Thrive and Shine Women’s Wellness

22/12/2025

When was the last time you wished you looked different… acted differently… or felt like you “should” be more like someone else?

Most animals don’t do this.
A bear doesn’t wake up wishing it were a wolf.
A giraffe doesn’t feel guilty for not being a zebra.

But humans? We compare ourselves constantly — especially in midlife, when our bodies, roles, and identities are shifting whether we like it or not.

During perimenopause, this pressure to “be more,” “do more,” or stay the same as we used to be can become overwhelming. It chips away at self-esteem, increases stress, and feeds the belief that who we are now somehow isn’t enough.

In this week’s episode of Making Sense of Menopause, I talk about why comparison is so exhausting, why it gets worse during menopause, and why trying to be someone else is an impossible task — one that only intensifies symptoms like anxiety, low mood, and overwhelm.

And more importantly, I share how to step out of that cycle and reconnect with who you actually are.

If you’ve been feeling not-good-enough, stuck, or constantly measuring yourself against others, this episode will hit home.

🎧 Listen: Be More Like a Bear: Letting Go of Comparison in Perimenopause
www.makingsenseofmenopause.co.uk

16/12/2025

15/12/2025

We all know laughing feels good — but we often forget that it’s physically good for us too.

During perimenopause, when stress sits closer to the surface and your resilience is lower, your body is working much harder to manage everyday pressures. Cortisol — your stress hormone — is doing far more heavy lifting than it should. And that’s where laughter becomes far more than a nice moment in your day.

A proper laugh signals safety to your nervous system.
It lowers cortisol.
It eases tension.
It boosts endorphins — your body’s natural pain relief.
It even helps your brain think more clearly.

And the best part? Your body responds to it instantly.

In this week’s episode of Making Sense of Menopause, I’m talking about why laughter is genuinely therapeutic, what it does to your hormones, and how it can help lift the heaviness that so many women feel at this stage of life.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, flat, disconnected, or like everything’s just a bit too much, this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen: Laughter Is the Best Medicine: Why It Matters So Much in Perimenopause
www.makingsenseofmenopause.co.uk

13/12/2025

Chair Pilates is a brilliant option for anyone who wants the strength, posture, and mobility benefits of Pilates without needing to get on and off the floor. It improves balance, core control, joint mobility, confidence in everyday movement, and is ideal for those managing stiffness, arthritis, recovery from injury, or simply looking for a supportive, physio-led way to move.

Current Chair Pilates schedule:
• Monday 11.30am
• Wednesday 11.00am
• Wednesday 1.15pm

All of these classes are currently full, but spaces do occasionally open.
If you’d like to join the waiting list for any of the above sessions, please get in touch.

I’m also exploring the option of adding a new Chair Pilates class on Thursdays at 10.15am. If you’d be interested in this time, let me know — if there’s enough interest, I’ll look to add it to the timetable.

To join the waiting list or register interest:
Email roberta@thriveandshinewomenswellness.co.uk

12/12/2025

If you’re ready to rebuild your strength after giving birth – but need something flexible enough to fit around life with a baby – Postnatal Pilates is the ideal place to start.

This class is suitable from around 6 weeks postnatal (with GP clearance) and you’re welcome to bring your baby along. It’s a supportive, physio-led environment designed to help you recover safely, regain confidence, and rebuild strength at your own pace.

We focus on:
• Core and pelvic floor recovery
• Improving posture after feeding and carrying
• Reducing back, neck, and hip pain
• Strengthening safely after a vaginal or C-section delivery
• Gradual, structured fitness progression
• Flexibility, mobility, and breathwork
• Feeling stronger and more in control of your body again

Every exercise is tailored to your stage of postnatal recovery, with different levels offered depending on how you’re feeling week to week.

Postnatal Pilates – Thursdays at 9.15am
Classes start in January grab your space now. Max 6 per class.

To book or find out more:
roberta@thriveandshinewomenswellness.co.uk

’sHealthPhysio

11/12/2025

Pregnancy Pilates begins this January – a supportive, physio-led class for women from 14 weeks onwards.

Whether you’re managing back pain, pelvic pain, or simply want to stay strong and comfortable throughout your pregnancy, this class provides safe, targeted movement to help your body cope with the changes ahead.

We focus on:
• Core strength adapted for pregnancy
• Pelvic floor control
• Flexibility and mobility
• Breathing techniques
• Reducing joint pain and improving posture
• Preparing your body for labour and early postnatal recovery

Thursdays at 7.05pm
Spaces available for January.

To book or find out more:
roberta@thriveandshinewomenswellness.co.uk

’sHealthPhysio

10/12/2025

If you want a Pilates workout that’s efficient, energising, and gets your day off to a strong start, the Express Matwork class is ideal.

This 30-minute session is faster paced with slightly more challenging core work. We move quickly from one exercise to the next, building strength, control, and a bit of cardio simply through the pace of the class. It’s perfect if you’re short on time but still want a full, effective workout that leaves you feeling stronger for the rest of the day.

Express Pilates – Wednesdays at 9.10am
Spaces available for January.

To book or find out more:
roberta@thriveandshinewomenswellness.co.uk

09/12/2025

Matwork Pilates is one of the most effective ways to build strength from the inside out. It improves core control, reduces back and joint pain, enhances flexibility, and boosts balance and posture. It’s also an excellent foundation for any other type of exercise—helping you move better, lift more efficiently, and reduce your risk of injury.

If you’ve been thinking about starting something new in the New Year, this is the perfect place to begin.

Spaces available from January in Mixed Ability Matwork Pilates:
• Monday 10.20am
• Monday 6.00pm
• Monday 8.00pm
• Thursday 8.00pm

Suitable for beginners and for those wanting a bit more of a challenge, with clear options provided throughout each class.

Other spaces may become available, so if your preferred time is full, get in touch and I can add you to the waiting list.

To book or find out more:
Email roberta@thriveandshinewomenswellness.co.uk

Other new classes are coming soon — follow the page for updates.

08/12/2025

Ever feel like the tiniest things tip you over the edge — the missing sock, the forgotten birthday, the wrong lunchbox, the comment that shouldn’t matter but somehow does?

There’s a reason for that.

In this week’s episode of Making Sense of Menopause, I talk about the stress bucket — a simple way to understand why overwhelm creeps in so quickly during perimenopause, and why things that never used to bother you suddenly feel huge.

We all carry big stresses: work, family responsibilities, caring for teenagers or ageing parents. Those are the big “rocks” in the bucket that none of us can simply remove.

But it’s the pebbles and sand — the tiny daily pressures, the invisible mental load, the constant decision-making, the perfectionism — that quietly fill up all the remaining space.

And once the bucket is full, even something as small as a pair of odd socks can make life feel completely unmanageable.

In the episode, I break down:

why your resilience changes during perimenopause,

which stresses you can control,

and the small adjustments that create more breathing room in your day.

If you’re feeling stretched thin, or you can’t understand why minor things set you off, this one will make a lot of sense.

🎧 Listen now: Odd Socks and Overwhelm: Why the Small Things Hit Harder in Perimenopause
www.makingsenseofmenopause.co.uk

07/12/2025

New year, new timetable. At my clinic in Winscombe.
There is availability in many of the classes from January — please get in touch to check the current spaces.

Alongside the Mixed Ability classes (suitable for all levels) and the Chair classes (ideal if you prefer not to get on and off the floor), we also run:

• Express Pilates – a faster-paced 30-minute class with more challenging exercises.
• Intermediate–Advanced Pilates – for those who are already fit or experienced in Pilates, using a range of small equipment.
• Pregnancy Pilates – physio-led, safe movement to stay strong and reduce aches through pregnancy.
• Postnatal Pilates – supporting core strength and pelvic floor recovery after birth.

If you’d like to join a class or want to check availability for January, please get in touch.

06/12/2025

Intermediate–Advanced Pilates – New for January
Maximum of six per class.

A stronger, more challenging class for those already physically fit or experienced in Pilates.
We’ll use small equipment including gym balls, arc barrels, Pilates circles, and weights to build strength, stability, and control.

If you'd like a space or want to check suitability, email or WhatsApp me to book.

06/12/2025

Last few tickets left to see me in Panto.