replenish_with_nakie

I am not sharing my story because I want you to know what happened to me - I'm sharing it because women's health is far too important to hide behind whispers!
My story isn't the point.
You are.
And if sharing my experience helps even one woman feel less alone, understand her body a little better, or ask a question she hadn't thought to ask, then it is worth telling.
This is my story.
But I'm telling it for you 💚.

I thought I’d already done menopause… 🤔
I was 29 when I became unwell and over a series of surgeries I needed a hysterectomy and both ovaries removed - largely due to 'Womens issues' that I'd learned to put up with!
At the time, I was shocked and frightened - and trying to keep life as “normal” as possible with two very young children.
There followed years of surgeries, complications and a complicated relationship with HRT.
But yoga has taught me something I wish I'd understood back then:
our bodies are always communicating with us.

Sometimes we get so good at carrying on, pushing through and getting things done that we stop listening.

Fast forward nearly 20 years.
I'm 48, and lately my body has been giving me some very familiar messages:
🌿 achy joints
🌿 poor sleep
🌿 weight gain
🌿 brain fog
And I found myself thinking…
“Hang on. I've already done menopause 😫!”
So I started wondering:
What happens when you experienced surgical menopause at 29, and then reach the age when your body might otherwise have been approaching natural menopause?
Could other changes in our hormonal landscape be part of the picture?

I have a theory.....

As a scientist I'm not going to tell you it's fact!
I'm going to explore the question, look at the evidence, and share what I discover!

But as a Yoga teacher - isn't that part of what yoga teaches us?
Pause.
Listen.
Notice.
Be curious 💚

So what might change if instead of asking "How do I fix this" we ask "what is my body trying to tell me?"

I would love to know your thoughts 😀

A little chocolate. A little fruit. A little physiology.

One of the things I love about teaching yoga is that it continually reminds me that the body is not separate from the experience.
My yoga practice invites curiosity.
My biomedical science background reminds me to question the explanations we give that experience.
We don't have to dismiss someone's subjective experience.
But we also don't have to assume that every unusual physiological response is an “energy release”.

We can be curious about both!
And sometimes, after you've spent an hour resting, a little nourishment is simply a lovely way to finish 💚

What does your body appreciate after practice?

An invitation to join our growing community 😀
These workshops offer an opportunity to be understood, supported and encouraged by others on this journey to becoming a parent - whether for the first time or the tenth time!!

Together we will explore:
✦ Functional movement to support comfort, mobility and confidence in pregnancy
✦ Yoga-informed movement and positions that can support your body for and during birthing
✦ Targeted pranayama practices to develop awareness and tools for self-regulation
✦ Breath, movement and body awareness as resources you can draw on during labour
✦ A deeply nourishing period of rest to finish the workshop

Spaces at workshops are extremely limited to ensure you have opportunities to ask questions and contribute to group discussions.

My next workshop is on Sunday 30th Aug from 5pm until 7:30 pm.
Join me Carlow Mandala Yoga Studio
Workshop cost is €35
To book get in touch here or WhatsApp 0860754495

Grá mór, Nakie

Choosing between drop-in classes and a block booking?

Both options have their benefits - it really comes down to what works best for your lifestyle and your yoga practice!
Drop-ins offer flexibility when life is busy, while block bookings can give you better value and help you build a regular, consistent practice.

There’s no right or wrong choice, just the option that feels right for you.

Just a little photo dump after a beautiful week spent with the most amazing people Alice Ní Bhraonáin • Fitness & Yoga Ella McMahon🌙 Kenneth Brennan - and Kali the dog 😆
Rossnowlagh and Ballyshannon is where my heart lives - and what a privilege to share my ancestoral home with my children and their partners (and yes they too call this beautiful place 'home')

I share aspects of my life outside of teaching because this is who I am - a normal every day woman, a student of life and Yoga, a seeker a searcher just like every body else!

As a teacher I understand my assignment- and I invest SO much into my learning so my students are guided authenticly, safely and with humility.
I don't have everything 'figured out', I haven't got my ducks in a row (infact my ducks are chickens 🤣). But what I do have is an unquenchable desire to teach Yoga from a place of honesty and authenticity, to hold space where all people feel welcome and a community can grow.
My classes offer exploration - of body, mind and movement through ancient tools such as Pranyama, Asana, Mudra, Mantra and more.

I am always open to questions so please don't ever hesitate to drop me a message, I will always reply
Grá mór, Nakie


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I first explored the practice of Yoga Nidra during my 200-hour yoga teacher training.
At first, I was simply intrigued.
But when I began regularly practising it myself -
I became fascinated by the experience of being guided into deep rest while remaining gently aware.
It was a practice I kept returning to!
And the more I experienced it, the more I wanted to understand it.
Since then, I've continued my training, including a 30-hour training in Restorative Yoga & Yoga Nidra, as well as 50 hours of Yoga Nidra training within my Yoga Therapist studies, with a particular focus on safety and appropriate practice.
These days, I love offering the practice of Yoga Nidra.

So, what is Yoga Nidra?
It is often described as “yogic sleep”. Yoga Nidra is a guided practice of deep relaxation and awareness, usually experienced lying down in a comfortable, supported position.

There is nothing to perfect.
Nothing to achieve.
Instead, you're invited to become still, listen and be guided through the practice.
And perhaps that's exactly what many of us need more of - an opportunity where is there nothing we need to 'do'.

If you would like to explore this ancient practice, then get in touch.
Space is extremely limited to retain the gentle energy of this practice,

Le Grá mór, Nakie

Have you ever wondered why Yoga studios have so many props??? Blocks. Straps. Bolsters. Blankets. Chairs…
Maybe you have looked around and thought:
“Surely I don’t need all of those?” 😂
Well, here’s the thing…
Using props isn’t doing less. It’s often doing yoga more wisely!
Think of a block as simply bringing the floor a little closer to you.
A strap can give your arms a little extra length, so you don’t have to force your body into a position it isn’t ready for.
A bolster can give you somewhere to soften into, helping the body feel supported enough to relax.
And sometimes a blanket is just there because being comfortable matters!
But there’s more to it than comfort.

When the body feels supported and stable, our nervous system can often settle too. We may breathe more easily, reduce unnecessary muscle tension and become more aware of what’s actually happening in our body.
And that’s where props can become really useful in a therapeutic practice.
Rather than thinking:
“How can I get deeper into this pose?”
we can ask:
“What would help my body feel more supported here?”
That little shift can change everything!
Maybe you need a block because your hamstrings are tight.
Maybe you need a bolster because your body is tired.
Maybe you need a strap because your shoulders don’t quite reach where you’d like them to.
Or maybe you simply want to make the practice feel a little kinder today.
And that is completely okay.

Yoga isn’t about forcing your body to look like someone else’s.
It’s about finding ways to work with your body.
So please don’t be afraid to reach for the props!!!
They aren’t a sign that you’re not flexible enough, strong enough or “advanced” enough.
Quite the opposite.
Knowing when to use support is part of becoming more skilful in your practice.
Sometimes the wisest thing we can do is not push harde but to give ourselves a little more support.

What’s your favourite yoga prop?
Are you a block lover, a bolster person, or have you never quite known what to do with the strap? 😂

AccessibleYoga YogaTherapy NervousSystemSupport MoveWithAwareness YogaCommunity

I am increasingly interested in the space between these three perspectives - particularly around stress, recovery and women's wellbeing.

Perhaps wellbeing isn't about becoming perfectly regulated.
Perhaps it's about learning how to return to yourself.

Wellbeing HealthAndWellness

We wouldn’t wait for a machine to break down before maintaining it… so why do we wait until we break down before looking after our health?

As a Planner in the pharmaceutical industry, I see every day how important preventative maintenance is. Equipment used to produce life-saving medicines is regularly serviced to keep it safe and running efficiently.

But a lot of us don’t apply that same thinking to ourselves.

As a Biomedical Scientist, I understand preventative healthcare. As a Yoga Teacher, I meet people every week dealing with stress, high blood pressure, pain, autoimmune conditions, heart issues, and burnout - often only after they have already been diagnosed.

We are busy looking after everyone else, hitting deadlines, juggling responsibilities, skipping meals, and telling ourselves we’ll “slow down next week.”

But our health deserves the same attention we give everything else.

I practise what I preach, which is why I make preventative health checks a priority.

Today, I was really grateful to get a clean bill of health after my assessment with whose expertise in preventative cardiology always makes the visit reassuring.

A check-up doesn’t mean something is wrong—it can just confirm that everything is okay and give you peace of mind.

Your health is your biggest asset. Look after it before your body forces you to.

So tell me…

When was the last time you had a health check when you didn’t have any symptoms?

👇 I’d love to hear your thoughts.

InvestInYourHealth