Yoga For Modern Life

27/03/2026

Given a little nudge by our transition over the Spring Equinox last week, I’ve finally sat down to write my first newsletter of the year!

My Spring Newsletter should have landed in your inboxes 💌

With some pops of inspiration for you, things to listen to, read, create, eat and make. Plus simple self care too (always)

Written serenaded by beautiful birdsong out of my window and a bunch of gorgeous 99p daffs on my desk!

Check your inbox now (it was sent earlier this week) plus your bulk/junk/promotions folder.

If you still can’t find it then just let me know and I can resend.
And if you want to join my list then just let me know - I do not send them often! (Usually only 4 or 5 a year) But I do always get lovely feedback about them 🥰
Have a lovely day folks
Susan x

27/03/2026

Why humming is SO GOOD for your nervous system

I saw (and heard) lots of bees at the allotment earlier in the week. Gorgeous! It reminded me about my favourite breathing practice - Bramari or humming bee breath.

A simple but deeply effective to move from stress to calm. Here's a little bit of the science and the 'why'...

The vagus nerve runs from your brainstem to your gut and governs your capacity to feel safe, connected, and calm. Humming that’s sustained and low-pitched humming activates it within minutes. The laryngeal muscles and pharyngeal vibration directly stimulate vagal afferents. This is basic physiology, it’s free and it works.

Give it a try. I'll also be teaching this as art of my Slow Saturday Mini Retreat this coming weekend :)

Source: Woo, Minjung, et al. Effects of slow-paced breathing and humming breathing on heart rate variability and affect: A pilot investigation. Physiology & Behavior 299 (2025): 114972; Kim, Teri, et al. Humming breathing and autonomic regulation: A preliminary study of resonance frequency and vibratory mechanisms. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (2026). Advance online publication.

27/03/2026

Thought for a Friday….

“We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled.
The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out."

- Ray Bradbury

14/03/2026

Did you know there are 7 types of rest?

Yes that's right - seven!

Understanding these different types of rest can transform our approach to our wellbeing.

It's not just about (trying to) get enough sleep.

Each type of rest can play a vital role in your overall health and wellbeing. So by finding ways to bring these different forms of rest into your life when needed, and knowing which type is out of balance for you at any given time, you can help to move toward a more relaxed and easeful state of being. It's about noticing how you feel and what you need in the moment, and hopefully by understanding these different types of rest you can pinpoint this more easily.

I've written an article all about it here
https://www.formodernmothers.com/blog/7typesofrest

Susan x

06/03/2026

So much here that resonated. Do take a read and let me know what you think too

https://www.blog.lifebranches.com/p/youd-drive-your-dog-to-the-vet-at?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=4980766&post_id=189606217&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=53w3&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

“Taking care of yourself isn't the opposite of caring for others. It's the foundation of it.”

Susan x

You don't need to earn the right to take care of yourself. You just need to start.

27/02/2026

Join me for my February Slow Yoga Mini Retreat
tomorrow afternoon

There are TWO last minute places left
All the details and booking here

https://buytickets.at/formodernmothers/1951685

Susan x

09/02/2026

Booking now for classes & courses & workshops right up to June!

You can book for the new term of classes - starting week commencing 23rd February

Pregnancy Yoga - https://buytickets.at/formodernmothers/2017977

Mum & Baby Yoga (from 6 weeks to around 9 months) - https://buytickets.at/formodernmothers/1979162
Baby Massage (from 6 weeks to around 6 months) - https://buytickets.at/formodernmothers/1979165

If you want to book for the following term, ie Mid April & May, then you can book those here: https://buytickets.at/formodernmothers

Some lovely things without babies! (pregnant folk are welcome)
Yoga & Book Club - Sunday 1st March 3.30pm https://buytickets.at/formodernmothers/2039248

Slow Yoga Mini Retreats - a gorgeous afternoon of slowing down and me-time.
Saturday 28th Feb https://buytickets.at/formodernmothers/1951685
Saturday 28th March
https://buytickets.at/formodernmothers/2030851

A reminder that it''s the LAST WEEK of this term, and no classes next week as it's half term and I'll be away on holiday with my own smalls :)

Any questions please just lemme know
Susan x

11/01/2026

The first Yoga & Book Club is on Sunday 18th January!

You’ve still got time to read (or listen 🎧 to this months book - it is BRILLIANT!) I’m only half way through myself!

I’m listening to it on dog walks 🐶, for FREE (you get 15 hours of free audio books with Spotify premium)
It’s a great escape and the ‘deadline’ is making me keep up carving out time for myself 👍👍👍

And that’s the whole point of this yoga and book club, to help you carve out time for yourself. ❤️

Don’t worry if you don’t finish before we meet btw!

Do come along to a chilled out evening, where we’ll do a little gentle yoga, have a chat about the book, and then finish with a guided relaxation to end the evening.

Plus there will be tea and chocolate/treats.

These yoga & book club evenings are be relaxed and low pressure - part book club, part easing your body, part relaxation, part easy-going social event.

Details
~ First one is the evening of Sunday 18th January
~ Venue: York Pilates Studio, 53A Front Street , Acomb , York - it’s warm and cosy, and lots of free parking nearly too.
~ Our first book is ‘Wintering: The power of rest and retreat in difficult times‘ by Katherine May.

it’s a perfect seasonal read, it’s a memoir (which I always love), female writer (obvs), and I’ve heard great things about it. It’s’ a Sunday Times and a New York Times bestseller. I know some people read it every year, so even if you have already read it, you could re-read it.

And Caitline Moran said ‘My favourite book of the last five years’ - which is a pretty good endorsement in my world!

Hope you can make it. Any questions just let me know. And yes you can still come (of course) even if you don’t finish the whole book. This is a low pressure book club!

My aim is that leave the evening feeling the evening that you’ve had some time for yourself - both to read during the month, and to replenish yourself.

Booking link 🔗 in my insta bio and here https://buytickets.at/formodernmothers/1882582

Susan x

11/01/2026

The first Yoga & Book Club is on Sunday 18th January!

You’ve still got time to read (or listen 🎧 to this months book - it is BRILLIANT!) I’m only half way through myself!

I’m listening to it on dog walks 🐶, for FREE (you get 15 hours of free audio books with Spotify premium)
It’s a great escape and the ‘deadline’ is making me keep up carving out time for myself 👍👍👍

And that’s the whole point of this yoga and book club, to help you carve out time for yourself. ❤️

Don’t worry if you don’t finish before we meet btw!

Do come along to a chilled out evening, where we’ll do a little gentle yoga, have a chat about the book, and then finish with a guided relaxation to end the evening.

Plus there will be tea and chocolate/treats.

These yoga & book club evenings are be relaxed and low pressure - part book club, part easing your body, part relaxation, part easy-going social event.

Details
~ First one is the evening of Sunday 18th January
~ Venue: York Pilates Studio, 53A Front Street , Acomb , York - it’s warm and cosy, and lots of free parking nearly too.
~ Our first book is ‘Wintering: The power of rest and retreat in difficult times‘ by Katherine May.

it’s a perfect seasonal read, it’s a memoir (which I always love), female writer (obvs), and I’ve heard great things about it. It’s’ a Sunday Times and a New York Times bestseller. I know some people read it every year, so even if you have already read it, you could re-read it.

And Caitline Moran said ‘My favourite book of the last five years’ - which is a pretty good endorsement in my world!

Hope you can make it. Any questions just let me know. And yes you can still come (of course) even if you don’t finish the whole book. This is a low pressure book club!

My aim is that leave the evening feeling the evening that you’ve had some time for yourself - both to read during the month, and to replenish yourself.

Booking link 🔗 in my insta bio and here https://buytickets.at/formodernmothers/1882582

Susan x

23/12/2025

My Winter Newsletter should have landed in your inboxes 💌

Some pops of inspiration and ways to have a calmer ‘Restmas’ Written yesterday with a clementine scented candle burning, and desk covered on quality street wrappers 😉

If your inbox is over spilling, you’ll find it via this link too
https://yogaformodernlife.substack.com/p/transitioning-through-winter

Have a lovely one folks 🎄
Susan x

17/12/2025

January & February classes, courses, workshops & events

There’s some exciting NEW things too for 2026. All open to book NOW. (Some are already nearly fully booked, so please don’t hang around!)

Come and get out of the house with your bump or baby AND most importantly get to hang out with other super lovely, friendly, non judgmental and supportive mothers and mothers to be. Human connection is something VITAL to our wellbeing

There’s two weekly classes running for Mothers & babies….

✨Mum & Baby Yoga. Find time for YOU within the rollercoaster ride of motherhood 🎢

✨my super-gorgeous Baby Massage Course. You’ll learn self-care tips for YOU as well as lovely calming and connecting massage for babies ❤️

✨N E W Mum & Baby Creative Afternoons. Once a month on a Friday. Dates coming soon.

🤰And of course my *award-winning* pregnancy yoga classes too - THREE classes a week. Come and find your mama tribe and take some dedicated time for YOU in your pregnancy

📖 N E W Yoga & Book Club.
Starts Sunday 18th Jan 7pm. Our first book is Wintering by Katherine May
Open to all women ❤️

Slow SATURDAY Mini Retreats - a monthly afternoon of rest & replenishment. Ideal for frazzled mothers (and basically everyone!). Next ones 17th Jan, 28th Feb.

Antenatal & Hypnobirthing Courses to get the best birth & beyond preparation for you and your birth partner. I’m constantly told it’s BETTER THAN NCT! A few one-to-one private courses available ONLY

Head to my website, or Instagram link in bio to book everything. Or head here:
https://www.tickettallor.com/events/formodernmothers

And of course drop me an email with any questions at all (no question ever too silly)

Susan X

06/12/2025

Come and say hi this weekend 👋

🎄The Cycle Heaven Christmas Makers Market 🎄

Taking place this coming weekend- Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th of December, from 10am-4pm each day.

Cycle Heaven 31 Hospital Fields Road, Fulford, York

Along with my own work, there’ll be a wonderful selection of varying makers and their creations - the perfect chance for those unique Christmas presents and to support a local artist along the way! There will be ceramics, jewellery, textiles, homeware, printmaking, painting and lots more!

There will be delicious festive foods supplied by (mince pies and mulled wine aplenty!) and we also have the fantastic Coracle Choir, who’ll be singing Christmas cheer along the way 🎶

hope to see you there to help us bring in the festive season together!