Louise Burchell - Yoga, Birth & Wellbeing

There’s something about this space…

This couch holds stories, emotions, pauses, and quiet moments of understanding. It’s a space where you don’t have to have it all figured out.

I currently have a small number of counselling appointments available:
• Mondays 1:30pm
• Wednesdays 10am
• Thursdays 12:30pm (fortnightly)

Counselling offers a confidential, supportive space to explore whatever you’re carrying - whether that’s feeling overwhelmed, navigating change, processing past experiences, or simply a desire to understand yourself more deeply.

If you’re curious about working together, you’re very welcome to get in touch to arrange an initial consultation.

📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 www.louiseburchell.com

✨ 2 spaces available ✨
Baby Yoga | Tuesdays 10–11am
From February 3rd
St Anne’s Church

Gentle movement, connection & time just for you and your baby 🤍

Message me or book on my website:
www.louiseburchell.com/babyyoga

📸 by the very lovely and talented Susie

I had intended on sharing some photos of my new counselling space by now, but a few days after my last post, my Mum was admitted to hospital. 

As many of you know, she was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer 3 years ago. She had major surgery, multiple rounds of chemo and various other treatments throughout that time - each one handled with grace, strength and positivity.  Last month it was determined there were no further treatment options, and after just 10 days of palliative care my beautiful Mum died, aged 64, on Sunday 23rd November 💔 the day after my eldest daughter's 9th birthday. I have no doubt that she was determined not to die on the 22nd. Plus, it had to be a Sunday - her favourite day of the week, when we gather as a family.

It was her funeral yesterday. Such a large number of people came that some stood outside the chapel at Warriston Crematorium, and we had to use the overflow area at the hotel afterwards. It was a sad but unexpectedly joyful day, surrounded by so many people that love my Mum. She would have loved it.

My Mum was a Sunshine Soul. Beautiful inside and out. Warm, welcoming, nurturing, loving, supportive, generous, loyal and strong. The best Mum and Grandma. Renowned for her Big Hugs, ability to conjure up a homemade meal for 20+ people with ease and for making the most of every day and the best of every situation. Just 3 months ago, she raised £6350 for Target Ovarian Cancer by cycling 30km for the Tour de Four, and it looks like we can add another £2k to that total from the collection at the funeral.

My family and I have been so moved by the number of beautiful messages, cards, flowers and food parcels that we have received in the last couple of weeks. I'm not sure what the next wee while will have in store, but I'm returning to work tomorrow and have my girls' nativity and carol concerts coming up. I'm trying to embrace the 'both/and' of grief: I can feel both heartbroken about my Mum and still find joy in the everyday moments, just as she would want us all to do.

Oh hi 👋 All yoga classes are currently full with waiting lists, and estimated start dates of mid-January 2026 at the earliest for Pregnancy and Baby Yoga 🤯 which is blowing my mind because aren't we still in the first half of 2025??!! Tell me I'm not the only one shocked to find ourselves in Autumn and at the start of the October break? 🍂

I usually end my classes by giving everyone an invitation to think of something they feel grateful for today. It's always just an invitation because I know some days it's really hard to think of a single thing you feel grateful for. But there's a growing body of evidence that having a regular gratitude practice has a positive effect on mental and physical wellbeing - like helping to reduce stress, improve sleep, and even boost resilience. 

For me, it feels like a lovely way to bring my classes to a close, and one that I benefit from too.

Yesterday, as I paused at the end of each of my classes, I felt grateful for the people who return as clients.  Right now, my entire baby yoga class is returning clients - they all came to pregnancy yoga with me, and half of them are back with their second or third pregnancies. Most of the wonderful people in my women's yoga class have been coming for years (despite the frequent disruption from visiting musical theatre groups 🔊😵‍💫) , and I have counselling clients who started with me when I was just a trainee and have returned to work together through my private practice.

That they chose to come back to me never fails to humble me.

I am grateful to you all, my clients.

Thank you for trusting me to walk alongside you, whether that’s through life’s bigger challenges or simply finding more balance in everyday life 🙏 

   

Birth doesn't always go the way we imagined.

Most of us go into birth hoping for a positive, even empowering, experience. But for many people (too many), birth can feel frightening, overwhelming, or deeply unsettling. When that happens, it’s common to be left with feelings that are hard to talk about - flashbacks, anxiety, guilt, a sense of failure, or disconnection from yourself or your baby.

This is called birth trauma, and if it feels familiar, you are not alone 💜

I’m now offering targeted counselling sessions for birth trauma - a safe, compassionate space to share your story, process your experience, and begin to feel better.

You deserve support. You deserve to feel lighter, calmer, and more connected again.

You can read more about this in my latest blog:

https://www.louiseburchell.com/blog/counselling-support-for-birth-trauma

Louise

✨ Spaces now available in my Pregnancy Yoga classes ✨

Gentle movement, breathwork and relaxation to support you through pregnancy and prepare for birth.

A lovely way to connect with your baby, move your body, soothe your mind and meet other mums-to-be in Edinburgh.

My classes offer a safe, supportive space to stretch, relax and prepare for birth.

Come as you are - no yoga experience needed, just you and your bump from 12 weeks to birth 🤰

📍 Tuesdays 6:30-7:45pm, St Anne's Church, Kaimes Road, Corstorphine

Book on my website or message me to book your space 💜

www.louiseburchell.com/pregnancyyoga

🤍 Group Therapy for New Mums 🤍 So often in my yoga classes, I hear mums say that the chance to share their feelings and experiences with others who understand what they are going through has changed their lives. My wonderful colleagues at Room for Therapy have a new therapeutic group starting in September. If you are interested, please reach out to them.