About Altha Alchemy
My Story
M.E. has been part of my life since 2000. For much of that time, my life was dominated by chronic pain, brain fog, inflammation and crushing fatigue. Words can't capture how severe it was, or what it meant to live that way for so long. This wasn't simply stress, burnout or being exhausted. I kept borrowing energy I didn't have to keep going.
I would appear to be just about coping at work but come home utterly depleted. There were days when I crawled upstairs because I didn't have the energy to walk. Often, I would sit in the car before or after work and cry because I was too exhausted to get out. I wasn't using up the last of my energy at work. I was starting each day with an empty battery and relentlessly forcing my body to keep going. There was nothing left for the things that make life more than simply getting through it.
My mind rarely stopped either. I replayed conversations, analysed interactions and constantly adapted myself to what I thought was expected of me. Discovering much later that I was AuDHD helped me understand how much additional energy I had spent masking and trying to function in ways that didn't come naturally to me.
When the menopause hit, I collapsed. The coping mechanisms, masking and irrational drive that had kept me going for so long were no longer available to me. Eventually, I felt like there was nothing left. For almost three years, the already small life I had managed to hold onto became smaller still.
Reiki became an important source of spiritual comfort during that time. It gave me beautiful glimpses of light, energy and connection when so much of my world felt heavy and limited.
Then I discovered SOMA® Breath, and it changed my life. Through rhythmic breathing, music and meditation, I began to experience something I hadn't felt for a very long time. My mood lifted and I felt lighter, brighter and more alive. I experienced joy again.
I'm still recovering, but my life and the way I experience it have changed profoundly. I sleep better, I'm less reactive and I recognise the signals from my body sooner. When stress, worry or old patterns begin creeping back in, I notice what's happening and know how to help myself gently change course.
I don't just feel more life in me. I have more of myself to give, and I'm finally beginning to feel that everything life has to offer is for me too. That's why I’m so passionate about sharing Reiki and SOMA® Breath with other people. If these practices could bring optimism, light, connection, energy and joy into my life when I had so little capacity to begin with, I truly believe they have something to offer everyone.
You don't have to be struggling or reach breaking point to benefit. You might simply want to rediscover some of your energy and sparkle, quieten a busy mind, connect more deeply with yourself or bring more joy into your life.
Liv
The Learning Behind My Practice
Advanced SOMA® Breath Instructor
Reiki Practitioner in Usui Shiki Ryōhō, trained and attuned by a Reiki Master 12th generation lineage from Dr Usui
UK Reiki Federation Member
“You are an aperture through which the universe is looking at and exploring itself.” Alan Watts
That sense of curiosity and discovery continues to shape my work. I'm currently working towards my SOMA® Breath Transformational Coach certification, while continuing to deepen my Reiki practice following the completion of my Reiki Master training and attunements.
My Approach
My experiences shape the way I work with others. I know what it’s like to spend years overriding what your body is telling you. Because of that, it matters to me that there is space for you to listen to yourself, rather than being told what you should feel, experience or become.
I don't believe my role is to fix or heal you. Instead, I hope to create the conditions where you can slow down, feel comfortable enough to listen to yourself and your body, and discover what you need. That will be different for everyone, and it can be different from one day to the next.
There’s a lot of thought and care behind the experiences I create, from your sensory preferences to the breath rhythms, Reiki, music, meditation and words I use. You can follow what feels right for you, soften or pause when you need to, and allow the experience to unfold in your own way.
I'm equally fascinated by the science of breath and the energy and spiritual connection I've experienced through Reiki. Understanding more about what is happening in the body doesn't take away the wonder for me, and wonder doesn't make me any less curious about the science. Both are very much part of who I am and what I offer, with plenty of room for your own beliefs and curiosity too.
I can guide you, share what I know and create each experience with care and intention, while leaving space for whatever it means to you.
Intrigued?
If something in my story or the way I work has connected with you, or you're curious to know more, I’d love to hear from you. You don't need to know which session is right for you or be sure what you're looking for. We can simply have a chat and go from there.
It's difficult to capture these experiences fully in words, so you might also like to read what other people have said about their experiences or have a look through the different sessions I offer.