Doda Yoga

22/05/2026

I’ve just finished another sound bath at the prestigious and every time I work here I have to pinch myself that we’re given private access before the gardens open.

This morning was a dream, blue skies overhead, damp grass beneath our feet, surrounded by the gentle serenade of rustling leaves and birds singing their dawn chorus.

Feedback like this reminds me why I do this work…

✨ “That was magical. I’m not sure where I went, but I was smiling on the inside.”

✨ “I didn’t realise how much I needed to stop and take a break. I don’t want to leave.”

✨ “What a wonderful setting and experience. Each instrument you played felt deeply comforting and holding.”

This work matters deeply to me because it offers us a chance to see ourselves, and our world a little differently. Not about fixing, but about connecting… to ourselves, to others, and to the natural world around us in a more harmonious way.

I have two more outdoor sound baths at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens this year:

🌿 Friday 12th June 2026 | 9:15–10:15
🌿 Friday 10th July 2026 | 9:15–10:15

And another very special outdoor experience with on 19th June at@18:30, limited spaces available.

There’s something about soundscapes outdoors… the way nature and sound weave together and completely envelop you.

Have a wonderful bank holiday 💛 And if you’re craving a little more serenity, come and join me at one of my events soon.

With love,
Naomi ✨

21/05/2026

🤍

*** few remaining spaces***
As the weather tomorrow is looking great - why not join experienced Sound Therapist Naomi Hurst from Doda Yoga in a sensory sound bath to soothe the soul in outside the magical Gardens.

The sound journey will take you on a deeply relaxing and rejuvenating experience as you fly on the sounds of the vibrating gong and soothing crystal or Tibetan singing bowls with the added benefit of the sounds of nature all around you.

Arrival at 9am. Please bring a yoga mat, camping chair or waterproof picnic blanket to lay on and anything to keep you warm and cosy (extra layers, eye pillow, blankets and pillows). No experience is required, just an open heart and mind. Suitable for anyone over the age of 18.

£50pp
Call before 5pm today (21.5.26 to book) 01794 368787
session lasts until approx 10.15

19/05/2026

There is a term in music psychology called frisson.

It describes brief moments where sound can create a strong emotional and sensory response, subtle, fleeting, and often difficult to explain.

It isn’t something to aim for in a sound bath. It isn’t something that happens every time. But it does point to something quietly remarkable about how we respond when we are given space to listen differently.

Sound baths are not about chasing a state. They are about creating conditions where something honest might be felt.

I have 4 spaces left this Sunday at Monxton Village Hall if you feel called to join.

And if this isn’t the right moment, there are other spaces coming up:

This Friday
13th June Summer retreat
14th June Monxton Village Hall
19th June at
6th September at Monxton Village Hall

Booking is online via my website.

I hope to soothe you with sound soon.

With love,
Naomi ✨

18/05/2026

What do hand movements have to do with yoga? More than you might think.

I’ve recently been adding simple brain training hand movements into my classes, think of them as gentle mind puzzles for the body and brain. Alongside mindfulness and movement, they can support hand eye coordination, memory, dexterity, flexibility in the hands, and offer a small, safe way to keep both mind and body engaged.

I’ve written a blog about why I’ve introduced them, the benefits I’ve been exploring, and why sometimes the smallest movements can have a surprisingly big impact.

Link in comments.

With love,
Naomi ✨

16/05/2026

Today’s retreat day was collective effervescence in its truest form (thank you for the excellent description!) — that beautiful feeling of connection, presence and shared humanity that happens when people come together with open hearts.

What unfolded today was calm, laughter, stillness, emotion, connection and something far bigger than any schedule or plan could ever create. A space full of people arriving as individuals and leaving feeling part of something.

To the inspiring souls who joined me today, thank you 😘. Thank you for your trust, your energy, your openness and for helping create such a special atmosphere. You are what made the day what it was.

I’ll be digesting it all and the delicious food from over the next few days and will post more soon!

And somehow, it feels like this is only the beginning.

My next retreat day is on 13th June, with the equally amazing . We have 4 spaces left, and I’d absolutely love you to join us for more collective wow-ing.

With love,
Naomi ✨

15/05/2026

Thank you so much to everyone who has checked in and asked about Pumpkin, my cat, over the last week. I’ve been genuinely humbled by the care, kindness and consideration people have shown towards him and our family during what has been a very stressful time.

Pumpkin has actually inspired me to write a blog about the experience, reflecting on care, recovery and the parallels between how we care for our pets and how we (do or don’t) care for ourselves!

The photos immediately after his surgery are a little too graphic to share publicly on here, so I won’t be sharing those, but I wanted to say thank you for all the kindness people have shown. He still has a long road ahead and we don’t fully know what the outcome will be yet, but we are hopeful that with rest, patience and time he will recover well.

Link to blog in comment🔗

Have a wonderful weekend - I’m hosting a retreat tomorrow and I can’t wait!

With love,
Naomi ✨

14/05/2026

Balance is more than standing on one leg.

It is a functional movement skill that supports us every single day, when we walk, climb stairs, turn, reach, carry shopping, or move across uneven ground.

Balance is actually a complex process involving multiple systems in the body working together. The vestibular system in the inner ear helps us sense movement and position, our vision helps us orient ourselves in space, and proprioception gives feedback from our muscles and joints about where the body is.

Alongside this, strength, coordination, and the brain’s ability to process information all play an important role in keeping us upright and steady.

As we age, these systems can naturally become less responsive, which is why practising balance is so important for maintaining confidence, independence, and reducing the risk of falls.

But balance is also a feeling. A sense of being grounded, steady, present, and connected to our bodies.

The beautiful thing is that balance can be improved at any age. Through mindful movement practices like yoga, we strengthen not only the body, but also awareness, focus, and trust in ourselves.

True balance isn’t about being perfectly still. It’s about learning how to adjust, respond, and steady ourselves through life’s constant movement.

If you are looking for a little more mental balance next week, I have Friday night Yin Yoga at 1830 with 4 spaces remaining, and Sound Bath Sunday at Monxton at 1630 with a couple of spaces.

Booking online 💫

With love,
Naomi ✨

13/05/2026

Each week in the hall there are forgotten balloons, high in the sky. Most people never notice them, you only really see them when you lie down in yoga. If you didn’t know that you lie down in yoga, you do now.

I often think about the stories behind the lost balloons. The celebrations they belonged to, the little hands that let go, the joy they brought before drifting upwards to quietly linger above us all.

Balloons are a little like moments in life, beautiful, temporary, and impossible to hold onto forever.

And sometimes all it takes is a change in perspective, a moment of stillness, a chance to look up, to notice the things that were there all along. 🎈

So, for anyone who has ever loved and lost a balloon in our hall, please know us yogis appreciate them every single week… and they still bring a smile to our faces.

With love,
Naomi ✨

11/05/2026

Mental Health Awareness Week is often full of conversation, and that matters. But what feels most important is the theme of Action.

In my work, I see every day how mental health is not something separate from life, it is shaped by how we live, how we cope, how we connect, and how we rest.

I’ve written a new blog sharing reflections from my work exploring what it really means to take action for our mental health.

If it resonates, you can read it in my blog.💚

If you are struggling, please know support is available through your GP, Samaritans on 116 123 or Shout by texting SHOUT to 85258.

With love,
Naomi ✨

09/05/2026

For someone who usually has it together, I’ve been having a bit of an existential wobble about turning 40… and yet, here we are.

When I look back across the decades of me, I can see just how much I’ve changed, evolved, and grown. There’s a quiet strength in that. In the final week of my thirties, life did what life does and threw a curveball when my cat broke its leg. A reminder, if I needed one, that even the smallest things can suddenly feel overwhelming when they land all at once.

But maybe that’s the point.

So here I am, stepping into my 40s. They say life begins at 40, and I’m choosing to believe there’s truth in that, not because everything gets easier, but because you do.

And I’m grateful for the people around me who remind me of that when I forget. Who hold space, steady me, and gently reassure me that it does get better… even if there are a few more creaks along the way.

Here’s to growth, resilience, and everything still to come.

With love,
Naomi ✨