My Life Tonic

Losing weight 100% isn't the point…

If you know My Life Tonic, you'll know we're not a weight-loss business.

We're much more interested in helping people find the things that support their overall wellbeing – moving more, sleeping better, managing stress, connecting with others and making small changes that can last.

But sometimes something happens that makes you stop and look at your own lifestyle.

For me, that happened recently when I was told I'm pre-diabetic.

I'm currently around 79kg and, if I'm honest, I don't think of myself as overweight. But I've been told that losing around 10kg could help reduce my risk of progressing towards Type 2 diabetes.

So I've set myself a challenge:

10kg in 8 weeks.

I've been reading Professor Roy Taylor's Life Without Diabetes and am using some of the principles as a reference point for my own experiment.

I'm keeping things deliberately simple:

🥦 Reducing refined carbohydrates
🍫 No crisps, chocolate or fizzy drinks – difficult for someone with a sweet tooth!
🍽️ No snacking between meals
⏰ Intermittent fasting – no breakfast and eating from around lunchtime
☕ Black coffee only
💧 Plenty of water
📝 Tracking what I eat each day

I'm also paying much more attention to how I eat – including vegetables and protein first and getting some movement in after meals.

I'm only a few days in, so I have absolutely no idea how this will play out.

I'm sure there'll be changes, challenges and modifications along the way.

And that's the point.

At My Life Tonic, we don't believe there's a single formula for wellbeing. What works for one person won't necessarily work for another.

This is my experiment.

I'll share the highs, the lows, the things that work… and the things that definitely don't!

Maybe I'll get to 70kg.

Maybe I won't.

But if I finish the eight weeks healthier, with better habits and a better understanding of what supports my wellbeing and overall health, then that's a pretty good Life Tonic.

Watch this space…I'll be writing regular blogs. (Promise there won't be many 'before/during/after' shots!

https://www.mylifetonic.com/losing-weight

Slow down with Yin Yoga 🧘‍♀️✨

Life can be busy. Sometimes the most beneficial thing we can do is slow down.

Yin Yoga offers the opportunity to pause, breathe and give both your body and mind the space they need to recover.

Unlike more dynamic styles of yoga, Yin focuses on the deeper connective tissues, joints and fascia. By holding poses for longer, your body has time to gently:
✨ Improve mobility
✨ Increase flexibility
✨ Release built-up tension
✨ Support recovery
✨ Calm a busy mind

It's an ideal practice for anyone with an active lifestyle, whether you run, cycle, lift weights or simply spend long hours sitting at a desk. Yin Yoga can help reduce stiffness, improve movement and create a sense of balance both physically and mentally.

The longer holds also encourage mindfulness, helping you become more present and giving your nervous system a chance to slow down.

Our Yin Yoga classes at My Life Tonic are suitable for all levels, whether you're completely new to yoga or looking to complement your existing practice. You'll find a welcoming, supportive environment where you can move, breathe and simply take time for yourself.

📖 Read our latest blog to discover the benefits of Yin Yoga, what to expect from a class and how it can support your wellbeing.

https://www.mylifetonic.com/yin-yoga-cookham

🧘 Or come along to one of our classes and experience it for yourself.

We'd love to welcome you to the mat.

Cold Water – More Than Just a craze? 🥶💙

Cold water has certainly grown in popularity over the last few years, but for many people it's much more than a trend.

Shannon and I first experienced cold water while training for triathlons. What started as a necessity soon became something we genuinely looked forward to—not because it got easier, but because of how it made us feel afterwards.

Whether it's a cold shower, a dip in the sea, a river, lake or a cold water tub, the benefits come from exposing your body to cold safely and consistently.

Many people choose cold water therapy to support:
💧 Recovery after exercise
💧 Improved circulation
💧 Better focus and mental clarity
💧 Increased energy
💧 Reduced stress
💧 Improved mood
💧 Building resilience

The key is to start gradually. Even 30 seconds in cold water is enough when you're beginning. As your body adapts, you can slowly increase the time you spend in the water. Research suggests that regular, short periods of cold water exposure may provide a range of physical and mental wellbeing benefits.

At My Life Tonic, we combine breathwork, yoga, cold water and sauna into one 60-minute experience.

The gentle yoga and breathing exercises help prepare your body and mind before two rounds of cold water and sauna, leaving many people feeling refreshed, energised and surprisingly relaxed.

For some, it's the cold water that first brings them through the door. For others, it's the yoga. Whatever your reason, many discover that combining all three offers a powerful way to improve both physical and mental wellbeing.

📖 Read our latest blog to learn more about the benefits of cold water therapy and how to get started safely.

https://www.mylifetonic.com/10-benefits-of-cold-water-exposure

🧘 Or join one of our Yoga + Cold Water + Sauna sessions and experience it for yourself.

We'd love to welcome you.

Curious about Vinyasa Flow Yoga? 🧘‍♀️

If you're looking for a way to move your body, build strength, improve flexibility and create a little more calm in your week, Vinyasa Flow could be exactly what you need.

Unlike some styles of yoga that follow the same sequence every class, no two Vinyasa Flow sessions are ever the same. Each class links your breath with movement, creating a flowing practice that helps improve:
✨ Strength
✨ Balance
✨ Mobility
✨ Focus
✨ Overall wellbeing

One of the things we love most about Vinyasa is that it meets you where you are. Whether you're stepping onto a yoga mat for the very first time or have been practising for years, every class includes options and modifications so you can move at a pace that feels right for you.

Our classes are designed to leave you feeling stronger, more mobile and more relaxed—not exhausted.

Join us in our welcoming Cookham studio, where we practise indoors throughout the year and, when the weather allows, outside on our beautiful deck overlooking Cookham Moor. It's a wonderful place to switch off from the demands of everyday life and spend an hour doing something just for you.

If you've been thinking about trying yoga, this could be the perfect place to start.

📖 Read our latest blog to discover what to expect from a Vinyasa Flow class and how to get started.

https://www.mylifetonic.com/vinyasa-flow-yoga

🧘 Or book a class and come and experience it for yourself.

We'd love to welcome you to the mat.

The Alps in Summer?

Absolutely! ⛰️☀️🚴

When most people think of Méribel-Mottaret, they picture snow-covered slopes, ski lifts and winter holidays.

But after spending a long weekend there, we’re convinced it’s just as incredible in the summer.

A few extra days would have been nice, as there is still so much left to explore.

Here’s what we managed to pack into our adventure...

🥾 A four-hour hike through the Vanoise National Park to the Refuge du Saut. Following the valley, crossing mountain streams and walking through beautiful alpine meadows.

🚴 Cycling the famous Col du Loze (on e-bikes this time 😄). The climb was tough going cross country - maybe next time I’ll do it all on a road bike. Whether you’re a road cyclist or prefer gravel and trails, there’s something for everyone.

🏊 Lake swimming in some stunning locations. Taking a dip at the supervised lake in La Praz, taking a dip in the mountain lake to finding a public pontoon to get into Lake Annecy; it was a great way to cool down. There’s something incredibly refreshing about swimming surrounded by mountains.

⛳ Golf in Méribel, where each hole provided varied and spectacular views. Thankfully we had enough balls and a buggy to get round.

Evenings were a little slower, enjoying great food, a well-earned drink and watching the sport in the local bars—this time it was the FIFA Club World Cup final and England taking on Argentina in the rugby.

Of course, we’ve already started making a list for next time...

🎱 Boules
🎣 Fly fishing
🚵 Downhill mountain biking
🚴 More road cycling
🏐 Volleyball
🎾 Padel

..and no doubt a few more mountain hikes!

The summer season runs from early July until the end of August, and if you’re looking for an active holiday with cooler temperatures, fewer crowds than many beach destinations and endless opportunities to get outdoors, the Alps should definitely be on your list.

I’m not very good at sitting still— moving, breathing fresh mountain air and returning home feeling genuinely recharged.

Safe to say... I’m already planning next year’s trip Les 3 Vallées

10 Years... and we almost forgot! 😂🧘‍♀️🧘‍♂️

If you know us, you’ll know we’re not the best at remembering anniversaries...

After all, we both forgot our first wedding anniversary! 🤦‍♂️🤣

So it probably won’t surprise you that we nearly missed another milestone...

This month marks 10 years since we qualified as yoga teachers.

Back then, it was simply a side hustle. We loved practising yoga and thought it would be fun to share it with others.

We had no idea where it would lead.

Over the last decade, our passion for helping people feel better has taken us far beyond yoga.

It started with Vinyasa Flow, before growing into:
🧘 Yoga for Athletes
🕯️ Yin Yoga
🏋️ Personal Training
🥗 Nutrition qualifications (watch this space...)
🔥❄️ Contrast therapy with saunas and cold tubs
💚 A much broader focus on supporting people’s overall wellbeing.

What began as Yoga Tonic has naturally evolved into My Life Tonic.

Looking back, it’s incredible to think what we’ve created together:
✨ Weekly yoga classes live and online
✨ More than 500 on-demand classes
✨ Programmes for runners, skiers and active lifestyles
✨ 31-Day Challenges and 4-Week Tone Up programmes
✨ Our Wellbeing Scorecard
✨ Wellbeing Reset Days and retreats at our home (with more exciting plans ahead!)

Like everyone, Covid changed our plans overnight.

But instead of standing still, we adapted, kept learning and discovered new ways to support people. Looking back now, those challenges helped shape My Life Tonic into what it is today.

The greatest part of this journey hasn’t been the qualifications or the programmes—it’s been the people.

To everyone who’s joined a class, trusted us on a retreat, completed a challenge, supported our ideas or simply followed our journey over the years...

Thank you.

You’ve helped make the last 10 years incredibly rewarding.

We’re excited to keep learning, keep evolving and continue helping people move more, feel better and live healthier lives.

Here’s to the next chapter... we can’t wait to see where it takes us.

Tim & Shannon 💚

🕺🏃‍♂️ Exercise Comes in Many Different Forms... 🧘‍♀️🏊‍♀️

One thing this weekend reminded us is that staying active doesn’t have to look the same for everyone.

Over the course of the weekend we:
🔥 Danced at a Sauna Rave on Friday evening.
🧘‍♀️ Taught yoga as part of a friend’s birthday celebrations.
🏊‍♂️ Took on a SwimRun event at Grafham Water on Sunday.

Talk about variety!

Thankfully, Saturday gave us just enough time to recover from one before getting ready for the next.

If you’ve never heard of SwimRun, it’s a relatively new sport where you alternate between running and open water swimming. There’s no transition area like in a triathlon—you simply run in your swimming gear (wetsuit, goggles, swim hat, paddles and pull buoy), jump into the water, then climb out and carry on running.

Our route included 8 runs and 7 swims around one side of Grafham Water, covering 10km in just over 2 hours and 15 minutes. It’s a great event - if you’re interested check out

Having met through triathlon back in 2004, it reminded us of those early days when triathlon was still finding its feet. SwimRun has that same grassroots feel—people are there to enjoy the experience just as much as the event itself. Even those racing took time encourage one another and let people through. It’s a wonderfully welcoming community.

Years ago, we would have trained specifically to achieve a time. These days, it’s much more about enjoying the experience together, celebrating with friends, exploring somewhere new and keeping our exercise varied.

That’s exactly what My Life Tonic is all about.

We’re often told to “be more active”, but there’s no single way to do it. Whether it’s yoga, dancing, walking, cycling, open water swimming, local events like this or simply spending more time outdoors, the best form of exercise is the one you genuinely enjoy.

It doesn’t have to be a gym if that’s not your thing. Find your movement, have fun doing it, and make it part of your lifestyle.

🌿 A Free Opportunity to Better Understand Your Wellbeing 🌿

Many of you will have seen our posts about My Life Tonic's Wellbeing Reset Days, where we bring people together to switch off, recharge, move, connect, and focus on their wellbeing.

While these events are a fantastic way to invest in yourself, we'd also like to offer something that everyone can benefit from — completely FREE.

Throughout June and July, we're inviting people to complete our Free Wellbeing Scorecard.

At My Life Tonic, we believe that understanding your wellbeing is the first step towards improving it. Too often, we wait until we're feeling stressed, exhausted, overwhelmed, disconnected, or lacking motivation before taking action. By then, we're often reacting to challenges rather than proactively looking after ourselves.

Our Wellbeing Scorecard helps provide a snapshot of where you are today by exploring four key areas:

🧠 Mental & Emotional Wellbeing
🏃 Physical Activity
🤝 Community Connection
🌱 Lifestyle & Habits

Once completed, you'll receive:
✅ An overall wellbeing score
✅ A breakdown across each category
✅ Insight into your strengths
✅ Areas where small improvements could make a positive difference

The purpose isn't to judge or label. It's simply to help create awareness.

One of the key messages behind My Life Tonic is that wellbeing doesn't always require expensive solutions or major lifestyle changes. Often, the biggest improvements come from small, consistent actions that require awareness, time, and effort.

Understanding where you are today can help you make positive choices for tomorrow.

Whether you're feeling great, feeling stuck, or simply curious about your wellbeing, the scorecard is a useful starting point.

If you'd like to better understand your wellbeing and discover where small changes could have the biggest impact, we'd love you to take part.

We hope this helps you understand and identify small ways that can help improve and maintain your wellbeing.

https://mlt-wellbeingind.scoreapp.com

If you're wondering about the the image - I thought it was particularly apt bearing in mind we are all sweltering in a heatwave - cooling down on the river, safely, with friends....