Debbie Thurlow-Circle Holder & Nature Bathing Guide

Debbie Thurlow-Circle Holder & Nature Bathing Guide Like many of us, I’ve always wanted to make a difference to people’s lives. Much as I love my boys deeply, motherhood at times was bewildering and overwhelming.

⭕️ Certified circle holder
💚Mental health first aider
🌳 Forest bathing guide+
❤️ Mother
✨Helping women in midlife to slow down, find freedom and reconnect through circle work & nature immersion ✨ I used to be a Social Worker, which was often hugely rewarding, but I became disillusioned by spending more time in front of a computer screen than with my clients. I dropped to part-time hours and studied Holistic Massage so I could help people directly. After having children I took time away from paid work to focus on them – and this is where I truly discovered the power of massage. A monthly massage treatment became the cornerstone of my self-care, once I’d convinced myself I wasn’t being selfish or overly indulgent in taking this small slice of time for myself. I have experienced first-hand the power of massage and reflexology in restoring calm and balance when life is full-on. And I believed in it so much I went back to college to learn more and train as a complementary therapist. Now I wish everyone could experience the deep care a massage or reflexology treatment offers. I think the world would be a kinder, more peaceful place if we all took this time for ourselves. I love helping other women create that small space in their lives, let themselves be cared for, for once, and leave feeling lighter, freer and more relaxed. To discuss how you can introduce more self-care and relaxation into your busy life, just contact me. All questions welcome!

My morning walk was only ten minutes round the block today and yet there was much to see and appreciate. The lessons fro...
10/09/2026

My morning walk was only ten minutes round the block today and yet there was much to see and appreciate.

The lessons from today are simple yet so crucial to boosting mental and emotional wellbeing.

Notice the small things

There are tiny pockets of beauty everywhere

I may have missed the plums this year ( couldn’t get to the garden because of building work) but the apples are on their way and will be a great source of nourishment

Cats are wise and they make taking a moment to lie back and relax so easy

All that from a walk that was short and literally around a couple of streets next to my house in the city. And yet it was still full of joy and moments of beauty.

I hope you can find some moments of joy and beauty in the course of your day.

The last morning before school / college starts. Both my teens are fast asleep. I have come out to escape the building w...
08/09/2026

The last morning before school / college starts. Both my teens are fast asleep.

I have come out to escape the building work and to recover from an online mediation preparation meeting that left me questioning why I am bothering.

I’m now spilling the contents of my brain into my journal and today they seem to be a set of questions:

🌟How I will ever get back to a regular creative journaling practice?
🌟Will my eldest make it through the door at his new education setting even though it’s nothing like school and *should* be good for him?
🌟Will I find a new venue for midlife circle that isn’t up a set of stairs?
🌟 How best to reorganise my art and journal supplies so I can actually get to them?
🌟When will I be able to restart my nature bathing sessions?
🌟When will I have more energy?
🌟Will school email me back before term starts tomorrow for my youngest?
🌟Is my hip always going to hurt?
🌟When will the kitchen be finally finished?
🌟When will I next get to the sea?
🌟When can I get my next swim in?
🌟Will Andy Burnham actually say no to new oil and gas?
🌟Will I make it to my Forest Bathing Guide meet up in October?
🌟How can I get my plan to start a CIC back on tracks?
🌟When will I get chance to go and do some litter picking in my new role of volunteer litter picker?

I know that writing these questions down helps. It creates more space in my head and lets me get a bit of perspective. I don’t have the answers but I can make a start to ponder.

This process also highlights how much I’m holding (this is just a fraction of my questions and worries as some of them are not for the public domain)

It reminds me that so many midlife women are holding equally as much stuff and more.

It reminds me of why we need spaces to share and connect and let it all go. To get back to ourselves and drop the expectations.

It reminds me of how much I want to get back to holding midlife circle.

Once my kids are off summer break I’m hoping with all hope that a little bit of a shift will occur and that some of my questions will have answers.

I also hope I’ll find a venue without stairs so I can restart midlife circle asap.

Despite it being the 8th September my kids are still not back at school and I’m finding it hard to focus on anything els...
07/09/2026

Despite it being the 8th September my kids are still not back at school and I’m finding it hard to focus on anything else until that happens.

After a turbulent academic year there are some new starts waiting to unfold and I can’t help holding my breath a little until I see how that does or doesn’t settle.

September often feels like a month to reset but I’m not there yet. Instead I’m in a transitional phase, a liminal space as the summer break fades but hasn’t fully surrendered to this new month.

Uncertainty seems to go hand in hand with transitions and so I’m looking to nature to keep me grounded in these inbetween days.

And as I watch and wait to see how the lie of the land will be I’ll also be digging into my tool box of dopamine boosts and support. I’m glad to say I have a fair few to turn to when the stars align:

strength through menopause classes with Becky Ellerington - Women’s Coaching Specialist

Pilates with

Sound and massage with Joanne Bull Yoga & Wellbeing - Therapist, Teacher & Coach

Nature writing with Gayle Johnson

All things circle with Sally Parkin

And lots of swimming (and maybe some planning) Pool Bridge Farm

At some point I might also actually find a balance between my caring role and my own work too.

If you’re settling back into post summer routines or supporting someone to navigate a new phase then I wish you well. I hope you have your tool box ready. In amongst it all, your needs are just as important as everyone else’s.

Last weekend we stepped out of everyday life and headed west. Amongst other things we spent lots of time under the trees...
05/09/2026

Last weekend we stepped out of everyday life and headed west. Amongst other things we spent lots of time under the trees. Even at night I found myself immersed in the beautiful lights & soundscapes created by Bedtime and Sophia West

Trees with added magic 💚🌳 What a treat for this forest bathing guide.

A quiet evening walk in West Cumbria and suddenly the first whispers of Autumn are in the air. These transition days fro...
31/08/2026

A quiet evening walk in West Cumbria and suddenly the first whispers of Autumn are in the air.

These transition days from late, late summer to early Autumn are some of my favourite times. Ripened blackberries, apples starting to drop, shorter days and a shift in the light.

I know however that the end of summer can feel difficult for some people and maybe more so with the current backdrop of a scary and unstable wider world playing out.

Perhaps a time to practice noticing the small things? It is one of my most used and simple meditation tools.

There are three steps to it:
1. Go outside
2. Slow down
3. Notice the small things nature offers up

Give it a go and see what happens 💚

Because of the building work at home I’m going out the front way everyday. There is a bramble just to the left of my fro...
24/08/2026

Because of the building work at home I’m going out the front way everyday. There is a bramble just to the left of my front door and as the blackberries have ripened I have picked one almost everytime I walk past.

It has given me such joy. A slightly different taste with each berry picked; sweet, slightly sour, super sweet and on occasion eye wateringly bitter.

It has been the perfect mindful moment in nature. Not thinking of anything other than picking, eating and savouring the colour, texture and then taste of each blackberry.

It’s also made a refreshing change to choose a simple pleasure over making more work for myself by thinking “I should make a crumble or jam”.

However you choose to enjoy the blackberries this year I hope they bring you joy. I’ll leave you with my lessons from the blackberries:

Enjoy them in the moment.

They don’t always have to be made into something else.

Sometimes it’s best to eat them as you walk down the garden path before they disappear.

20/08/2026

My August quest to reconnect with my own forest bathing practice continued when I was in Wales. I found a gorgeous spot next to a lake which meant I had the added benefits of water too.

This time I made myself comfortable by sitting against the tree trunk. I then:

-Noticed the blue sky through the leaves
-Watched the branches swaying
-Listened to the water lapping against the stony shore
-Observed the ripples of the waves

I also got up close to the trunk by:

-Tracing patterns on the bark with my fingertips
-Noticing the contrasting textures
-Feeling the softness of the moss
-Smelling the bark

Forest or nature bathing invites you to tune into all your senses. Doing so allows you to fully immerse yourself in what nature offers us.

There are almost endless ways to connect with the moment when you are in nature. Using touch, vision, smell, hearing and sometimes taste too, enables you to gain so many benefits. [more about that soon]

I started this mini self guided session feeling frazzled and ended it feeling much calmer, more grounded and with a quieter mind.

The joy of riding my bike again. I got a puncture about 4 months ago. When it happened I knew I needed to take it straig...
17/08/2026

The joy of riding my bike again.

I got a puncture about 4 months ago. When it happened I knew I needed to take it straight to the bike shop otherwise the risk of not getting it sorted was v high. I did not do this.

It then became a thing.

My ADHD brain is great at allowing a small task mutate into a huge, insurmountable one.. Despite walking past my bike for weeks and weeks I still couldn’t take it to the bike shop. My bike became a sculpture in the front garden and I started to live a bike less life.

Two weeks ago I finally made it through the door of the bike shop and booked it in for a service. And after dropping it off this morning I now have my bike back looking and riding better than ever!

In the past I would have berated myself about this. Now, with a new understanding of how my brain works I’m able to let it go and show myself some compassion.

I am very pleased to have my bike back though!

My neurodivergence has shaped my life in ways I didn’t realise. Needless to say it has also influenced how I run my sessions. Who’d had thought it eh.

When I say you’re welcome as you are I really do mean it. And I will try and make you feel as comfortable as possible when we work together.

After four days by a lake surrounded by trees and mountain views I felt the need to ease myself back into usual life. Es...
16/08/2026

After four days by a lake surrounded by trees and mountain views I felt the need to ease myself back into usual life. Especially as there were lots of challenges thrown into the mix too whilst I was away.

I’m lucky enough to call Gillian Shippey a very good friend of mine and today I got to experience one of her wonderful restorative story telling yoga sessions.

I was desperate for some quiet time to myself and got that and much more. It was so nourishing to be told a story whilst resting and relaxing.

This is a snap of Gillian after the session and it captures some of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes in order to hold space for others.

Today I was so grateful to be on the receiving end of a truly special session and to have space held for me. It was so soothing and relaxing that I fell asleep.

Another reminder that in order to keep looking after others I 100% need to keep looking myself. Perhaps you need that gentle reminder too as you get ready for the week ahead.

If you’ve never been to one of Gillian’s classes I highly recommend them. Gillian has just started teaching at Pool Bridge Farm as well as continuing with her other local classes in York, residential retreats and regular online classes.

Absolutely check her out. ❤️

There’s a lot going on behind the scenes at Debbie Thurlow Circle Holder and Forest Bathing + guide🍃 Re- building my web...
10/08/2026

There’s a lot going on behind the scenes at Debbie Thurlow Circle Holder and Forest Bathing + guide

🍃 Re- building my website

🍃 Looking for a new venue for midLife circle

🍃Researching possible areas to run some forest bathing sessions

🌱 Working on logistics to restart a regular nature circle

🌱 Planning for the next residential retreat that I’m co-hosting with Gayle Johnson in November (3 places remaining if you’re interested in coming!)

There also continues to be a lot going on in the family/ home realm including supporting my eldest and entering month no 5 of some much needed, but quite disruptive, renovations to our house.

So in the midst of all that it’s time to escape. I’d love to say I’m taking a total break but in reality I’m not because a fair few of the challenges are coming with me.

However I’m very fortunate that I’m in a beautiful place with more support than usual so I am definitely hoping to get some time out.

On my schedule for the next few days is swimming, walking, looking at mountains and hills, going for a sauna, nature bathing, journaling and having lots of cuddles with my therapy dog: aka Shanti, my sister’s adopted cockapoo.

I hope you too can find some nourishment and time out in amongst the busyness of life.

See you next week 💚

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York

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 2pm - 6pm

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+447767142401

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