Meet Judith: Judith weaves decades of yoga practice with deep therapeutic training to support bodies, minds, and nervous systems under stress. She recently completed her first series of RISE workshops at Sowena HQ.
What is your current role in Health & Wellbeing and what does it involve?
I’m a yoga teacher and director of HealthPad, a CIC which provides actionable health and well-being advice and support via our website, app and YouTube channel. We also deliver training to promote optimum health and stress management strategies to organisations and groups of individuals.
What’s been your greatest achievement at work?
As a qualified therapist I supported children with severe communication difficulties in clinics and schools, and helped vulnerable people give evidence to police and the courts. When combined with my yoga and complementary therapy training my clients and I aimed to transform adversity into achievement and new skills for life.
Can you recommend a simple wellness practice that anyone can incorporate into their daily routine?
For me, it’s always breathwork! Breath is free, natural and the quickest most reliable route to moving from stress and anxiety to a calmer more regulated state. Although there are many specific techniques, simply slowing and deepening the breath consistently works for everyone.
What are your top three daily self-care rituals?
Firstly, some quiet time alone – just to be with my thoughts and connect with self, away from external noise. Secondly, to be in nature – a garden or park will do, and I love the woods and being by the sea. Thirdly, contact with my pets – just stroking my dog and cat.
In another life, what would you be?
I’d be an artist! I love to create and always envision how I would like a painting or project to look. Unfortunately what’s in my head doesn’t usually translate to the final piece. But I love to be inspired by the art of others.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Very simply, to be yourself. It has taken me a long time to finally accept this. But I have found you cannot truly be happy in presenting an ‘acceptable’ face to the world if it is not your unique wonderful weird self. Embrace your weird and you’ll find your tribe!
