Debbie Wingell Yoga & Wellbeing

☆ natural magic ☆

last night's sky magic from a garden in north norfolk

it was absolutely mesmerising

✨️

D x





📷: october 10th/11th, 2024

☆ movement + meditation ☆

create a little time & space for yourself this autumn, and join us on the mat as our new term begins

🧘🏻‍♀️

slow flow vinyasa:
moving with the breath
creating mindful moments

weekly at helhoughton
wednesdays, 9.30am
next block starting 18th september

🧘🏻‍♀️

restorative yoga:
longer hold postures
all seated, supported by props
+
yoga nidra:
find rest in this
beautiful guided meditation style practice

bi-monthly at helhoughton
fridays, 6.30-8.00pm
next class 20th september

🧘🏻‍♀️

all classes pre-booked only (wednesday classes can be booked & paid for weekly if you prefer, availability allowing)
drop me a line to book your place or for more information






💜
D x

📷: autumn in yorkshire, from a few years back

If you're looking for something fun to do this weekend, why not check out Norwich Yoga Festival..?

As well as yoga on the Main Stage, there's the Zen Tent, Fitness Tent, Kids Tent, Woodland Workshops, Chill Out Zone, massage, reiki & loads more.

Including local food trucks & small businesses selling loads of good stuff...

Grab your ticket from the link in the NYF bio to enjoy a whole day of yoga, fitness & fun at the beautiful Whitlingham Lake.

🧘🏻‍♀️🌳🤸🏼‍♀️

💚

Are you looking for something to do this Saturday…? ☀️

We’ve got you covered!

❓Want to chill? We’ve created the perfect opportunity

❓Need a family day? There really is something for everyone

❓What to try something new? Explore what’s on offer in our local area

You can still get your 🎟️🎟️🎟️ in the bio!

We can’t wait to see you all!

☆ nature therapy ☆

it really doesn't have to be anything fancy
it doesn't have to involve long drives or walking for hours

and I'm not going to pretend that it's some kind of 'cure all'

but

spending time in, around, and paying attention to nature really is the most beautiful way to give your mental health a bit of a boost

🌳

a few minutes spent barefoot in the garden, watching as the clouds roll by, was definitely the right way to start my day this morning

💚
D x





📷: silver birch + norfolk skies, the view from my garden this morning

☆ summer solstice ☆

in the northern hemisphere, the summer solstice always falls somewhere between 20-22 June

and while many people mistakenly believe that the solstice refers to the day, it actually relates to a specific moment in the year

☀️

the earth doesn't spin on a vertical axis and is instead postitioned on a slight tilt

this means that, as we travel around the sun, the amount of sunlight reaching any given point varies throughout the year

the summer solstice is the point in time at which our hemisphere is most directly pointed towards the sun

with the day on which this occurs always being the longest day, as it has the most hours of daylight

for those of you in the southern hemisphere, the solstices are reversed, so today will be your winter solstice and incur the least daylight hours

☀️

most often falling on 21st June, this year the solstice will occur on June 20th, at 21.51 BST (20.51 GMT)

so I'll be heading to the beach later to catch a solstice sunset, taking a little time out to soothe my soul

before a few days away from socials, hanging with the fam, and celebrating my 'always been a hippy solstice child' birthday tomorrow

☀️✌🏻😜

whatever you're getting up to, I wish you all a wonderful, peaceful weekend

💛
D x





📷: sunset at holme beach, august 2023

☆ movement + meditation ☆

practice yoga with me....

🧘🏻‍♀️

slow flow vinyasa:
moving with the breath
creating mindful moments

weekly at helhoughton
wednesdays, 9.30am
next block starting 5th june

🧘🏻‍♀️

restorative yoga:
longer hold postures
all seated, supported by props
+
yoga nidra:
find rest in this
beautiful guided meditation style practice

bi-monthly at helhoughton
fridays, 6.30-8.00pm
next class 14th june

🧘🏻‍♀️

all classes pre-booked only (wednesday classes can be booked & paid for weekly if you prefer, availability allowing)
drop me a line to book your place or for more information






💜
D x

☆ real life ☆

real life is often messy & complicated

we can find ourselves juggling numerous responsibilities
all important, all requiring our time & energy

commitments, professional & personal, that have to be met

trying to be all the things to all the people & constantly feeling as though we're not succeeding at any of it

✨️

but what happens if we stop for a moment?

what happens if we take a step back and look at all the things we think we need to do?

is it really that important?
do we really have to do all of it?
do we really have to do it all by ourselves?

or have we just convinced ourselves that we have to because we think it's what everyone else is doing, because we think that's what's expected of us?

✨️

in reality
we all have different strengths
we all have different limitations

so it doesn't really make sense for us all to have the same ambitions, drive, or capabilities

and yet we are so often fed the idea that we should have

that we should all be pushing for the same result

hustling for the same stuff in the never-ending pursuit of more

stuff we don't need
stuff we don't, if we're being honest, actually want

✨️

it's never really made sense to me

maybe it's time to stop worrying about what's expected & start paying more attention to what's needed

what's really needed

and then maybe we'll be able to spend more time doing the stuff that's good for our souls

because something tells me that that's where a life of peace & contentment truly lies





💜
D x

📷: from the recent aurora borealis display, whilst staying in a hut in a clearing in the woods in north norfolk, doing something my soul needed 🌳✨️💚

☆ mental health ☆

I've been experiencing a period of mental ill health for a while now, but the past 6-8 months have been particularly difficult

I spoke to my GP last december and, through them, in recent weeks I've been seeing a counsellor

🌿

for me, mental health illness rolls around every few years with varying degrees of severity

and, having recognised earlier this year that I'm autistic, I now know that my autism, specifically autistic overwhelm, will play a very large part in why I experience these episodes

🌿

many of us, whether neurodivergent or neurotypical, will experience some form of mental health illness at some point in our lives

and yet it's still often thought of as something to be kept quiet, even as something to be ashamed of

and whilst the conversation around mental health is changing, there is still a long way to go

🌿

I believe that mental health illness is just like any other illness

sometimes we need rest, to take things easy for a while and give ourselves time to heal

and sometimes we need help, whether to recover fully or to understand how to manage our symptoms

whether you talk to a trusted friend or family member, a medical professional, or a charity, if you are experiencing mental health illness and you need help, please do reach out

it's not always easy, but it really is worth it

🌿

wishing you all a wonderful weekend

and whatever you're up to, I hope you're able to take some time out to take care of yourself

💜
D x





for mental health illness, the following accounts can offer advice, support, and resources:

National Autistic Society
Mental Health Foundation
Time to Change
Shout
Blurt It Out
Mind
YoungMinds
Samaritans
Campaign Against Living Miserably

📷: from last weekend, our home for a very much needed long weekend away in the woods 🌳

plan for the week 🤸🏿‍♀️😉

happy monday folks

💜
D x

The Pink Wrist Band is returning to Norwich Yoga Festival this year 🩷

🤸🏻‍♀️🧘🏻🧘🏻‍♀️🤸🏻

The Pink Wrist Band Returns 💕💗

Riding solo at the Norwich Yoga Festival this year?

Why not request your pink wrist band on arrival and make it easier to meet other yogis that are enjoying the event on their own.

The Pink Wrist Band was introduced last year and we had wonderful feedback about yogis meeting new people, and feeling alot more relaxed when chatting to people around them. 🧘🏻🧘🏻‍♂️

"By wearing the band, I didn’t feel like I was alone, there was a little community within the festival. Which was nice…"

Sarah G (NYF 23 feedback)

The Pink Wrist band gave yogis the confidence to book their ticket for the Norwich Yoga Festival as an individual with the knowledge that meeting other people with similar interests would be easier. 🌿💫

This year we’ll also introduce the Pink Wirst Band social, so be sure to get your ticket now so you can find out more information and recieve your invite.💕

🌸 SPRING SALE ENDS SOON 🌸

SAVE THE DATE - 03.08.24

🎟️🎟️🎟️ in bio

Whitlingham Lake, Norwich

norwichyogafestival.org
”

☆ this is me ☆

hello, ey up, hi

I've had a few new followers recently, so I thought it might be time to reintroduce myself

and, as I always find that a bit weird & awkward, I figured it was easier to do it with 15 facts about me:

1 ☆ I may have lived in norfolk for most of my life, but I'm originally from the glorious county of yorkshire
2 ☆ before I did what I do now, I spent 20 years working in accounts
3 ☆ I recently recognised that I'm autistic, which makes sense of soooooo many things that have happened throughout my life
4 ☆ I have a lifelong history of depression, which I now know will likely always have been mixed in with a hefty dose of autistic overwhelm
5☆ I'm a single mum to a q***r, neuro spicy teenager who also has a disabling physical condition (they like to joke that they're collecting ALL the labels 🤦🏻‍♀️)
6 ☆ I'm not a huge fan of social media, I post inconsistently, and I'm frequently tempted to delete all of my accounts
7 ☆ I'd rather go to a museum, art gallery or library than go shopping
8 ☆ I don't tend to take myself too seriously
9 ☆ I've recently started an art business (over on insta)
10 ☆ I use both my art + yoga practices to help support my mental health
11☆ I sometimes forget to use my art + yoga practices to help support my mental health
12 ☆ I'm 53, and I still don't feel like a grown-up
13 ☆ I've only ever met one person who pronounced my surname correctly on seeing it written down, and one person who could spell it correctly after hearing me say it
14 ☆ I'm inspired by nature & intrigued by all things mystical, mythical & magical
15 ☆ I love art, nature, photography, history, science, poetry....at heart, I'm a woodland wanderer & barefoot beach walker who's mostly just making it up as I go

🧘🏻‍♀️🌳🌊

whether you're a new arrival, you're just passing through, or you've been here for a while

hi 👋🏻
and thanks, I appreciate you stopping by

💜
D x

📷: this is me; snapshots from the last few years of life

☆ take a moment ☆

most of us lead fairly busy lives these days & it can be far too easy to put ourselves at the bottom of the pile of 'things to do' when it comes to taking care of ourselves

but the daft thing is that taking time out, making space to stop and take a breath, doesn't have to involve a lot of effort, organisation, or time

it can be as simple as spending a few minutes in the garden, listening to the birds or the sound of the wind in the trees

or taking a few moments to really look at the tree blossom you noticed as you were walking by

or spending an afternoon wandering through the bluebell woods with your brother....
& not laughing toooooo much when he realises the spare battery he brought along for his camera is also flat 😶

🌳

nature therapy
always SO good for my soul

💚
D x






📷: bluebells in foxley woods, yesterday afternoon

☆ spring ☆

my mid week commute was looking rather splendid this morning

🌼☀️

happy wednesday folks!

💛
D x

☆eostra + the equinox ☆

usually celebrated at the spring equinox, eostra (or ostara) is thought to have originally been the name of a goddess of spring fertility, sunrise, or possibly both

in anglo-saxon england (according to bede), the festival for eostra gave name to a month, roughly the equivalent of april and, eventually, to the christian easter celebrations that came to replace it

other anglo-saxon and romano-germanic peoples, along with others around the world, also celebrated a goddess linked to the ending of the winter months & it's possible that some of these goddesses shared a common ancestor

🌱🌼

pastel colours, edible seeds, eggs, light green cloth, candles & daffodils are all symbols that can be used if you want to mark today's equinox with a nod to an ancient goddess




💛
D x

Norwich Yoga Festival is back!

🧘🏻‍♀️🤸🏻‍♀️

Grab your tickets now to get the early bird discount 🎟

💜
D x

TICKETS ON SALE NOW 🎟️

You’ll also find children’s and family tickets are now available.

Enjoy the early bird price and join us for a day of wellness, yoga, health, movement and food!

Click the link in the bio to find out more.

#2024

☆ movement + rest ☆

practice yoga with me....

🧘🏻‍♀️

slow flow vinyasa:
moving with the breath
creating mindful moments

weekly at helhoughton
wednesdays, 9.30am
next block starting 28th february

🧘🏻‍♀️

restorative yoga:
longer hold postures
all seated, supported by props
+
yoga nidra:
find rest in this
beautiful guided practice

bi-monthly at helhoughton
fridays, 6.30-8.00pm
next class 15th march

🧘🏻‍♀️

all classes pre-booked only
drop me a line to book your place or for more information





💜
D x

☆ balance ☆

hi, hey, hello...

it's been a while

took a little time away from work socials, something I have always tended to do from time to time

probably not great for the algorithms, but hey, there's far more to life, right?

anyhoo, yoga + life has continued away from these squares, with planning, plotting + pivoting occurring on all fronts

so, it's been life pretty much as usual, really...

and balance is
always
a work in progress

💜
D x





📷: creating balance near Cromer, November 2023

I had a conversation along these lines today, so I thought I'd re-share this post from the summer

💜
Dx

most of my yoga practice happens off the mat

because yoga isn't really about making shapes; they're just a means to an end

it's about finding the shapes that are already there, hidden away inside

finding them, nurturing them, understanding them

showing compassion to self and all the shapes we hold on to

the mistakes, the successes, the hurts & joys

finding the shapes we create from experience & memory, then carry with us as we move on through this thing we call life

and so, the reality is...

most of my yoga practice happens off the mat





[tuesday afternoon thoughts]

💜
D x

📷: 🌳 shapes from a walk through the woods this morning

☆ Yoga + Hypertension ☆

🤍 I've just seen an article on the BBC news website with the headline 'Meditate daily to beat stress blood pressure'

🧘🏻‍♀️ The International Society of Hypertension has issued new guidelines for lowering blood pressure. Whilst they do state that medication should be used where necessary, the guidelines now include listening to music, looking after gut health, and practising yoga & mindfulness.

📚 One of the authors of the new guidelines, UK blood pressure expert Prof Bryan Williams, is quoted as saying 'these things make such an important contribution to reducing the effects of stress on the cardiovascular system and the evidence is accumulating'.

📜 I do love to see when modern science lands on the same page as ancient knowledge.

🔗 I'll pop the link to the article in my stories if you want to check it out.

💜
Dx





📷: my favourite & very lived in t-shirt, from YogaClicks

it might have rained allllllllll day, but it was glorious

every single person I spoke to, in fact, every person I saw had a smile on their face

norfolk yogis are clearly a resilient bunch, as mats were rolled out in front of the main stage despite the rain

the fit tent was full of activity whenever I wandered by, and much fun seemed to be happening in the kids' corner

my lunch from the Namaste Village stall was delicious, with drinks and snacks from the Nourish truck going down a treat too (if you get the chance to try their golden Indian chai I can highly recommend it!)

trapeze yoga, guest speakers, massage, glitter, it all went on at Norwich Yoga Festival yesterday

the zen tent was full for every session, and it was such a privilege to lead a yoga nidra class for so many lovely people who turned out and turned up

thank you - I am so very grateful to have been a small part of your day

thank you too to Rachel of Calm in the City for her beautiful sound bath

and of course, huge thanks to Alex Howarth Yoga and her team of amazing volunteers who did a fantastic job organising & running the whole event; absolute legends, every single one of you!
(didn't get/forgot their names, but extra thanks to the two volunteers who were looking after us in the zen tent ✨️)

Norwich Yoga Festival just....thank you

thank you, thank you, thank you 🙏🏻

now.....can we do it all again next year?




💜🙏🏻
D x

I haven't been on socials much recently, having been a bit preoccupied with life stuff.

Well, that and the fact that I'm liking social media less and less at the moment....

Anyhoo, just popping by to say 'hi' and to remind you that there's only one more sleep until Norwich Yoga Festival! There's still time to grab yourself a last minute ticket and you can get a cheeky 10% off by using my code DEBBIENYF23

There'll be loads going on with a main stage, zen tent, fitness tent, kids activities, local makers, food stalls and so much more, and it's all happening on a beautiful meadow site by the gorgeous Whitlinghan Lake near Norwich.

Check my stories, hop over Norwich Yoga Festival or check the 🔗 in my bio for more info.

Hope to see you there!

💛
D x





📷: found on my camera roll, a north norfolk sunset from august 2022

Just 3 weeks to go to Norwich Yoga Festival!

If you haven't got your ticket yet, now is the perfect time to hop over to the NYF website and treat yourself to a day of yoga, wellbeing and fun.

And, if you use my code DEBBIENYF23, you'll get a 10% discount too!

It's a wonderful opportunity to take some time out to take care of YOU.

So come, join us, and gather with me in the Zen Tent for a wonderfully nourishing Nidra class.

Saturday 5th August
Whittingham Lake

See you there!

💜
D x

Meet .yoga.wellbeing ✨

Debbie will be in our Zen Tent
2:50pm 🧘🏻‍♀️

Debbie’s Yoga Nidra classes are suitable for practitioners of all levels, including those who are new to the practice. In today’s fast-paced world, where stress levels can be overwhelming, her classes offer a sanctuary of tranquillity. By surrendering to stillness and following Debbie’s gentle guidance, you will emerge from the class feeling rejuvenated, restored and deeply nourished.

Join the Norwich Yoga community.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY & SAVE 15% OFF YOUR 🎟️✨

🔗 In bio

05.08.23

breathe.....

long and slow

if you can,
inhale through your nose

then exhale,
longer and slower,
through your mouth

relax your jaw
then
relax your shoulders

and now,
breathe

you got this

💜




Dx

📷: from a weekend wander by the wensum

Oh, hello, weekend discount...

there's a weekend sale over at Norwich Yoga Festival with a rather fabulous 20% off the ticket price

AND each ticket sold will enable TWO gorgeous new trees to be planted 🌳🌳

AND AND you'll be able to find me in the Zen Tent, where I'll be leading a nourishing yoga nidra session (think guided meditation kind of thing)

AND AND AND there'll be lots of yoga & fitness folks and wellbeing peeps and q&a sessions and kids shenanigans and local businesses with stalls and stuff

AND AND AND AND it's all happening at Whittingham Lake on the 5th August

come, play and have a fun day with us
🧘🏻‍♀️🎪🤸🏻‍♀️💜

🔗 in my bio, or click through via the NYF account below

Treat yourself in our Pay Day sale.✨🧘🏻‍♀️

🔗 SAVE 20% on any Norwich Yoga Festival tickets for this weekend only.

You’ll have access to a full day of Yoga, fitness, kids activities, guest speaker talks, beautiful local businesses, and so much more. ❤️

Don’t forget, that for every ticket we sell, we’re still planting 2 trees. 🌳🌳

See you on Festival Day Yogis. ✨

🔗 In bio

05.08.23