We’re often so busy moving forwards that we don’t stop to ask ourselves how we actually feel.
We carry things. Stress. Pressure.
Conversations we replay in our minds.
Situations that didn’t sit right.
Emotions we didn’t have time to process.
And over time, that weight builds.
Not just in the mind… but in the body too.
Tension in the shoulders.
Tightness in the hips.
A constant feeling of being on edge or overwhelmed.
As a physiotherapist, this is something I see time and time again.
We often focus on treating the physical symptoms – the tight muscles, the aches and pains – but very often there is more to it than that.
Stress, pressure and unprocessed emotions can show up in the body as tension.
It’s why I believe it’s so important to take a more holistic approach, not just looking at the body, but understanding what might be sitting underneath it too.
Because when we begin to gently address both, that’s when real change can happen.
One of the simplest tools I use, both personally and with my clients, is journaling.
Not in a complicated way.
Not pages and pages every day like a diary.
Just a moment to pause… and let things out.
Writing helps to make sense of what’s going on in your mind.
It helps you process how you’re feeling.
It creates space where everything can feel a little clearer.
Sometimes we don’t even realise what we’re holding onto until we slow down enough to notice.
Over the years, one of the ways I’ve personally used journaling is through simple letter writing.
Sometimes those letters have been full of emotion – things I didn’t feel able to say out loud.
I’ve written to people, to situations, and even to parts of myself.
There have been times I’ve written to someone who hurt me.
Other times to my younger self.
Sometimes to a chapter of my life that I was ready to let go of.
And sometimes, it’s been much lighter – just getting thoughts out of my head and onto paper.
There’s no right or wrong way to do it.
What matters is the honesty.
For me, an important part of the process has often been letting the letter go afterwards.
Sometimes that’s as simple as tearing it up.
It’s not about holding onto the words, it’s about releasing them.
Letting go of the thoughts, the tension, or the emotion that’s been sitting there.
And this is the part I think is really important…
It doesn’t have to be heavy.
It doesn’t have to be emotional.
It can be light.
Quiet.
Simple.
Or just a moment to check in with yourself.
You choose what feels right for you.
What I’ve come to realise is that when we let go of even a small amount of tension – mentally, emotionally or physically – we create space.
Space to breathe.
Space to think clearly.
Space to feel calmer.
Space to reconnect with ourselves.
And from that place, everything feels just that little bit easier.
This is something I now gently bring into my sessions and retreats – creating space for women to pause, reflect, and reconnect in a way that feels safe and supportive.
It’s something I feel so strongly about because of my own experiences with ill health, I now understand just how much the body and mind are connected.
There have been times in my life where I was carrying stress, pressure and emotion without really realising it and it showed up physically.
It wasn’t until I started to slow down, reflect, and use simple practices like journaling, movement and breathwork that things began to shift.
Nothing extreme. Nothing complicated.
Just small, consistent moments of giving myself what I needed.
And over time, that made a huge difference to how I felt both physically and mentally.
It’s also why the way I work now has evolved.
My goal is not just to treat symptoms, but to support the whole person.
To gently explore what might be sitting underneath the tension, and help create space for things to shift in a way that feels safe and manageable.
Because when we address both the body and what’s going on beneath the surface, that’s when real, lasting change can happen.
If you’ve been feeling like you need to pause, reset, or simply take some time for yourself… this is your reminder that it’s okay to do that.
You don’t have to carry everything on your own 💛
I’m hosting a Spring Reset: Release & Recharge Mini Retreat on Sunday 12th April – a gentle, supportive 4-hour experience designed to help you slow down, let go of what’s been weighing you down, and reconnect with yourself.
We’ll combine breathwork, guided journaling, gentle movement, and a deeply relaxing yin yoga and sound bath to help you feel calmer, lighter, and more like yourself again.
If this is something your body and mind have been asking for, I would love you to join me.
You can find out more or book your space here.
Rhi x