My back story
Unaware of my hyperactivity (adhd trait) with two speeds (I call Cheetah and Sloth) until my 40s. Aside from joining the Territorial Army as a Fusilier, whilst at Uni graduating with two environmental degrees. With two part time jobs on top of conservation volunteering, I’d built three distinct CVS by age 25. In, hospitality and entertainment, the fitness industry and in administration. My nick name was Bonkers. Mainly because throughout all of that, I rarely stopped dancing and singing.
Known as overly sensitive from young age. Sensitive to light, sound, texture, other people's moods. Externally verbalising my experience, always seeking relief through squeezing compression from heavy cushions, folded arms, crossed legs. School reports themed 'fidgety chatterbox'. I was unable to maintain friendships. Into adulthood. Bouts of exhaustion and isolation were seen as chronic mood swings exacerbated by hormonal cycles. Recovery from socialising would take weeks or months where I would mask so much so it appeared that know one really knew me. I cried, sang and journaled a whole lot. Alone.
Decades later. I learned to lean hard into structured physical activities with self-care rituals I used to reframe, overcome and integrate Complex PTSD (from unrelated violent events one of which left me unconscious aged 13 after a racist attack), embrace adult adhd, post-natal depression and post-menopause as personal growth. The result. Respectfully saluting, how trauma and neurodiversity overlap, enabling trauma-informed spaces, fostering peace and empowerment, which comes naturally to me.
Using trauma-informed principles shifting focus from "What is wrong with you?" to "What happened to you?”. You can take note. You can make emotionally freeing support networks and spaces to avoid re-traumatisation aiding deep rest to acknowledge the widespread impact of trauma. Facilitating community spirit that isn’t surface-level is my strength.
Having worked 30 years in health and fitness within employed and freelance generic and specialist roles, juggling relationships and solo parenthood. I choose now to focus on offering fun loving encouragement to better balance my own ping ponging energies avoiding burnout through honest, hearted centred science backed teaching.
Above all. Teaching what I love, is what I do best. During a reflective practice recently I was asked, 'If I no longer had to run away in order to survive… what would I run towards in order to live—truly live?'
This Q spoke to the past version of myself who didn’t even know she’d been running on survival mode for over 20 years! My answer for her. What she was seeking, was spaces that fuelled self-expression, self-compassion, through music and movement, dancing and singing, peaceful spaces to work through life’s magical mysteries together.
What moves me forward day to day. Is the love of how powerful lived experience showed me, how to pivot into resilience. I’m still addicted to chasing dopamine (living with a type of brain hardwired for it) learning and teaching lights me up. People still tell me it shows!
