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Why Getting to Know Yourself Is the First Step to Lasting Change
My kids probably noticed it before I did. They had a mum who was always distracted. I was there, but I wasn't really there. My mind was constantly somewhere else – worrying about work, worrying about money, wondering where the next client would come from, or trying to come up with another business idea. Looking back, I don't remember having much fun during that time.
Melanie Briony
Aug 63 min read
What if the first story isn't the whole story?
Most of us think we experience life exactly as it is. More often than not, we experience our interpretation of it......
Melanie Briony
Jul 142 min read
Something You May Not Know About Me
Today, I wanted to share something you may not know about me. In my early 20s, I arrived in Australia pregnant, knowing no one other than my partner. What followed were some of the hardest years of my life. I was a young parent in a new country, trying to find my place in the world while struggling to understand who I was. Looking back now, I see so much bravery, so much heartbreak, and a young woman who felt completely lost. I fell into a deep depression, although I didn't r
Melanie Briony
Jun 32 min read
From Paralysis to Empowerment: My Path to Self-Discovery
In a Dark Place. When I moved to Newcastle in late 2020, I was in a pretty dark place within myself. I was experiencing severe anxiety and self-doubt, struggling with overwhelming fear of the future, and generally living in a state of perpetual freeze, shutdown, and collapse. I blamed a lot on menopause—hence why I studied so much about the subject and subsequently pointed my fitness business in that direction. Truthfully, though, I knew it was more than hormone changes. What
Melanie Briony
May 274 min read
Change Starts With Awareness
Most people think change starts with motivation. I've learned it starts with awareness. Before we can change eating habits, stress patterns, sleep routines or self-care behaviours, we first need to notice what’s actually happening inside us.
Melanie Briony
May 251 min read
Finding Safety in Connection: How Community Supports Your Nervous System
One of the most underrated aspects of coming together with like-minded people is the sense of safety it can cultivate within our nervous system. The more time we spend with individuals who can regulate their emotions, the easier it becomes for us to regulate our own.
Melanie Briony
May 242 min read
Menopause and the Cost of Living in Overdrive
You’ve heard it all before. Endless ways to reduce menopause symptoms, many of them trying to sell you a supplement, protocol or quick fix. It’s no wonder so many women are feeling overwhelmed, jaded and more unseen than ever.
Melanie Briony
May 134 min read
Strong Like A Woman - What a Journey
I was 46 years old and I felt so much older. I hadn't started adding perimenopause changes to my reasons for feeling the way I did, but looking back, it was definitely the beginning of big changes in my body. I was experiencing one of those moments in time when you have a choice. You can either fall into blaming everything outside yourself, or you can step up and take responsibility.
I had to face up to the fact that I was drinking too much alcohol, exercising nowhere near e
Melanie Briony
Apr 283 min read
Trust Your Gut: How Breathwork Awakens Self-Connection
As soon as I learned how my nervous system was designed to keep me safe, but how easily it can misinterpret inner sensations and emotions as danger, sending my brain running away from fictitious tigers, I knew this was the work I was meant to share. It was my gut instinct leading me in a positive direction after years of being petrified of my own shadow.
Melanie Briony
Apr 162 min read
Feeling Panicked About the Gym? Here’s Why — and What to Do
Is Exercise-Induced Anxiety Stopping You? Just know you are not alone. There are tools you can implement that can take you from fear-ridden to fearless in the gym. Keep reading to learn all about anticipatory anxiety and how changing your breathing and understanding why you feel this way can truly change your life.
Melanie Briony
Oct 24, 20254 min read
Why Nutrition for Weight Loss Feels So Confusing for Women?
Why Nutrition for Weight Loss Feels So Confusing for Women? Truth Bomb........I’m going to start this post with a truth bomb: the more confused you are about nutrition, the better… at least for the multinational corporations behind supplements and diet companies. The more lost you feel, the more they profit.
Melanie Briony
Aug 26, 20253 min read
A Softer Way In: Breathwork That Meets You Where You Are
Not All Breathwork Looks the Same After my recent breathwork session in Swansea, I was reminded how many people are hesitant to try...
Melanie Briony
Jun 27, 20252 min read
Is Cortisol Really Stopping You From Losing Weight?
If you’ve ever been told that cortisol is the reason you’re gaining weight — or can’t seem to lose it — you’re not alone. This hormone often gets the blame, especially in menopause, when many women notice shifts in their body composition. But is cortisol really the culprit?............
Melanie Briony
Apr 15, 20253 min read
How Stress Affects Your Hormones and What You Can Do About It
Stress affects your hormones through the neuroendocrine system. When you're under stress, your brain signals your glands to release.........
Melanie Briony
Jan 29, 20253 min read
My Journey of Self-Acceptance and Growth: The Human(ing) Podcast
New Podcast Episode Alert!
I was recently featured on Rick Watson’s "Human(ing)" podcast, where we had a candid conversation about my.....
Melanie Briony
Jan 20, 20251 min read
Choosing the Right Breathwork Tool for Your Nervous System
Choosing the Right Breathwork Tool for Your Nervous System. Breathwork is a powerful tool for influencing your Autonomic Nervous System.....
Melanie Briony
Jan 18, 20252 min read
The Struggle to Stay Healthy: Tips to Thrive
Why Staying Healthy Feels So Hard (And What You Can Do About It).......
Melanie Briony
Oct 10, 20244 min read
From Struggle to Strength: My Path to Self-Care
The below image is me back in 2012 - Age 40. On the outside, I look super fit and strong but on the inside, I was falling apart...........
Melanie Briony
Sep 26, 20243 min read
Managing Menopause Hot Flushes with Breathwork: A Path to Self-Connection and Calm
Menopause & Breathwork. Hot flushes are not just physical; they carry a heavy emotional burden. Many women feel deep shame about their......
Melanie Briony
Sep 23, 20243 min read
Silent Struggles: Menopause, Exercise, and the Taboo of Vaginal Health
Heart health matters, but what about vaginal health? As a personal trainer, I hear stories about pelvic floor problems and vaginal issues...
Melanie Briony
May 21, 20243 min read
HEALTH DISCLAIMER
The information contained within this website is general in nature and is not designed to replace the advice of your health care practitioner, dietitian or specialist. Before commencing a new weight-loss or fitness program it is recommended that you visit your GP for a health check-up. Melanie Briony - Fitness & Lifestyle Coach (Melanie Briony Hawksley) is a fully qualified and experienced fitness professional. She can provide you with extensive fitness advice and guidance along with general advice in regard to your diet and lifestyle. If you have specific dietary needs or a complex health condition, you will also need to work in conjunction with your healthcare provider. All information is intended to expand your knowledge and is not intended for use if you are a minor, are pregnant or have any type of health condition. Information provided by Melanie Briony - Fitness & Lifestyle Coach is not a substitute for medical advice.
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