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Menopause is not the problem!

Just to clarify… the majority of symptoms we experience during perimenopause are exacerbated by stress. Stress is caused by a patriarchal, capitalist society that extracts from us all, creates an endless cycle of ‘deficiency’; from your hormones, to your looks, your body, your age, your rate of productivity – which needs to be mechanical, robotic and unwavering as you endlessly strive to be and have more. This system is the same that extracts endlessly from the planet.

Midlife and planetary ‘break down’ are interwoven; the rage and fire of menorage are like the summer heatwaves that shout with no uncertainty ‘STOP!’

The system is broken, not us! Medication won’t ‘fix’ this!

If you’re tired, angry and feeling all the emotions and physical dissonance that come alongside a massive biological shift in the context of a broken world, it’s time to rewrite the narrative.

Perimenopause: a Spritiual Portal is on 20 September with me @centredspace and the marvellous @kate_codrington at Barcombe Village Hall.

We’d like to offer you shelter from the noise and distraction of the toxic culture around ageing and menopause to find clarity and the map for your path to Elderhood. Because the world needs us in all our messy glory right now, to stand up with the wisdom of matriarchy for a new age.

We’ll make the space and share the tools to compassionately explore the liminality of the pause as a gateway to profound personal and societal evolution.

Early bird offer ends July 31 and there are cheaper options if you come with friends, because community is key.

More info and booking

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Are you feeling your energy shifting yet?

I’ve been thinking about the whole ‘new year, new you’ thing beyond January 1. There are various traditions which mark ‘newness’ at different times – from the Celtic Imbolc on Feb 1, and Spring Equinox on 20 March, the Chinese/lunar new year on Feb 17, your birthday… All of these surely point to variance and process; there is no one ‘right time’ to start if we remember that we are part of continuum, cycles within cycles of existence rolling on and around. Take this a step further and question, do we even need ‘newness’?

Read more on Substack, for some gentle practices and enquiries into how you meet (and if you need, newness)…

Kate Codrington (author of Second Spring) & I also had juicy chat about how a gentler start to the year (whenever you feel you’re ready) might look… Watch video

On Receiving
March 29; 10-4pm, at Barcombe Village Hall, with Leo and Kate Codrington
Part of Kate and my ongoing discussion as colleagues offering symbiotic therapeutic work is how caught up in constant doing we are all conditioned to be. When this meets perimenopause, a perfect storm of physical and emotional exhaustion, shifting hormones and social conditioning can lead to dramatic burn and fall-out. And at this time, more than ever, being on ‘people pleasing’ and ‘serving others’ mode might need a radical overhaul. But what a challenge!

In this day retreat, we will explore embodied practices to unpick and unravel deep-held patterns that sabotage our ability to receive, and which can inhibit us from healing and evolving at a time in life when we need to gather in resources to support a huge and vital transition.
MORE INFO & BOOKING

Would you like to become a therapeutic Thai practitioner
Coming 2027, at Gather Brighton
I’m very excited to let you know that I will be offering an in-depth training in the therapeutic applications of Thai massage in 2027. This will be a small-cohort, deep dive for anyone who would like to explore the incredible potential of this discipline, either in addition to existing bodywork skills or as a standalone practice. I have been busy writing and developing the course, which will be a mix of online and in person training over six months, leading to a professional diploma.
Register your interest

Leo x

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New year, new timetable

So, welcome to 2026, heading into the Full Wolf Moon (she’s a beauty!).

This is a quiet time of the year, not one to make bold shifts (who has the energy right now, wait for Spring!)

So let’s orient, first: how do you feel, what’s going on for you right now? Listen in to body and breath and ground, tune inwards before considering movement. Then consider what moves you: community, people, values… this sets the scene for any intentions, which should align with these. Think gentle, symbiotic shifts rather than goal-focussed achievements.

You might play with intentional affirmations such as:

I will shape my year with care and intention rather than pressure
I notice, allow and accept what support I need
I find and adapt to my own rhythms and pace.

To support you in compassionate, intentional living throughout the year, yoga drop-ins offer community connection, a space to ground, a touchstone and regular, gentle reminders of practices that can support your bodymind.

The Monday Hanover class will no longer run, but instead we will meet 6.45-7.45pm on Tuesdays at Lunawave

New class timetable

I also have some wonderful workshops coming up to ease you through Winter and into Spring:

Learn Thai Massage + Sauna, January 11
Emerging Into Imbolc, with Lou Thomas, February 1
On Receiving; Menopause Retreat, with Kate Codrington, March 29 & April 26, 2026
Dalyan, Turkey, Sept 28-Oct 5 2026, with Charlotte Watts
Kerala, India, October 31 – November 10

And you can book in, as usual, for therapeutic Thai massage and 1-2-1 yoga.

Let’s start the year intentionally together,

Leo x

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Winter class dates & practices

Here we are approaching Winter Solstice, the darkest night of the year. It can be an artificially busy time that feels out of sink with the natural drop in energy – less light means more of the ‘darkness hormone’ melatonin; an invitation towards more sleep. More dream time to tune in to the subconscious realms, shadow and space.

The portal, or 12 Sacred nights of Yule, starting the night before Solstice, celebrated across Celtic and Northern European cultures, offers up the invitation that may resonate more than some of the more modern (and often consumer-driven) constructs. Lighting candles, opening doors (actual in your home, as well as through your breath, spiritually accessing a deeper consciousness and openness, greater clarity) connecting to the cycles of life, death and rebirth in nature, deepening meditation and your connection inwards to stillness, storytelling and seeding intentions (not yet bringing to fruition) are all gentle ways we can connect to the inseparable nature of all things.

Read more about Wintering and Seasonal practices to explore at this time of year over on my Substack.

And join me, in person, or online over the next couple of weeks. I also have gift vouchers available and retreats here in Sussex, in Turkey and Kerala next year to set your intentions on.

Wishing all beings peace and freedom from suffering for 2026,

Much love,

Leo x

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Leaning into Autumn

After Samhain, last week, traditionally the last harvest before Winter, we move into the darker months. This festival, and time of year, offers the opportunity to tune in to the liminal space, between the life and fruitfulness of summer and the inevitable ‘death’, the letting go of autumn/winter, reflecting nature’s cycles.

So, it’s beneficial to take time to reflect as you transition. You might notice how your energy shifts with the changes in light and temperature, how your body adapts and responds (or not?). Our culture can be so misleading in its impetus to be constant in our levels of doing, even giving the sense that we should be constantly ‘growing’, whether that’s financially or emotionally. We all need time to winter, to regroup, stop, and allow rest and healing in order to evolve in Spring and Summer.

I’m leaning into more restful practices right now, as I’ve just handed in the manuscript for my next book, Embodied Menopause (out next year, can’t wait for you to read it!) which celebrates and brings gentle attention to the Autumn/Winter of Peri- and Menopause. 

On November 30, why not join me for a day of real retreat? Dropping into these slow-moving, restorative and reflective practices that will allow you space to be quiet, reflect and notice what you need now to resource yourself for Winter. Retreating into Winter, 10-4pm, at Barcombe Village Hall includes an incredible vegan lunch from Lynne at The Vegan Experience, herbal teas and snacks. More and booking

Review from last year’s event: “A warm nurturing space with guided visualisations, meditations, journaling, affirmations, tapping, somatic movement and Yoga Nidra all wrapped up with love. It was a blissful, restorative space which gave much needed rest for the body and soul. If you get the opportunity, do it!” Jane

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Are you committed?

How are you at commitment? As with care and compassion, this starts with ourselves – how committed are you to yourself? To filling your cup so that you have enough to share? We are often so good at extending to everyone else but miss out on essential nourishment and nurture for ourselves. Do you regularly give yourself time to dream, reflect, take up space or even just simply to be? How many of you tend more to your bike/boilers/garden/dog/children/etc than you do your own body or mental health? Or perhaps you just wait until something breaks and then scrabble to fix it?

Beyond the odd 1-hour class (which is great, do come along as this is a baseline! See the yoga timetable), allowing yourself a retreat day, or even a yoga holiday, can offer you more space to really drop in to more meditative, healing mode, where you can properly reset a tired body and a frazzled nervous system. It also offers you space to learn more about the deeper philosophy of yoga, as well as taking time to feel how your whole-body orchestra can play more harmoniously together. Time out from the busyness of your everyday can give you space and perspective to go back in with greater clarity.

Learn Thai Massage , October 5, 10-4pm
Learn the basics of therapeutic Thai massage, to share with family and friends.
More info & booking

Retreat into Winter November 30, 10-4pm.
Gentle, nourishing yoga, walking countryside meditation, shared Thai massage and delicious vegan lunch in tune with the turning of the season.
More info & booking.

Pride & Joy Day Retreat, February 1, 2026, 10-4pm .
A day of gentle, nourishing and affirming yoga, shared massage, meditation and community, co-hosting with Lou Thomas.
More info & booking

On Receiving, March 29 & April, 2026, 10-4pm .
A two-day deep dive with Kate Codrington. We will explore, through cognitive and embodied practices, what it is to receive deeply, to surrender and ‘lose control’ during menopause.
More info & booking

Dalyan, Turkey
Sept 14-21 2026, with Charlotte Watts
7 days of unspoilt beaches, incredible boat excursions, relaxation around beautiful pool with amazing veggie food, with two sessions of yoga daily.
More info & booking

Kerala, India, October 31 – November 10, 2026
10 days of incredible yoga immersion overlooking the Indian Ocean
More info & booking

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Yoga4Pal Global Action class

June 21, 9.30-10.30am, Hanover Community Centre.
Book here to come to class

In place of celebrating the state-sponsored International Day of Yoga, we are reclaiming the practice to serve justice and liberation, specifically in solidarity with Palestinians facing ongoing occupation, genocide and displacement.

The usual Saturday morning class in the Hanover Centre will be open to anyone wanting to practise in community, recognising yoga as a practise for collective liberation and healing.

All proceeds from the class will be donated to support the fundraising for Al Jawad School in Gaza which offers displaced children in Gaza education, commmunity and care.

Suggested donation £12, but you are welcome to donate more (even if you can’t make the class!)

Book here to come to class

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Class times over Easter break

Most classes are as usual over Easter apart Monday 14 April and Bank Holiday Monday. I am also away teaching in Crete (there’s one double room left if you’d like to come!) 22-29 April, so no classes during this time.

Boulder Brighton classes are not on during school holidays or while I’m away, so back May 6