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Trusty Guts

@guts_and_core

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Ayurveda health coach, pilates and yoga teacher, calisthenics nerd, dancehall lover, bookworm & mother of 2 British Nigerian beauties

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Hiya! I'm Mel, founder of Trusty Guts. I wanted to take a moment to share a bit of the winding road that brought me to this space, and why I’m so deeply passionate about the work I do today.
For a long time, my world looked very different. I spent years in environments where I was almost always surrounded by men; in expat oil communities, on military bases or living in male dominated societies. I never thought I'd be the 'type of woman' surrounded by an amazing community of women, helping them heal, strengthen, and reclaim their inner power.
It took me a while to find my own footing. If you knew me at school, you’d know I was never the sporty type. I always loved dancing, but that was never a 'pursuit'. It was only ever about how it made me feel. That craving for FEELING rather than just 'doing' is what made me practise yoga and later, Pilates.
Yoga became my way to ground during years and years abroad in numerous countries . It was a way to slow my busy mind and connect to me whilst also connecting to wherever I happened to be.
Pilates came after having two daughters, showing me the incredible power of functional movement, core stability, and what it truly means to be supported and feel strong from the root.
Along the way, Ayurveda changed my life. It gave me the blueprint to understand my own body’s unique rhythms, changing how I eat, rest, and live. It taught me that health isn't a one-size-fits-all formula; it’s a living harmony.
Despite my deep love for these practices, it took time to find my voice. I didn’t actually find the courage to step up and teach mindful movement until I was in my late 30s. Looking back, I'm so glad I waited. That time gave me the life experience (including big trauma!) empathy, and somatic wisdom needed to hold space for other women going through major life transitions, surgeries, cycle-related difficulties or chronic health journeys.
Today, my absolute fave thing in the world is helping women inhabit their bodies with joy and deliciousness. Movement isn't a punishment; there are no shoulds or shouldn'ts. Power is about expansion!
Thank you for being here and for trusting your guts! by @guts_and_core

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3 months ago

by @guts_and_core

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a year ago

Thyroid health isn't just about the gland itself. It’s a window into your whole body metabolism, gut health, and immune balance. This was a fascinating webinar to attend, and relevent to a few clients of mine. As always, i enjoyed making connections between the allopathic and the Ayurvedic approaches. Here's a VERY brief recap.

Common Thyroid Presentations:
Hypothyroidism: Sluggish metabolism causing persistent fatigue, cold intolerance, weight gain, and brain fog.
Hyperthyroidism: Overactive metabolism driving rapid heart rate, anxiety, heat intolerance, and sudden weight loss.
Conversion Dysfunction: Low active T3 causing symptoms despite "normal" standard TSH labs.
Structural Issues: Swelling or nodules (goiters) leading to throat tightness or difficulty swallowing.

The Root-Cause:
Autoimmunity: Over active immune responses (e.g. Hashimoto's/Graves') attacking thyroid tissue.
Gut Health: Poor gut flora or leaky gut impairing T4 to T3 conversion and triggering inflammation.
Chronic Stress: Elevated cortisol suppressing TSH and diverting active T4 into unusable reverse T3.
Nutrient Gaps & Toxins: Deficiencies in iodine, selenium or zinc, alongside heavy metal exposure, stalling hormone production.

The Ayurvedic Lens
Ayurveda sees thyroid imbalances as a disruption in Agni (metabolic fire) and accumulation of Ama (toxins):
Kapha Imbalance (Hypo): Heavy, sluggish energy dampening metabolism and causing fluid retention.
Pitta Imbalance (Hyper): Excessive heat overstimulating digestive fire, causing burnout and inflammation.
Vata Imbalance (Stress/Conversion): Anxious, erratic energy disrupting systemic communication and hormone movement.

#thyroid
#thyroidhealth
#thyroidhealing #trustyguts #gutsandcore by @guts_and_core

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9 days ago

New website, new offers, new booking system, new ALL THE TINGS! I'm excited but I'm also heading RIGHT out of my comfort zone (comfortably under a stone), so bear with....

In the meantime, if you want to book onto a class or contact me about an arranged consultation or Somatic PT session, then you likely have my number, so call or whatsapp me. Slide into my DMs instead of emailing at the moment basically!

More to come soon on all the changes, but in the meantime, happy SUNNY weekend!

#gutsandcore #trustyguts #onandoffthemat #bigtingsagwan #worksmarternotharder by @guts_and_core

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13 days ago

I want MUSCLES!

Ahem, well, actually I just want to be strong. I want my clients to feel strong too! It's a great feeling!

I've just added a deep dive on Creatine to my toolkit. Not something I ever thought I'd do if I'm honest (because of its 80s weird gym man connotations), but here we are! Modern science shows it’s a powerhouse for womens' health and healthy ageing. It boosts brain power, mood, energy, and lean muscle at every stage of life.

Creatine is naturally found in herring, salmon, tuna, cod, lean beef, lamb, pork and chicken. It isnt found at all in any plant foods, and actually
high-heat cooking breaks down 15–30% of dietary creatine which is why standard diets only fill about 60–80% of our stores.

As an Ayurveda consultant I tend not to advise on supplementation, but if you are vegan,a woman and getting towards perimenopause, this may be something to explore. Otherwise, think about that Mediterranean style diet, or as the seasons are changing, hearty stews and/or bone broths.

The Ayurvedic Lens:
While Creatine is a modern nutritional discovery, Ayurveda therefore has nothing to say about it. However, this webinar got me thinking about 3 Ayurvedic principles:

Supporting Ojas (vital energy): Creatine acts at the cellular level (ATP) to recharge our innate vitality, vigor, and resilience.

Building Mamsa Dhatu (muscle tissue): Creatine supports physical strength, tissue integrity and healthy physical structure, especially alongside exercise.

Nourishing Majja Dhatu (nervous system and brain): by enhancing cognitive performance, mental clarity, and focus, Creatine directly feeds the nervous system.

I love science and I REALLY love ancient wisdom. Here’s to continuous learning, and brilliant brain health (which, incidentally has been proven to be connected to leg strength 🧠🦵🏾)

#LifelongLearning #FitnessScience #AyurvedicLiving #CreatineForWomen #HealthyAgeing by @guts_and_core

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15 days ago

Another wonderful review for my Somatic Core Restoration class. I love teaching such interesting, funny, kind, clever and strong women. I love it when they find strength they didn't know they possessed. I love it when we start the class ranting and raving and full of out there energy, and leave with a sense of stillness, calm and inner pride, ready to carry on with the week. I love my job! #trustyguts #gutsandcore #somaticcorerestoration #pilates #yoga by @guts_and_core

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24 days ago

Happy to receive my attendance certificate for Joint Support Strategies for Everyday Life.
My core client base is women in their 30s, 40s and 50s, but I also have some women in their 60s, 70s and 80s. In fact, I taught a 90 year old the other day (realistically though, SHE taught ME and everyone else in the room! What an inspiration!)
Real joint care goes way beyond quick fixes- it requires an integrated, whole-body approach. Here are my top key takeaways on movement, sleep, and nutrition, where modern science agrees with Ayurveda.
Movement: Movement acts as a natural pump, delivering essential nutrients via synovial fluid to nourish cartilage, while strong muscles act as key load absorbers to protect joints. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity every week (walking, swimming), plus mobility and strength work (Pilates, yoga, hi there!).
Sleep: Sleep isn't just rest. It's active tissue repair. Poor sleep elevates inflammatory cytokines (e.g. IL-6 and TNF-alpha) that directly accelerate joint damage, making 7-9 hours essential for MSK recovery.
Correct Diet: Shift toward a 'Mediterranean style' pattern. Colourful veggies and healthy fats, whilst cutting down on ultra-processed foods. Pair this with adequate protein (nuts, beans, quinoa, lentils, chicken) to support surrounding muscle mass. Especially as we move towards Autumn and Winter, think home-cooked one-pot stews containing all of the above which are warm, moist and filling as well as delicious. Use herbs and spices to cool/soothe inflammation in the body, whilst warming your body against the cold.

I attended this webinar whilst sitting at #collegelake eating cake in the sunshine between classes and clients. If it weren't for school pick up on that day, no doubt I'd still be there!

#JointHealth #Osteopathy #MovementIsMedicine #trustyguts by @guts_and_core

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a month ago

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a month ago

NEW CLASS ALERT!!!!!!!!!!

This is for all the women who want to work on their core strength but don't have childcare. Perhaps you work 3 or 4 days a week and have Fridays off with your little one while your bigger one/s are at school.

This class is for YOU, not your child. However, your child/ren are welcome from 3 months to pre-schoolers. Bring a few toys, bring your mat, and come and work on regaining balance and strength using movements founded in Pilates and yoga.

Take all the breaks you need to breastfeed, bottlefeed, change nappies, wipe up saliva or unwrap snacks. This is a judgement -free zone where you will be surrounded by women in the same stage of life as you are.

Come along for a FREE trial class on FRIDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER. Contact me to secure your place :) by @guts_and_core

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a month ago

Just a friendly reminder that we only have one week left of the Summer holidays.
We have all peaked and troughed by now- you, me, the children, the partners, the grandparents, the whoever..... well done well done well done to all concerned!
Nearly there- one more week to go people. Come on! We've got this!!!!!! 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
#trustyguts #gutsandcore #summerholidays2026 #summerholidayactivities #schoolsummerholidays by @guts_and_core

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2 months ago

Moments like this remind me exactly why I do what I do.
To know that these classes bring comfort, strength, and real restoration when it’s needed most is the greatest gift. Holding space for a community of wonderful women from all walks of life is an absolute honour. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for trusting me. Thank you for trusting your guts!
#trustyguts #gutsandcore #somaticcorerestoration #corerestoration #womensupportingwomen by @guts_and_core

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2 months ago

Happy birthday to Big Daddy Man aka Little Softie aka my Gorimapa aka Big Fella aka Tiny aka Mochedda aka Mo aka Dre aka Dare aka My man my man my man my baby my BABY
One more year 'pon 'dem xxxxxxxxxx by @guts_and_core

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2 months ago