A chat at home with Triona from MamaHugz Yoga in Richmond

A chat at home with Triona from MamaHugz Yoga in Richmond

A chat at home with Triona of MamaHugz Yoga in Richmond

A Personal branding photography shoot and a chat with Triona from MamaHugz Yoga in Richmond

I was introduced to Triona a few years ago now.  She was making a name for herself in Richmond, her local town, in the field of pregnancy and Mum and baby yoga.  She needed a few images for her business which I shot and since then have worked on a number of projects together.  I was also thrilled to photograph her first baby shortly after he was born along with Triona and her husband.

Below is a photo branding session from a few months ago and a chat with the lady herself.  I photographed Triona at home reflecting the situation in this Covid year where home has become our work space as well as our relaxation space.  Our homes and our communities have become even more important than before and Triona is passionate about her community of St Margarets and Richmond.

Tell us a little about your background

I grew up in Kilkenny and trained as an accountant but then the travel bug hit and a friend inspired me to give London a try.  I was finally persuaded and took a career move working with Price Waterhouse Coopers in the city.   I loved to buzz of London and my job and I also met my now husband here.

I had found yoga in Ireland and had always enjoyed the mental and physical grounding and calm it brought but a trip to India for a friend’s wedding introduced me to a different level where I met the most inspiring teacher and, in that week in Goa on one of his retreats, I started to develop a deeper connection to the practise.  He instilled a greater confidence in me which pushed me to really believe more greatly in it’s benefit.   I guess a kind of awakening!

On my return from that trip I started to think more about my yoga journey and one day I saw a yoga business pitching their business on the television show Dragon’s Den.  A few days later I called them to chat further about working with them – I loved their ethos: Yoga throughout a woman’s life supporting their emotional journey starting with pregnancy through motherhood.   The next day I joined.  A few years on with experience in the yoga business under my belt, I decided to take a big leap and set up by own business – MamaHugz Yoga embracing mother, woman and child.

My yoga business encompasses pregnancy and mum and baby yoga classes for local mums and recently I have also recently introduced Kids Yoga.

What are your current hopes and dreams?

A have worked hard to achieve a loyal following of wonderful and supportive mums over the last few years which means a great deal to me so now it’s all about finding and keeping a balance between my work and home life.   I want to keep that passion and explore new ideas and ways of working while ensuring that I spend plenty of time with my husband and son.

Any advice for a new mother?

Take it day by day – don’t think ahead too far.  Remember everything is just a phase and it will pass. Don’t get bogged down by reading ‘how to’ mum books and concentrate on trusting your own instincts.  You always have a choice so really focus on that.  Finally I would say, it’s not easy and you may feel a little crazy – but it’s ok and normal.  You are not crazy!

What have been the biggest challenges workwise?

Self doubt – Imposter symdrome!   Building a business is tough and you question your worth and whether what you are doing is valuable.  I found local competition tough – when a new similar business sets up in your area, you question if your following will stay with you.  Also renting a studio is tricky as sometimes things go wrong with that.

In the end I have been humbled by the support of the local mums.  They have stayed with me and that means a great deal.  It’s a wonderful community in the Richmond area…  once they use and like you they stay with you.  I have had amazing feedback and cards and gifts and that is what it is all about for me.   Loyal and happy clients!

Then there is the mum guilt around not being with my family when I’m working but I’m finding that balance now so it’s getting better although it can creep in when I’m not looking.

Where would you like to be in a few years?

Most definitely in my community of St Margarets and the Richmond area.  I love it here and I want to give back.  I don’t want to become stale, so it is about searching for new ways to offer something valuable to my clients.

Favourite place in the UK?

Chipping Campden in The Costwolds.  I love the beautiful villages which all offer something different.  I particularly love the amazing food in the pubs there.   It’s so peaceful too compared to London which offers something really different not so far away.

Favourite spots abroad and why?

Most definitely France.  I went to university in Grenoble and used to go to France for family trips every year as a child and that has stayed with me.  I adore the culture and of course the food – particularly in Provence and the Cote D’zur.

How do you handle a bad day?

Exercise of some form.  Fresh air.  Self care – a massage or a hair appointment – to treat myself!

Work ethic?

I have a strong work ethic.  I want to do my best and be honest and authentic.  Making others happy is important so customer service is central to my business.

Brands that inspire?

I love to shop local so a wonderful brand called Seekology focused on selling independent beauty and wellbeing brands is selling in Bhuti Richmond.   I also adore the candles from Avenue Richmond which are hand made and local.   As a yoga teacher I use doTerra Aromatherapy oil which compliments my work beautifully.

 

https://mamahugzyoga.co.uk/

Pregnancy yoga. Mum and baby yoga and kids yoga

https://seekology.co/

https://www.avenuerichmond.com/

 

 

 

 

London life, Wanderlust & Photography Stories

Welcome to my little blog and a chance to share snippets of London life, travel and my photography stories.  There will be interviews & stories, offers & suggestions as well as things that I dream of but haven’t experienced YET…….  I look foward to sharing with you and hearing your thoughts.  Jilly x

Contact me

 email: Jilly@jillycowdryphotography.co.uk

Tel: 07808724330

An enchanting place in the French Alps for a family ski trip

An enchanting place in the French Alps for a family ski trip

An enchanting place in the French Alps for a family ski trip

Le Croix Fry Hotel and Chalets in the French Alps

Tucked away high above beautiful Lake Annecy in France lies a truly magical ski area.   It’s a little off the UK ski radar although nearby La Clusaz is fairly well frequented by the British ski tourists.  Not far from the little village of Manigod along the craggy mountain pass called the Col de la Croix Fry lies Hotel and Chalets Croix Fry.  Well known by the locals it’s an enchanting place perched on the edge of the Col offering magical views across the valley.

I discovered it many years ago when I visited over Xmas after a few days in Annecy.  The hotel has been in the Veyrat family for generations and has been lovingly taken care of and expanded offering a luxury hotel, outdoor pool and the beautiful restaurant La Table de Marie-Ange.  It’s a truly spectacular location high on the Col allowing peace and serenity that is hard to find in the Alps and an interior so cozy that you really don’t want to leave…

Story continues below photographs.

 

 

 

The hotel itself is pretty expensive if you are travelling with a family so we opted, on this occasion, for one of the chalets dotted up the side of the mountain across from the hotel which is quite reasonably priced.  Hansel and Gretel wooden cottages await with the same luxury and coziness within the hotel but with a kitchen and wood burning fire to enjoy.  There are a number of different sizes to choose from; we stayed in a fairly spacious three bedroom which was perfect for two adults and two teens.  It was tricky to drive up to the chalet so the hotel bus delivered us and also brought us morning patisseries (which were a dream and different every day) and wood for our fire.   A small but very tasty dinner menu was also deliverd and you could choose to be a little lazy, light the fire in the chalet and have dinner delivered to your door which we did a few times.  All pretty dreamy!!   The terraces or balconies were huge and offered a wonderful spot for afternoon sunshine or early evening drinking.

The hotel restaurant is quite pricey but offers fine food from the region of the highest quality.  A very special experience!  There is also a gorgeous little spa area with jacuzzi overlooking the mountains and steam and spa treatments to enjoy too.  The hotel bus takes and collects to the ski station five minutes away where you can ski just the Manigod region (25kms mainly blues) or all of La Clusaz (125kms with far more reds and blacks).  There is a stunning run down through the trees to La Clusaz village from Manigod which also houses a superb cross country skiing school.  It has a charming and authentic feel which you don’t find in many other resorts.

Ten minutes drive from the chalet is the village of Manigod where you will discover a wonderful bakery plus a convenience store to stock up on foods.  Just outside the village is Lo Garajo which is a stylish cafe and wine bar also selling crafts and clothes from local artisans.  We went many times and enjoyed coffee and glasses of wine on their terrace with a spectacular view.

Further down in the valley is La Clusaz, a pretty town that has most things you will need.  Many pharmacies (always a joy to visit the French pharmacies and buy too many skin creams), restaurants, bars and general stores.  We ventured down one evening to eat at a little bistro called L’Arbe.   This was the highlight of our trip and topped most places I have eaten in the Alps over the years.  Also in the area you will find Le Grand Bornand, a pretty savoyarde village and Thones, a working town further down the mountain.  Of course a day trip to the lake at Annecy is something also really special.   We did also manage to sneak in a number of fondues and raclettes which were super.

As a photographer I’m always trying to take a few shots of my daughters.  On this occasion my youngest posed for a few but there is a great photography shop in La Clusaz which can capture brilliant images of you and your family on the mountain to treasure called Art Photo.

Having had a bad ski injury previously I was hesitant to ski to say the least but as the snow was perfect and the sun was out I decided to hook up with the local ski school in Manigod and take a few lessons while the kids skied a few days with an instructor called Boris who took them on runs and jumps we could never manage.  I’m so glad I didn’t know that he planned on jumps for the kids otherwise I would have been a little worried.  Always give the yes and no options to those instructors as they all have a twinkle in their eye and are looking to push their clients to the next level.

In the end though, a seat on the terrace or by the wood burner after a few hours walking or skiing could not be more perfect.   My kids loved it and were truly enchanted by their little mountain hideaway.

 

We travelled to Lyon and hired a car which took around 2 hours 20 minutes but I have also travelled via Geneva and hired a car which is faster.  Chalets can be booked directly with Hotel Le Croix Fry and Chalets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

London life, Wanderlust & Photography Stories

Welcome to my little blog and a chance to share snippets of London life, travel and my photography stories.  There will be interviews & stories, offers & suggestions as well as things that I dream of but haven’t experienced YET…….  I look foward to sharing with you and hearing your thoughts.  Jilly x

Contact me

 email: Jilly@jillycowdryphotography.co.uk

Tel: 07808724330

Christmas at the enchanting Petersham Nurseries in Richmond

Christmas at the enchanting Petersham Nurseries in Richmond

Christmas at the enchanting Petersham Nurseries in Richmond

As the seasons change, Petersham Nurseries always amazes us with its inspirational setting to dream, relax and renew.  Christmas is magical whether it’s for coffee, lunch or a little gardening inspiration.

Petersham Nurseries has become world famous.  Its a place of beauty, an emporium of goods and a celebration of the seasons.  I’m lucky to live locally and often wander across the dreamy Petersham meadows sitting by the Thames in Richmond to a location I call ‘my peaceful place’.  Even when the cars and the tourists and the day trippers roll in,  I can always find a peaceful corner to ponder.

There is something so enchanting and unique about this space which they have cleverly translated across to their Covent Garden store in the heart of London.

I have visited many times and never tire of the carefully chosen furniture, candles, soaps and cards; to name but a few.  When it comes to gardening this is a spot where purchasing a plant pot or some herbs feels like one of life’s little luxuries to take home and place in your garden or a window sill as a reminder.

As a photographer, I’m always inspired to take my camera and capture the beauty of the place.

The cafe in the glasshouses bustle with discreet staff serving the most delicious and nourishing lunches and divine afternoon teas.  The entrances are filled with seasonal flower arrangements I can only dream about creating and are full of little plant pots with herbs and flowers which adorn every table.

The outdoor, covered restaurant offers a unique eating experience and is highly regarded.  I have eaten there once on a special occasion.   I’m generally located next to a generous piece of carrot cake and a china cup of earl grey,  sometimes with a friend.

So if you fancy a treat and some ‘you time’ then this is a place to visit.

The experience can be paired with a walk by the river or along Petersham Meadows towards Richmond town or to Ham House.  This is a area of outstanding beauty where many famous painters over the years have painted the view from Richmond hill down to the Thames and Petersham.

 

www.petershamnurseries.com

 

 

 

London life, Wanderlust & Photography Stories

Welcome to my little blog and a chance to share snippets of London life, travel and my photography stories.  There will be interviews & stories, offers & suggestions as well as things that I dream of but haven’t experienced YET…….  I look foward to sharing with you and hearing your thoughts.  Jilly x

Contact me

 email: Jilly@jillycowdryphotography.co.uk

Tel: 07808724330

An interview with Nicky from The London Birth School

An interview with Nicky from The London Birth School

An interview with Nicky from The London Birth School

A Business Branding photography session and conversation with Nicky

I met Nicky a few years ago and was lucky enough to photograph her baby daughter along with the rest of the family.  It’s been a pleasure to photograph her growing family now a number of times and recently we met to create some images for the branding of her business and have a chat about her exciting business plans and family life.  Come and read the interview below.

Tell us a little about your background

My name is Nicky and I run The London Birth School  – I’ve been running antenatal classes in London for four years now and have two young children of my own (Theo aged 4 and Florence aged 2).

I studied Classics at Oxford and worked in the City as a litigation lawyer for ten years.  When pregnant with my son, I came across hypnobirthing and found a course the other side of London to me.  It was so different from the hippy dippy expectations I had of it and it totally changed my outlook around my experience of birth.  After my son was born, I spent the remainder of my maternity leave training and setting up my business to spread the word and to teach hypnobirthing to busy women who also didn’t think it was for them.

The London Birth School is now expanding to offer a wider range of antenatal and postnatal classes and online courses, and I am personally training to become a doula.

What are your current hopes and dreams?

I want The London Birth School to support women through their pregnancy and into motherhood, with a range of classes, courses and bespoke events to allow them to be confident and empowered and to meet other fun, sociable parents-to-be to share their journey with.

How has motherhood changed you?

It has definately made me work on my patience (not something I’m famous for!) but also taught me to enjoy and find the joy in the truly simple things and to slow down.

Any advice for a new mother?

Practise trusting your instincts – you are the expert on your baby.  Don’t compare your experience of motherhood to anyone else’s.  Everyone does things differently.  Also there is no point trying to rush a toddler!

What led you to where you are right now?

Having gone from being totally petrified of birth to having a calm and positive homebirth, I wanted to empower women to have the confidence and knowledge to make informed decisions for themselves and help them achieve their own positive birth.

Where would you like to be in a few years?

I would like to be supporting women and creating communities all over London (and beyond) for The London Birth School.

Favourite place in the UK?

Brighton – it’s where I grew up and went to school and where family still live and also North Cornwall (I love the beaches and the fish and chips!).

Favourite spots abroad and why?

Algonquin Provincial Park in Canada in the fall for the colours and South Africa for the food, wine, beaches and sunshine.

How do you handle a bad day?

Run a bath with some relaxing bath oil, dim the lights and light a candle.  Try and have an early night and know that tomorrow is a fresh start.

Work ethic?

I work best when I feel organised and I do love a beautiful journal for writing and planning.

In an ideal world I’ll do an online workout first thing, then when I’m back from the school run sit down to work with my second cup of tea and some homemade granola.  Working for myself and working from home means there can be quite blurred boundaries between work and home life but I’m a fan of multi-tasking and work best when there’s a little pressure.

Brands that inspire?

Neom Organics are a beautiful, ethical wellbeing brand that make simply gorgeous products.  Their plug-in diffuser is one of my favourite possessions.

Daylesford Organic Farm for the most delicious and high quality organic food for a real treat.

The Pig Hotel; country laid back hotels in the UK with kitchen gardens, inspired menus and creative botanical cocktails!!

What creates magic in your view?

Women supporting women and raising each other up?

 

www.thelondonbirthschool.com

 

 

 

London life, Wanderlust & Photography Stories

Welcome to my little blog and a chance to share snippets of London life, travel and my photography stories.  There will be interviews & stories, offers & suggestions as well as things that I dream of but haven’t experienced YET…….  I look foward to sharing with you and hearing your thoughts.  Jilly x

Contact me

 email: Jilly@jillycowdryphotography.co.uk

Tel: 07808724330

A year with my family in Aix en Provence

A year with my family in Aix en Provence

A year with my family in Aix en Provence

Sometimes you actually make something happen that you have been planning and dreaming about.  Never give up on that plan.

I don’t know about you but I’m always dreaming up different plans and ideas for the family to action and the majority don’t get off the ground.  But on this occasion it did after an article in a magazine about a little village in Provence coupled with a long desire to spend more time in France led us to a decision to up sticks and live in Provence for a year at least.  The decision and the French experience led me to write a blog www.mydreamyprovence.com  about my experiences.  This awoke a creative side and with a new camera in my hand placed firmly on AUTOMATIC, I started to snap away.  This, in turn, led to a desire to study photography on my return from our year there.

Come and read my story…

I’m not alone…  Aix en Provence is a place people want live.  It’s bustling all year round with each season bringing something truly unique.  While the city is a tourist trap in the summer months and certainly the most popular time to visit, it is peaceful and atmospheric in the winter where restaurant owners replace the outdoor terraces with an enclosed cosier space to enjoy a chocolate chaud.  An almost alpine feel!

People come from all over the world to live and work here and we were another family passing through.  Some stay longer and others go after a while but our year gave us a better appreciation of life in France and a lifetime of family memories.  There were struggles with the children as they adapted to life at a small, international school, CIPEC,  hidden deep in the countryside outside Aix but in the end their experiences were so rich, they overcame their fears and bonded with children from many different cultures.   Lessons were split between English &  French and all the children played in woods near the little school two or three times a day.   The school experience felt a little like going back in time to my youth where their was more freedom for the children.

Aix en Provence balances a rich cultural life along with some of the very best outdoor flower & food markets in the whole of France.  Walking through the city is enchanting any time of the year with it’s magnificant historic buildings and architecture and exquisite boutiques and restaurants.  A food & shopping lover’s paradise!  Cafe culture reigns along the beautiful Bouvelard of the Cours Mirabeau and the pretty maze of streets inside the Roman walls.

Once we finally adapted to daily life we were able to explore a little further.  With the Luberon to the North, we regularly visited towns such as Avignon and St Remy de Provence as well pretty little Cassis to the South when the tourists had gone and a swim and a fish lunch was enjoyed alongside the locals.  Nice and St Tropez were accessible at weekends and the Southern Alps, which was particularly exciting for me as a skier, were within easy reach.

I joined the International Hiking Club of Provence and walked the Calangues of Marseille, Mt St Victoire in Aix and the hills of the Luberon.  The walk always ended at a bistro with wine and plenty of laughter (and relief for surviving the hike).  We picked olives in a local farmers field around Christmas followed with a picnic of local ham and pickles and joined a weekly kids french cooking class at L’athelier Mathlide.  I also attended cooking classes in local Provencal houses where I met families sharing their traditional cooking techniques.   The Patisseries became a little obssesion (there is a cake for every occasion) along with buying scarves and trying to wear them like the chic French women of Provence.  We attended French class & wine courses and local festivals and met wonderful locals and ex-pats and learnt about their stories.

Time passed too quickly and we returned to London mainly due to work constraints.  In the end making the decision to go was the hardest part.  We are so glad we ventured there and we will treasure the memories of our time there as a family forever.   I look forward to returning again to take pictures as a professional photographer.

Travel to Aix en Provence via Marseille or Avignon via BA or Easyjet or take the train via Paris to Aix en Provence.

Here are a few special addresses for your notebook:

www.mydreamyprovence.com/stunning-retro-chic-b-b-aix-countryside/  Perfect B & B

www.villagallici.com  Perfect 5 star

www.maisondauphine.com  Perfect rental

www.mydreamyprovence.com My blog

www.perfectlyprovence.co Perfect resource for region

www.lateliercuisinedemathilde.com Fab French cooking classes

www.carrieres-lumieres.com  Art gallery

www.mirabeauwine.com  Perfect story of a family move to Provence.  My favourite wine.

and finally:

www.maisonweibel.com  Exquisite cake & tea and total obsession

 

 

Wanderlust, London life & Photography Stories

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Contact me

 email: Jilly@jillycowdryphotography.co.uk

Tel: 07808724330