Over the years, I have assembled a collection of super humans who inform how I live and coach (it’s one and the same really). So it’s only right that I share them here for others to benefit from, plus it saves me endless time typing their names and details over and over on various emails/ WhatsApp…
Katina Kangaris – singing teacher (online and in person, London
I’ve always loved singing, and that was the dream of little (and not so little) old me to feel confident enough to stretch a vocal chord or two in tune. I’ve been working with Katina for 5 years in leisurely weekly group lessons online, and it’s been transformative. I could always hold a tune, but what held me back most was The Fear. Turns out that it’s the most important part to tackle in singing. Technique is great, but if you are terrified, nothing’s gonna come out right. So fortuitously perhaps, making singing your friend turns out a natural ally in the quest for nervous system regulation. Remind me to write about that.
I love Katina because she is incredibly and irreverently funny, is immensely supportive and she knows her stuff. I look forward to our Friday sessions with glee, knowing I will feel more accomplished, calmer, warm and fuzzy by the end.
Georgina Chester – Massage therapist (in person, North London)
www.shineholistic.co.uk/team/georgina-chester
Like most great practitioners, Georgie has way more strings to her bow than her title suggests. I went to her 3 years ago hankering for a lymphatic drainage massage I had a voucher for. She talked me into hot stone massage, and since then I make a point to see her on the regular. She brings her artist’s hand to offer a sense of safety, care, with added aromatherapy, reiki and reflexology. Yes, all that. Another magic lady who has helped me shed years of shame and pain stored. Oh, and she comes to my house too. Bliss. I can roll off the table straight to bed.
Raha Danesh-Kazemi – personal trainer (in person, North London)
www.yourpersonaltraininguk.co.uk/trainers/raha-danesh-kazemi
I was not in the market for a personal trainer. In fact, I had a few disastrous experiences with people who told me to try harder, and that simply didn’t work. But when I came across Raha’s write-up above, I immediately decided I had to meet her. She approaches the body the way I tackle the brain, with self-kindness and awareness. Her focus on posture, breathing and technique is triple threat spot on. In a few months, she helped me realise that a lot of my issues were actually really logical and redirected my body attention to my feet and ankles. My balance has improved drastically, and my urgh foot ganglion has disappeared. After 4 persistent years. I feel stronger, calmer, and I need all that shizzle to deal with whatever life has in store, now and later. Another pin here to write about the link between body balance and mind balance.
Gosia – yoga teacher (North London)
I’ve done yoga on (very on) and off (very off) for about 25 years (another post incoming). First class with Gosia I truly thought would be my last. I was used to flowing poses, but what I got felt like precision bootcamp. But the next day, i felt like all my bones aligned properly for a change. So I went again. And again. And… again. I try not to miss her weekly class at my local gym. I should say masterclass. This is no ordinary offering. Her attention to detail and her technique are bang on, and she doesn’t let a toe slip out of place.
Jax Bull – Breathworker (online and in person, Dorset)
Jax is also a skilled counsellor, interfaith minister and retreat hostess with the mostest, and while this only shows how skilled she is, it’s her breathwork practice I want to share with you most. She offers FREE community sessions every other Tuesday, and she’s another monthly contributors to ADHD UK like me. I went to support a client who was a little unsure, thinking, why not, I hear a lot about this breathwork malarkey, let’s see what the fuss is all about. One session, and I was hooked. This is not Wim Hof territory here, but something infinitely gentler known as Conscious Connected Breathing. You basically get to reconnect with your most instinctive breath, the one that rocks you gently in your deepest sleep, a state of rest and safety. But you access it while awake, and it does all sorts of wonderful things to your nervous system. You learn you don’t have to be ON all the time. That there can be peace, in that busy brain of yours. And she knows, because she’s an Audhd sister. Been there done that. After a few intro minutes, she’ll guide you through 30 minutes or so of breathing, where all you have to do is close your eyes and listen. Think that sounds insanely long? You’ll find yourself wondering where the time went when she goes ‘we’re five minutes from the end’. I can’t recommend these mind oasisses (hey?) enough. Treat yourself.
And if you can, do attend The Space at her incredible seaside home. You will feel nourished in every which way. And the heated outdoor pool is not shabby either.
The Nutritional Bean – Nutritional Therapist (online and in person, Somerset)
instagram.com/thenutritionalbean
I met Bean through mutual friends and we easily fell into each others minds and words. I contacted her when I was looking for some help trying to soothe my PCOS, hypothyroidic, neurodivergent self – and struggling to find my way through. She went deep and came up with a lot more than ‘eat more proteins and fibers’. In fact, 2 months in and my gut health was much improved. And the benefits have stayed. She is another polymath whose endless curiosity in her lore takes her to higher planes – and we all get to benefit. She also describes herself a menopause doula these days, and I love that. We camn learn so much from her as she embraces and releases all that this stage of life offers. Not in grief, but in freedom. Her social media posts are always astute and tender.
Janae Elisabeth AKA Trauma Geek – Neurodiversity advocate (online, US based)
Trauma Geek kept on algorhythming its way into my feed. And I reposted so many of their posts I needed an intervention. In the form of a deep dive into their website, full of super well researched and explained blog posts, essays and infographics, many of which I constantly refer to in my own work. I took several courses exploring particularly vagus nerve regulation and the Neurodiversity Paradigm, which remains a cornerstone of my coaching – looking at neurodiversity not through the lens of disability, but of neurotypes with their own strengths and challenges.
Dr Arielle Schwartz – Polyvagal trauma yoga and therapy (online or in person Boulder, Colorado)
Well, that’s a mouthful! But it all makes perfect sense. The body keeps the score, and if we want to address the ailments of our mind, we should turn our attention firmly to the body.
I attended a 2 day workshop with Dr Schwartz back in 2024, and it blasted the door open on so much of what my practice is about. Her focus on lived experience, nervous system regulation and body awareness, all wrapped in humane warmth are, yet again, transformational. I learned so much in a couple of days, and went on to study her books and attend her weekly online yoga classes when I can. This also requires a longer post than this. I detect a theme.
