Yoga & Restful Retreats with Emma Polette

It is my 53rd winter, and somehow the drop in temperature still catches me by surprise every single year! 🥶

When the days get short and icy, it is so incredibly easy to lose all motivation to move. The thought of changing out of warm clothes into freezing activewear in a freezing house is enough to make anyone want to just hibernate under a blanket.

But if you are struggling to stay active right now, I want to give you permission to drop the expectations.

We constantly see fitness influencers on social media wearing the "perfect" activewear outfits, making it look seamless. But let’s keep it real: if that’s the barrier between you and moving, change the rules.

Recently, I did my strength routine in exactly what I was wearing—jeans, a thick jumper, and my pink Merry People boots. No freezing clothing changes required.

Classes this week! Casual spots available at all sessions.

Monday Yoga at King River Hall at 5.30pm
Tuesday Yoga at the Library at 5.45pm
Wednesday Yoga in Little Grove at 5.45pm
Boxing at Bayonet Head at 5.15pm

Message me if you'd like to book!

Dear Rose, (or whoever is reading this)

I was waiting for the crash, and here it is.

I’ve been living and writing with so much optimism and gratitude lately, but in the back of my mind, I’ve been thinking, This can’t last. Not in a pessimistic, "my life is always s**t" way, but in a "this is real life" way. What I wasn’t expecting was how yucky it would feel when it happened.

It’s been a year this week since I lost my darling boy, Barney, and I don’t know what it is about anniversaries, but the pain, sorrow, and guilt of our last week together has come crashing back. I feel like I could’ve done more to save him—if only I could read a dog‘s mind—but I also know he was ready to go.

I can still feel what it felt like to walk away from the vet, knowing I’d never see him again. And I remember the weeks after he had gone, in the depths of winter, when I had never felt so alone. But right now, I can’t remember how it felt to have him snuggled up next to me on the couch.

The only silver lining that I can feel, as tears splash on this letter, is that I know this pain is fleeting. It might come back from time to time, but I’m getting to live more days without it.

Love, Em xx

Photo by Hazel Blake

My next free Journaling pop-up is on this Saturday 13th June at 2pm.

I talk a lot about how much writing has anchored me, especially lately. Journaling isn’t about being a "good writer" or creating a masterpiece. It’s simply a way to clear the clutter from your mind, check in with yourself, and find a little bit of quiet in a noisy world. Sometimes, just putting a few honest words on paper can feel like a massive exhale.

If you’ve been wanting to start a journaling practice, or if you already love it and just want some dedicated time, I'd love you to come along

What to expect:
Zero pressure: This is a safe, gentle space. You don't have to write pages and pages, and there is absolutely no requirement to share anything you write out loud.
A helping hand: I’ll bring along a few gentle prompts to help get the words flowing if you feel stuck.
Pure connection: Just an hour to slow down, sip a hot drink, and be in community with others doing the same.

What to bring:
✏️ Your favorite notebook and a pen that feels good to write with.
☕ A bit of pocket money to buy yourself a delicious coffee, tea, or treat from our lovely host cafe.

It’s completely free to attend, but please drop a comment below or send me a quick DM if you’re planning to come so I can book you in and send all the details.

As winter gets colder, this is when I start dreaming of Bali.

This photo was taken on the last night of the 2024 retreat at our final dinner together. By this point everyone is so relaxed and we all feel completely free to be ourselves after spending a week together. It's a unique experience. And something that many women come back to year after year because they love it so much.

I'd love you to experience it too, if it calls to you. There is only one spot left for the next retreat starting in August 3.

If you'd like more information please comment below or send me a message 🩷

Dear Rose, (or whomever happens to be reading this letter because it's meant for you too)

While I’ve been taking a break from teaching yoga, I’ve really been getting back into my personal practice by doing Yoga with Adrienne—probably the most famous YouTube yoga teacher.

For a very long time, I avoided doing yoga videos because I didn’t like doing practices that made me uncomfortable. And then, I read an incredible quote about yoga by Gabrielle Harris:

“To dance with the current of life, to transition with grace, to breathe and move with whatever is arising, to be present, and to work with the difficulties and the joys is the true definition of vinyasa.”

Vinyasa happens to be the style of yoga I teach and that quote made me realise that by only doing the poses that made me comfortable, I was denying myself the opportunity to dance with discomfort on the mat—which might make it easier to do that in everywhere else.

Life has been pretty rough for a while, so I forgive myself for not welcoming more discomfort into my life until now. But I think I might be ready.

Love, Em xx

Next time you’re practicing yoga and you’re in a pose that feels amazing (whether that’s a strong warrior or lying gently in savasana), remember to love the person that’s making you feel amazing - you.

Yoga starts again tomorrow;
Mondays at King River Hall (5.30pm)
Tuesdays at the Library (5.45pm)
Wednesdays in Little Grove (5.45pm)

If you’d like to book, comment below or send me a DM and I’ll send you the link 🩷

I'm reading an excellent book for yoga teachers and it asked a very simple (but extremely deep) question...

What lesson are you tired of learning?

Mine was/is learning to slow down and not do everything I think I should be doing. It's okay to step away.

I saved this photo to my phone in 2019, so it's a lesson I've been trying to learn for a while!

Wanna share yours in the comments?

I taught a yoga class to some new students at a pelvic pain workshop last week and as I have been doing lately, I started the class in a chair to help me manage a hip injury. (I've recreated the moment at home for this photo).

One of the students also had a hip injury and would have found sitting on the floor very painful. So she sat in a chair too.

Sometimes I'm (almost) grateful for an injury because it helps me bring yoga to others that might not be able to complete a class if they didn't have accessible options.

I’m going to be completely honest with you all… usually by this time of year, my annual Bali Retreat is completely sold out.

With everything going on in the world right now and the cost of living hitting hard, I know so many of us are hesitating, overthinking, and feeling the weight of the life.

But because of that, a tiny window of opportunity has opened up: there are 2 spots left for this year's retreat.

This will be my 8th retreat in Bali and if there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the women who need this most are the ones currently carrying the heaviest mental load. This is the holiday where you don’t have to plan a single thing. No logistics, no cooking, no looking after everyone else. Just daily gentle yoga, meditation, beautiful meals, and total, uninterrupted relaxation in a private villa.

Your only job is to show up and be taken care of.

If your soul is screaming for a reset and you want to claim one of these final 2 rooms, send me a DM or drop a comment below and I’ll send you the details. Let’s get you to Bali. 🌴✨