About Tessa

What I do.

I support girls and women in a number of ways to promote the best possible relationship with their bodies and menstrual cycles/perimenopause:

  • Hypopressives for core strength and balance (inc. for incontinence, prolapse, diastasis recti)

  • Write books for women and girls

I'm passionate about the power of knowledge - about how our bodies work - to empower our lives and choices. I couldn't have guessed how my calling would manifest when I decided to study a BSc in Anthropology and Geography.

Who is it for?

My yoga and hypopressives classes/ workshops/ retreat days are for those wanting to learn to listen to their bodies and be responsive to what they find!  Combining strength, flexibility, mobility, presence, groundedness and centring.

The gatherings and workshops are for any person or parent who's ready to change the story they or their family have about bodies. I want you to be amazed by the human body and its physical and emotional potential. So many people are ready to move away from seeing the body as shameful or somehow dysfunctional, and instead celebrate that we have a body to take us through this crazy thing called life.

Whether you have an inquisitive 5-year-old child that asks all those awkward questions (get one of my children's books) or are ready to join a community of open-minded women (at the Women's circle), I can support you to make friends with your body.

Why work with me.

I live and breathe menstrual cycle awareness. Locally I'm known as the Period Lady haha. (That's not on my business card BTW - ‘Women's Health & Yoga Specialist, Menstrual Educator, and Author’ is). 

I've trained in person with incredible women: Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer (Women's Quest Leadership Apprenticeship and Menstrual Medicine Circle), Jane Bennett (Celebration Days for Girls) and Uma Dinsmore-Tuli (Well Woman Yoga, Mother and Baby Yoga, Total Yoga Nidra).

 Most recently, I completed the Trauma Resilience Embodied Yoga (TREY) and Social Impact training with Aneta Idczak and the Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga Introductory Workshop (TCTSY) with Alex Cat. I undertook a year-long course in Focusing, to deepen my felt experience of interoception and embodied listening with Marta Fabregat. I constantly strive to guide people safely into connection with their bodies again.

I'm a life-long learner and love to share ideas. I've written/illustrated six books and been published in Juno, Green Parenting, Mother and Baby Magazine, the British Wheel of Yoga's Spectrum, Aeva and Om and Yoga Magazine. I also sit on the Maternity Voices Forum at the Royal Berkshire Hospital to facilitate feedback on services, contribute to change and keep up-to-date on the latest policies for expecting and new mums.

How it works.

Have a look around my website and book for classes via the schedule page.  If you don't find what you're looking for, don't hesitate to email me.

If we work 121 it can be in person or by Zoom.

What to do next.

Whatever you're interested in, send me an email to say hello.

No question is a silly questions, so ask away.

Did you know…

I have an MSc in Nutrition, Exercise and Public Health, and like with most things, I take the middle path when it comes to eating and moving. I eat healthily - I've been a vegetarian for more than twenty years - but have a weak spot for Green and Black's chocolate (salted milk chocolate is one of the best IMO).

I love dancing and like to channel Shakira after getting a Silver Award in Bellydancing and taking part in numerous glitzy shows. Following a rhythm - no problem. Keeping a rhythm with an instrument - forget it.

My PhD and postdoctoral work took me to some great conference locations: US, Canada, Malaysia, France. BC - ie Before Children - I also was lucky to backpack to Thailand, Indonesia, India, Ghana, and the Caribbean. 

I love to read. I usually have a pile on my bedside table (and floor) of non-fiction books - anatomy, psychology, women's health, period books, vagina books.... - and a novel (best one recently The Overstory).