Mothering the Mother

A restorative day for mothers to soften, exhale, and be cared for — without needing to care for anyone else.

13th March 2026

At Champneys Forest Mere - 9:00-18:00

If you’re feeling tired, stretched thin, or like you’re constantly holding everything together for everyone else while quietly placing your own needs at the bottom of the list, this retreat is for you.

With Mother’s Day approaching, this is an invitation to gently reframe what that day can mean — not just celebrating others, but allowing yourself to be supported too. Not another thing to organise. Not another role to fulfil. But a rare opportunity to pause, soften and receive care.

The Mothering the Mother Retreat is a women-only day retreat — a safe and supportive space where mothers can rest, move gently, breathe deeply and reconnect with their bodies in the company of other women who understand the complexity, beauty and invisible load of motherhood.

Throughout the day, you’ll be guided through physio-led education, restorative movement, nervous system regulation and meaningful conversation — blending evidence-based women’s health with space to simply exhale.

You’ll also gain practical guidance on how nutrition and hormone balance influence energy, mood and recovery throughout pregnancy, postnatal life and mothering through perimenopause.

Come on your own, or make it a meaningful Mother’s Day gift to share with a mother close to you.

Hosted and facilitated by Michelle Norton-Hughes, Chartered Physiotherapist, Specialist in Women’s & Pelvic Health and Certified Mummy MOT® Practitioner, with Guest Nutrition Contributor Raphaela Dyer, Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist.

The day blends physio-led education, restorative movement and reflective space to support the physical, emotional and hormonal shifts of motherhood.

What It’s All About

This retreat is designed to help you:

• step out of constant “doing” and into simply being
• feel supported in the physical realities of motherhood — from pelvic floor and core connection to easing everyday tension
• better understand the hormonal and nutritional foundations that influence energy, mood and recovery
• reconnect with the woman within the mother
• leave feeling steadier, softer and more resourced

Everything is guided with warmth, professionalism and deep respect for your lived experience. You are always invited to take part in a way that feels comfortable for you — there is no pressure, no performance and nothing to prove.You’ll enjoy: .

Whats included

• Welcome refreshments and a light breakfast.

• A guided motherhood sharing circle with grounding practices and gentle reflective space.

• Physio-led women’s health education exploring pregnancy recovery, pelvic floor function, core connection and long-term pelvic wellbeing.

• Foundations Pilates with guided pelvic floor and core activation, suitable for pregnancy, postnatal recovery and beyond.

• Guest Nutrition Session exploring practical strategies to support hormone balance, energy and mood throughout pregnancy, postnatal life and mothering through perimenopause.

• Nervous system relaxation techniques to support deep rest and regulation.

• A nourishing three-course spa lunch.

• Free time to enjoy the Champneys spa facilities (steam, sauna, jacuzzi, pools, hydrotherapy and relaxation spaces).

• Opportunity to book an optional 1:1 beauty or spa treatment directly with Champneys.

• A thoughtfully curated take-home retreat gift, plus special touches from Champneys or partner brands where available.

• Champneys tote bag and flip-flops to keep.

• Use of robe and towel for the day.

Hosted by Michelle

Many of the mothers Michelle supports have spent months — sometimes years — prioritising everyone else. They’ve adapted to pelvic discomfort, scar tightness, abdominal weakness, back pain or bladder changes, often assuming it’s just “part of motherhood.”

As a Women’s Health Physiotherapist and Mummy MOT Practitioner, Michelle specialises in helping mothers understand what’s happening in their bodies and feel confident in their recovery — whether that’s healing after birth, reconnecting with their core and pelvic floor, or simply feeling more supported in their everyday movement.

She is also the co-founder of FLY Mama, a maternal wellbeing platform created to support women through pregnancy, postpartum and beyond — bringing together movement, education and community so that mothers don’t have to navigate it alone.

Michelle’s approach is grounded, compassionate and evidence-based. She doesn’t ask mothers to push harder or “bounce back” — instead, she creates space for understanding, restoration and steady rebuilding.

During the retreat, she will gently guide restorative movement, practical education and simple self-care techniques designed specifically for mothers — including scar awareness, pelvic floor connection, tension release and whole-body reset practices. Everything is invitational, accessible and designed to help you feel more at ease in your body.

Guest Speaker Raphaela Dyer,

Raphaela Dyer is a Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist with a passion for supporting women through the physical and hormonal demands of motherhood.

Her work focuses on the powerful connection between nutrition, hormone balance and nervous system resilience. She supports mothers in understanding how blood sugar stability, micronutrient foundations and sustainable dietary habits can positively influence energy, mood and long-term wellbeing.

Many mothers quietly adapt to fatigue, mood fluctuations and feeling “wired but tired,” assuming it’s simply part of modern life. Raphaela helps women make sense of these shifts in a practical, accessible way — without overwhelm or unrealistic expectations.

At Mothering the Mother, Raphaela will guide a focused session exploring how nutrition influences hormone balance throughout pregnancy, postnatal recovery and mothering through perimenopause. You can expect realistic, evidence-informed strategies that are simple to implement and designed for busy mothers — supporting steadier energy, clearer thinking and more resilient wellbeing.

Her session complements Michelle’s physio-led education by connecting internal nourishment with physical recovery and long-term health.

The Setting

Held at the beautiful Champneys Forest Mere, this retreat takes place in one of the UK’s most peaceful spa destinations — surrounded by woodland and a tranquil lake. It’s the perfect place to step away from the noise of everyday life and give yourself genuine time to restore.

To reserve and book your space please email me and pay via bank transfer.

Women’s Health: Mothering the Mother Retreat

Friday 13th March 2026

£180 (Champneys Members £130)

TESTIMONIALS FROM PREVIOUS RETREATS

If you any further questions or would like to book please contact me via email using the link below or Call / What’s App Michelle on: 07971172116