sweet 2026 greetings!

Although it is a new year, we are just through the days of midwinter times. I am relieved at the return of light, but quiet and darkness, stillness and muffled energy bring gentle little gifts themselves.

These gentle little gifts are reminders of rest, true rest - whatever that means for you. For me it means collage and colouring books, savouring seasonal treats, clearing out, & making space. True rest for me is spaciousness in my body, feeling a fullness, a sense of clarity and ease in preparation for other parts of my life that ask of me more dedication, devotion and responsibility.

Rest to me is a true acknowledgment of the present, of all that is and still choosing to allow the body to soften and remember its vibrancy and physicality - amidst all the responsibilities, challenges, grief, and injustice of living.

a practice for midwinter times.

This year for the winter solstice I practiced the small ritual of writing 13 phrases/intentions, short and potent, for the return of the light on the morning of the 2nd of January. Each night you burn, release to water or air, or return to earth - the tiny piece of paper with your solstice words on it.

It’s both a practice in remembering and trusting, “The part of you that is the wisest, the part that knows what leads you forward and what holds you back”.

This is a phrase that you’ve maybe heard me say in session together - it has stuck with me for many years. It was something that a dear mentor, Serena Roschman, shared during a yoga teacher training in Chicago some time ago now.

The wisest part of me often asks for rest, and it’s the same part of me that wishes rest for you too.

Along this slow unfurling as the sun reaches our faces earlier and and earlier, there is of course darkness still. In it, maybe through this midwinter season we can continue to reach into the practice of rest.

2026

It’s been one whole year at the Sunday studio.

Zoe, who owns skinbyzoe has been the ever encouraging host of our time together on Sundays. I first went to them as a client almost three years ago and to now be able to offer you massage in the cosy haven of a treatment room that she has built makes me appreciate it all the more.

Studio70 has welcomed me into their space and community on Mondays for six months now and it has been a true delight.

Being in a warm, familiar yoga studio again has really opened back up a part of me that was dormant for a while now. Some years ago I was a young and very eager yoga teacher, for years I dedicated a lot of my life to being a student of the practice of yoga. So to be in a space that stirs that eagerness to practice again has been a joyful respite.

𖦹 There are some shifts happening at Slow Down this year that I can’t quite share with you just yet, but I am excited, eep!

I’ve listened to your feedback and continued to reflect, change, and craft treatments and treatment options that you’re looking forward to and when the time comes, I’ll be excited to share what I’ve been cookin’ up! For now, here’s where you’ll find me this month.

january books.

• city centre - skinbyzoe

  sunday, 18 january 𖦹 11:00am - 6:00pm

  sunday, 25 january 𖦹 11:00am - 6:00pm

  southside - studio70

  monday, 12 january 𖦹 1:00pm or 3:00pm

  monday, 19 january 𖦹 1:00pm - 7:00pm

  monday, 26 january 𖦹 1:00pm - 7:00pm

  booking for january

  To book in you can email - slowdown.gla@protonmail.com

  or message me on instagram.

  If you have any questions, I would be very happy to answer anything at all.

  

The start of the year for me has historically had an undertone of stress and the desire to resolve and make new, but this year instead maybe we can just encourage ourselves to continue, practice and see where that takes us.

See you in January, take good care.

Warmly, Veronica

Slow Down Massage Therapy