The 8th Wonder

05/06/2026

a reminder of a version of myself that felt deeply nourished, embodied, strong, healthy, curious, and aligned

and now, in this postpartum season, not necessarily longing to go back to her, but reconnecting to those qualities in a new form

this photo was taken during my tcm elements training, which felt less like a training and more like a retreat for the soul (thank you ✨✨✨)

it's funny looking back now, almost at the end of my first year studying tcm acupuncture, in a season of motherhood that has reshaped me in ways i never could have imagined

these days look very different, slower, softer
held together by contact naps and cold cups of tea 😅

but i can feel this gentle pull back towards practice
not from a place of urgency or "bouncing back" but from a desire to reconnect with the things that make me feel most like myself

looking forward to finding my rhythm again
not the old one
a new one 🪷

ganda bherundasana | postpartum yoga | new mum | reflection

18/05/2026

life has looked a little different lately 🤍

the last few months invited me inward in ways i didn’t fully expect. i became quieter, slower, more protective of my energy and my space as i prepared to welcome our son earthside

and now, here he is, my little cherub laurence 🥰

conceived at the lions gate, and born into the aries storm on his heavenly grandads birthday, already changing everything in the most beautiful ways

we’ve been tucked away in a little love bubble, soaking up these early weeks together, adjusting to this new rhythm of life and love

to those who've been patient, understanding, supportive and gently held space for my absence during this chapter ~ thank you, truly ~ your kindness has meant more than you know 💗

and to this season as a whole, thank you also for the clarity it brought. some people showed up with softness and grace, others revealed where alignment no longer existed ~ and both have been gifts in their own way 🙏🏼

for now, i’m embracing slower days, fuller hearts, and this next chapter of becoming 🌱

see you all soon x

04/11/2025

Local chair yoga, delivered by the lovely Clare O'Grady Holistics & Yoga - sharing for anyone who may need it x

It was a pleasure to teach chair yoga to the community of Gee Cross this morning. Chair yoga will be held here at Gee Cross Community Centre every Monday at 10am, followed by a warm drink and a chat. I've got fond memories of growing up in this community with my family, and I'm thrilled to give back. This session is for every body - yoga is for everyone, and I invite you to join us. Connection and movement are key to a happier, healthier life. Your first session is free, so why not give it a try?

You can book@using the link in my bio or send me a little messsge 🤍💫🫶🏻

28/10/2025

free community class offering this december ✨

join me for an embodied yin exploration • a practice of deep listening through body, breath, fascia, and subtle energy 🌀

in embodied yin we move slowly, sometimes more dynamically,
holding shapes or flowing with sensation

weaving in traditions of chinese medicine, exploring energetic channels, the five phases, and the interplay of yin and yang ✨

a somatic journey where tension is given space to soften
the nervous system is given time to restore
and space within us opens 🌬️

come as you are 🤍 return to your wholeness

**this session will be recorded for my embodied yin teacher training (specifically me teaching, not the group, so you won't be on camera don't worry 🫶🏼)

hope to see you there for an alternative friday night in 🥰

link in bio to book 🔗

15/10/2025

This is your invitation to join Clare O'Grady Holistics & Yoga and I for a late Sunday morning of Reiki, Embodied Yin/Yang flow, and Yoga Nidra ~ an immersive practice devoted to the art of letting go ✨

*Autumn Alchemy 🍂 Embodying the Wisdom of Your Metal Element* 🤍

The Metal Element in Chinese Medicine teaches us about the art of letting go 🍂 mirroring it's season of autumn, a time of natural release as the leaves fall and what is no longer needed is shed to make way for new growth 🍃 it represents clarity, refinement, and release ~ the courage to breathe in what nourishes, and exhale what no longer serves.
⚖️ When balanced, we feel organised, self-assured and open. When imbalanced, we may feel stuck in grief, control, or self-doubt.

This creative workshop is your invitation to explore ~ to breathe, move and release through ritual, Reiki, and embodied movement.

🌬 What you’ll experience

🌀 Signature Yin/Yang flow ~ a mindful, grounding sequence combining unhurried Vinyasa, Shake The Dust, and Embodied Yin™️. We’ll trace the lung and large intestine energetic channels to free stagnation and create space for new inspiration

💫 Reiki healing ~ Clare channels Reiki energy throughout the practice to clear blockages and soothe the nervous system

🌙 Yoga Nidra ~ the practice of non-doing, a guided rest to integrate and return you to your centre

We’ll close together in community, with light seasonal refreshments inspired by the Metal element, to ground and nourish us 🤍

✨ We hope you’ll leave feeling:
🤍 lighter and clearer
🤍 rooted in truth
🤍 open to inspiration
🤍 connected to your self-worth

This is for you if you’re…
🌬️ ready to release what’s weighing you down
🌬️ seeking clarity, courage and renewal
🌬️ craving calm and reconnection

🗓 Sunday 26th October | 11am - 1pm
📍 Hadfield (details on booking)
💫 £25pp | limited spaces for intentionally small group

✨ Take a breath, let go, come home to yourself 🍂
Book your spot here: https://buy.stripe.com/aFa6oG8rX6ox0dh4XdbII07

All equipment provided ~ just arrive as you are 🥰

We hope to see you there 🫶🏼

07/10/2025

hii I'm mel ❤️‍🔥

a mover, a feeler, a forever student of life and the elements

today, i choose to stand in all of me, to meet my fear with love, to turn my wounds into wisdom, to let my passion burn as bright as it was always meant to

for too long, i've softened my edges, played small to stay safe, swallowed my essence out of fear of being too much
or not enough

but i’m done dimming my light to make others comfortable, done with the people-pleasing and walking on eggshells, done apologising for my sensitivity, my strength, my fire

through my spiritual journey and practices, i’ve been shedding and remembering, again and again, returning to what’s real, raw and alive

now, i’m here to ignite something inside you ~
to spark the remembering your body has always known, to guide you back to the wild wisdom already alive within, to remind you of the power that’s always been yours

through embodiment, ritual, and elemental wisdom,
i invite you to listen deeper, to trust sensation, to explore beyond form, to meet yourself in new ways

this next chapter feels like a deep exhale 🌬️
putting down roots, gathering community,
coming home to the woman i’ve always been beneath the layers ~
the trailblazer, the initiator, the flame ❤️‍🔥

i’m here to walk beside you as i walk myself home too
to keep learning, unlearning, and softening,
to speak truth even when my voice shakes,
to lift others as i rise,
to be the fire that lights the way for us all
so together, we can remember who we’ve always been

you are the medicine
you are the rhythm
you are the art 🌀

if you’ve found your way here, there's a reason
welcome 🤗

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02/10/2025

how much emotional, mental and physical energy are you giving without replenishing it?

burnout isn’t just exhaustion, it’s a deep drain on your mental and emotional reserves that can leave you feeling detached from yourself. it’s not only for workaholics or people in high-pressure jobs ~ it can happen to anyone, anywhere, when you give more than you restore

for me, it’s crept in twice. first in mid-’22, when i stepped away from my decade-long fashion career. then again in early ’24, after chasing my dream of becoming a full-time yoga teacher. i thought reducing my week from 50 hours to 12 (public teaching hours only 😅) would fix it ~ but burnout isn’t always about the hours, it’s about alignment

honestly, i don’t half give myself a hard time. because when i stepped back, i felt like a failure. i still do sometimes

but i have to keep reminding myself that stepping back isn’t giving up ~ it’s a choice to reflect, recharge, and reconnect with my “why”

this time, recovery has meant more than just slowing down. for over a year now i’ve been following a gut health programme, and slowly, intentionally returning to the spiritual practices that keep me grounded. working on my body, mind, and spirit ~ from the inside out

burnout isn’t some badge of honour, it’s a signal that something needs to change. a reminder that your mind and body need care, not just your ambitions

in a world that tells you to do more, remember: rest is productive. recovery is a process. there is no overnight fix

✨ seek support if you need it
✨ adjust your balance
✨ address your stressors
✨ know your priorities
✨ set boundaries without guilt or explanation

i’m still learning to be patient with myself. but i know my wellbeing is my greatest asset ~ and i choose to protect it

have you felt this too?

💜

29/09/2025

metal teaches us about the art of letting go 🍂 mirroring it's season of autumn, a time of natural release as the leaves fall & what is no longer needed is shed to make way for new growth ✨

join & i for an arty•zen gathering devoted to the metal element of tradtional chinese medicine ~ lungs / large intestine, nourishment / waste elimination, grief / clarity

AUTUMN ALCHEMY 🍂 the wisdom of Metal 🤍

together, we will:
𖦹 explore meridian lines & acupressure points to support the body
𖦹 embody the wisdom of balance ~ structure, courage, self-worth
𖦹 notice imbalance ~ grief, control, criticism, difficulty releasing
𖦹 move with elements of vinyasa, shake the dust, & embodied yin
𖦹 rest & receive with the power of yoga nidra & reiki
𖦹 create an artistic ritual to express & release

your body becomes the canvas (optional ✨) ~ tracing the energetic pathways before flowing with their energy

we’ll close with light seasonal refreshments to honour the element 🤍

when metal is in balance, we feel clarity & courage, we can discern what is valuable & what can be discarded
when out of balance, we hold grief & struggle to let go, with rigid expectations & unhealthy attachments
this event is an embodied way to explore both

sunday 26th october | 11-1pm
✨ investment £25pp
📍hadfield (location provided on booking)

we'd love for you to join us for an afternoon of release & breathe into clarity 🌬✨

🎟️ LINK IN BIO to save your spot