Where the year has gone – and what it has given
As we approach the Summer Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, the longest day of the year invites us to pause, reflect, and acknowledge all that has passed.
Wrapping up the year
‘Where has this year gone’ is a constant refrain I hear. It feels like it has gone in a heartbeat and yet looking back, it has been a momentous time for both myself and Heart and Soul of Wellness.
No overseas trips for me in 2025, but I did turn 70 and I did co-create the Birth Stories on Stage, followed by the Birth Wellness Festival 2026 in the spring.
I re-birthed the second revised edition of my book Womb Medicine and facilitated Prepare Your Partner for Birth and Yoni Steam workshops throughout the year.
So many people have crossed the threshold of Heart & Soul of Wellness this year – some for the first time, others returning again and again. We often hear how much people love the energy of the space, the sense of calm, and the way the environment supports them to settle as soon as they arrive.
This is due to the combined vitality of the space, the crystals, the colourful décor, and, of course, the beautiful practitioners who tend to their clients in ways that soothe their nervous systems and have them leave feeling better than when they walked in.
A Living, Feminine Model of Practice
Heart & Soul of Wellness operates as a living, feminine model of business – one that honours cycles, change, and personal responsibility.
Each practitioner who works from Heart & Soul is responsible for their own bookings, their own clients, and the way they show up in their work. This model supports autonomy, integrity, and clear energetic boundaries, allowing each practitioner to stand fully in their own offering while being part of a shared space. This way of working reflects what Heart & Soul stands for – trust, responsibility, collaboration, and respect for individual capacity – rather than hierarchy or over-management. It allows the space to remain responsive, human, and grounded, while continuing to offer depth and care to the community. We don’t always get it right. Even after 8 years, I still say “We are making it up as we go along”
Honouring our Practitioners
As the year has unfolded, some practitioners have completed their time here and moved on, while others have stepped into the space and taken their place. We honour both. To those who have come and gone we thank you.
We welcome our new Lomi Lomi practitioner, Nicola Maffei, for bringing this nurturing bodywork into the space, and Monica Caruz for her dedication to yoga and embodied practice. We are grateful to have Natasha Hains offering women’s circles with integrity and presence, alongside women’s coaching, doula support, and pregnancy/postpartum counselling.
Circles, Gatherings, and Community
When women gather in circle, transformation happens. Our women’s circles, pregnancy group, and the newly revitalised postpartum group are all safe spaces where women remember that they are not alone, they are not failing, and that they don’t need to carry everything by themselves. These gatherings are about women getting together, sometimes with no agenda but to listen, witness, and make connections.
Alongside these, our new women’s circle, the monthly yoni steam circles, and restorative and Kundalini yoga sessions have all offered women a chance to rest deeply, reconnect with their bodies, and practice self-care in ways that modern life rarely makes space for.
Behind the Scenes
Behind the scenes, steady support makes it possible for the space to be well held. We are grateful to Renae Stewart, who now cares for the centre each week, helping keep the rooms clean, welcoming, and tended. We also acknowledge Kathleen for her past administrative support, and warmly welcome Tania Llanes, our own womb massage practitioner, who has taken over some admin hours to keep the practical rhythms of the centre flowing. We’d also like to acknowledge Caitlin Lea for her care in preparing and sending this newsletter. Her marketing support and keen eye for detail have been greatly valued, and as she steps into motherhood again, she will be missed.
With Gratitude
Thank you to every person who attended a session, class, or circle; whether you trusted a practitioner; brought a friend through the door; or sat quietly in the space; Whether you shared your story; or simply paused, took a breath, and enjoyed some time for yourself. You are what makes Heart & Soul of Wellness what it is.
As we move toward the close of the year, we do so with gratitude – for the endings, and the beginnings,
As we look ahead, 2026 carries the energy of new beginnings. I have been told that numerologically, it is a Year One – a time of initiation, fresh direction, and renewed intention. It is also the Year of the Horse, which symbolises forward movement, vitality, and the courage to step into one’s calling.
We look forward to welcoming you back in the new year, continuing to tend this space together, and allowing Heart & Soul of Wellness to keep growing – naturally, gently, and in its own time.
We look forward to welcoming you back in the new year, continuing to tend this space together, and growing Heart & Soul of Wellness as a well-held space for women and families in our community.
With warmth and appreciation,
Sali
and the Heart & Soul of Wellness team
Upcoming events and workshops at Heart and Soul
Setting Intentions Workshops — Monday 22 December at 2pm and Saturday 27 December at 10 am.
A gentle space to pause, reflect, and consciously set intentions for the year ahead.
Prepare Your Partner for Birth Workshops — Third Saturday of each month
Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual preparation for Birth.
Whole Woman Circles — Wednesday 7 and 21 January at 7pm
Yoni Steam Circles (from February) — First Saturday of each month
Monthly themed circles offering warmth, rest, and embodied connection.
Vision Board Event — Saturday 7 January
A creative, heart-opening day to imagine and shape the year ahead.
Pregnancy group and new mamas catch-up — Returns to Heart and Soul every Wednesday from 14 January.
Please RSVP to these events to Heart and Soul admin on 0407 319 313.