A Little Calmer

05/11/2026

If your go to question on meeting new people is “have you got kids?”, I implore you to think again. If people have kids, they will talk about them, if they haven’t, they won’t. Ask them about hobbies, work, holidays…anything else 🫶

It’s National Fertility Awareness week and as a grateful mother of a long awaited IVF miracle baby I always want to remind people that parenthood isn’t always a guarantee.

Fertility challenges affect 1 in 6 couples in the UK, and this statistic doesn’t include any diverse family groups. Some people go through years of heartbreak trying to conceive which will include losses, failures, grief, shame, anger and despair.

My miracle boy was the result of 6 IVF transfers and he wasn’t the first positive result along that pathway. Through my work with fertility network uk I met so many who had been through so many more cycles and had never been successful.

We grow up dreaming of love and family, it’s the picture that is painted for us. We are warned about getting pregnant as a teenager, be careful, use protection. We are not warned that pregnancy may not come to us all and for some that dream will be ripped away.

Today I want to send so much love and support to anyone who is affected by fertility challenges. Please know that you are not alone and I see you, I hear you and I feel you ❤️❤️

21/10/2026

Preparing the space for a client is somewhat of a ritual for me now and I immerse myself in the process as I get ready to welcome someone to my sanctuary, in the hope that they leave feeling a little calmer ✨🫶

I always light my sage stick and cleanse the space of negative energy whilst inviting the healing light of reiki and energies of love and peace into the room, always to provide healing on all levels and for the greater good of myself and my client.

I love this process and I love how many comment on the energy in my room and how inviting and calming it is 💚

Thank you reiki 🙏 and thank you to my lovely soul clients too 💫

16/10/2026

A lovely afternoon of creative wellbeing at Made By Me in Pevensey, crafting a new sign for my Pevensey Bay home studio 🙌 huge thanks to Sally for her guidance and encouragement. I’m already looking forward to coming back to paint it ☺️❤️

15/10/2026

World Menopause Day | 18 October

Did you know that this year's World Menopause Day is focusing on chronic pain at midlife?

Muscle and joint pain can be an overlooked part of the menopause experience, yet it can have a real impact on everyday life.

As someone who is currently experiencing chronic muscle and joint pain, alongside a plethora of other menopause symptoms, I have developed a real interest in supporting wellbeing through menopause and I've been spending some time this month exploring the research into massage, Reiki and their potential role in supporting people experiencing menopause symptoms.

I'm particularly interested in the relationship between physical discomfort, stress and relaxation, and what the evidence tells us about the support these therapies may offer. I've learnt a lot so far and I aim to bring my findings together in a blog at the end of menopause awareness month but there's still much more to learn.

I think it's important that we keep asking questions, sharing knowledge and making space for conversations about the things that don't always get talked about 🫶

International Menopause Society has produced a really useful factsheet for World Menopause Day, which is well worth a read.

I'd love to hear your thoughts 💭

Has muscle or joint pain been part of your menopause experience?

What are your most debilitating symptoms and how have you managed them?

Have complementary therapies worked for you?

💚 “Women's pain has too often been dismissed through gendered stereotypes, and labelled 'emotional' rather than properly investigated and treated. Chronic pain at midlife should be recognized as a key component of menopause care, requiring gender-sensitive, individualized, and multidisciplinary approaches, alongside further research to address gaps in knowledge and care.”

- Prof. Rossella Nappi, IMS President 2024-2026

📖 The recently released IMS White Paper, Chronic Pain At Midlife, and accompanying Factsheet explore practical, evidence-based ways to support women experiencing chronic pain during the menopause transition.

👉 Read the IMS White Paper and supporting Factsheet at www.worldmenopauseday.com

12/10/2026

One nice thing about these shorter days…is I get to see the sunrise 🌅 😍

10/10/2026

A little reminder for World Mental Health Day:
You don’t have to wait until you’re struggling to take care of yourself 🫶

Small things can make a big difference. A walk. A conversation. A pause. Doing something you love. A treatment. Time outside. Saying no. Asking for help.

For me a walk in nature can give me the space to breathe and find some calm in the chaos ✨ I’d love to know one small thing that you find really helps you to feel a little calmer?

09/10/2026

It might be windy and rainy outside but inside it means I get to go extra cosy for my clients ☺️🫶 the electric blanket is on, the extra thick blanket option is ready to go and ALL the candles are lit 🕯️ after a sweltering summer of trying to keep people cool, it’s lovely to be able to create a warm and relaxing sanctuary ✨

As the seasons change it can be easy to get caught up in letting a gloomy, rainy day effect our mood and mindset, so today I wanted to share something I’m grateful for on these blustery autumnal days 🍂

And I do believe the sun is even peeking through those clouds ⛅️ so I’m off to find a rainbow 🌈

Have a lovely day ☺️

01/10/2026

It's Menopause Awareness Month so I've decided that over the next month, I’m going to spend some time learning more about how and why Indian Head Massage and Reiki might support people going through perimenopause and menopause.

I’m particularly interested in the experience of brain fog, stress, tension and feeling overwhelmed, and in understanding what we actually know about how massage and relaxation might help.

I’ve been a practioner for over 20 years and while I know these treatments work to relieve symptoms, I don't always understand exactly why, or have the backing of science. So, I’m starting with curiosity, looking at the evidence and listening to the experiences of the people I work with and I aim to come out of it with a greater understanding and confidence in my theories.

I’ll share some of what I learn along the way.

30/09/2026

September has been a month of reflections, connections, learning and new possibilities...the best kind of month 😊

🌿I've spent time with Laura & Mina Ditzy Media, taking part in social media training and exploring ways to develop my business and connect with the people I want to reach as well as discussing potential workplace wellbeing sessions for them and other businesses in the building at Chamber House.

🤝 I had a really lovely meeting with Sally at Made By Me today to explore a potential collaborative project. It's always exciting to see what can happen when local businesses come together (and her coffee is soooo good too!).

💆 I think I may have sold my first five-treatment package! I'm just waiting for confirmation, but its a lovely potential milestone for A Little Calmer.

🌱 I've been working on new ways to help employers understand and support the wellbeing of their teams, including developing a practical workplace wellbeing questionnaire which I hope to add to my website soon

✍️ I published my latest A Little Calmer Asks... blog, looking at why our shoulders can hurt so much and how you can support yourself in relieving some of this tension.

🌳 I took some time out to join Cherry Wood Adventures' Woodland Ways sessions, to slow down, reconnect with nature and enjoy some time away from work. It's a reminder that looking after my own wellbeing is just as important as supporting others with theirs.

September has reminded me how much I enjoy learning, meeting people, sharing ideas and exploring opportunities to work with others.

As I head into October, I'm looking forward to seeing which of these conversations turn into something more and joining Kangaroo Connections for their 1066 business networking event, Eastbourne Healthcare Network for their session and attending an online menopause awareness session via East Sussex Wellbeing at Work As well as any other excting opportunities that may come my way over the next few weeks.

17/09/2026

I'm aware I've been a little quiet on here lately...

Not because I've run out of things to say. As if! 😀

The last couple of months have been a bit of a whirlwind as I've juggled family commitments and school holidays alongside settling into running A Little Calmer full-time, getting out and about networking, meeting lovely local businesses and, of course, actually doing the work I set out to do, welcoming lovely souls to my A Little Calmer sanctuary in Pevensey Bay, for deep relaxation and permission to pause ✨

Social media has rather fallen off the bottom of the list and, as my least favourite thing to do, are we suprised?!😂

But I'm back and I've got a new 'A Little Calmer Asks...' blog to share 🙌

Why do my shoulders always hurt?

Tight shoulders, a stiff neck, that feeling that you're permanently carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders and they've somehow ended up around your ears...

Sometimes it's not just about what we're doing physically. Stress, concentration, screens, driving and the general business of modern life can all play a part.

I've been thinking about how often we don't even notice what we're doing until our bodies start complaining.

So, if your shoulders have been trying to tell you something lately, you might want to have a read, and take advantage of a little moment to pause...💚

https://alittlecalmer.co.uk/a-little-calmer-asks-why-do-my-shoulders-always-hurt