I’ve loved practising yoga and others forms of movement that focus on breath work for the last 18 years, ever since my ex boyfriend’s mum encouraged me to try it. Sometimes this involves 5 minutes on my mat at home, with Nelly (and now Summer too) by my side. Sometimes this involves carving out an hour in my day to go to a class at my local studio. Whether it’s five minutes or an hour, I always feel better for the stretch out and the time to focus on my breath.
My appreciation of yoga has grown even more since I qualified as a yoga teacher for children. We have a mental health emergency in the UK and record numbers of young people are struggling with their mental health*. I hope teaching yoga is one small way in which I can support children.
Nahid de Belgeonne is one of my favourite movement teachers (more about her work below) so I am thrilled to be sharing the things that make her heart sing with you today. Below our conversation, I’m sharing more of my favourite teachers. Please share yours in the comments section!
And for those of you who are looking for some recipe inspiration to get you through a drizzly, cold week, look no further than this broccoli ginger soup, this crispy sage and hazelnut cauliflower cheese, and this cosy crumble.
Over to Nahid…
You and what you do in a nutshell? How you got there?
I am a Somatic Movement Educator and I teach you how to regulate your nervous system so that you can move, breathe, sleep and live better. I specialise in chronic stress, anxiety, burn out and trauma issues.
I have trained in many movement disciplines and used to own fitness studios in central London and saw so many people who attended many of our classes which gave them respite but their lifestyles were affecting their health, from not being able to have periods, or not being able to get pregnant, not sleeping, feeling angry, despondent and other issues that had a huge effect on their enjoyment of life. I researched into the nervous system and got very interested in how your brain, which is part of your nervous system, informs your body based on the communication from your body and your life experiences so far. I became fascinated about how we learn and trained in Feldenkrais which is a brain to body relearning method. I trialled and tweaked my approach on myself and my clients to change their habits and The Human Method was born.
I have an online clinic and support people through one-to-one programmes, retreats and workshops.
When do you feel your best? / what makes you feel your best?
I feel great when I fall asleep at 10 pm, get up at 7 am and go for a long walk with the dogs. I live by the sea now and looking out at the horizon listening to the lapping of the waves makes me feel peaceful all day long. Fresh air, long walks, dogs, movement throughout the day, good food and early to bed are the rituals that keep me on an even keel.
Please share some of your feel good tips?
In the morning, I practise breathing for 20 minutes, I wake up my digestive system with warm water and I sip it in the garden to get daylight into my eyes and listen to the birds. Next, I practise whatever movement I need. I move a lot. I swing my arms to mobilise my breastbone, ribs and spine and then it’s onto weights. I use kettlebells and weights on my Power plates machine and use suspension with resistance bands attached.
In the daytime I work in bouts of 90 minutes of focus and 20 minutes of mindless work or a break with movement and getting outside. The afternoons are a good time for somatic movement as it helps to unstick me from my postural habits and is so good for the brain. I also sometimes have a 20-minute nap.
In the evenings, I have a restorative rocking or somatic yoga practice on the floor to shake out my day out. I also have a routine that involves many gadgets, first popping on my LED face and neck masks closing eyes and breathing for 10 minutes. I have just bought a far infra-red heated blanket so that will be a big part of my winter evening routine. I used to own yoga and fitness studios in central London and the yoga room was heated by far infra-red and I miss them so this is a good way to warm up my bones and enjoy the benefits.
What’s your favourite season?
Spring and autumn, I love the liminal space that these seasons bring. You are on the cusp of something and that feels more hopeful than arriving. I love the light, the colours and the hope.
I know you love eating / cooking - what’s the ingredient you couldn’t live without or best sums you up?
I have a few. I will start with chickpeas and lentils, I live on them as they make such a good base for so many different dishes. I also love to have harissa, sumac, smoked paprika, chipotle and cumin in the house. Lots of flat leaf parsley, garlic and preserved lemons. If I had to live without these ingredients, life would be unbearable.
Your fave comfort meal
It has to be dahl and basmati rice. It’s cheap and easy to make with lots of turmeric and ginger and warming spices to make me feel held.
What’s your afternoon pick me up?
A non-sleep deep rest for 20 minutes, it is a guided somatic meditation and it revives me for the rest of the day.
A ‘chore’ you find satisfying and relaxing?
Cleaning – I love it. It is the one task in our digital age that has a beginning and an end. You put in the work, and you see the immediate result, which is satisfying. It also keeps me in touch with the process of living my life.
A book you’d recommend we read immediately
Doppelganger, A Trip Into The Mirror World by Naomi Klein an exploration of the post truth times that we live in. In her words, this book explores the fracture between the troubled souls that we are compared to the gentle souls that we want to be.
A shout out to your favourite busines / independent brand/ instagram account?
Positive Retail is owned by my friend Anna Woods and she is a powerhouse. They resell deadstock and pre-loved items beautifully curated in their shops. They have retail shops and sell online. I’m selling my wardrobe through her.
Where’s your special place? UK? Far away?
Greece is my easy resting holiday place, I go to where the Greeks go. But my absolute special place is the Amalfi coast. A walk up to Ravello looking over the breathtaking view of the coastline is one of the most magical places that I have ever been to.
My (Melissa here!) fave yoga and movement teachers
Susannah Hoffman (also author of Yoga for Kids)
Naomi Annand (also author of Yoga for Motherhood)
Deanne Oram (my doula and the wonder responsible for these chai banana flapjacks)
Emily Roberti (also my doula)
Thanks for reading and supporting my newsletter, see you next week!