9 YEARS IN: My Journey from NHS Physio to Maternity to Menopause

It feels like a lifetime ago, yet it was only nine years back that I truly embarked on the journey of my own business. Before then, I’d been happily teaching Pilates for a fellow physio and friend, a role I genuinely loved. But the seeds of something more, something profoundly personal, had been planted much earlier.

Thirteen years ago, when I was pregnant with my first child, my Saturday mornings became sacred. I’d head to a yoga class, a little bubble of peace in what was otherwise a whirlwind. My NHS physiotherapy job was demanding, a relentless cycle of back-to-back, twenty-minute appointments. I’d finish each day utterly shattered. But that hour of yoga, shared with a friend, was my weekly reset button. It was a chance to connect, to simply be, and to truly appreciate the incredible work my body was doing, providing a safe haven for my growing baby. The breathwork I learned for labour felt empowering, and being part of a community of other pregnant women on their own journeys created a powerful sense of connection. I didn't realise it then, but all those feelings – the empowerment, the community, the mindful movement – they were the very principles that would one day underpin my own business, guiding my Pilates classes for pregnant women.

It was this profound personal experience, combined with my love for Pilates, that truly propelled my career towards pregnancy and postpartum rehabilitation. I went on to specialise, becoming a postnatal Pilates expert, and after my daughter was born, the time felt right. In 2016, I launched my own business.

My first pregnancy had been relatively smooth, but my second brought unexpected challenges. I picked up a cough and cold that just wouldn't budge. With a three-year-old at home, rest felt like a luxury I couldn't afford. There were no leisurely naps like in my first pregnancy. I pushed myself, my body screaming for me to slow down. I remember dragging myself into work one day, convinced I was letting my patients down. My colleagues took one look at me and exclaimed, "Susie, what are you doing here? You should be at home! You’re not well." Eventually, antibiotics and an inhaler were needed to finally shake it off, and after two long weeks, I started to feel human again.

My postnatal journey after my son was born was even tougher. He wouldn't sleep, he had lactose intolerance, and at seven weeks old, we found ourselves in the hospital. It was incredibly hard, he would only fall asleep about 3 am after hours of rocking, squatting and bobbing up and down, it truly drained every ounce of energy from me. But amidst the chaos, there was a lifeline: the weekly weigh-in sessions. Just being able to sit and chat with other mums while our babies played on the mat – it was an absolute godsend. Looking back, it was that simple, human connection that became the driving force behind my business.

My business has truly grown alongside my family. The freedom to nurture both my personal life and my professional ambitions, all while continuing my career as a physio, has been paramount. I've never considered myself particularly business-minded, so bringing in a business coach was, without a doubt, the best decision I ever made. I’ve had coaching since the very beginning, and I honestly wouldn’t be where I am today without it.

Two years ago, I made the bold leap to go fully self-employed, and I haven’t looked back. Freedom, for me, is everything. Freedom to do the school run, to be there for my children, and the freedom to cultivate my business in my own unique way – these have been absolutely vital to my growth.

Then lockdown hit, and I felt a strong pull to expand my support for women. I decided to train as a life coach, wanting to offer holistic guidance across all aspects of their lives. I absolutely love being a coach and seeing the beautiful shifts, growth and rediscoveries that unfold in the women that I work with.

Last year, the time felt right to rebrand my business. It was about growing with my own journey as a woman, embracing the emerging phase of perimenopause and the new challenges it brings. This rebranding felt incredibly authentic, a genuine fusion of my professional expertise as a physiotherapist, a coach, and a Pilates teacher, with the very real, lived experiences of walking this path myself. My business, Maternity to Menopause, isn't just a service; it's a reflection of my own story, a testament to the power of connection, freedom, and authenticity. I truly feel that because I’ve walked this path myself, I can be fully authentic in supporting other women through maternity and right through to menopause.