Beatha Coaching

Dear friends

Hello from 2026. Only seven days old and already treating us like an overwhelmed toddler throwing its toys everywhere. I hope you are safe and warm wherever you are and able to hold on a little to the restfulness of midwinter. I am back at work seeing clients today after a gentle warmup with group co-writing and a new evening yoga class yesterday. My highlight of the year so far has to be logging on for Beatha Coaching Community’s co-working session on Tuesday and seeing how genuinely delighted everyone was to be together again. Since forming the community in 2023 it has grown slowly but steadily into a safe space for women in academia to connect and find support that is, I think, fairly unique. Crossing disciplines and career stages (and national borders), emphasising compassion and respect over productivity, and accepting the reality of the sector whilst refusing to be pulled down by it. I feel very privileged to be holding the keys to this space and getting to watch relationships and research grow and thrive.

I am also starting 2026 back on Substack. Never say never again (a very bad Bond film from what I remember, or was it the spoof one?). You can connect with my writing here. Be warned, Substack is my space for reflective practice and keeping some writing momentum going, so the posts are short and random, more of a research diary than anything else. If you would like to pop down the coaching rabbit hole with me, you can subscribe for free.

Beatha Coaching Community

I am really looking forward to the Beatha Coaching Community events we have coming up this quarter. As well as weekly co-writing sessions and a monthly group coaching call, BCC members get access to all my workshops, and a full archive of past recordings. Non-members are very welcome to join the events on a one off basis for £12.50 per workshop, or £25 for a masterclass. But if you think you might like to attend more than one event, consider joining and get the full community benefits. I offer three price bands and reduced cost 1-2-1 coaching is also available.

23 January 11am – Masterclass

Supervising with mental health in mind

For academics involved in supervising, a pastoral care role, or running a team.

In this two-hour session you will be guided to think about your own academic experience and how this might impact on your supervision style and expectations.  You will then be introduced to a communication model that can reduce the likelihood of candidates attaching unreasonable expectations to their relationship with you.  In part two you will learn the basics of how our nervous system operates, including appreciating the subtleties of anxiety and burnout.  We’ll explore ways to support struggling students without taking on an excessive load or responsibility as their supervisor.  The workshop is interactive and includes opportunities to ask questions and reflect on current challenges.

18 February 1pm – Workshop

Finitude, endings, and letting go of your writing

This interactive writing workshop will focus on Oliver Burkeman’s concept of ‘finitude’ to explore why endings and letting go are so hard in the writing process.  We’ll spend some time reflecting on our personal challenges with bringing writing to an end point and letting go of it, and use IFS Parts Work to get in touch with the parts of ourselves that are blocking our progress.  We’ll then move on to play more creatively with the concept of finitude through some creative practice, looking at the Zen reality that endings are inevitable, and how to celebrate this in our writing.

We are also really delighted to be welcoming Linda Lazzaroni-Eagan from Humankind Counselling back to the community for a members’ only event next week! Linda will be bringing us a nurturing session designed to support our wellbeing through challenging times at work. Whether you’re navigating moments of pressure, workplace tension, or feeling drained, Linda will help you shift from stress to self-care.  In those difficult moments, it’s easy to absorb negativity or let your self-esteem drift, but Linda will offer gentle ways to protect your sense of self and stay grounded. This session includes reflective journaling prompts to help you build a personal wellbeing practice that supports you through tough times. Together, we’ll explore how to care for yourself when it matters most—so you can meet challenges with calm and confidence.

If you would like to join us for Linda’s beautiful workshop consider trying the seven day free trial for the community by signing up here.

Yoga with Mind-Body-Movement

Lastly, Mind-Body-Movement, my online platform for pre-recorded, supportive, and accessible movement practices is almost one year old! I’m so proud of the over 200 classes now contained in the platform and love sending out my weekly email with a suggested class list and new practices. What do you think I should do to celebrate our one year anniversary? Write back and let me know – and especially if you are a subscriber I would love to hear your thoughts about how the platform has supported you this year so I can do a better job of shaping and promoting it in 2026.

I am also now teaching four weekly classes in the Stirling area – Monday Somatic Yoga continues at the Yoga Tree, and the class is now repeated on Tuesday in Bridge of Allan at the Wee Yoga Room on Henderson St (perfect for UoS academics and PhDs!) at 6pm. I am at the Peak on Fridays for Strengthening Vinyasa at 5.45 and Somatic Yoga at 6.45.

If you haven’t moved with me before, here’s a cosy free practice for you for the cold January nights:

Sending love and support, and do reply and let me know how 2026 finds you.

Thank you for being here,

Francesca x

p.s. – I have space for new clients, either online or in person in Bridge of Allan. If you feel like some coaching support might be helpful to you at the start of the year, you can find out more about me and request an initial call here.