuff, my body needed a breather. A full month of letting things settle after a definite sugar overload.

Now, posting this in late January, I can honestly say I’ve been very good… and I also can’t wait until it’s cake o’clock again 😄
Because everything in moderation, right?

January often comes with big resolutions and all-or-nothing thinking. If that’s been you this month, you’re nearly there – just a few days to go. Rather than swinging from restriction straight back to excess, maybe the win is taking some of January’s healthier habits forward with a bit more balance.

Enjoy the treats. Listen to your body. Rein things in when you need to. And don’t feel guilty for loving cake.

Moderation > perfection. Always. 💛

25/01/2026

A Little Christmas Magic (Even If I’m Late Sharing It!)

I’m a bit late posting this, but on Christmas Eve I went to Sizergh Light Trail with my lovely friend Dita — and I just had to give it a proper shout-out.

It wasn’t huge or overwhelming, and that’s actually what made it so special. It was small, beautifully thought out, and incredibly well done. Soft lighting, calm atmosphere, and that quiet kind of magic that lets you slow down and just be for a moment. It felt festive without being frantic — something that can be hard to find at that time of year.

We wandered, chatted, laughed, and simply enjoyed being present. No rushing, no pressure — just gentle movement, fresh air, and something lovely to take in. And honestly, those moments matter more than we often realise.

From a wellbeing point of view, it really reinforced something I talk to my clients about all the time:
you don’t need big, dramatic gestures to look after yourself.
Sometimes it’s the small experiences — a walk, some light, good company, and a change of scenery — that reset the nervous system the most.

As we move through winter and into the new year, it’s a good reminder to keep finding those pockets of calm. Especially when life feels busy, heavy, or demanding on the body and mind.

So if Sighs A Light Trail returns next Christmas, I can wholeheartedly recommend it. Well worth the trip out — and a lovely way to refill the cup.

Here’s to more simple moments, gentle movement, and doing things that quietly support both body and mind.

Mind and Motion Therapy

05/02/2026

04/02/2026

03/02/2026

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31/01/2026

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