Hold On Tight: The Fire Horse is Here

Tomorrow, February 17, 2026, we welcome Chinese New Year—and not just any year. The Fire Horse is arriving, a rare visitor that only gallops in once every 60 years. That makes this moment extra special, and it’s worth pausing to feel the energy it brings.

What’s the Fire Horse All About?

Picture a horse: strong, powerful, and charging forward with unstoppable determination. Now add fire—bright, creative, passionate, sometimes a little unpredictable. Together, they create a year that’s full of drive and possibility.

This means we may find ourselves swept up in projects, goals, and dreams with more energy than usual. Inspiration could come easily, and momentum might carry us further than we expect. But here’s the catch: fire can warm and illuminate, but it can also burn too hot. If we’re not careful, we risk rushing headlong, becoming impatient, or letting emotions run away with us.

Balance Is the Key

Within the heart of Qigong and yoga lies in balance—balancing body, mind, and emotions. That balance will be our anchor this year. The Fire Horse wants us to leap, but Qigong, yoga, and grounding practices remind us to land softly.

In an earlier blog, I suggested winter was a time to hibernate and hold off on big goal‑setting. But now, with the Fire Horse urging us forward, you may feel naturally drawn to setting intentions and that’s perfectly aligned, as the energy of this year can help us achieve, as long as we stay steady.

Gentle Reminders for the Year Ahead

• Plan before you gallop. Write things down, sketch out your ideas, and give yourself a roadmap. A thoughtful canter beats a reckless sprint.
• Stay grounded. Cooling practices—like Fountain, Cloud Hands, Zhan Zhuang (Standing Meditation) or grounding yoga like Cat Stretch and Downward Facing Dog will help balance fiery energy.
• Practice humility. If passion tips into hotheadedness, pause, breathe, and if needed, offer a heartfelt apology.
• Let creativity flow. Fire brings sparks of inspiration—use them, but channel them with care.

This year is about embracing the rare, powerful energy of the Fire Horse while keeping our feet firmly on the ground. Move forward with intention, balance, and a touch of humility, and the ride will be exhilarating without being overwhelming.

The next in~person Yoga and Qigong Class at Norman Park:

Friday 27th February
11:00am – 12:30pm we will embrace the Fire Horse.
£18:00

Wednesday online yoga and Qigong classes resume again on Wednesday 4th March 2026.

£35:00 for the SET of 5 classes or £9:00 per drop-in class.

The post Hold On Tight: The Fire Horse is Here appeared first on The Stresshacker.

Winter marks the deepest expression of Yin energy. It’s the coldest, darkest, and most inward‑turning time of the year—a season when nature naturally contracts, rests, and conserves its strength. Spiritually, this is the time to follow nature’s lead: to slow down, soften your pace, and allow stillness to become part of your daily rhythm. It is not the time for exertion or for pushing ourselves headlong into new goals.

The Water Element: Spiritual Meaning and Emotional Flow

In Qigong and traditional Chinese philosophy, winter corresponds to the water element, which governs the kidneys and bladder. Water represents wisdom, adaptability, and the ability to flow with life. When our energy is balanced, Water moves freely—calm, deep, and steady.

But when we push ourselves too hard during winter—overworking, under‑resting, or ignoring the body’s need for quiet—the Water element is said to “freeze.” Spiritually, this shows up as:

*a sense of fragility or overwhelm
* increased worry and  heightened fear
* difficulty trusting the flow of life

These emotional shifts are indicators that our inner reserves are being depleted.

The Science Behind Winter Fatigue and Kidney Energy

Modern physiology  supports many of these ancient observations:

• The kidneys regulate fluid balance, blood pressure, and stress hormones. When we’re overtired or chronically stressed, the kidneys and adrenal glands work harder, which can leave us feeling drained or anxious.
• Cold weather increases metabolic demand. The body uses more energy to stay warm, so rest becomes even more essential.
• Reduced daylight affects the brain. Lower sunlight reduces serotonin and increases melatonin, making us naturally more tired and more reflective.
• The nervous system shifts toward conservation. Winter encourages a parasympathetic (rest‑and‑digest) state—if we allow it.

The ancient idea of “protecting kidney energy” aligns beautifully with what science tells us about managing stress, sleep, and hormonal balance during the colder months.

Live in Harmony With Winter and take her invitation to :

• rest more deeply. Relaxation and Yoga Nidra
• sleep longer
• take naps without guilt
• keep warm and protect the lower back/kidney area
• choose reflective activities like meditation, journaling, reading, or gentle Qigong
• move slowly and intentionally
• conserve energy rather than scatter it

Winter is a season for replenishment, not overexertion. The above practices support both the spiritual flow of water and the scientific need for restoration.

When Water Freezes Within Us

If we ignore winter’s call to slow down, we risk draining our reserves. In traditional language, the water element becomes icy—rigid instead of being fluid and flowing. In modern terms, this looks like:

• adrenal fatigue
• heightened stress response
• increased anxiety or fearfulness
• difficulty concentrating
• emotional sensitivity

Finally, we can benefit from reflection, consider what you want to leave behind and what has a place in the new year.  It’s a great time of year to consider rebuilding your self-esteem and boosting your confidence with hypnotherapy. Reading,  journaling, drawing and mind mapping are great creative pursuits at this time of year.

According to TCM (Traditional Chinese medicine) the ears are linked to the kidneys so this is a good time to listen in, change channels and hear your own inner wisdom from within.

Think of the moon bringing light into the darkness, you’ll benefit from longer deeper meditations that will likely bring enlightenment and “ah ha” moments of clarity. This is a great time for creative thinking (not doing) that will help shape the year ahead.

Keep an eye out for my Spring is the Perfect Season to Start Anew blog at the end of winter.

The post New Year, No Rush: Resolutions Can Wait – Here’s Why appeared first on The Stresshacker.

Here are six quick strategies to shift your emotional state. You can try them individually, or for the best results, combine them. They’re also perfect for incorporating into your bedtime routine to promote a restful night’s sleep.

You don’t need your phone, you don’t need an app you have everything you need in your body to change channels and move from stress to a state of serenity.

Relax Your Nervous System.

Bring your left hand to your left ear lobe spread your hand and stroke slowly down your neck toward your throat, then your right hand does the same (same side) repeat hand-over-hand. Feel the warmth of your hands. Repeat to right side of neck. Then stroke down from the chin to the base of the throat. This activates the vagus nerve which triggers your parasympathetic nervous system and improves your vagal tone. All of which contribute to a regulated nervous system. In other words you’ll feel instantly calmer.

When you feel sad  or tearful, this is a great tip to expel stagnant energy from your lungs, as energetically they hold  sadness and grief.

Float your arms out to the sides at shoulder height, breathe in and bring your bring your arms up above your head. Make a pyramid with your fingertips as you  float your hands down in front of your body, hands flatten as if you’re pushing air down, whilst exhaling with the sound Sssss hissing like an old-fashioned kettle. Repeat three times.

When you feel hurt, angry or upset, your heart fire will spike,  like a fire flaring up. To balance this, focus on your energetic heart at the centre of your sternum.  Gently stroke hand-over-hand, downwards in long slow strokes. Pair this movement with a soft nasal inhalation and exhale with the sound Haaaa this helps cool the heart fire and brings a sense of calm. Repeat three times.

Vibration is movement so it can shift stagnant energy making room for fresh energy to circulate.

Sit upright and hum quietly for a minimum of 5 minutes. A 2002 scientific study published in The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine titled “Humming greatly increases nasal nitric oxide“ backs up the claim that humming for 5 minutes produces fifteen times the amount of nitric oxide in the sinuses. This is linked to increased oxygen uptake, blood vessel dilation and improved immune function.

If you’ve had a shock, feel angry and need to change your state read on…

When a dog trembles in reaction to fireworks  they are attempting to shake off  the excess adrenalin coursing through their body that’s making them scared. We can do this too. Stand with feet shoulder width apart, shrug shoulders up and down moving the shoulder blades too, allow the arms and hands to be limp, so that they flail independently alongside the body. Simultaneously bend the knees so that the body is also shaking loosely. This helps to move lymph fluid which carries away waste, stale energy and shakes off the adrenalin. Do this for 5 minutes with the intention to leg go of… state what it is you’re letting go of.

Gargle ‘til you Gag.

Finally, and not one for the office, practise this in your bathroom morning or evening and ideally on an empty stomach. Gargle until you gag or until your eyes water and this will reset your vagus nerve and activate your parasympathetic nervous system.  Rinse and repeat. Enjoy!

Additionally,  boil fresh ginger for 5 minutes and drink first thing in the morning and last thing at night.  It can help with digestive disorders, soothe the gut, decrease bloating and can help alleviate inflammation in the body. Not advisable if you’re on blood thinners so check with your GP if you’re taking medications.

Take advantage of the freebies in thestresshacker shop, go to the FREE STUFF button. Try some of the hypnosis programmes too, it’s the quickest way to reprogramme your mind.

The post Six Suggestions to Self-Soothe and Regulate your Nervous System appeared first on The Stresshacker.

I might be stating the obvious when I say that now is a good time to wear warmer clothes, layers, scarves and hats but many years ago I couldn’t stand the autumn or winter and I  found walking my lovely dog a chore.

I couldn’t quite let go of the notion that summer had gone and there I was stupidly still mincing around in summer clothes and sandals.

Nature is Peace

Once I sorted out my clothing and made a point of having a hearty breakfast before I took her out, I began to love being out in nature in all weathers and it’s where I find peace.

Finding ways to adjust and to be in sync with the changing seasons is more important for our mental health and wellbeing than we may realise.

According to TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) adapting our diet and keeping areas like the neck and kidneys warm, is essential to build a strong immune system – and to be able to head into the colder winter months feeling strong, healthy and mentally robust.

In autumn and winter many of us will find that the energy necessary to eat raw foods, salads etc outweighs the benefits. Instead a simple shift to eating  warm foods like porridge, soups, broths, stews and drinking more warm drinks  will help ward off colds and flu’s and go toward a stronger constitution.

Eating white foods in autumn such as pears, (cooked for some of us) radishes, porridge, butter beans (they’re great spiced up) onions  etc help fortify the lung and large intestine energies.

The lungs are affected by grief and sorrow and this time of year we can witness many endings, the end of summer, the end of leaves on the trees, and temporary end of growth in nature around us. In addition, the impending shorter, darker days can feel make us feel sad and gloomy, consequently  we may feel more tearful and weepy around this time. Here’s a bit of research on lungs and grief.

Given that acceptance is a big part of the healing process.

Accepting that we feel weepy and allowing ourselves quiet time to do just that and have a good cry can help purge the feeling and then we can get on with helping ourselves to feel better ,with it out of the way. Suppressing emotions, usually means they will bubble up somewhere else when we least expect it.

Autumn does have her gifts though. When we strengthen our lungs such as in a good yoga or qigong practice that involves opening and contracting the chest, we facilitate the process of ‘letting go’ which is a form of purging stagnant energy.

Much like decluttering your home, it feels good to make space in the lungs for new energy. A fresh supply of Qi can literally change your state both mentally and emotionally.

Another helpful way to declutter emotionally is to journal and write therapy letters. This time of year is brilliant to release old hurts and resentments.  Write a letter to whoever you are harbouring a resentment, or grudge toward and let rip, then see if you’ve any room for forgiveness. For more tips and a really funny skit about clutter check this out on thestresshacker.com

Remember of course that forgiveness does not condone someone’s behaviour or actions.

It takes courage to forgive people who have hurt you and taking some of the above steps to strengthen your lungs will give you courage to confront  issues and find ways to move forward.

Finally the autumn is a good time to end projects, tie up those loose ends, clear the clutter and generally begin to decelerate in life, it’s okay to take longer baths, get into bed with a good book earlier and give yourself a lot of loving and self-care.

As usual you will also find a huge supply of self-help audio programmes in the shop here and a few yoga classes here.

So wrap up, eat well, exercise, get out in nature and nurture yourself.

The post A Final Farewell To Summer appeared first on The Stresshacker.

The purpose of any discipline, be it prayer, meditation, Yoga, or Qigong, is to connect with your inner self. This connection taps into an unwavering, peaceful presence that resides within you. By establishing a regular practice, ideally daily, it becomes easier to access this infinite source of calm.

The long-term benefits are profound. When you cultivate a sense of stillness and peace, it feels like returning home to a place you instinctively know you belong. You can carry this sense of calm with you as you navigate life’s journey.

Of course, as humans, we will still experience feelings of sadness, anger, and depression. Acknowledging these emotions is essential; they are part of the human experience. However, your practice allows you to move through these feelings more quickly. Embrace them after all, they are real and valid. With your discipline in place, you’re more likely to remain more positive as you move through the challenges of your day.

Can you take seven to ten minutes every day?

When you care enough about yourself to commit to a short time every day for your practice – whether that’s running, martial arts, or chanting – it becomes easier to remain centred, react less to external triggers, feel generally stronger and feel more in control of your life.

What you experience in your practice is eventually translated into every area of your life. For example, in the ancient art of Qigong, we learn to move slowly with relaxed breathing and in time we approach all our daily activities in the same way, thus gaining some self-mastery.

Over time we develop resilience as we realise that emotions are fluid; nothing stays the same forever, including how you feel in any given moment. Whilst we can’t escape illness, loss and life changing events we’re able to handle them in a more robust way.

Your Practice as an Anchor

Consider your practice as an anchor during life’s storms. Whilst many external circumstances are often beyond our control, building a daily routine fosters a sense of balance and inner strength that will serve you well throughout life.

Just before lockdown I started my  teacher training in Qigong which I’ve added to my regular yoga practice. I cannot sing it’s praises more highly; it is a remarkable practice and there is a huge body of scientific evidence to prove its efficacy.

It’s an easy practice to learn… you just have to keep practising.

If you would like to experience some of the wonderful benefits of Qigong. I am holding a mini-Yoga and Qigong Summer Retreat in a beautiful setting in Bromley, Kent. Contact me at sue@thestresshacker.com for more information.

The post MIND MANAGEMENT: MOVEMENT OR MEDITATION? appeared first on The Stresshacker.

1. Hum doesn’t matter what  tune or whether or not you’re in tune, just hum it’s an easy fix to feeling calm.
2. Stroke your neck from your left ear to your right collar bone hand over hand, then from right ear to the left collar bone, finally stroke from your chin down to the little u bend at the base of your neck.
3. Put an ice-pack on the nape of your neck for one-to-two minutes.
4. Gargle ’till you gag. Use Himalyan salts if you can get them and gargle robustly for a good couple of minutes until your gag reflex is triggered.
5. Learn  how to belly breathe it’s a life saver in stressful situations.  To be able to change your state by moving into deeper belly breathing offers us a sense of control in challenging situations.

It’s all to do with resetting your vagus nerve

This net-like nerve pretty much travels the length of your torso from your 12th cranial nerve to your gut. Apply some of the mind body wellbeing hacks above and you’ll feel in control again. It will move away from anxiety toward self-confidence.

Mind body hacks were used as far back as 12th century.  Techniques such as the Inner Smile Meditation were used to give subtle messages to the major organs in the body that all is well. Cool, simply by smiling and connecting with them we start to feel great.

Now it might sound daft to smile and connect with  your heart, but if you want to live in harmony, know that the heart is the Emperor of the emotions. Stop and think about that for a moment and you’ll know it’s true. When you feel sad, angry, fearful, happy or loving you experience those feelings from your heart.

***FREE GIFT***

It stands to reason then that we should look after the heart. With this in mind I made a gift for you. It’s my version of The Inner Smile Meditation.  Download it free here in the shop or listen to it on my YouTube channel. Once you’re familiar with it you can do it yourself EVERY day to trigger a healthy mind body connection. Let me know what you think of it.

Yoga and Qigong Classes

If you’d like to join me in exploring more mind body hacks, I run an in-person Yoga and Qigong class in Bromley on the last Friday of every month and online weekly.  You’ll love how you feel afterwards. Beginners are welcome you only need to bring your mind and body.

Thanks for reading.

The post Mind Body Wellbeing Hacks appeared first on The Stresshacker.

According to Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine, there is a protective force known as the Wei Qi (could be called the immune system too.) The yang energy flows on the outer layers of muscle and skin and controls the opening and closing of the pores that regulate temperature and sweating, this is the shield that helps you to protect yourself.

Protect yourself and strengthen your field to shield you from external pathogens and internal pathogens.

Obvious external pathogens are colds, flu’s and viruses but it may surprise you to know that internal pathogens are things like negative emotions and unhealthy thought patterns, we’re talking  FAGS!  fear, anger, guilt and shame. Banish those yucky emotions.

Since Autumn is a time of letting go and Mother Earth, is shedding layers and dying off, it’s actually quite normal to experience sadness and grief, weepy and low at this time of year.

As we say goodbye to the summer joys and all it’s warmth and prepare for the cold dark winter days ahead it can feel like grieving.

Other internal pathogens are poor attachments in the form of  bad habits or addictions that can return with a vengeance as we reach for unhealthy comforts. When you lose  your drive and feel rudderless this is also a call to action to strengthen and protect yourself.

So how do we combat this and strengthen our immunity? Luckily there are many ways, heres’ a few.

Keep Warm. A simple common sense approach to the changing seasons, such as protecting your body – especially neck/throat area – from wind and cold will help you. Plainly put, you’ve got to start wearing those extra layers even if that big yellow thing is still shining in the sky!

Disicipline. Find whatever way  works for you but  knuckle down and do some regular exercise, whether it’s jogging, an aerobic class, yoga or Qigong get into something that you can practice for a short time each day, ideally working up a sweat. By the way don’t wash the sweat off for at least 1/2 an hour because when you allow it to soak into the pores you strengthen your Wei Qi and  that’s your shield.

Nourishment. Ideally eat food that’s in season and nutrient rich with a variety of fruit, veg, nuts and seeds – the gut biome likes that! If you don’t know how to get your act together on the food front contact a good nutritionist

Stress Free. Reduce stress by practising relaxation techniques or listen to any of the programmes such as Yoga Nidra  available in the shop here at thestresshacker.com .

Sleep Well. Aim for seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep a night. Get into a routine, avoid visual stimulus for at least a couple of hours before you turn in. Clear your mind by writing a list of everything you have to do tomorrow and rise early to address your list.

Boundaries. Look at your boundaries make a note of who pushes them, or where and when your own boundaries weaken and you reach for your ‘fix’. Make a conscious decision to address them by writing out the ways you can deal with your boundary pushers for example learning  assertive skills. Make an alternative plan to avoid the people, situations, times and triggers that make you want to use your comforters, consider other ways to handle this.

Know Yourself Better. In order to establish good clear boundaries, it’s important to know yourself. One simple way to do this is to journal daily. Just write a couple of pages either last thing at night or first thing in the morning before you get up. No rules, just write whatever comes out… over time you’ll see a pattern emerge. Noticing this can help you start addressing the things that get in the way of you feeling strong and you’ll be able to help yourself.

Finally, if you struggle with any of the above enlist some experts and get a wellbeing team behind you.  Go and see a homeopath, get some acupuncture  to boost your immune system and clear stagnation. Find a life-coach or therapist to work through your mental and emotional blocks and lastly set clear goals and then  practice being present i.e meditation and mindfulness.

If you’re looking for a yoga and Qigong class, drop me a line meaI look forward to hearing your thoughts on taking steps to protect yourself.

The post 7 Surprising Ways to Protect Yourself appeared first on The Stresshacker.

Let’s have a look at Mistake No. 2. 

I’m sure that even the best among us are guilty of this next one, which is to think that we know them, better than they do. We are right! Only we have the answers, if only they would listen. Sound familiar?

A major cause of arguments between couples is the desire to be right. When you foist your views on others with the absolute conviction that your way is the right way, your ego has taken over. The ego part of the mind must be right at all costs, because ultimately it fears death.

The reality though, is that the more dominant the ego, the more likely the person you’re projecting onto will need to shut down to protect themselves,  or it will trigger their defence mechanisms and you’ll soon find yourselves arguing.

The next time you’re ‘helping’ someone and trying to get them on board to do it your way, it might be interesting for you to take a breath and notice what you’re feeling, is it frustration? Impatience?

Do you view the other person as the enemy? Perhaps you could ask yourself why it’s so important for you to be right?

In doing this we may be able to identify when our ego is at work and consider how can we change the way we communicate in relationships to get a better outcome.

Is there another place that you can step back into? Not literally, but within yourself?

With practice you can learn to change your state,  perhaps come out of your head and drop into the heart space. Remind yourself that you’re in the presence of someone you love. When you come from a heartfelt perspective, it’s easier to reframe what’s going on between you in a more caring manner.

What is your common ground?

Is it the children? Or perhaps your desire to stay together? To not have to go through all that again, but mature in your relationship?  Or simply to improve your home?  Many fights happen around DIY.  From this perspective, you might have less of a need to be right, and more desire to approach your issues with a sense of compassion.

A Good Questions to Ask Yourself When Attempting This Reframe

“What would have to happen for me to see you as my friend, an ally?” What would you have to do to view them through the lens of love? Famous self-help author Louise Hay was an advocate of seeing your partner as a small vulnerable child and show them kindness. Be gentle in your approach and you might find the other person is more responsive to what you’re trying to share.

Relationship counselling can teach us how to better communicate with others and learn to listen properly.

Finally, with everything you know about the other person, can you trust them? Is it possible for you to let go and trust that they might have a perspective? Trust that they might also know what’s right for them?

The post DO HARRY AND MEGAN DO THIS? appeared first on The Stresshacker.

Each year I choose a training,  workshop, study or webinar  to further my education and recently I attended a great CPD about the mistakes that we make in our relationships. I thought I’d share some of my learning.

Relationship Mistake No. 1

Stop trying to change your partner. Why? Because you can’t. It turns out that you’re not a God after-all and you’re not them, so you can’t change someone else.

When you really stop to think about it, it’s actually quite egotistical to think that we could have the power to change someone else?

A Truth

Whoever you’re in this relationship with, know this, they are unlikely to change. Even if a tactic you employ such as shouting or crying works, it will only be temporary and is unlikely to change their behaviour for good. Just think of all that wasted energy.

Here’s an interesting question, knowing that you can’t change them, how do you feel? Helpless? Frustrated? Angry?

The trouble with anger is that is often leads to blaming, victimising and even bullying and then you  still end up feeling bad or helpless.

The other place we can step into is a state of helplessness, which leads to victim thinking and behaviour.  So ultimately, trying to change someone or something that is beyond your control leads to us feeling bad.

It’s a choice

So what is the solution? Acceptance, if we are prepared to deal in the truth that this is the reality, this is what he/she/they are like, take it or leave it.  Can you accept them as they are?  Beneath your desire to change them, what did you originally love about them? Can you embrace that again? What is it that they do that you do like? Can you build on this?

Another thing that you can do to empower yourself, is to take your focus away from them and put the spotlight on you instead. What can you change about you? That’s where your power really is. Maybe it’s time to get into a better relationship with yourself. Explore your own interests, create new friendships, challenge your fears  and do more.

Take responsibility for your projections.

You probably wont like this next bit, but the very thing you want them to change or do differently, is the one area that you probably most need to look at within yourself, something you ought to be working on.

It’s the smoking gun scenario, i.e. when we point the finger at someone else, we usually have three fingers pointing back at ourselves.

When you make a shift in your own thinking and behaviour, it changes the dynamic of the relationship and then perhaps the other person will change a bit, in order to accommodate the change in you.

Stop victimising, stop blaming and start taking responsibility. It’s time for you to grow.

The post Mistakes we make in relationships appeared first on The Stresshacker.

5 Top Tips for Surviving Winter

1. Keep your lower back warm. Kidneys and adrenals appreciate the warmth. Wear an additional layer around your hips, perhaps a thick warm scarf. Use a warmed wheat bag on your lower back if you’re sitting for long periods of time.
2. Keep hydrated with warm drinks – try the winter drink recipe if you think you’re going down with a cold.
3. We’re closest to Mother Earth at this time and as such a time for reflection, write down what lessons you learned in 2023, what you don’t want to repeat and what you’d like more of.
4. If you’re too sedentary get up and Shake The Tree. Stretch up onto tip toes and raise arms and hands above your head with interlinked fingers. Make the sound Aaaah as you bring your arms down by your sides. Rinse and repeat.
5. Finally, develop a strong building block by improving the quality of your sleep. Turn all technology OFF and leave it out of the bedroom. If you ruminate a lot, then write your thoughts down before you go to bed. A warm bath/shower an hour before bedtime and when your body begins to feel chilly that’s your body’s way of telling you it’s bedtime.

The post Protect, Preserve and Conserve Your Life Force Energy appeared first on The Stresshacker.