Hello Toggers!
Take A Breath
Your breath is extraordinary. It’s your life force. Think about – you can go for days without food or drink but barely a minute without taking a breath. Yet we all take more notice of the food and drink we consume than how we breathe.
There is only one feature on your face that it designed for breathing – your nose. When we nasal breath there is a series of intricate processes that take place which are designed to filter out airborne particles, pathogens and allergens whilst also producing nitric oxide which helps increase blood flow through the lungs and increases the level of oxygen in the blood.
Whilst nasal breathing is often associated with a deep sense of relaxation – studies have now proven the benefits for your physical, psychological and emotional health.
When researching my two latest books, I had the pleasure to meet with Patrick McKeown. He has devised the Oxygen Advantage programme to help encourage nasal breathing. As he showed me when we met up, walking is the perfect time to hone your nasal breathing. As you step out all you need to do is close your mouth, relax the jaw, tongue and face and breathe in slowly through the nose. As your paces quickens or the path becomes a little steeper you may find this a little challenging but stay focused and notice the difference.
A Walk With A Giant
This week our walk takes us to the pretty West Dorset village of Cerne Abbas. Whilst only a short walk in length, it’s one that packs a punch when it comes to history, myths and legends – many about the famous 180 foot high chalk giant that has been carved on the hillside overlooking the village.
My Trusted Favourites
Following my cancer diagnosis back in 2021, I have changed many things about how I live my life – what I eat, how I move, what goes in (and on) my body, how I breathe. Some of these I’ve shared through my two Sunday Times best selling books – Walk Yourself Happy and Hack Yourself Healthy – but there’s more.
The most frequent question I get asked is about what products I actually use – so I have launched a brand new website to showcase my Life Favourites. This is my personal edit. There’s no fads, no fluff – just amazing products and brands that I genuinely believe in.
When Did You Last Come Back Feeling Like Yourself?
There are times in the year when ordinary life begins to feel rather full. The diary fills faster than it empties, the small obligations gather, and somewhere along the way we can lose sight of the person we feel most like when we are rested, moving well and breathing a little more deeply.
That is where a few unhurried days can make all the difference. HF Holidays’ Mind and Body breaks are designed for exactly that kind of reset. Mornings begin gently, with yoga or Pilates led by expert teachers who understand how to make everyone feel welcome, whether you are completely new to the mat or have been practising for years.
Later in the day, the focus turns outwards, with gentle guided walks through some of Britain’s loveliest landscapes. It might be hills, dales, coast or countryside, but the rhythm is the same: fresh air, good company, thoughtful leaders and the chance to notice what is around you without having to rush.
You will stay in one of HF Holidays’ characterful country houses, with full-board dining, a cream tea on arrival and the comforting sense that everything has been quietly taken care of.
And perhaps that is the real gift of this kind of break. Not just the yoga, not just the walking, but the space to feel rested, steadier and more like yourself again.
Three Things For You
Wherever your path takes you this week, I hope you find a moment to pause, take a slow breath through your nose, and simply be where you are. Those small moments of presence can make all the difference.
