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end of year

18/12/2025

Closing Out the Year: A Gentle Review Ritual for Kids’ Yoga & Well-Being Practitioners

Before we dive in, a quick birthday-month treat from me to you:

⚠️Use code DEC25 for 25% off all Well-Being Adventurers e-courses, video resources, and trainings until midnight on 19th December.⚠️
I’ll be updating and polishing several of my courses in the new year – and if you buy them now, you’ll automatically receive access to the refreshed versions.

Now, let’s settle into a cosy end-of-year review ritual together...

Why Reviewing Matters (Especially for Practitioners Like Us)
Working in children’s yoga and well-being is meaningful, heart-led work – but it’s also incredibly varied. We offer classes, workshops, school sessions, after-school clubs, trainings, events… and by the time December arrives, it is so easy to forget half of what we’ve actually done.

This gentle review is simply a way to pause, honour the year you’ve had, and look with curiosity (not criticism!) at what has supported your energy, your purpose, and your business.
All you’ll need is:

your calendar(s) or diary (no judgement if you have three… same here!)
post-it notes
a pen
a clear desk or one big piece of paper

Perhaps a cup of something comforting and any other special cosy things (incense, scented candle, crystals, chocolate!)- if you’d like to make it a cosy ritual.

Step 1: Gather Everything You Did This Year
Start by flicking back through your calendar or diary and writing down every offering or service that you delivered this year – one per post-it note. Not every individual class, but each type or series.
For example:

“After-school club at X School – 6-week block”
“Yoga and relaxation workshop – Y Community Centre”
“School PE well-being sessions – Autumn term”
“Practitioner training – Summer”
“One-off festival session”
anything else you offered or experimented with

Most people are surprised at how much they actually did. I always find things I’d entirely forgotten about! Seeing it all laid out is grounding and often encouraging.

Step 2: Sort Them into Three Honest Piles
Once you’ve written everything out, sort your post-its into three piles:
Yes – Offerings you definitely want to do again.
Maybe they filled you up, aligned beautifully with your purpose, or worked well practically.
No –Offerings you won’t repeat.
Not because they were “bad” – simply because they didn’t support you, your energy, your finances, or your values.
Yes, with changes –Offerings you might repeat, but with some tweaks.
This middle pile is often where the gold lies. It usually contains the “Hmm… I liked parts of this, but something wasn’t quite right” moments.

Step 3: Notice What You Learned
This step is all about curiosity, not self-judgement.
Look especially at your no and yes with changes piles. Ask yourself:

What didn’t work – and why?
What would I change next time?
What surprised me?
What overwhelmed me?
What delighted me unexpectedly?
What was worth the effort – and what wasn’t?

A personal example from my own review this year:
One of my practitioner trainings, The Well-Being Journey, happened to fall on a weekend with a huge firework display at the nearby castle, followed by a remembrance walk the next morning. When I booked the date, it aligned perfectly with my diary and the venue’s availability… but I didn’t think about the wider picture.
My learning? When planning events for next year, I’ll check not just the venue and my diary, but also what’s happening locally.

These are the nudges that quietly strengthen our work.
Write your learnings on post-its, in a journal, or wherever feels right.

Step 4: Celebrate What You’re Proud Of
This part is so often overlooked – but it’s essential.
Write down everything you’re proud of from this year. That might include:

classes that lit you up
workshops that went beautifully
a difficult situation you navigated
a moment you showed courage
a challenge you overcame
something new you tried
boundaries you set
growth you didn’t even expect

And remember: pride doesn’t just belong to the outwardly “successful” things.
Be proud of your persistence. Your learning. Your humanity.

Once you've written them down, take a moment to really savour them. In positive psychology, this is called savouring – lingering in a feeling so it can settle more deeply within you.

I like to mark this moment by lighting a candle, putting on gentle music, choosing a few favourite crystals simply because their colours make me happy, and enjoying a cup of cacao from my special mug. You might celebrate differently – a quiet walk, a cosy blanket, a warm bath, or simply sitting still for a moment.
However you do it, honour your year.

This Simple Review Sets You Up Beautifully for 2026
A mindful look back naturally becomes the foundation for planning ahead – but that’s a conversation for another day (and likely another video!).
For now, this is about closure. Gratitude. Awareness. And acknowledging just how much you’ve grown in 2025.

And Before You Go… A Little December Treat

✨ 25% off all Well-Being Adventurers resources, e-courses, and trainings until midnight on 19th December. ✨
Use code: DEC25

If you’d like to refresh your practice or get some supportive resources before the new year (and receive all the 2026 updates automatically), now is a lovely time to do so.

Wishing you a gentle close to the year, a cosy winter pause, and a moment to celebrate you and everything you’ve poured into your work.
With warmth,
Julia x

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my why

11/12/2025

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Why I Do What I Do:
A Reflection for Children’s Well-Being Practitioners

⚠️BIRTHDAY DISCOUNT ALERT!⚠️
25% off courses and resources until midnight on December 19th.
Use the code: DEC25.
Available on....Self Paced Trainings and Resources

December always brings a moment of pause for me — a natural turning point in the year, and, as it happens, my birthday month too. And this year, as I celebrate another lap around the sun, I’ve been thinking deeply about why I do the work I do.
It’s something I often encourage other practitioners to reflect on as well, because our “why” shapes every decision we make — how we teach, how we hold space, how we show up for children, and how we take care of ourselves in the process.

So today, I wanted to share the real story behind my work, in the hope that it sparks something reflective and grounding in you too.

From Classroom Teacher to Well-Being Practitioner
Before Well-Being Adventurers existed, I spent many years as a primary teacher and school leader. I loved teaching, and I loved the children — but when I became a parent, everything changed.
Returning to education suddenly felt impossible.
My anxiety was overwhelming.
My confidence evaporated.
And although I had always been a good teacher, I suddenly felt as though all of the qualities that made me a strong teacher had leaked out of me completely.

Yoga, mindfulness and well-being practices — tools I had used throughout my adult life — became essential. They helped me find my footing when I felt lost, stretched, and disconnected from myself. In many ways, they carried me through.

Eventually, I reached a point where I realised I couldn’t go back to teaching in the way it was. My mental health, my family life, and my own sense of purpose needed something different. Leaving was a big decision, and a painful one, but it was also the first step towards choosing something that aligned with who I truly was.

Choosing to Teach What I Believe In
When I retrained in children’s and family yoga, it wasn’t just a career shift — it felt like coming home.

I wanted to do work that felt meaningful, grounded and true.

I realised that I could no longer teach things I didn’t personally believe in, or push children through systems that felt misaligned with their needs or mine.

What I share now comes from lived experience, research, compassion, and a genuine belief in the importance of these skills for both children and adults. That belief is what led me to complete my MSc in Mental Health and Well-Being in Education — to be sure that what I teach is grounded in evidence, not just opinion.
Everything I offer today — classes, trainings, resources — is based on what I know works, what I’ve seen make a difference, and what I wish every child and educator had access to.

The Ripple Effect: Why This Work Matters
One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned over the years is that well-being work always ripples outwards.

A child teaches a breathing technique to their sibling.
A parent uses a relaxation strategy learned from their child.
A teacher brings a mindful moment into their classroom.
A practitioner adapts a session in a way that transforms a child’s day.
It spreads. Quietly, gently, but powerfully.

My master’s dissertation explored this ripple effect, and the research backed up what I’d been seeing in real life for years: when one adult learns these skills, they don’t keep them to themselves — they share them. And the impact unfolds far beyond the original setting.

This is the legacy of well-being work. Not a final “product,” but a widening circle of influence.

A Personal and Professional Legacy
Birthdays always make me think about legacy — what we leave behind, what truly matters, and what lives on in the people we’ve touched.

Recent losses in my extended family have brought this into sharper focus.
What do we pass on?
What do we stand for?
How do we shape the lives of the people we meet?
For me, my legacy isn’t about achievements or outcomes.

It’s about the hope that the children and adults I’ve taught feel even a little bit more equipped, connected, and cared for — and that the practitioners I train feel more confident, supported and grounded in their own work.
This is why I do what I do.

Your Turn: Why Do You Do What You Do?
I’d love to invite you into this reflection too.

You might already know your “why,” or perhaps it’s something that needs a bit of unearthing.

You might find it helpful to journal, take a mindful walk, or simply sit quietly with these questions:

What has brought you to children’s well-being work?
What personal experiences shape the way you teach?
What is most important to you when you hold space for children?
How do you hope your work ripples out into the world?
What do you want your legacy to be?

Your why matters. It sustains you. It guides you. And it helps you stay grounded during the inevitable challenges of this work.

A Little Birthday Gift to Support Your Journey
Because it’s my birthday month (🎉), and because I’m updating many of my trainings and resources in the new year, everything on my website — e-courses and digital resources — is 25% off throughout December with the code DEC25.

If you buy now, you’ll also receive all upcoming updates automatically.

If you’d like support with planning, behaviour, props, structure, or ready-made documents for your children’s well-being business, feel free to explore.

Thank you for being part of this community
This work is meaningful because of people like you — people who care deeply, who show up with compassion, and who want to make a difference in the lives of children.

I’m grateful to walk this path alongside you.
With warmth,
Julia x

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winter classes

4/12/2025

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⚠️BIRTHDAY DISCOUNT ALERT!⚠️
25% off courses and resources until midnight on December 19th.
Use the code: DEC25.
Available on....Self Paced Trainings and Resources

Honouring the Season: Supporting Children (and Ourselves) in Winter Well-Being & Yoga Classes

December is here, and with it comes a huge mix of excitement, change, anticipation… and, quite honestly, exhaustion. If you’re teaching children’s well-being, yoga or mindfulness, you’ll already know that this time of year can feel a lot — for us and for the children we work with.

In many ways, the way we move through December in the UK is completely misaligned with what our bodies (and nature) need. Culturally, everything ramps up: school events, performances, assemblies, parties, pantomimes, “special days”, Secret Santa, Christmas jumper days — the list goes on. It’s beautiful (mostly!), but it’s also intense.

And for children? It can be completely discombobulating.
In this blog, I want to share some simple, practical, calming ways to support your winter classes — ways that honour the season, honour the children, and crucially, honour you.

Why Children Feel “More” in December
Whether you teach in schools, nurseries, community settings, or after-school clubs, you’ll likely notice a pattern: children in December can be a little more hyped, emotional, sensitive, distracted, or unsettled.
That’s because:

School schedules often shift dramatically.
There may be rehearsals, concerts, pantos, visitors, and assemblies.
Routines change and expectations rise.
Homes may feel busier, noisier, or more emotionally charged.
Children know “something is coming”, even if they can’t fully process it.

All of this impacts nervous systems — theirs and ours.
Our job isn’t to fix it… it’s to hold space for it.

1. Honour the Energy of the Season (and Your Own Energy Too)
Before you even think about adapting your classes, check in with yourself.

Are you tired?
Overwhelmed?
Busy in your head?
Juggling family things, gift-buying, or social commitments?
Feeling pressure to “make things special”?

Whatever is happening in you will impact the tone of your classes.
So instead of pushing through with lots of high-energy festive themes, consider leaning into what your body actually needs:

Slower transitions
Simpler sequences
More breathing
More stillness
More time before and after classes
Quicker, easier planning

If you need “less” — give yourself permission to offer less. Simplicity is not only enough — it’s often exactly what’s needed.

And share this with the children. Saying things like:

“I’ve noticed my head feels a bit full today, so we’re going to do a practice that helps us feel calmer.”

…teaches them self-awareness through modelling.

2. Acknowledge What the Children Are Experiencing
Children feel seen, safer, and more regulated when we acknowledge their reality.
Try:

A quick check-in as they arrive
A short partner talk (“Tell your partner one thing that’s been different in school this week”)
Space for them to share something that feels big or exciting
Gentle prompts rather than open-ended questions if time is limited

Letting children verbalise what’s swirling around them helps them process it — and reduces the pressure they carry into the class.

3. Explicitly Link Practices to How They Can Support Children at Home
Winter is a powerful time to reinforce the “why” behind your practices.
Explain:

When you feel overwhelmed at home, you can try this breathing technique.
If your mind feels busy before bed, this posture might help.
If things feel a bit loud or exciting, you can do this to slow your body down.

Making these connections not only deepens their understanding — it empowers them to use the tools beyond your class.

4. Make Your Class Environment Cosy, Calming, and Seasonal (Without Overwhelm)
We often default to “festive = exciting”, but “festive = cosy” can be far more supportive.
Some gentle, winter-friendly additions:

Blankets & warmth

Invite children to bring their own blankets or snuggly jumpers.
Use coats as blankets — puffy winter coats make excellent relaxation covers!
Hats or gloves can become pillows.

Soft lighting

Fairy lights
Battery-operated tea lights
(Most venues allow these, whereas plug-in items may have restrictions.)

Soft lighting instantly shifts the atmosphere into something nurturing.

Calming scents (optional)
If appropriate for your group:

Lavender on an eye pillow
A lightly scented relaxation object

(Always be mindful of allergies and sensitivities.)
Little touches can make your space feel luxurious without adding overstimulation.

5. Remember: “Special” Doesn’t Have to Mean Busy
It’s easy to get caught in the pressure to make December “magical”.
But magic does not have to mean:

louder
brighter
faster
more exciting

Magic can be:

quieter
slower
more spacious
more connected
more nurturing

Children crave that at this time of year — far more than they need yet another high-energy celebration.

A Final Note
As practitioners, we have a beautiful opportunity to offer children something they may not get anywhere else in December:
✨A moment of stillness.
✨A breath.
✨A sense of grounding.
✨A reminder that rest is natural and necessary.
Winter is a season that invites us inward. Let’s honour that invitation — for ourselves and for the children we teach.

As December is my Birthday Month (YAY!) I'm offering a special discount that is live from now up until midnight on December 19th.

You can get a massive 25% off courses and resources using the code: DEC25.

Many of these will be updated in 2026- and you will get the updated version too! Why not check out:
🧠 Self Paced Trainings
🎇 Resources

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end of year

Closing Out the Year: A Gentle Review Ritual for Kids’ Yoga & Well-Being Practitioners

my why

Why I Do What I Do: A Reflection for Children’s Well-Being Practitioners

winter classes

Honouring the Season: Supporting Children (and Ourselves) in Winter Well-Being & Yoga Classes

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Why I Do What I Do:
A Reflection for Children’s Well-Being Practitioners