A Fresh Term Starts Here: Newsletter Blog — August 2026
Hello lovely,
Nature always tells us first, doesn't she? The possibility of autumn is making itself known. The evenings have that cooler edge now, and the blackberries are ripening up nicely. On my dog walks I've been collecting pine cones ready for my seasonal offerings, and watching the elderberries turn deep purple, ready to make our family favourite elderberry cordial — perfect for a bit of immune support as autumn settles in.
Can you feel it? September is just around the corner, with that familiar pull back towards routine and rhythm. I've been rearranging and decluttering the kids' bedrooms, getting school uniforms ready, and thinking about what the next season has in store for us (hello super-organised Virgo energy — always welcome after the relaxation and abundance of summer!). If you're doing the same, you might be thinking ahead to caring for your body and mind this autumn too.
Our new term timetable has landed! Classes return in Worcester (Monday 7th September) and Bromsgrove (Tuesday 8th September), so now's a lovely time to start thinking about getting booked on, as spaces tend to fill fast.
One note: Monday evening classes are moving to a slightly earlier start time.
Yoga for Relaxation — 4:45pm
Pregnancy Yoga — 6pm
Women's Yoga — 7:45pm
The reason for this change is explained further down.
A Summer of Sound
This summer marked my first full season offering sound baths since qualifying in sound healing, and I've loved every minute. We started with the Summer Solstice Yoga & Sound Bath, then came the Lion's Gate Portal Yoga & Sound Bath, a super special Parent & Baby Sound Bath (adapted with gentle, baby-safe frequencies), and finally Mums Night Off Yoga & Sound Bath. It's been so exciting sharing this new way to relax with you all.
Sound baths are like an audio meditation. The sounds catch your curiosity and help you stay in the present moment, calming a busy mind. Physically, we feel the frequencies of the healing instruments vibrating through the room, which helps to clear stagnant energy — this is why sound baths feel so all-encompassing in person, in a way an online experience just can't match. They bring you into a deep state of relaxation so your body and mind can heal, and each one is unique — the energy of the people in the room, the weather, the astrology, and so much more all play a part.
And now, I'm excited to share what's next: Autumn Night Off (Harvest Full Moon Yoga & Sound Bath), landing just after the Autumn Equinox, on the night of the Harvest full moon — 26th September, 6–8pm at Ombersley Road Methodist Church Hall.
Little Ones, Big Joy
One of my favourite parts of summer was Family Yoga & Play — Beach Edition, watching children and parents move, giggle, and play yoga together. Our lovely play therapist Becca Vetch also brought craft and play activities into the mix.
So much laughter, a bit of silliness, everyone letting go together — and then those gorgeous quieter moments too, cuddling up and settling into stillness, including a lovely kid-friendly mini sound bath.
It's a joy to hold space for these sessions, and I can't wait to bring more of them your way. An Autumn Kids Yoga session is being planned, with more details coming soon!
Breastfeeding Awareness Week
Back in July, Karina O'Neil Family Photographer organised a beautiful photoshoot, celebrating breastfeeding families and capturing real moments of feeding and motherhood. The images were completely stunning and are shared on my website, along with a couple of blog posts written in recognition of Breastfeeding Awareness Week — about how it's not always a straightforward journey, and how sharing our experiences and acting with kindness to ourselves and others is important, and that it's okay to do things in your own time.
One-to-One Hypnobirthing
A couple of weeks ago, I visited a lovely couple in their home for the day, to walk them through a one-to-one hypnobirthing session. I feel so honoured to be part of people's birth preparation. Birth is such a powerful moment in our lives, and how we feel about it afterwards is incredibly complex. This is why I truly believe knowledge is power: preparation, reflection, and planning are essential.
Hypnobirthing is about understanding the physiology of birth, and learning to bring your nervous system into a relaxed state so your body's natural hormones and physiology can work as they're designed to — making pain and intensity feel far less overwhelming. We look at everything that shapes your experience: mind, body, breath, environment, support, and feelings of respect and safety.
I've had such lovely feedback that clearly explains the couple's experience on the day, so I thought I'd share a link here
If you're pregnant and want to feel more prepared, and more likely to look back on your birth feeling positive — however your baby arrives — I'd love to work with you one-to-one.
A New Chapter: Perimenopause & Women's Yoga
Did you know perimenopause is actually the 10 years leading up to menopause (when periods stop)? And that menopause itself is just one day of your life? It's one year and one day after your final period! After that, we're post-menopausal.
My Yoga Therapy training has delved deep into how we can care for ourselves as we transition through the different phases of our lives, and I'm noticing it in myself, and in some of the women I teach — our needs are shifting. Some of us are entering a new decade, a new chapter, and a new time to learn how to care for ourselves.
I've always taught the pregnancy and postnatal community, but as my own life matures, and as many of the women I teach have been with me for so many years now, I want to formally embrace perimenopause support in my Women's Yoga classes too. So if this sounds like something you're navigating, come and join us. We're still very much embracing mums and the postnatal phase, but I also want to recognise and support the gradual transition so many of us are moving through.
Which leads me to the change in Monday class times: I'm 42 now, properly settling into my 40s, and noticing real energetic shifts — a different relationship with rest, and with what my body needs now. That's part of why Monday classes are moving earlier, so I can unwind properly and be ready for the early starts my body clock now insists on.
Here's to a term of slowing down where we can, and showing up for ourselves when we do.
Yoga Therapy — Final Case Study
I'm on track to complete my Yoga Therapy Diploma in early 2027, and I need to complete one final case study by the end of this year. I'm looking for a client who's able to commit to a 6-week Yoga Therapy programme, meeting with me weekly to help with any physical, mental, or emotional issues you might be facing.
Yoga Therapy is about bringing more ease, using yogic models as a guide. It can help with all conditions, complements traditional healthcare, and works holistically across all aspects of your life. I'd particularly love to support someone antenatally or postnatally, though this is genuinely for anyone seeking more ease in their life through yogic models of health.
Sessions are £25 each, at your home or an agreed venue. If this speaks to you, please get in touch — I'd be so grateful.
Love Zoe x
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