Welcoming the Light
A Conversation with Anisha Ahead of Our Spring Solstice Evening
As winter softens and the light slowly returns, we’re preparing for a special evening in the Barnes boutique to welcome the Spring Solstice. I recently sat down with Anisha — yoga teacher and hypnotherapist — to talk about rituals, resilience and the quiet beauty of this in-between season.
Ahead of the event, I asked her a few questions about her journey, daily rituals and how we can all move through this seasonal shift with a little more ease
Finding Yoga - A Lifelong Anchor
Anisha’s relationship with yoga began early.
Growing up in a boarding school in the mountains of Rajasthan, yoga was part of the daily routine alongside classical dance training. At the time it felt more like discipline than discovery — but those early lessons quietly stayed with her.
Later, through her mother’s own yoga practice, she began to understand the deeper philosophy behind it - the breath, the rituals, the connection between body, mind and spirit.
The real turning point came after the sudden loss of her mother in 2004.
“Yoga, breathwork and meditation became my anchor,” she says. “It was no longer something I practised - it became something I lived.”
Since then, yoga has travelled with her through life across the US, UK and New Zealand — a constant that brings her back to herself wherever she is in the world.
A Gentle Start to the Day
For Anisha, mornings are about creating calm before the world wakes up.
She begins with a simple moment of gratitude before getting out of bed, followed by ten slow breaths to arrive fully in her body.
Her morning ritual includes warm lemon water, a short walk with her dog, and a few minutes of face yoga or acupressure to wake up circulation.
But one practice never changes.
“Wherever I am in the world, I sit for twenty minutes of breathwork and meditation. It’s my fuel for the day, the place where I reconnect and reset.”
Three Words That Describe Her Work
Grounding. Restorative. Transformative.
“At the heart of my work is helping people return to a state of inner safety and clarity.”
When we feel regulated and centred, she explains, we’re able to move through life with far more resilience and ease.
The One Ritual She Never Skips
Meditation — morning and evening.
Even five minutes of breathwork before sleep can quiet the mind and help release the day.
“These moments are small but profoundly regulating,” she says. “They’re how I return to myself.”
A Misconception About Hypnotherapy
Many people believe hypnotherapy means losing control or being “put under”.
In reality, the opposite is true.
Clients remain fully aware and in control. Hypnosis simply creates a deeply relaxed, focused state where the subconscious mind, where habits and patterns live becomes more accessible.
“It’s not about being controlled by a therapist,” Anisha explains. “It’s about reconnecting with your own inner resources.”
A Simple Five-Minute Reset
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, Anisha recommends this simple practice:
Sit comfortably.
Place one hand on your heart and one on your belly.
Close your eyes and take 10 slow breaths, with longer exhales than inhales.
Let your shoulders drop.
Unclench your jaw.
Soften your face.
“In just a few minutes, your nervous system remembers that you are safe.”
Reframing the Winter Season
Many people feel heavy or sluggish at this time of year, something Anisha sees often.
But she encourages us to think of winter differently (something I talked aout in my previous blog post)
“Nothing in nature blooms all year,” she says. “Winter isn’t failure, it’s a season of restoration.”
Instead of asking What’s wrong with me?, she suggests asking:
What is this season asking of me?
When we allow rest, reflection and stillness, we begin preparing naturally for the energy of spring.
Letting Go Before Spring
If there’s one thing Anisha believes we should release before stepping into a new season, it’s this:
The belief that we are behind.
“Spring isn’t about catching up,” she says. “It’s about emergence.”
When we let go of self-criticism, energy returns naturally — like sap rising in a tree.
A Mantra for This In-Between Season
“I honour this quiet season. Beneath the surface, new life is already forming."
“Rest is productive. I am preparing to bloom.”
A Book That Shaped Her Thinking
One book Anisha returns to often is Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.
“It’s a powerful reminder that even in the hardest moments, we still have the freedom to choose how we respond.”
Join Us for Our Spring Solstice Evening
We’ll be gathering in the Barnes boutique for a very special evening of gentle conversation, breathwork and seasonal reflection as we welcome the return of the light.
A moment to pause, reset and step into spring feeling a little more grounded.
What Can Guests Expect on the Evening?
Rather than a formal workshop, Anisha describes the evening as a soft, intimate immersion , a moment of calm connection at the threshold of spring.
Within the gentle atmosphere of the boutique, guests will be guided through subtle yet powerful practices including face yoga, calming breathwork, light EFT tapping and soothing visualisation, all woven into a relaxed, conversational flow.
“It’s designed to feel nurturing rather than instructional,” she says.“Almost like being held in a pocket of calm among friends - quietly releasing winter’s heaviness and inviting renewal.”
Who Is This Evening For?
This gathering is for anyone longing for a slower pace and a moment of reconnection with themselves, their breath and the simple joy of being present.
It’s especially lovely for those who may feel a little overstimulated or depleted after winter, and who would like to welcome spring with intention and softness.
There’s nothing to achieve and nothing to perform — simply space to slow down and receive.
“Warm, luminous and gently renewed,” Anisha says.
Her hope is that guests leave with a quieter mind, a more open heart and a subtle glow not from effort, but from ease.
A feeling of having been nourished, seen and restored in the most understated way.
Email hello@dilligrey.com for more information or click here to reserve your spot
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Vickie and Anisha
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