AM Mind Your Body

13/12/2025

“Keep it simple” - that was the theme of our class this morning.

And it came about because I often find myself doing the exact opposite: I try to optimise my time, be super efficient, get s*** done… But what often seems to happen is that i over complicate things in the process 🙄

Let me give you an example:

I’m trying to be super organized and get my admin tasks done before Christmas. But then my detailed to-do list (complete with colour-coding, priority symbols, and time blocks) took me more time to perfect than if I’d “just do(ne)” the tasks 🙄

On my way to the hairdresser I “just quickly” wanted to pop to the shops to finalize some Christmas shopping 🛍️… didn’t quite anticipate the queues or the time it would take to find a carpark, so ended up rushing to make it to the hairdresser, even though it was my day off and I wanted to have an unrushed day 🙄

Ugh.

Preparing for my yoga and mindful movement classes is always a timely reminder to bring to the mat what’s been tricky off the mat (if you’re a yogi you know what I mean…).

So that’s how the theme for today’s class emerged: “keep it simple!”

No complicated sequences, no postures that require Yogi experience, just.being.in.your.body.

That’s what mindful movement is all about. And that’s why this Psychologist + yoga teacher developed AM Mind Your Body: to bring you back to basics, just like I need myself.

What are ways that you overcomplicate things?

Or is it just me? Asking for a friend 😬

11/12/2025

Receiving gifts can be overwhelming, especially if your nervous system gets overstimulated easily (e.g., if you are neurodivergent, highly sensitive, or struggle with receiving rather than giving).

Here are a few ideas on how to receive gifts gratefully & gracefully, and allow yourself to enjoy them ☺️

1. Prepare Yourself
🎁 Anticipate the moment: If you know gift-giving will happen, take a few minutes beforehand to ground yourself.

✨ Try this: Take 3 deep breaths, feeling your feet on the ground, and repeat: “I am safe. I can handle this.”

2. Focus on Connection, Not Performance
🧠 Overthinking your reaction can activate your stress response. Instead, focus on the person giving the gift and the intention behind it.

✨ Practice mindfulness: Tune into your breath or the texture of the gift in your hands to stay present.

3. Give Yourself Permission to Pause
📦 If opening gifts in front of others feels overwhelming, it’s okay to set a boundary:

✨ Say something like: “I’d love to open this later so I can really savour it.”

4. Use a Simple Gratitude Response
💬 Sometimes, overstimulation makes it hard to find the “right” words. A simple, heartfelt “Thank you, this means a lot to me” is enough.

5. Regulate After the Moment
🌿 Once the gift exchange is over, take time to reset your nervous system.

✨ Try this: Step outside for fresh air, or place one hand on your heart and one on your belly while breathing slowly.

6. Be Kind to Yourself
💖 If you felt awkward or overstimulated, remember: You did your best, and that’s enough. Compassion for yourself is key.

What works for you? I'd love to know!

10/12/2025

Receiving gifts can be overwhelming, especially if your nervous system gets overstimulated easily (e.g., if you are neurodivergent, highly sensitive, or otherwise struggle with receiving).

Here are a few ideas on how to receive gifts gratefully & gracefully, and allow yourself to enjoy them ☺️

1. Prepare Yourself
🎁 Anticipate the moment: If you know gift-giving will happen, take a few minutes beforehand to ground yourself.

✨ Try this: Take 3 deep breaths, feeling your feet on the ground, and repeat: “I am safe. I can handle this.”

2. Focus on Connection, Not Performance
🧠 Overthinking your reaction can activate your stress response. Instead, focus on the person giving the gift and the intention behind it.

✨ Practice mindfulness: Tune into your breath or the texture of the gift in your hands to stay present.

3. Give Yourself Permission to Pause
📦 If opening gifts in front of others feels overwhelming, it’s okay to set a boundary:

✨ Say something like: “I’d love to open this later so I can really savour it.”

4. Use a Simple Gratitude Response
💬 Sometimes, overstimulation makes it hard to find the “right” words. A simple, heartfelt “Thank you, this means a lot to me” is enough.

5. Regulate After the Moment
🌿 Once the gift exchange is over, take time to reset your nervous system.

✨ Try this: Step outside for fresh air, or place one hand on your heart and one on your belly while breathing slowly.

6. Be Kind to Yourself
💖 If you felt awkward or overstimulated, remember: You did your best, and that’s enough. Compassion for yourself is key.

You’re not alone in feeling this way. Save this post for when you need a reminder!

Which of these tips feels helpful to you? Let me know in the comments!

10/12/2025

If you are counting down the days until holidays, and the closer you get the harder it feels to get motivated - you're not alone!

Some mindset-gurus might try to tell you to "tie up your shoe laces and ruuuun", while others might tell you that now is the time to "show some true grit", knuckle down and get on with it. And sure, if that works for you - go for it!

For a slightly gentler approach, see my top 5 tips to get to the end of year whilst keeping your health in mind.

What did I miss? What works for you? Share your top tips in the comments!

And if I don't get to chat to you before (because chances are my phone is off and I am knee deep in case notes and client files), have a nice holiday season! 🎄 ☀️ 🏖️

09/12/2025

Crunchy and energetic Christmas catchup 🍷 🍸

Lots of laughs, yummy food, and mapping our ideas and plans for yoga offerings and more on napkins at our local

Excited for 2026 😃 ✨

09/12/2025

🎁 Do you prefer to give or receive gifts?
For many of us, receiving gifts (which should be a nice experience) can actually bring up discomfort.

Here are some reasons why that might be:

🎁 Accepting a gift means being vulnerable: letting someone show care for you without perhaps being able to give back immediately.

🎁 It can bring up feelings of unworthiness or fears of being a burden.

🎁 the context might be triggering: You might feel uncomfortable about the dynamics of a relationship, or that you now “owe” the present-giver

🎁 Sensory overload: being expected to open a gift in the presence of the present-giver, amidst too much noise, bright lights, social expectations might be too overwhelming for your nervous system in that moment.

What about you? Do you prefer to give or receive gifts?

01/12/2025

So many people feel disconnected from their bodies after years of being dismissed, misunderstood, or overwhelmed.

I wrote this little piece after my week in Perth learning all things . I reflected on why this disconnect happens, how trauma plays a role, and how our innate healing capacity can be gently reclaimed.

"And then I get so anxious that my life will be like this forever.” My client sits slumped on my consulting room couch, eyes down, voice soft and quiet.

28/11/2025

Mid-morning reflection on my training in and as a psychologist.

27/11/2025

One of the core principles underpinning EMDR is the belief in our innate capacity to heal.

In EMDR, we don’t “fix” clients or push them toward insight. Instead, we create the conditions for the brain and nervous system to do what they are naturally wired to do: move toward integration, resolution, and balance.

Trauma can overwhelm our nervous system, and then our memories become “stuck”. That’s not because people are broken, but because the brain was doing its best to protect them at the time.

With safety, attunement, and the right therapeutic support, those same memories can begin to process in a way that restores connection, clarity, and regulation.

For me, this principle is deeply hopeful. And I see it play out time and time again in my clinical work, when people move from post traumatic stress to “post traumatic growth 🌱

It’s a reminder that healing capacity already exists within each of us.

Us humans are adaptive, resilient, and capable of profound healing, ❤️‍🩹 often more than we might realise.

26/11/2025

I’m in Perth this week diving deeper into EMDR.

I’m learning so much, and can’t wait to bring my new skills, insights and reflections home to .

What I love most about this modality is how it honours the body’s wisdom, and it so much aligns with my approach:

EMDR integrates bilateral stimulation (through eye movements, or tapping), memory reconsolidation, and nervous system safety in a way that supports trauma processing with care.

I’m super excited to bring my learning home and applying it in my clinical practice.