A lovely local article in the Folkestone and Sandgate Community Ad Magazine sharing a meet up I attended at Folkestone and Hythe council a few months back. I was invited to meet with some lovely people at the council and update them on my Pick up for the Planet project that they are funding which will see another beach clean station pop up in Folkestone.
This project came off the back of the talk I did at the Sustainable Futures Forum last year where I spoke about the power of moving in nature for the mind, body and the environment. If we all included a small litterpick every time we went out for our walk, run, swim, surf, paddle, yoga flow etc we would not only be giving back to our mind and body but also the environment too and I believe haveing more litterpicking stations along the coastline will encourage people to do just that!
0 Comments
Have you ever had one of those moments where you stumble upon something incredible, only to realise you missed out on it entirely? Well, that's exactly what happened to me with my podcast Start a Ripple..., but couldn't be more thrilled!
Back in April, Start a Ripple ... was featured in the prestigious BBC Wildlife Magazine, nestled within its illustrious "Go Wild" section and highlighted as the podcast of the month. To have the podcast recognised in BBC Wildlife Magazine serves as a a reminder to never underestimate the impact of our voices, no matter how small they may seem. So here's to missed opportunities and new discoveries. Here's to the ripples we create, whether we see them or not. And most importantly, here's to the wild wonders that inspire us to keep exploring, keep learning, and keep spreading the message far and wide. I recently had the privilege of being a guest on the Tough Girl Podcast, where I shared my love for the outdoors, my role as a SUP and Yoga teacher, and the inspiration behind my podcast, "Start a Ripple." We discussed topics ranging from dealing with anxiety and postnatal challenges to the transformative power of nature and the joys of motherhood. It was an incredible experience, and I hope my story encourages others to embrace the outdoors, find their own adventures, and prioritise self-care along the way.
In this feature I describes my journey from a yoga mat in London to the great open yoga studio outdoors, supplied by Mother Nature, where nourishment for body, mind and soul is always freely available
I’m convinced theres a ‘Waste Warrior’ in all of us and we can all do our bit to protect the planet no matter what we are doing with our day 🌎♻️
This article was in the @dailyexpress last week and gave me a chance to talk about one of the ways I combine litter picking into my life. I am a yoga teacher and if I am teaching on the beach I encourage my students to pick up litter after the class as a way of saying Thankyou to the beach for giving us a wonderful place to practice in! 🙏🧘♀️☀️ Getting used to picking up litter and combining it in your daily activities can be easy and means you can do it without even realising! Be it walking the dog, taking the kids to the park, or heading out to practice yoga- take a couple of minutes to pick up litter and protect the little bit of world around you 💚 Technically this is my second Christmas as a mum but last year Malou was only a couple of weeks old and to be honest it was all a bit of a blur! It’s a bonkers time of year anyway but I do feel the bonkers part as turned up a notch now I’ve got a little one to share the magic mayhem with! Which is why when @margaritajournalist asked me to share my top self care tips for new mums at Christmas for @womenshealthuk I jumped at the chance to share how passionate I was about making getting out in nature a priority over the festive season 🌲!
Thankyou Woman and Home for sharing my passion for movement and protecting our planet in your article about new hobbies to try in 2023!
I’ve always been someone who has enjoyed moving (once upon a time I was a professional dancer!) but it wasn’t until I moved to the kent coast and started taking my joy for moving outside on the beach that I started wanting to give back to this planet that was providing me with a free and natural gym! As a dance student I’d spent some time training in Sweden, so was familiar with the Swedish term ‘plogging’ which essentially combines jogging while picking up rubbish (“jogging” and “plocka upp”, Swedish for “picking up”). I started incorporating a simple 2 minute litter pick every time I’d head out for a walk, jog or even paddle board. Not only did it feel good to move outside, it also felt good giving back to Mother Nature. 🌎🍃 In recent years I have shared my passion with others and lead yoga litter picks for @onplanetpatrol . I highly recommend taking a look at what this charity offers if your feeling inspired to ‘plogg’ yourself! Their sessions are totally free and it’s also a great way to meet like minded people! I’d love to hear how you informative litter picks into the way you move? So far I’ve combined it with jogging, walking, wild swimming, yoga, paddleboarding and surfing but I’m sure there are more ways to combine the two and feel inspired to try more in 2023! Also check out @2minutehq for inspiring ways to litterpick in just 2 mins! It’s been a messy week …
If you’ve followed my stories on instagram you’ll know I’ve been trying to ditch disposable nappies and start using reusable ones in bid to reduce our household waste. Did you know a disposable nappy can take over 500 years to break down ? Also crazy to think by the time Malou is potty trained she could get through 4,000 – 6,000 disposable nappies 😲😲😲 We were really lucky that a friend gave us a bag of about 30 reusables by different brands to try and I have also been reaching out to you guys for any helpful tips! Your advice has been amazing so I thought I’d gather it all in one post for anyone else looking for some help with this topic … 💩If they are new wash the nappies and boosters a few times before using them to boost their absorbency 💩Bamboo nappies and boosters are best for absorbency, followed by cotton then micro fibre, however the opposite applies to which ones will dry quicker! 💩Use napisan to get out any nasty stains and drying them in direct sunlight will help this too 💩Use 2 or 3 boosters if you are finding you are getting leaks and change more regularly than with disposables. 💩Tuck the nappy in around the leg to help stop leakage 💩Look to see if your council offers a nappy library to try different styles before committing to buying any. 💩If your baby is fasten the velcro tabs turned upwards to make the leg elastic tighter A week in and we are using reusables at home and disposables when we are out but I am hoping in time, and once I have a little more confidence with reusables, we will be using them the majority of the time. Thanks again to anyone who messaged with advice 🙏🙏 you have been super helpful! I have been holiday-ing in St Ives, Cornwall since I was 9 years old (24 years!) but my most recent trip was extra special as it was the first time I had taken my 11 week old daughter Malou. As you can imagine packing up the car with not just our stuff but Malou's too bought on a flurry of nostalgia as I was reminded of the most wonderful child hood holidays here. From building sandcastles on the golden sands of Porthminster beach, to looking for crabs along the rockpools at Porthgwiddon and surfing waves at Porthmeor, I was so excited to experience all of this again through a child's eyes. But with Malou being only 12 weeks old I am not sure she would enjoy building sandcastles quite yet , and it was important we adjusted the pace of our adventures whilst we were there. We had an amazing time and having a baby didn't stop us from doing anything - it just made us do it differently . So if (like us) you are heading to St Ives with a baby - here are a few ideas to keep you busy with your little human whilst you are there -
In the early weeks of having a newborn, getting out the front door can feel like the biggest challenge, especially if you have a baby during the winter months like me when the days are darker and the temperature is colder. I am 10 weeks into being a mum and have found fresh air and natural light gold to maintain good mental health during those wild first few weeks! I am by no means an expert but have learnt a little in this short time - so here are my top 5 tips to getting outdoors in winter with a newborn … 1. Invest in a baby carrier … If baby-wearing is an option for you it can be a great way to settle your newborn and get walking at the same time! In the early weeks Malou loved being close to my chest, the warmth, my smell and sound of my heartbeat really comforted her so she would settle very quickly in the sling compared to the buggy. Originally I had a soft wrap style sling which was fine when she was teeny tiny but I quickly found I needed more support as she got bigger, so I invested in a more ergonomic carrier with extra structure. We are all built differently and I have recently been told about sling libraries so you can try different types. 2. Winter babies are like onions - think about the layers …. Don’t forget if you’re baby-wearing, the carrier acts as a layer and you are sharing body heat so although it can be tempting to dress your baby like they are going skiing, think about the amount of layers they have around them so as not to over heat. Baby wearing coats can be a great way to add and remove an extra layer whilst you are out n about! Obviously it very much depends on the temperature you are venturing out in, so read up on how many layers are recommended before. 3. Good morning to you! If you can time your walk around a morning nap then do that! If I leave my walk to the afternoon the day can easily run away with me, and being winter the day light has gone before you can say poo-nami! Timing your outing with a morning nap not only means your baby is settled, it also means you have got that fresh air fix first thing, before anything else has a chance to get in the way of your time outdoors. 4. Stay local. Newborns can be unpredictable, who knows when the next nappy explosion is around the corner! Avoid putting extra pressure on your excursions by staying close to home, especially in the early weeks. Avoid getting in the car if you can and find circular walks that start and finish from your own home. There was one week where I got in the car to go places everyday and it broke me! Your body might also be recovering from the birth so don’t push yourself beyond what feels comfortable, listen to your body and be mindful to not push yourself. Taking a slow walk around the block might be enough at the start, close your eyes and breath in the fresh air around you. 5. Buddy up! Find a buddy to walk with. Agreeing to meet a friend of family member for a walk not only makes you accountable for your outing, it can also make it more fun! Whether it is a fellow mum who can also appreciate being part of the 'no sleep crew' or an old friend who you can put the world to right with - a walk and a chat is one of life’s simple wonders! |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
April 2024
Categories |