19. Creating Sanctuary and Making Peace with The Body - Alice Bagley-Harrison
Mon Jan 26 2026
What does it mean to make peace with the body? In this conversation with Alice Bagley-Harrison we explore self compassion, radical acceptance, experiences with long covid, grief and how to be gentle with ourselves.
In her mid-twenties, Alice Bagley-Harrison lost both her parents - their deaths changed the course of her life. Not following convention was an easy choice, and living to prioritise health, peace, creativity, and family became the way through her grief. Her eclectic path has included working as Richard Branson’s secretary and in TV and film, to property ventures, co-founding a strength and conditioning gym, leading global wellbeing programmes, and teaching meditation and chronic illness recovery to thousands worldwide both one to one and on apps like Insight Timer.
Today, she has opened Songbird Sanctuary, her magical garden retreat in Yorkshire with a wild sauna, plunge, and yoga studio—a space devoted to rest, self-discovery, nourishing movement and genuine connection.
Alice also works online as a chronic pain recovery coach, including with those who have long covid and IBS. She can be contacted at alice@songbirdsanctuary.co.uk
Links:
Alice's Instagram
Alice's Free Meditations on Insight Timer
Chronic Pain Recovery Coaching with Alice
Songbird Sanctuary
Ayelle's Instagram
Music from my song "Safe Again" - produced by Albin Tengblad.
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What does it mean to make peace with the body? In this conversation with Alice Bagley-Harrison we explore self compassion, radical acceptance, experiences with long covid, grief and how to be gentle with ourselves. In her mid-twenties, Alice Bagley-Harrison lost both her parents - their deaths changed the course of her life. Not following convention was an easy choice, and living to prioritise health, peace, creativity, and family became the way through her grief. Her eclectic path has included working as Richard Branson’s secretary and in TV and film, to property ventures, co-founding a strength and conditioning gym, leading global wellbeing programmes, and teaching meditation and chronic illness recovery to thousands worldwide both one to one and on apps like Insight Timer. Today, she has opened Songbird Sanctuary, her magical garden retreat in Yorkshire with a wild sauna, plunge, and yoga studio—a space devoted to rest, self-discovery, nourishing movement and genuine connection. Alice also works online as a chronic pain recovery coach, including with those who have long covid and IBS. She can be contacted at alice@songbirdsanctuary.co.uk Links: Alice's Instagram Alice's Free Meditations on Insight Timer Chronic Pain Recovery Coaching with Alice Songbird Sanctuary Ayelle's Instagram Music from my song "Safe Again" - produced by Albin Tengblad.