Doda Yoga

A robust randomised controlled trial involving more than 400 cancer survivors has found that a structured yoga programme significantly reduced anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, and overall mood disturbance compared with usual care.

As a Yoga Therapist I often witness these changes firsthand: improved sleep, a calmer mind, greater resilience, and a renewed sense of connection with the body. It’s wonderful to see growing scientific evidence supporting what many participants have experienced for years.

What particularly interests me is that the intervention combined gentle movement, breathing practices, and mindfulness rather than focusing solely on physical exercise. This reflects a growing body of evidence suggesting that yoga’s benefits may arise from addressing multiple dimensions of wellbeing simultaneously.

Whilst yoga is not a substitute for medical treatment, research such as this continues to strengthen the evidence base for yoga as a supportive intervention that may improve quality of life for people living with and beyond cancer.

It’s also worth noting that these findings come from a new analysis of a trial, originally published in 2013. The continued interest in this study speaks to the strength and ongoing relevance of its findings.

With love,
Naomi ✨

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jun/01/yoga-cancer-anxiety-insomnia-study?fbclid=IwdGRleASPQR1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeABrLCMpXnkws7w-vEFPF0wNi3I2RsWvoMFCGFbq5sBpCcAVuxmp0LupOO2I_aem_vtV2tN_P-DrDlQBZbmPjqw

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3757292/pdf/zlj3233.pdf

Yoga can reduce anxiety and insomnia for people living with cancer, study finds First clinical trial of its kind, involving 410 cancer survivors in US, also finds reductions in distress and fatigue

The centre weren’t lying when they said their biscuit tin is always full. I arrived early for a meeting today and immediately launched a completely professional investigation.

Findings:
🍪 Biscuit tin: Full
🔍 Research: Thorough

Also, a Party Ring is an elite-tier biscuit and I will not be taking questions at this time.

Which brings us to today’s real debate…

Jaffa Cake: biscuit or cake? 🤔🍪🍰

What’s your biscuit of choice? Mine is usually a bourbon, the tin was not holding those today, I’ll do another investigation soon.

There is always time for a little bit of what you love.

With love,
Naomi ✨

Pride Month is a reminder that inclusion isn’t just a concept, it’s something we practise in how we speak, listen and create space for others.

This year I’ve been reflecting on stigma, shame, and how easily belonging can be affected by small everyday moments. In my work as a Yoga Therapist, I see again and again how powerful it is when people feel safe enough to arrive as they are, without needing to explain or justify themselves.

Yoga Therapy continually brings me back to something simple: we are all whole human beings, not labels or assumptions.

I’ve shared a longer reflection on Pride, pronouns, stigma and the importance of creating inclusive, non-judgemental spaces on my blog.

If it resonates, you can read it in my blog, link in comments 👇

With love,
Naomi ✨

One of the realities of working in the community is that opportunities to catch up with colleagues can be few and far between. Everyone is busy delivering projects, supporting people, and working across different locations.

It was lovely to have a chance to get together today and catch up on our Yoga for Wellbeing Programme, share ideas, celebrate successes, and talk about what’s next.

The best part? We all somehow managed to accidentally turn up twinning! 😄 Clearly great minds think alike.

Days like these are a great reminder of the value of connection, collaboration, and taking time to reflect on the difference these programmes make in our communities.

With love,
Naomi ✨

Boundaries are often spoken about in theory in yoga, but much less in the reality of how we hold space as teachers and Yoga Therapists.

I’ve written a reflection on what it means to sustain this work over time, including the role of structure, clarity, and care in preventing burnout and supporting ethical practice.

It explores how we move between different roles, how we maintain capacity, and why boundaries are not separate from yoga practice but part of it.

Full details are in my blog (link 🔗 in comments), take a look if it resonates with you.

With love,
Naomi ✨

Last week in class, something really lovely happened, so many of you shared photos of what you’re growing in your gardens with me. I’ve loved that connection, that pride, that quiet joy of tending something and watching it change day by day. I am very much here for that energy.

I’m certainly not a proficient or professional gardener, but I do love getting my hands in the soil, feeling grounded, messy and connected and seeing what life emerges from the earth.

So here are a few little snapshots from my own garden. My hosta is being slowly devoured by slugs, and whilst I haven’t managed to capture them on camera, the strawberries that were nearly ready have mostly been enjoyed by pests too! But perhaps there is something beautiful in that as well. Nothing in nature is ever truly perfect, and neither are we. Things grow, things get eaten, things flourish, things struggle… it’s all part of the cycle. Perspective changes everything.

And if you shared your photos with me last week, thank you. Please do keep them coming, it truly made my day. There is something quietly beautiful about witnessing someone nurture, grow and delight in the simple things.

I’m looking forward to seeing you all this week, hopefully with temperatures a little kinder to us all.

With love,
Naomi ✨

Motivation is unreliable. It shows up late, leaves early, and often doesn’t text back.

If we waited to feel like it, most of what matters would never get done.

This is where discipline gets misunderstood, like it’s harsh or forced. But actually, it’s just choosing not to negotiate with every passing mood.

Because enjoyment isn’t always the entry point. Sometimes it arrives after you’ve started. Sometimes it doesn’t arrive at all, and you still grow.

Yoga taught me this in a very real way: you don’t always roll out the mat or sit on your chair because it feels exciting. You do it because you know what it gives you over time.

Not every practice is magical. Not every day feels good. But consistency builds something motivation never will, trust with yourself.

And this week especially… in this heat… I’ve been reminded of that more than ever.

Whether you’ve joined me in a cool, airy space or stepped into a hot yoga class and still committed to your practice, I notice you. That effort matters.

I feel genuinely lucky to have such a dedicated group of yogis showing up week after week, in all conditions, doing this work for themselves. It’s not lost on me.

With love,
Naomi ✨

Feeling a little more frazzled in this heat? 🥵 You are probably not alone.

Hot weather can affect far more than comfort levels. Sleep, patience, concentration, emotional regulation and even how flexible we feel in our bodies can all shift.

I’ve written a blog reflecting on a small everyday moment I witnessed, and how yoga philosophy, particularly the Yamas, Ahimsa and our awareness of the spaces we share, might help us navigate periods of heat with a little more compassion and understanding.

I explore the science of heat and flexibility, how the nervous system can be affected by sustained warm weather, and why yoga practice can still feel supportive even when conditions make us want to slow right down or avoid movement altogether.

Read the full blog link in comments 🔗

With love,
Naomi ✨

I’ve just finished another sound bath at the prestigious and every time I work here I have to pinch myself that we’re given private access before the gardens open.

This morning was a dream, blue skies overhead, damp grass beneath our feet, surrounded by the gentle serenade of rustling leaves and birds singing their dawn chorus.

Feedback like this reminds me why I do this work…

✨ “That was magical. I’m not sure where I went, but I was smiling on the inside.”

✨ “I didn’t realise how much I needed to stop and take a break. I don’t want to leave.”

✨ “What a wonderful setting and experience. Each instrument you played felt deeply comforting and holding.”

This work matters deeply to me because it offers us a chance to see ourselves, and our world a little differently. Not about fixing, but about connecting… to ourselves, to others, and to the natural world around us in a more harmonious way.

I have two more outdoor sound baths at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens this year:

🌿 Friday 12th June 2026 | 9:15–10:15
🌿 Friday 10th July 2026 | 9:15–10:15

And another very special outdoor experience with on 19th June at@18:30, limited spaces available.

There’s something about soundscapes outdoors… the way nature and sound weave together and completely envelop you.

Have a wonderful bank holiday 💛 And if you’re craving a little more serenity, come and join me at one of my events soon.

With love,
Naomi ✨