Tag Archive | women

Supporting Women 40+ Through Change, One Honest Talk at a Time

Jun12
Jacqueline Toner yoga

When I first began teaching yoga, I knew I wanted to help people feel better in their bodies, but over the years, that calling has grown into something far deeper. As a woman in midlife myself, I’ve seen how this stage of life can feel like a storm and a sunrise all at once.

So many of the women I work with—whether in yoga classes, workshops, or private sessions—are quietly navigating a thousand tiny shifts: sleep disruption, changing hormones, body aches, weight gain, brain fog, burnout, anxiety, mood swings, ageing parents, empty nests, and career transitions. It’s no wonder we’re tired.

That’s why I decided to create a new space for conversation, community, and compassionate education—and so my Mindful Natters podcast was born, with the first series, Sweet Dreams, Strong Women. These talks aren’t polished, perfect, or preachy. They’re real, heartfelt chats with wise people who have something valuable to share. Each one is designed to empower, inform, and gently remind you that you’re not alone, and you don’t have to do it all on your own.

🌿The Power of Honest Conversation

The idea for this series came from the mat—from hearing time and time again that “I didn’t sleep well again last night,” or “I can’t shift this tiredness,” or “I don’t feel like myself anymore.”

Yoga offers so much, but I know we also need support off the mat—in our kitchens, bedrooms, workplaces, and hearts. We need trustworthy, down-to-earth advice from people who understand midlife not just academically, but personally. So, I reached out to some incredible health professionals in my wider circle, and together we began weaving the threads of a supportive tapestry—one conversation at a time.

🎧 In Case You Missed Them: Sweet Dreams, Strong Women: The First 4 Conversations

Here are a few highlights from the series so far—each one focused on a key area that many of us struggle with in midlife.

💬 #1 Sleep Struggles & Solutions: with Reflexologist Joanne Gillen
Joanne and I talked about why sleep becomes so tricky after 40, and how reflexology can help reset the nervous system. She also shared practical tips for creating a wind-down ritual, plus self-massage points you can try at home.
👉 Listen to the talk with Joanne

🥗 #2 Nourishing Food for Fatigue with Laura Fergus, Inner Harmony Health
Laura and I explored the link between nutrition and hormones, why protein and magnesium are key in midlife, and how to eat for energy, not exhaustion. Her advice is sensible, kind, and doable.
👉 Listen to the talk with Laura

💪 #3 Strength Training for Midlife Women with Emmet and Maria Rushe from Rushe Fitness
We discuss why lifting weights is vital after 40, especially for maintaining bone health, regulating metabolism, and improving mood, and how to get started safely and confidently.
👉 Listen to the talk with Rushe Fitness

🧘‍♀️# 4 Mindfulness for Sleep with Mary Kara, from Angels Cove and Donegal Mindfulness
Mary talks about how mindfulness calms the busy mind at bedtime, lowers stress, and helps you feel more present in your day-to-day life.
👉 Listen to the talk with Mary

There’s something powerful about hearing another woman say, “Me too.” These episodes are short, insightful, and full of grace, just like the women (and man) who joined me.

✨Why This Series Matters

I believe we all need permission to pause. To rest. To be soft and strong. These conversations are an invitation to come home to yourself, to honour your body as it changes, and to lean into support when you need it.

They’re also part of a bigger picture—one where we create spaces for midlife women to gather, grow, grieve and glow. Whether that’s in a yoga class, an online circle, a podcast chat, or something even more special…

🌸 Join Me in Person: Journey to the Heart Retreat in September at Lough Mardal Lodge, Co. Donegal
If you’ve felt the call to step away, to unplug and reconnect with yourself more deeply, I’d love to invite you to my upcoming Journey to the Heart retreat this September.

Set in the wild, soulful landscape of Lough Mardal Lodge, this weekend is your chance to slow down, listen inward, and reconnect with what truly matters. This retreat is especially for women over 40 who are craving rest, reflection, and reconnection. Over three nourishing days, we’ll explore gentle yoga, guided meditations, restful rituals, and honest conversations—just like the ones in the podcast, but held in person and presence.

📅12–14 September 2025
📅 📍 Location: Lough Mardal Lodge, Co. Donegal

🌿For more information:
🔗 BOOK YOUR SPOT HERE: subscribepage.io/SMoexo
Spots are limited and do tend to fill quickly. If your heart is whispering yes, I’d be honoured to hold space for you.
You’ll leave feeling grounded, energised, and deeply supported.

💖 A Final Word

This season of life is not a problem to be fixed—it’s a transition to be honoured. My hope is that these podcast conversations and the work I continue to share offer you companionship on the path. Whether you’re sleeping poorly, feeling unsteady, trying to build strength, or just trying to remember who you are, please know this: you’re not broken. You’re becoming.

I’d love for you to listen in, share with a friend, or reach out if a topic resonates. And if you’re feeling the nudge to dive deeper, join me this September in Donegal. We’ll move, breathe, and root into our radiance together.

With warmth, gratitude, and strength,
Jacqueline

www.healingflowyoga.ie | Healing Flow Yoga Instagram & Facebook
Email: jacqueline@healingflowyoga.ie

About Jacqueline
CEO, Healing Flow Yoga / Yoga Teacher & Yoga Therapist | Calm Cultivator | Midlife Mentor
Jacqueline Toner is an experienced yoga therapist and mental health facilitator based in Donegal, Ireland. She teaches weekly yoga and wellbeing classes both in person and online, specialising in supporting women over 40 through life’s transitions—helping them find calm amidst the chaos, build strength gently, and reclaim their energy. Her classes combine mindful movement, breathwork, restorative yoga, and deep relaxation, all designed to leave you feeling grounded, nourished, and empowered. She’s the creator of the Sweet Dreams, Strong Women talk series and will host her upcoming retreat, Journey to the Heart, at Lough Mardal Lodge in September 2025.
When she’s not teaching, you’ll find her singing with her ukulele orchestra, playing guitar, or walking barefoot in nature.

AIB Community Fund 2025

May26

Help Us Empower More Women in Donegal – Nominate Us for the AIB Community Fund 2025

At Women’s Collective Ireland – Donegal, we’re here to support women. We bring women together to learn, build confidence, and feel part of a community — and we want to keep growing that work across Donegal.

That’s why we’re asking for your support.

We’ve Been Nominated for the 2025 AIB Community Fund – and We Need Your Help

The AIB Community Fund supports local charities making a real impact. With your nomination, we could receive vital funding that would allow us to expand the range of programmes and supports we offer — from community wellbeing events to personal development workshops, from upskilling courses to social inclusion initiatives.

What We Do

In the past year alone, Women’s Collective Ireland – Donegal has:
* Delivered a range of courses and training to women across the county
* Created safe spaces for conversation, creativity, and connection
* Advocated for women’s voices to be heard in their communities
* Built a strong network where every woman is welcome

We know from the feedback we receive just how meaningful these opportunities are — they help women return to education, find employment, build friendships, and rediscover their sense of purpose and power.

But demand for our services is growing. With additional funding, we can reach more women in more communities, with more diverse and inclusive programmes.

How You Can Help

AIB is asking the public to nominate local charities they’d like to support. If we receive enough nominations, we’ll be in with a chance of securing a share of the fund.

It only takes a minute to submit a nomination — and every single one counts!

🔗 Nominate us here:
https://aib.ie/personal-forms/community-fund

What You’ll Need to Fill Out the Form:

Charity Name: Womens Collective Ireland Donegal
(Note: please enter this exactly as shown — no apostrophes or hyphens)

Charity Number: 20060688
(Make sure there’s no space at the end when you copy/paste it!)

Charity Location: Ulster

Social Theme: Education & Opportunities

Your own Name and Email Address

🗓 Deadline: 25th June 2025

Why Your Nomination Matters

Every nomination tells AIB that the work we do matters — and that people in Donegal believe in it. If you’ve ever taken part in one of our programmes, come along to an event, or simply believe in the power of community-led women’s support, this is your chance to make a real impact.

Thank you so much for your support

Why is Circular Dress Collaborative the Talk of the Town?

Feb17

Sheila Clancy O’Donnell has always believed in the motto “what comes around, goes around.” This belief resonates deeply with her career and the crossroads she finds herself at today. Since she was five years old, she dreamed of a role with the American womenswear brand Liz Claiborne, a dream that came true when she was plucked from college by this icon. Travelling the world, trend shopping on Fifth Avenue in New York City, and dressing millions of American women for decades was a fortunate adventure. Watching her designs progress from sketches to the sales floor was a thrill that was never undervalued.

However, the life of raising children while jetting around the globe for months didn’t blend well. Leaving behind such a cherished career led to a positive turn when she relocated to picturesque Donegal. It was here that her creativity was reignited, inspired by fresh air, a kind community, and the stunning colours that surround her. With a newfound passion for storytelling and nurturing others, Sheila wrote a children’s book and developed a fashion course at both secondary and third levels, celebrating Donegal’s exquisite fabrics and the circular environment they create. Having collaborated in New York on collections that incorporated Donegal tweed, she felt it essential to keep the fabric’s heritage alive.

It was Sheila’s 19-year tenure as a manager for Marks & Spencer, Homestore and More, and TJX Europe that allowed her space to advocate and deliver on these aspirations. Her dedication to sustainable fashion in schools earned her the title of “Face of Corporate and Social Responsibility.” She was also recognised for notable charitable involvement in “Denim vs. Cancer,” a design event organised with her fashion students, and “Friends of the Elderly,” her cherished workmates.

Inspired to contribute further to a sustainable future, Sheila enrolled in an online Master of Science in Sustainability Leadership at the University of Galway in 2023. A field trip to Bologna, Italy, in 2024 sparked the inspiration for Circular Dress Collaborative. Visiting Eta Beta, a social enterprise aiding marginalised individuals through art and agriculture, Sheila realised she could channel her fashion knowledge into a model that could benefit Letterkenny, Donegal, and the environment. Learning about the climate crisis exacerbated by excessive clothing consumption motivated her to act, creating a project that maximises benefits for the community. The first stop was the Donegal Local Development Company (DLDC) in Letterkenny to understand the steps needed to make this social enterprise thrive.

With that help, the Circular Dress Collaborative was born, embodying the principles of “Resale, Repair, Repurpose, Rebuild, and Remember.” Its clothing collection is carefully curated and sourced from women both locally and beyond, ensuring a diverse range from luxury to high-street. When items are sold, the majority of the proceeds go to the women who originally owned them—this being the “Resale” aspect. “Repairs” extend the life of garments, “Repurpose” encourages creativity through arts and crafts, and “Rebuild” involves training volunteers and social welfare recipients in a supportive business setting. Classes teach new skills, which is the “Remember” aspect of this movement. The mission is to keep clothing and fabrics circulating, ensuring that people and opportunities are also not forgotten.

Sheila’s endeavour to empower women who might otherwise feel marginalised was awarded Best Sustainable Practice at the 2024 DLDC Community Recognition Awards, after only three months of opening.

There’s no denying this is an example of a career coming full circle, reconnecting a designer with her passions for fashion and community. Ironically, just a week ago, a customer brought in a handbag to sell—and it was from… Liz Claiborne! Signs like this make Sheila believe “what comes around is meant to go around again.”

The Circular Dress Collaborative is located at Unit 1 Thorn Road, Letterkenny, F92 X8PP (directly next to the Kube Building)

Opening hours: 10.00am – 5.00pm Wednesday – Saturday & 12.00pm – 5.00pm Sunday

Website & Socials

https://circulardresscollaborative.com/

https://www.facebook.com/circulardresscollaborative

https://www.instagram.com/circulardresscollab/

@circular.dress.co

Donegal Women, We Want Your Views

Dec6

Women’s Collective Ireland – Donegal, is calling on the women of Donegal to share their voices and perspectives by participating in an important survey. This initiative will help shape the programmes, events, and activities offered in 2025 and beyond, ensuring that they align with the real needs and priorities of local women.

For over 20 years, Women’s Collective Ireland – Donegal (formerly NCCWN Donegal Women’s Network) has provided supportive spaces for women to come together for community education, social activities, and advocacy for equality and human rights. As part of the Women’s Collective Ireland network of 17 community projects nationwide, the Donegal branch works tirelessly to bring a gender lens to community and local development initiatives.

The survey is open to all women living in Donegal and covers a range of topics, inviting women to share what’s important to them and what activities they would like to see. The findings will be used to inform our work and highlight key issues affecting women in the county. Additionally, the results will be shared with other local community organisations to help enhance the support available to women across Donegal.

This is your chance to help us better understand the issues impacting women’s lives and how we can address them together. As a thank you, those who complete the survey fully will have the chance to win a €50 One-for-All voucher by providing their contact details at the end of the survey.

The survey will close on Friday 20th December. All survey responses will be stored securely, and participants’ anonymity will be protected in any reports or publications.

Please take a moment to have your voice heard. To access the survey, please click here.

Women’s Collective Ireland is Funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Registered Charities Number: 20060688 Company Number: 400554