About Alys

My personal experience of living well with CFS/ME is a huge part of what I bring.

I have learnt to rest deeply, feel calm more of the time, be kinder to myself and navigate the challenges of chronic illness.

I am a qualified Relaxation Therapist and Embodiment Coach, with a yoga and meditation practice that spans 3 decades and a somatic movement practice spanning 15 years.

I have 20 years experience working in mental health services.

The short read

In 2013, after a prolonged period of work stress, I crashed out of the job I had poured my heart and soul into, and was diagnosed with CFS/ME. My health fell apart and with it much of my sense of self. After patiently waiting, and desperately hoping to get better, I had to face the truth that my health was not improving.

I started realising I had agency and needed to make some changes. The choices I made mattered and affected the direction of my health.

Fatigue is often complex, and affected by our physical, emotional and mental health histories. I knew that calming my nervous system was an essential piece in rebuilding my health. Through regular, patient and persistent practice I moved from “tired and wired” to calm and resting.

Illness taught me a different way of being in the world and in my body. I found tenderness and compassion for my sick body (rather than feeling angry it had “let me down”), I found deep gratitude for all the parts of my body that worked magnificently (my heart beat, my lungs breathed, my blood circulated, my eyes could see, my ears worked...), I found steadiness and resilience, I found that sometimes movement was necessary in order to be able to rest. I learnt about the nervous system and how to listen better to my body. It was not all plain sailing. At times I was immersed in grief, frustration, disappointment, anger, disbelief, despair and hopelessness...

I learned to adapt practices to suit my energy levels, and found my own way with things. I discovered some great teachers on line, and have a wealth of resources I can point you to (including lots of free ones).

Other relevant experience:

I worked in mental health services for 20 years, including managing a mental health charity I played a key role in setting up and developing. I have supported people with a wide range of mental health challenges, in a range of statutory and voluntary sector settings.

Other formative experiences include participating in numerous yoga retreats and Vipassana meditation courses; a somatic movement practice spanning 15 years – in particular Continuum Movement (I regularly organised Continuum Movement workshops in Lancaster for Jane Okondo, the UK’s first Continuum Teacher, and participated in a 5 day residential course with Continuum founder Emilie Conrad); working as a human rights worker in a conflict zone; and living in India.

My training as an Embodiment Coach helped weave together some of these different threads from my life. I bring this wealth of personal and professional experience to you in my coaching.

The longer read...