Quiet Strength
begins in the body
Dear friends,
I noticed this week that I was more tired than I realised.
I thought I’d be raring to go by the 5th January, ready to leap back into action. Instead, I felt discombobulated — scattered, and not quite myself. Alongside the tiredness, I could feel the familiar, implicit pressure to be productive. After all, we’re told that January is a time for fresh starts, big goals, and visible momentum.
As I put away the decorations and caught up on post-Christmas admin, I took stock. What I really needed was to slow down. To get back to basics. A bit of time alone, and time on my mat.
There’s something powerful about listening to that inner knowing, especially when it runs counter to comparison or expectation. Trusting what the body is asking for isn’t dramatic, it’s gently tuning into the felt-sense of what’s right for us, and over time it becomes a kind of quiet strength we can rely on.
Restorative Yoga always brings me back. When I’m agitated, wired, or overwhelmed, it helps me settle in a way very little else does. It’s more than relaxing. It feels like coming home to my body, trusting my emotions again, and finding some mental clarity.
It can be hard to give ourselves permission to rest, which is why it’s so helpful to join a class where the space is held for you. You don’t have to decide, negotiate, or justify anything. And over time, you also learn how to recreate simple, supportive postures at home, when you need them most.
The next Restorative Yoga Workshop for Women is nearly full, all details here, Sunday 8th February.
So this week hasn’t been about bouncing back or pushing ahead. It’s been about clearing the decks and gently re-orienting towards what actually matters. Letting things settle before deciding what’s next.
That’s the spirit of this month’s practice.
Beginning with the body.
Letting it be the ground.
Settled. Still. Safe.
Steady. Spacious.
For paid subscribers, today’s guided meditation reflects this. It’s a somatic practice to help you arrive in the body, observe the breath, and notice the habits of the mind, especially the urge to judge or interfere. There’s nothing to change or improve. The invitation is simply to listen inwards and allow things to settle.
Self-trust begins here, in noticing without fixing, and in choosing steadiness over striving. You’ll find the meditation at the bottom of this email.
A free community practice:
On Sunday 18 January, at the new moon, I’ll also be offering a free community gathering on Zoom. It will be simple and supportive. Some gentle embodiment, a short meditation, and journalling prompts to help you begin your year from a place of spacious inner listening rather than pressure or comparison.
Date: Sunday 18 January
Time: 5-6pm GMT
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/n7YvxgwiSDWOe6rU1LXsYA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Hope to see you soon!
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with love,
Louise
