Episode 160: Motherhood, Recovery & Learning to Live in Balance

What does recovery look like when life doesn’t stop around you?

In this episode, Anna is joined by Charlotte Wightman for an honest conversation about chronic illness, motherhood, recovery and what it means to build a life that feels sustainable — rather than constantly trying to do recovery “perfectly.”

Charlotte shares what it was like navigating her own health while also being a mum, including the inevitable tension between what she felt she should be doing for her recovery and what family life actually allowed.

They also explore some of the different pieces that became important along the way. Charlotte talks about discovering sleep apnoea, the work she did with Anna on her digestive health which allowed her to come off her adrenal support she had for a long time been dependent on. 

They also talk about yoga beyond the physical practice: how its wider philosophy has influenced Charlotte’s relationship with illness, motherhood and recovery, and ultimately inspired the creation of The Held Collective.

In this episode, they explore:

• The reality of supporting your own recovery while parenting
• Letting go of the pressure to do recovery “perfectly”
• The unexpected ways illness can change the way we live and parent
• Charlotte’s experience of discovering sleep apnoea
• Why symptoms can sometimes have multiple contributing factors
• What functional testing added to Charlotte’s understanding of her health
• Why progress rarely comes down to one single intervention
• Yoga as a philosophy rather than simply a physical practice
• Creating movement and wellbeing practices that fit around real life
• How Charlotte’s experiences shaped The Held Collective
• What “recovery” means to Charlotte now
• The importance of balance, flexibility and building a meaningful life alongside health

This is a thoughtful conversation about moving away from rigid ideas of what recovery should look like and towards something much more individual, flexible and sustainable.

This podcast is for educational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for individual medical advice. If you have concerns about symptoms such as persistent fatigue or possible sleep apnoea, please speak with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

Useful Links

Charlotte’s Website: https://www.gentleyogawithcharlotte.com/

Take the Chronic Fatigue Quiz: https://app.annamarsh.co.uk/quiz-page

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anna__marsh_

Work with me: https://annamarsh.co.uk/work-together/

Website: https://annamarsh.co.uk/