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Plantbelly Massage, Bristol (2026)

04/11/2025

G I F T S
A lovely local brought flowers to HEAL today

The place is already attracting beautiful curiosity & generosity..

The paint is freshening up the interior, smiles brightening up the street..

I am excited to cocreate the next few months of beautiful happenings from support groups to sound baths, playful dating to deep integrative bodywork.

Each time I visit I come away feeling lighter and inspired by the community gathering together to help out with tasks and asking when will we be open. Keep it coming!

Plantbelly will be offering Holistic Massage, Reiki energy healing, Support Groups and combining this all with S O U N D which I am super intrigued and inspired by. More on this soon.

26/10/2025

Musings among Bristol city
A collection of tall trees catch my eye in a direction I'd not walked before
On the way to temple meads station
I'd wandered that way a hundred times
But never this way...
Led to this epic church ruin still standing
Notes on the crusades to Jerusalem
How do invasions written down sound so proud and positive? "Secure" "Kingdom" how about "invasion" and "murder"?
It struck me to feel what still stands of British History is the proud ruling and taking in the name of the lord over and over again
Stated facts in heritage boxes, emotionless, immovable
How does nothing change
O but it does
The witches are back
The songs and weave of the future are being sung louder and more fully
Songs of reparation, integration and howling grief
Weaves of Magdalene and the rose path
Unfurling and tending to our hearts as one
There was a garden of roses alongside the church
So beautiful, each one a unique fragrance holding on tightly to their petals in the wind

I prayed, with the dragon of the rose, stood in the centre of this church where so many prayers and death rallying decisions would have been made. We are forever picking sides to assist our need for purpose and meaning. Divide and conquer and divide again.

Well my faith is not divisive. It is whole. Raw. Powerful. Epic. It emcompasses a world of happy children in no shame, pure joy and deep, deep listening.

My faith is in the trees. The waters. The winds and the fires. The songs. The stones. The apologies. Shadows. Responsibility and care taking.

May we be able to call each other out before we turn to aggression. Be curios. Kind. Calm. Courageous.

May we take time to wander new paths and giggle with the plants. And then, I saw a giraffe. (if you know me, giraffes are my favourite and to see one in the city after quite a dark contemplation felt like the Pam element of play plucking from the depths)

24/10/2025

Wonderful words from wonderful people
Collecting all my feedback and finally sharing it
Asking clients for written reviews

I fully see myself for what I can offer

Thankyou thankyou thankyou

28/09/2025

How can you look after yourself today?

Buy yourself some flowers, cook a nourishing meal, meditate, hug a tree, contact a freind, have a nap.

Big or small, purposely carving time in your day to focus on tending your inner fire will help prevent you from burning out. Whether it's 5 minutes of stillness or an hour of walking, dancing to your favourite songs or putting your phone on aeroplane mode. You are in control of your time.

When I feel my worst, I begin with slowing down. Allowing the emotions to be felt fully, through sobs, wails, writing down "how am I feeling right now?" which is usually pretty sad and angry and self loathing for a while. I allow myself to write exactly what my thoughts are spiralling and unravelling, no judgement or curating. I allow what needs to come out.

Then on to gentleness. Acceptance. Re reading and and being kind to myself knowing all thoughts are not truths and how can I change these feelings into redirecting affirmations. Seeing myself as a freind and knowing I would listen first, and then remind someone else how brilliant and beautiful they are for simply being. I would challenge the negative spirals after fully hearing them and not interrupting them. I ask permission if they want reflections or just to be heard. I do this with myself.

I then often change the words from vicious to vitality, for example:

"I feel incapable" to "I am enough"

"I am so tired and overwhelmed" to
"I am alive and feeling fully"

"I don't know my purpose" to
"I am so grateful for each breath"

I often then burn the spiralling thoughts after I've got them out on paper. Another act of transformation. The positive affirmations I keep and redirect my focus. Words are spells and we can feel bound to them.

Other modes of self care I know help me: going for a run, alternative nostril breathing, chanting om, a cold swim on sea or river, letting people know I'm feeling down and giving thanks to to loved ones.

I'd love to know what you do to keep yourself well. "What are the tools to your toolkit?"

The ultimate self care: Treat yourself and allow rest and repair by booking massage and reiki energy healing with me. DM for details.

Abigail Hope

02/11/2024

B E P R E S E N T

Creating leaf mandala are one of my favourite things to do to ease my mind and connect me to the present moment, nature and allow creativity to come through.

So simple. Slow down.

"Nothing is as plain to see
All colour. All colour."

A little song brewing from the plane trees that shed these gorgeous leaves! Each one a different shape and colour.

Another venture of mine to create deep joy and connection is Tree Folk singing gatherings. Follow for dates and songs and tales from the trees! My/our greatest teachers and so part of my wellbeing and grounding. As a holistic therapist you cannot serve others unless serving yourself and these leafy creations are one thing I do to calm my nervous system so that I can help soothe yours.

02/11/2024

Recieving feedback like this (especially in written form so I can share with others) is so special and means alot.

Do you or a loved one need some relaxation? DM me here or plantbellymassage@gmail.com to make a booking. I'm currently doing home visits across Bristol and near Bridgwater, Somerset.

Whether it be in a massage studio or at your home, using a bed or chair, we create the environment together to make you feel as comfortable as possible.

Don't hesitate to contact me for more details.

17/09/2022

I’ve not had any studio massage time recently as I’ve been here there and everywhere, but getting the chance to massage in peoples homes is always a treat.

Thanks for your lovely words.

I can currently offer head, neck, shoulder and face massage in a seated position 💆‍♀️ This can also include chest, arms, hands, legs and feet. It’s amazing how much tension is released from our extremities, which are often missed out in peoples massage requests. It’s common to ask for a focus on your back, and miss our feet and hands which are doing so much work for us !

Yesterday I gave a friend their first massage, seated, focussing on their head, neck and face. They suffer from migraines and tension headaches and one has been lingering for weeks. Safe to say the ache was released and they are keen for more massage!

#

16/09/2022

WATER IS LIFE

Having so many interesting and inspiring chats and listens about water recently.

The feeling of connection and submersion I have when swimming in rivers is incomparable. Flying. I’d compare it to flying.

Considering there are official signposts saying that swimming is prohibited here, we have a long journey in transforming the general attitude and relationship toward rivers and bodies of water in this country. Big conversations, protests, petitions, community events and community leadership will help turn the tide in this journey.

Respect your rivers.
Leave no trace.
Gratitude always.

There is an open event happening on the 28th September near Beeses riverside bar, celebrating the River Avon and thanking our waters for all they give.
I am so excited to see others collaborating to share their love and intentions for protecting and respecting rivers. Long may this continue!

I will post the poster here too soooon.

16/09/2022

I did a thing! And it went really well! Hehe 🙃

I set the goal last week to publicly congratulate myself for hosting the first taster session for Birch Tree Folk Choir in Bristol, so here it is!
I felt so insecure and doubtful about the whole thing the week before, unsurprising as I’d lost my voice post festival and only one ticket had been booked so far.. I sent reminders and invitations so my pals and hey ho the word was spread and I had a mix of strangers and loved ones turn up, some last minute even!

The session itself included a grounding meditation/visualisation to help everyone arrive and calm into the space. We then explored some vocal warm ups and soon got singing together.

The build up and release of play and confidence from everyone in the group was so humbling and joyous to see!

As we finished, so much gratitude was shared and I can honestly say we all left feeling warm and fuzzy and energised.

Seeming as I found it extremely hard to sing in front of anyone a few years ago, I am extremely proud of myself and everyone that joined in and had faith in me to lead them.

Watch this space!

12/09/2022

It’s hard to know what to say in times like these
Immense disparity and cruel realities floating around creating overcast feelings of injustice and overwhelm
All the while trying to continue with individual and local lives
Keep space to continue your personal celebrations or grief
Tune out of the media and news if you need time with yourself nature and loved ones
This modern world is so fast paced! Allow time to slow down and remind yourself how you are the creator as much as the created

Here is a photograph of my regular swim spot in bristol
Woes are washed away in rivers
Time stands still and melts into meeting
Body and water
Water and spirit

What can you do to soothe yourself?
In the past week I have swam, danced, cried, travelled to join loved ones in need, sang and led my first choir, celebrated two dear pals love at their wedding, rested from a nasty sick bug. There is so much more to life that certain narratives wish you to believe and settle for.

Long live our freedom

Grateful for these waters

Happy to be alive

Feeling it all

03/09/2022

I AM AWAKE

This may seem a silly or strange affirmation to say to yourself but it’s one I use most often.

I was recently diagnosed narcoleptic - woohoo! This has been a relief and tad daunting. I’ve had symptoms since I was a teenager and a very unusual relationship with sleep since I can remember. I aim to write and research more about the condition as it’s pretty unheard of. I basically can fall asleep within seconds of being seated, mini faint when I laugh and have the trippiest most visual dreams (when unmediated).

Getting back from a long weekend festival fun reminds me how much I need to be busy and stimulated to not be nodding off all day. Swimming in rivers, walking among trees, dancing, socialising, cooking, cleaning, allotmenting.. its very hard to get any admin done as being seated sends me to sleep..!

I hope you have some mantras and affirmations or words of reassurance you can say to yourself to encourage you to keep focussed!

11/08/2022

COME SING WITH ME!
I will be starting up a choir in Bristol and/or Middlezoy, Somerset over the next year with Birch Tree Folk Choir!

I am hosting a taster session in September to plant the seed and encourage all to sing and connect.
Winter will be spent in southern spain as part of my own wellbeing and mental health - Ifind dark winter days very hard! But when I return I will be excited to start up more regular choir terms.

I'll be updating my whereabouts on here and through the website/email. I'll be singing, massaging, learning and laughing wherever I end up.

For more info:
https://www.birchtreechoir.com/bristol

Plantbelly Massage

04/11/2025

26/10/2025

24/10/2025

28/09/2025

02/11/2024

02/11/2024

17/09/2022

16/09/2022

16/09/2022

12/09/2022

03/09/2022

11/08/2022

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