Category: Wellbeing

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NEW! Mini wellbeing retreats in Oxford

Yoga and massage wellbeing retreasts for two – who will you invite?
Mothers & daughters (16+), friends or couples – these 2.5 hour mini retreats comprise a 30 minute massage each plus a tailored yoga class . While waiting for your turn for a massage, you can enjoy tea in my garden or read/rest/journal in the cabin.

A balm to your nervous systems, providing a beautiful way to both relax and bond together. A wonderful birthday present or just a shared experience. All aspects are completely tailored to your needs on the day. Investment: £150. You won’t find these exclusive retreats on my booking system as I book them in based on your diary. To discuss a date and time, or find out more, get in touch on katie@katiewheaterwellbeing.co.uk

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NEW! Half day yoga retreats in Oxford

yoga retreat oxford

Three and a half hours to soak in a whole new level of support for your nervous system. We’ll replenish energy, expand self-compassion and a sense of spaciousness with restorative yoga and nidra enabling you to sink into deep states of peace and inner sanctuary. There’ll be optional hands on support and massage at various times throughout. You’ll feel like a weight has lifted from your shoulders, the blinkers have fallen from your eyes and you’ve experienced the deepest and most prolonged exhale and release possible within the time we have together.
Expect gentle, compassionate movement, learning to listen to, respond and feel out the needs of your body and your mind. If the weather is kind, we have the option to practice in my beautiful garden. In cooler, wet weather, we’ll practice in the calm of the cabin. There’ll be quiet time to yourself in the garden with tea/coffee and birdsong (possibly some cat-cuddles if both parties are willing). These are available in a variety of ways:

Open to all women: book here: investment £45pp
Friday 1st May 10 – 1.30pm
Friday 22nd May 10 – 1.30pm [the perfect way to start half term if you’re a parent]

 OR

Private retreats for individual women or pairs – mothers and daughters, friends, couples of any description. Wonderful for everyone but especially 16+ daughters struggling with exam stress. These private classes are fully tailored to your personal needs and experiences. Investment: £200. Book these direct by emailing katie@katiewheaterwellbeing.co.uk and we will find a convenient time/date.

OR

For a private group of friends/colleagues (minimum 4, maximum 8). These private classes are fully tailored to your personal needs and experiences.
Investment: £200. Book these direct by emailing katie@katiewheaterwellbeing.co.uk and we will find a convenient time/date.

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Restorative yoga vs yoga nidra: why every woman in Oxford needs both for stress relief and better sleep

woman relaxing deep rest yoga nidra

In a world where we women are constantly balancing responsibilities, expectations, and the pace of modern life, stress can quietly build in the body—often showing up as tiredness, worry, or disrupted sleep. For women in Oxford and beyond, practices like restorative yoga and yoga nidra offer powerful, science-backed ways to support the nervous system, reduce stress, and improve sleep.

Often misunderstood, restorative yoga and yoga nidra are distinct practices. Understanding how these practices can support you at every stage of life can transform your wellbeing at every age and stage of life and create meaningful shifts in how you feel every day. My youngest clients are my kids (10, 12 but they’ve been practising for 5 years), my oldest is a couple in their mid 80s. Whatever your age or stage, you’ll be warmly welcomed to all my classes.

What is restorative yoga?

Restorative yoga is a slow, gentle practice that uses beautiful, clean, thoughtful props like pillows, blankets, and bolsters to fully support the body in restful poses. All the props you could possibly need are provided in your class, including your mat.

The intention is simple: to allow the body to relax completely.

In my restorative yoga classes in Oxford, poses are typically held for several minutes, giving your body time to soften, release, and reset. All my classes are sprinkled with poetry, philosophy, science and silence. They are an unhurried space enabling you to relax completely.

What is yoga nidra?

Yoga nidra, often called “yogic sleep,” is a guided meditation practice usually experienced lying down, although I always have comfortable chairs or seated options available if you are pregnant or uncomfortable to lie down. While the body is still, the mind is gently guided into a state between wakefulness and sleep. This is where true nervous system restoration happens.

Yoga nidra is a powerful tool for stress relief and better sleep.

The key differences

While both practices are deeply restorative, they work in slightly different ways:

Restorative yoga

  • Focus: physical relaxation of the body
  • Method: Supported poses held for time
  • Effect: Releases tension and signals safety to the nervous system

Yoga nidra

  • Focus: conscious and subconscious relaxation
  • Method: guided meditation and breath awareness
  • Effect: potential to re-educate the mind to enter deeply restful state without sleeping, this can create more creativity, concentration and flow – AND/OR to improve both getting to and quality of sleep. It depends on the style of class and time of class and your unique experience!

Why these practices matter for women throughout life

Women experience unique physical and emotional demands throughout life—from hormonal fluctuations to caregiving roles, career pressures, and beyond. This makes nervous system support especially important.

In your teens

  • Manage stress related to school/college and relationships
  • Develop your sense of self and the importance of self-care
  • Supporting mental health and sleep

In your 20s–30s

  • Manage career stress and busy schedules
  • Support hormonal balance
  • Improve sleep and energy levels

In your 40s–50s

  • Support perimenopause and menopause by reducing frazzle, overwhelm and a safe place to actually rest
  • Support deeper, more consistent sleep
  • Feel time prioritised for you and all the benefits this brings for you and your community

In later life

  • Maintain mobility and gentle movement
  • Support emotional wellbeing throughout times of wellness AND illness
  • Create a sense of calm and connection with yourself and others

For women in Oxford, restorative yoga and yoga nidra offer accessible, low-impact ways to care for both body and mind—no matter your experience level.

Finally,

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or disconnected, this is your invitation to slow down.

Restorative yoga and yoga nidra each offer unique experiences and the opportunity to grow tolerance, capacity, resilience – responding not reacting as your nervous system soothes, stress reduces and sleep improves.

Women of Oxford, there’s never been a better time to prioritise this kind of care for your body and mind. Your rest is not a luxury—it’s essential.

Book classes here.

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Is it restorative yoga or deep rest yoga nidra in Oxford this week?

From April – end of May 2026, we’ll be alternating deep rest yoga nidra (YN) and restorative classes on Thursday evenings 8 – 9.15pm. Book all classes here and check which week we’re on below! What’s the difference between restorative yoga and deep rest yoga nidra? Read more here.

Thursday 16th April: restorative

Thursday 23rd April: deep rest yoga nidra (YN)

Thursday 30th April: restorative

Thursday 7th May: deep rest YN

Thursday 14th May: restorative

Thursday 21st May: deep rest YN

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Let go of brain-frazzle and embrace the calm, spaciousness of slow yoga in Oxford

In today’s fast-paced world, the art of self-care often takes a backseat and will almost always be the first thing to go when life gets busy. Yet, for every woman striving to find balance amidst the chaos, prioritising your well-being is not just a luxury—it’s essential. All of my yoga and massage offerings for women in Headington, Oxford, are designed to create spaciousness in body and mind: bringing you back to who you truly are.

The power of rest

Imagine a life where rest is not viewed as a guilty pleasure but as a productive and vital activity. When we take the time to nurture ourselves, we create space for clarity and creativity to flourish. This isn’t about just taking a break; it’s about resetting your nervous system and allowing yourself to recharge fully. This creates space for us to respond thoughtfully (or, more thoughtfully!) to those around us, rather than some kind of knee-jerk reaction. There are times we all react, but these happen most often when we’re under-resourced, depleted.

This is when our decisions and actions can become misaligned with our true intentions. By filling your cup and nurturing yourself deeply, you empower yourself to speak and act from a place of abundance. This shift can profoundly impact your life and the lives of those around you.

The transformative experience of yoga

Yoga is so much more than just bodily movement – I will write more on this in future – but for now, know that it offers a holistic practice that nurtures every part of your being—body, mind, and soul. My exclusive yoga classes offer a calm and beautiful sanctuary where you can escape from daily stressors , big and small, and immerse yourself in practices that replenish and restore. Exclusively to my classes (as far as I can tell from my own extensive research across the county), I also provide resources for you to take home to truly support you further in real, daily life situations – enabling you to continue your practice and deepen the benefits.

I offer the following classes, all of which are suitable for beginners and experts alike – there is always something new to experience. All my classes are designed to activate your parasympathetic nervous system, enabling you to feel soothed, balanced and calm.

  • Restorative yoga: This gentle practice focuses on relaxation and rejuvenation, allowing your body to release tension and embrace tranquility through supported poses using a variety of beautiful, thoughtful, freshly laundered props
  • Slow flow yoga: A relaxed blend of mindful movement and breath, this class encourages you to connect deeply with yourself
  • Yoga nidra: Experience the profound depths of relaxation with this guided practice. Often referred to as “yogic sleep,” nidra offers the opportunity to enter a state of deep rest, supporting sleep, but also creativity, concentration and flow depending on the style/time of the class

Each of these practices is designed to help you reset and replenish, allowing you to emerge feeling renewed and empowered.

Why you need this in your life!

Every woman deserves to feel radiant and balanced. And we also know with all the pulls on our time and attention, just how difficult and often fleeting those feelings can be. By committing to your self-care through yoga, you’re not only investing in your health but also in your overall well-being, and that of the community or family that surrounds you. Women are often the anchors and the state of our peace determines that of the household/workspace. It can feel a lot. Believe me, as an often solo mother of two, I know and work hard to support myself in this way daily. This journey is about more than just physical fitness; it’s about cultivating a sense of peace and purpose that has the potential, with your commitment to yourself, to resonate in every aspect of your life.

Join me and small groups of local women on this journey

Are you ready to embrace this journey? Every week, small groups of women from across Oxford and more widely, attend my classes, prioritise their well-being and experiencing the transformative power of yoga. Read their independent reviews here and book here.