Finding Your People: The Power of Health Coaching & Connection in Women's Wellbeing
Have you ever wanted to try something new for your health, but wished you had someone to do it with?
Perhaps it's joining a walking group, trying wild swimming or simply making more time to get outdoors. You know it would be good for you, and you might even be excited by the idea, but somehow it never quite happens.
Sometimes, the challenge isn't knowing what we'd like to do for our wellbeing, but finding the confidence, encouragement or company to take that first step.
For Health Coaches Academy graduate Michelle Hague, this is something she's passionate about changing.
After years working as a headteacher, Michelle has embarked on a new chapter, combining her experience in education and leadership with her passion for health and wellbeing.
Now, through MINT Women's Wellness, a community she co-founded with menopause coach Kirsty Edwards, Michelle is helping women come together, prioritise themselves and rediscover what it feels like to be healthy, energised and confident through health coaching.
And at the heart of it all is a simple idea: wellbeing is often better together.
From school leadership to health coaching
How often does your own wellbeing slip to the bottom of the list when life gets busy?
Between work, family commitments and the everyday demands of life, it's easy to spend so much time looking after everything and everyone else that there's little energy left for ourselves.
It's something Michelle understands from personal experience. Before graduating from Health Coaches Academy in October 2026, Michelle had spent years working in education as a headteacher.
While she loved education, the demands of school leadership came with significant pressures. From safeguarding responsibilities to the everyday challenges of leading a school, Michelle recognised that she wanted to find a different way to use her experience and skills.
Having experienced the pressures of a demanding career herself, she understands how easily our health and wellbeing can take a back seat when we're busy meeting everyone else's needs.
Rather than leaving education behind entirely, Michelle has found a way to bring together two areas she's passionate about: leadership and health coaching. Today, she combines her work as an executive coach and mentor to school leaders with her role as a certified Health Coach and menopause practitioner.
Through her business, The Health Coach, Michelle supports women navigating challenges such as stress, disrupted sleep, menopause, low energy and changes in confidence. Her focus is on helping women move away from feeling exhausted and overwhelmed towards greater energy, clarity and balance through realistic, sustainable lifestyle changes.
Her journey is a reminder that prioritising wellbeing doesn't necessarily mean leaving everything behind. Sometimes, it's about finding a different way forward that better supports your health, values and aspirations.
Introducing MINT: Motivated. Inspired. Nourished. Together.
One of the most exciting developments in Michelle's health coaching journey has been co-founding MINT Women's Wellness alongside Kirsty Edwards.
The pair first met while Michelle was working as a headteacher and recognised how well their different skills and experiences complemented one another. While Michelle brings her background in educational leadership, health coaching and menopause support, Kirsty is a menopause coach with experience in PE teaching and forest school education.
Together, they've created MINT, which stands for Motivated. Inspired. Nourished. Together. And it's that final word, together, that really captures what they're working to achieve.
MINT is built around the belief that women deserve to feel supported, confident and energised as they navigate the different stages of life.
Through group coaching, community events, movement and shared experiences, Michelle and Kirsty are creating opportunities for women to invest in their wellbeing while connecting with others who understand the challenges they may be facing.
Because while we often think about health as something we need to take personal responsibility for, the people around us can play an important part in helping us make positive changes.
Think about it. How much easier does it feel to stick to a healthy habit when someone is encouraging you? Or how much more enjoyable is trying something new when you have someone to share the experience with?
That's the kind of supportive environment Michelle and Kirsty want to create.
Their approach is refreshingly down-to-earth. There's no expectation to be perfect, follow rigid rules or completely overhaul your lifestyle overnight. Instead, it's about finding what works for you, celebrating progress and having people around you who encourage you along the way.
And with plenty of energy, fun and laughter, Michelle and Kirsty are making wellbeing something women can genuinely enjoy.
More than a walk: The MINTy Movement
One of the ways Michelle and Kirsty are bringing their vision to life is through their free monthly MINTy Movement events.
Held at weekends, these gatherings bring women together for a simple but meaningful wellbeing experience: 10 minutes of breathwork, 40 minutes of walking and time afterwards to enjoy herbal tea and conversation.
On the surface, it might sound like a straightforward wellbeing walk. But the real value lies in what happens when women come together.
Michelle and Kirsty have found that women particularly appreciate having a safe, welcoming space where they can talk openly, enjoy each other's company and feel part of something. There's no pressure to achieve a particular fitness goal or keep up with anyone else. It's an opportunity to move, connect and make time for yourself.
And there's an important insight behind these events: Have you ever put off doing something you'd really like to try because you didn't have anyone to go with?
Perhaps it's attending a fitness class, going for a healthy brunch or exploring something different, such as wild swimming. For some women, the thought of doing these things alone can be enough to put them off altogether. And over time, those missed opportunities can mean missing out on experiences that could bring enjoyment, confidence and connection into our lives.
By bringing women together, MINT is helping to remove that barrier, creating opportunities to try new things, meet like-minded people and build confidence along the way.
Importantly, the connection doesn't end when the walk finishes. Between monthly meet-ups, the MINT community stays in touch through a WhatsApp group, providing ongoing encouragement, conversation and support.
It's this sense of consistency and togetherness that Michelle and Kirsty are so passionate about nurturing. And it's a valuable reminder for all of us: looking after our health doesn't always have to mean setting ourselves another goal or adding something else to our to-do list.
Sometimes, it can be as simple as getting outside, having a conversation and spending time with people who make us feel good.
Helping women find themselves again
Have you ever reached a point where you're so busy getting through each day that you've lost touch with what makes you feel like yourself? Perhaps your energy isn't what it used to be, your sleep is suffering or you're finding it harder to make time for the things you enjoy.
These are some of the challenges Michelle and Kirsty are helping women navigate through their group health coaching programmes.
Their programmes include Stress, Sleep and Finding Me Again and Menopause & Midlife Momentum, exploring areas such as energy, sleep, stress management, strength and navigating the changes that come with midlife.
Rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all solution, Michelle and Kirsty use health coaching to help women identify their own goals, explore realistic changes and develop habits that work for their individual circumstances.
The group setting creates opportunities for women to share experiences, learn from one another and recognise that they're not alone in the challenges they're facing. And that can make a real difference. When we're surrounded by people working towards similar goals, it can feel easier to stay motivated, celebrate progress and keep going when things don't quite go to plan.
Michelle and Kirsty have developed practical tools to help women maintain their progress beyond coaching sessions. Their Health Coaching Heartbeat Women's Wellness Journal encourages weekly goal-setting and reflection, while their Brag Book helps women recognise and celebrate the small, everyday wins that often go unnoticed.
Together, these tools reinforce an important message: progress doesn't always have to be dramatic to be meaningful.
Whether it's getting outside for a short walk, making time to rest or finally trying that activity you've been putting off, recognising those small steps can help build confidence and encourage lasting change.
Bringing health coaching into school leadership
Michelle's passion for supporting wellbeing extends beyond her work with women through MINT.
Drawing on her years of experience in education, she continues to support school leaders through executive coaching and mentoring, while developing opportunities to bring health coaching into educational settings.
With plans in place to work with headteachers, Michelle is combining her understanding of the pressures of school leadership with the practical tools and techniques she's developed through health coaching.
Having experienced those demands herself, she knows how easily personal wellbeing can take a back seat to professional responsibilities. And while Michelle's experience comes from education, it's a challenge many of us can relate to. When work becomes all-consuming, finding the time and energy to look after ourselves can feel increasingly difficult.
Her journey demonstrates how health coaching can complement an existing career, opening up new opportunities to make a difference. From one-to-one coaching and group programmes to workplace wellbeing and community initiatives, Michelle is showing just how varied and rewarding a career in health coaching can be.
Better health, together
When was the last time you did something purely for your own wellbeing, and shared that experience with someone else?
Whether it's going for a walk with a friend, joining a local group or trying an activity you've always been curious about, making time for connection can be a simple but meaningful way to invest in your health.
And perhaps that's the biggest takeaway from Michelle's story. We don't always need to make big changes to start feeling better. Sometimes, it's the small steps, shared experiences and people we meet along the way that make all the difference.
Find out more about Michelle's work and MINT Women's Wellness at: www.thehealthcoach.org.uk.
Inspired by Michelle's journey? Discover how training with Health Coaches Academy could help you turn your passion for health and wellbeing into a rewarding career. Join one of our free introductory webinars.
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