Let go of deep-held stress
And start close in...
Welcome to Unfolding Conversations, the newsletter of littlefrenchretreat.com and TamsinJardinier.com - for restorative practices, creative inspiration, and a mindful approach to life and work…
Dear All,
I think a lot about the comfort of being—it’s my job, but it’s also my lived experience. I’ve watched myself move in and out of this state, and I know where I prefer to be. The ease and support from being fully connected to mind, body, and spirit provide the foundation for wise action.
Accumulated stress and imbalance can feel like an invisible weight—tightening the body, clouding the mind, and draining your energy. You know something must change, but don’t know where to begin. You sense the pressure building but fear that releasing it might cause everything to unravel. And in the searching, the overthinking, and the worry, you drift further from yourself. When in truth, the first step is to come closer in.
First, establish being, and then perform action
- Bhagavita verse 2 chapter 48
yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā dhanañjaya
siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṁ yoga uchyate
Real change doesn’t come from grand gestures—it emerges from the small, daily habits that shape our lives. The same patterns create the same results. Therefore, true transformation begins when we are open to reshaping our routines in a way that supports a new outcome.
This starts exactly where we are, with the hardest but most necessary step: putting ourselves first. Tending to our own needs—not as an act of selfishness, but as a way to cultivate the energy to care for others. Often, we resist this shift, and it’s only when crisis, illness, or an insurmountable challenge forces us to stop that we finally take action.
But what if we never reached that breaking point? What if the most radical change was simply prioritising ourselves now—leading to more time, more joy, and a more balanced, fulfilling life?
This is what 30 Days of Yoga offers: a glimpse into another way of being. One that isn’t driven by urgency or outcome but by calm, steady actions that lead us to clarity. Ironically, when we put ourselves first, we don’t become more self-important—we become less so. More attentive, more open, and more trusting in what unfolds rather than feeling the need to control.
Give yourself the gift that Yoga offers—Let go of the obstacles, the doubts, the ifs and buts, and begin from exactly where you are. It doesn’t matter how experienced you are or how “good” you think you need to be. What matters is showing up. Each day you practice is a step into a new experience of yourself….
30 DAYS OF YOGA
The path from resistance to resilience and radiant energy
This practice is focused on energy points, lymphatics, spinal movement and psoas release….
HOW THIS PRACTICE WORKS
The focus of our movement releases the psoas muscle and creates immediate, deep calm, guiding you into a state of being. This deep core muscle, which connects the legs to the torso, is often called the "muscle of the soul" because of its direct link to our emotions and the sympathetic nervous system (responsible for stress responses). When we experience fear, anxiety, or prolonged stress, the psoas contracts, holding tension in the body.
Over time, this accumulated stress subtly shapes how we move, react, and relate to the world and may show up as:
Physical tension—a constant ache in the lower back, tight shoulders, or a clenched jaw.
Emotional overwhelm—feeling easily irritated, anxious, or disconnected from yourself and others.
Mental exhaustion—racing thoughts, difficulty focusing, or a sense of being stuck in a loop of overthinking.
Shallow breathing—as if you can’t quite take a full breath, keeping you in a state of constant alertness.
Restlessness or fatigue—either struggling to slow down or feeling perpetually drained, even after rest.
Through awareness and intentional release, we begin to unravel these patterns, allowing the body and mind to return to a state of ease, clarity, and balance. Remarkably, this return to stillness happens quickly, and within the first week, you feel a sense of calm and your energy increase.
The first 30-day challenge is often the hardest, but it sets the stage for lasting transformation. With each practice, you build willpower, sharpen your intuition, and experience positive shifts in your relationships and how you manage your time.
Most importantly, you begin each day with a sense of achievement, knowing you've done something meaningful for your well-being—improving the quality of your entire day and releasing deep-held stress to regain a sense of connection and clarity from which you can act wisely.
Until next time,
Much love, Tamsin x
Join me tomorrow and click below for
30 DAYS OF YOGA