Edition 2 of the Successful Women in Business Network Magazine

An interview withSammie McFarland

Gill Donnell chats to award-winner Sammie, who runs a women’s wellness centre, The Breathing Space, in Dorchester, Dorset

All photos © Lara Jane Thorpe

Gill: Sammie, tell me about you and your business.

Sammie: I run The Breathing Space, which is a women’s wellness centre, based in Brewery Square in Dorchester, specialising in women’s classes. We offer movement and self-care classes to women in all life phases, including the teenage years, during pregnancy, post-natal, perimenopause, menopause and beyond, right the way through to our late senior classes. As long as we can breathe, we can make change.

Gill: At the 2019 Successful Women Awards you won the overall Successful Women award. How did that make a difference to you?

Sammie: Receiving that award gave me the courage to take the plunge and take a lease for a studio. I received Women’s Wellness Coach of the Year earlier in the year too; together they made a big difference. It gave me more self-belief and the confidence that my work counts. I felt that if professionals in my industry, and in business, believed in me as much as I believed in my own work, it was probably the right time to get my own space and support more clients.

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Gill: Have you got any tips for anyone who is thinking about growing their business?

Sammie: Know your industry from the bottom up. Have a business plan, be absolutely methodical and get some good support. Talk to other women in business that have been doing it for a while already and make use of local business support services. The Dorset Growth Hub was a great resource.

I spoke to a few different people, not necessarily in the same industry as mine, but people who are in the locality or within SWIB. They were so generous with their knowledge, and able to offer me a lot of great advice. It put a different slant on things.

It is so easy to get caught up with all the excitement. Like developing the building, choosing equipment, and creating the packaging or branding. It was good to have some women with more business experience than me to pull me back down to the ground and check I had underpinned everything with some really good strategies.

“I’d love to see a more proactive approach to women’s health”

Gill: What is your vision for the next five years?

Sammie: I am passionate about reaching more women. I’d love to see a more proactive approach to women’s health. There is so much women can do to support themselves if they have the right evidence-based education and support, especially during pregnancy, postnatal and menopause.

These are really key areas in women’s lives and they’re just expected to ‘put up’ with symptoms. It has a big impact and needs to be recognised; there are so many things we can do to support, minimise symptoms and improve outcomes.

Part of the dream is to get in front of corporate groups and start changing the way local businesses support their employees. Undiagnosed ongoing back pain often relates directly to pelvic health dysfunction, for example. Great pelvic health reduces time off sick, which is good for everyone.

“As long as we can breathe, we can make change”

About Sammie

Sammie is an awardwinning Women’s Wellness Coach, Holistic Core Restore® coach and Dorchester’s leading pre- and post-natal expert. Sammie fell in love with Pilates after experiencing back pain with her second pregnancy and has now been coaching for 10 years. Sammie believes in offering inclusive, friendly classes and draws on all her skillsets in every session.

www.thebreathingspacedorchester.com

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