Louise Pitman Yoga

✨ How to Winter ~ the retreat ✨
Friday 13th to Sunday 15th November

Who is this retreat for? We live in a world that never sleeps. As the year draws to a close, rather than drawing in, as the season suggests, we expand into the busyness of Christmas. Then, once Christmas is done, and January arrives we are left in a spin and wondering when the nights got dark and willing it to end. But winter is about slowing down, not speeding up, so this retreat is an invitation to find a space to rest before the festivities begin. How to winter will help you embrace a slower pace of life.

We gather on Friday afternoon from 4 and I will guide you through the weekend which will be a mixture of restorative yoga, yoga nidra, breathwork, meditation, time to explore what rest really means and how we can invite it into our lives, sauna, swimming (if desired) fireside chats and delicious food.

You will be joining me in Northern Ireland and since living here I have become more connected to the Celtic Wheel than I was before. This retreat will fall at Yule which occurs from mid-November until the end of December. I will share practices and stories with you to help you live in harmony with this time like crafting or making and resting, which should not be overlooked. I have found ceremony and ritual have really helped with my menpause journey, especially when I felt a little disconnected from myself, my femininity. On Saturday evening we will head to the sauna for a sauna ritual 🔥

If you’re looking for a sign this is it. A small group intimate retreat with just one twin left. I’d love to welcome you to my home, get in touch for more information and to secure your spot

It’s no 9 to 5 life for me but I had to choose this song for Dolly 🧡She was a Wonder Woman, I’m not suggesting I am but as a solopreneur I’m well used to wearing many hats and working odd and long hours.

Days are never the same, and that’s one of the things I love about what I do. Here’s what my week looks like this week ~ no two are ever the same

Monday I took my friend Kat to the airport, she’d visited to support me at my weekend event. I headed to the sea to swim some of the 60 kilometres I’m swimming for my book. I had a call with one of my swimterviews then I spent most of the day writing my book. After dinner I headed to HotBox to host a meditation

Tuesday an 8am huddle, 9:30 gym class, midday swim and all around those times I wrote. I ended the day walking on the beach

Wednesday I wrote a substack article, did retreat planning for my upcoming sold out retreat then updated my website with copy for a retreat in March that only has a few spaces left. The afternoon spent researching then after dinner I wrote a proposal (wish me luck) 🍀

Thursday is uni day and I need to swim at least 500 metres but right now there are jellyfish everywhere

Friday I’ll be up early for the lunar eclipse and in bed late as there’s a full moon and I’ll be doing my monthly splash. In between time I have uni work and a little road trip

I’m a yoga teacher, retreat host, massage therapist, mentor, menopause coach, sauna master, breathwork facilitator, writer and I’m doing a full time Masters Degree.

That’s a lot of hats, a lot of hours but I love the opportunity this life creates for me. I gave up my career aged 55 and whilst I no longer have a regular income I can depend on, I have freedom, choice, variation and enough job satisfaction to fill all those hats to the brim.

So if you message me and I don’t answer straight away, it’s not that I don’t want to chat, I do, I just might be in a different role at the time.

Tell me, what do you love about your working life?

I’m almost 60 and writing my first book. Swimming into 60 follows my journey swimming 60 kilometres from my 59th to 60th birthday. I have 6 weeks left and 15k still to swim. So I went on a road trip.

Each month I’m making a splash, a special swim that might be an adventure, a challenge or just a swim to spark joy. This month’s splash was due to take place at the end of the month but was cancelled, beyond my control. Running out of time, I found something else, not as much of a tada as I’d planned but something different. Then an hour to go that too was cancelled.

A big disappointment yes, but, I put my mind to thinking of something else before the month is out.

So we headed to the Herring Pond and I swam 350 metres but mostly just played in the water. Joy was found, despite the setback.

A wild night in Oti my camper as the wild Atlantic raged and after a restless night I got up for a very special meeting at 7am

I’ve been following Naomi Naomi Ennis for sometime and loved her joyful attitude to life and her acknowledgment that swimming helps her feel good. There was quite a swell in the water and it took us a while to notice (because of the chatting) that our strokes were taking us nowhere! We paused and the swell pulled us out into the open water so we just held onto the rocks and chatted some more.

The two days away were not completely as planned, but that’s life, especially midlife. Being able to change course can turn a difficult day into a good one. You know what they say, when life gives you 🍋 🍋 🍋

The day in the life of a midlife woman aged 59 and 3/4 & what a day yesterday was

It started on Wednesday night with the solar eclipse. We didn’t get to see it in Belfast but we did see Tom Jones and that was pretty special.

Thursday morning began with an early trip to the beach, the quality of light was beautiful, diffuse against Copeland Island, rippling on the water. Could the water look any more glorious?

On a full and new moon I draw cards from my moon deck. This is something that has become more important since post menopause, something that helps me stay grounded.

First day back at uni today and a long session on line. I’m writing a book about wild swimming and midlife and to help build a community I’m hosting a film night with a community swim before and a Q&A after the screening. So after class planning continued

I took regular breaks away from my desk, topping up my vitamin but it was too hot to stay for long

So this evening I went for a walk at the harbour as the sun set casting glorious light, a spectacular light show and just the perfect temperature to be out and moving.

How are you coping in this heat? My post earlier this week encouraged you to be exercising but in this heat, be sensible, find a way to make your workout work for you. Mix up what you do or when you do it.

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into my day, I’d love to see a glimpse into yours. And if you fancy joining me in these crystal clear waters then warm up in my garden sauna, get in touch to book your bespoke stay

Have you seen the latest statement by our Chief Medical Officers on exercise (here in the UK)

“The evidence has strengthened for women. Evidence continues to show that if physical activity were a drug, we would refer to it as a miracle cure, due to the great many illnesses it can prevent or treat. It is now clear that even small amounts of physical activity produce important benefits compared to none, and the benefits steadily increase up to the recommended 150 minutes a week.”

If exercise were a drug it would be a miracle cure!!! You cannot argue with that.

Mix it up, don’t just do cardio, weights etc, each has their important place but variety is key. Mix it up. Book a class, go with a friend, join a club, come on a midlife yoga & strength retreat!

What’s your go to and what would you like to try? Here’s a few of my favourites, yoga of course, swimming obvs, I love body pump too, my sup and mountain biking. The thing I need to do more is walk.

Keep moving, it’s the key to longevity 💪🏼🤸‍♀️🏃🏼‍♀️🏄🏼‍♀️🚴🏼‍♀️🧘🏼‍♀️

Tickets still available for our community film night on 22nd August Jo In The Water followed by a Q&A. The event starts with a community swim at 5, film at 6:15, Q&A at 7:30. Hit drink in ticket price of just £5.50 which is for the film licence https://www.ticketsource.com/louise-pitman-yoga

Life got just a little busy there

A big swim challenge then the challenge of organising and hosting a festival at home all within two weeks of each other. Not to mention my masters, metres and book.

It’s been a busy time.

So today I’ve booked into the spa, feet up, book in hand, to rest.

And soothe my nervous system

Life is busy, we are all busy, and on top of the busyness we pile on more busy.

Honestly, I have a pile of life admin to see to, a film night to plan and, and, and

But I could feel the tale tell signs of fatigue. The brain fog increased, I felt somewhat distracted and disconnected. My nervous system needed time to download, reset, to rest.

When we just keep on pushing through, things start to crumble.

So today, and most of tomorrow, I’ll be here, feet up, no distraction.

Do you struggle to prioritise rest? Comment REST & I’ll send you details of a brand new, small group retreat, the focus of which is how to rest ✨

Introducing How To Winter a small group retreat for women who need to slow down.

Welcome to North Star Retreat, welcome to my home. Has your previous experience of retreats been that it’s all felt a little big and overwhelming? As you navigate midlife do you find yourself preferring smaller groups to big gatherings? Then a retreat at North Star might be just what you are looking for.

Architectually designed North Star is tastefully decorated in a ‘Scandi Seaside’ style and set on a quarter acre country plot it feels like the middle of nowhere, yet we are just 7 minutes from the sea and coastal paths.

Who is this retreat for? We live in a world that never sleeps. As the year draws to a close, rather than drawing in, as the season suggests, we expand into the busyness of Christmas. Then, once Christmas is done, and January arrives we are left in a spin and wondering when the nights got dark and willing it to end. But winter is about slowing down, not speeding up, so this retreat is an invitation to find a space to rest before the festivities begin. How to winter will help you embrace a slower pace of life.

You can find full details on my website, link in comments. Get in touch to discuss your room preferences, two kings for solo use and one twin available. Open for women wanting a smaller group connection or a group of four friends looking for a different kind of break together.

Save this post and share it with all the women in your life who need a nurturing break