My Story

“Hello there.

Let me tell you a little about my path as it will provide some context to the work I do. As a teen my health was not great. I didn’t embody the youthful energy one would typically expect. I was often tired, having been diagnosed with Glandular Fever at the age of thirteen and after years of tests and negative results, the symptoms never seemed to go away.

Just before leaving school when I was 17, I signed with Elite Model Agency and rode a natural high of adventure and exploration where I connected with people and the different cultures. I was often interviewed by teen magazines who asked how I stayed so ‘fit and healthy.’ The truth was that I was far from living a healthy lifestyle and it didn’t feel authentic. I knew then that my challenge was to understand how to be fit, bright-eyed and genuinely happy—the balanced way and to help others achieve this also.

A clue was that during this time as a model, despite a slightly reduced calorie intake, I had more energy. I felt happier, my memory was sharper, was I quicker to think, more creative, clearer-minded and needed less sleep. I never felt better. However, after almost a decade of modelling I spontaneously left New York to spend time in nature with old friends and when I returned to my old eating habits, my health deteriorated and I felt awful again. I had almost forgotten the low moods, lethargy and need for more sleep. My mind felt clouded and my body heavy. It became clear that how I felt was directly influenced by my diet. I realised that I had been consuming the wrong fuel for my body, akin to filling an unleaded car with diesel. I discovered through research, trial and error, that a primative diet of protein and low in carbs gave me the best quality of life and has been my diet now for over 2 decades.

During this time I also dove deep into the world of breath and meditation. I followed the Art of Living, an incredible program of wisdom, yoga, meditation and breathwork. This journey took me around the world, from Bangalore, India, to the Black Forest in Germany. I spent days, if not weeks, with minimal thoughts—just being.

I also worked with my breath, accessing emotions trapped in the body; the principle being that how you feel influences your breathing rhythm. If you alter your breathing rhythm, you can access and release associated feelings. For instance, anger and fear result in short, shallow breaths; shock triggers a sharp in-breath and sadness elicits a long, outward sigh.

Through this ancient practice, I was able to shed many layers of old ‘baggage,’ some of which I had no idea where it came from. Much of what we carry is beyond our conscious understanding.

I wanted to feel light and happy like I did as a child so I went in search of a therapy that could access and release ‘baggage’.

I studied Shiatsu for four years and explored various mind and body therapies. I trained with Elenor Tonetti, founder of Birth into Being and director of the beaufiful, life changing film “Birth as we Know It”. She works with the limbic imprint and her principal is to release baggage before you have chidren so you don’t pass it on - based on the belief that we pass on our consciousness as much as we do our genes.

I then enrolled in a BSc (Hons) in Complementary Studies degree in London which provided the solid, scientific grounding that I needed to become a somatic therapist. Our tutors were wise and knowledgable, but I knew intuition could not be learnt and that I had to develop that myself through inner work.

After the birth of my own two children I worked as a doula for over 10 years with pregnant mothers and partners, helping to prepare for and assist them during birth. I taught Hypnobirthing and assisted over fifty births. Every birth was beautiful and life affirming in its own unique way. This experience provided me with valuable insights into the complex range of emotions and utilised Somatic Therapy to help prepare for birth.