Beyond Grief - Hannah's Story

Beyond Grief – Hannah’s Story

Meet Hannah, 31. Originally from Bedfordshire, she now lives in New Whittington, Derbyshire with her partner Alex and their beloved dog, Bracken.

Hannah has walked through some of life’s darkest valleys — grief, loneliness, addiction, and deep loss — and somehow found her way back. What she’s created on the other side is not just inspiring… it’s truly powerful.

This is her story.

In 2018, at just 23 years old, Hannah lost her mum, Andrea, to cancer. As an only child, her mum wasn’t just a parent — she was her best friend. Cancer had been part of Hannah’s life since she was just five years old, but in 2017 it spread to her mum’s brain, and everything changed.

Just a year before that, tragedy had already struck. Her dad, Brian, suffered a sudden brain injury while on holiday in India. Hannah flew out to support her dad through it, but due to the remoteness and delays in treatment, the damage was severe and permanent. Although he survived, Brian now requires full-time care in a supported living home.

At such a young age, Hannah found herself carrying everything alone. No siblings to lean on. No safety net. Just her, holding it all together.

She stayed by her mum’s side through the final months, weeks, and days — something no 26-year-old should have to face. And just weeks after losing her mum, she graduated from university with a first-class honours degree… without either parent there to share that moment.

After that, life blurred.

Hannah wasn’t living — she was surviving. Days became something to get through, and nights were filled with distraction. Alcohol became a way to numb the pain, to avoid being alone with her thoughts. Working in hospitality meant the escape was always within reach. What began as a coping mechanism slowly became a crutch.

Friends tried to support her, but grief has a way of isolating you, even in a crowded room.

Self-care disappeared. Joy felt distant. She was simply existing.

The Beginning of a New Chapter

Everything began to shift in 2021. When Hannah’s grandfather became unwell, she felt a pull — something deeper than logic. Within six weeks, just before Christmas, she packed up her life and moved to Derbyshire to be closer to her grandparents.

Looking back, she realises there was an absolute need to make a change. She couldn’t continue living the way she had been. Something had to give. In her own words, she’d “got sick of my own bullshit”. — sick of repeating the same patterns, the same cycles, the same versions of herself that never quite felt aligned. It wasn’t just reflection anymore, it was exhaustion. A quiet breaking point she could no longer ignore.

The decision to move and care for her grandad became a lightbulb moment — a turning point she now recognises as the beginning of everything changing. Almost like a sign from the universe saying: this is it. This is where it starts. A transformation disguised as responsibility. An out, but also an opening.

She later understood it as both escape and awakening. She wasn’t just stepping into a new chapter — she was stepping out of a life she had outgrown. The move became the first real act of choosing herself.

Alex, who she had only recently started dating, didn’t hesitate to follow her. Together, they built a new life — one rooted in love, support, and fresh beginnings.

The time Hannah spent with her grandparents in those final years became incredibly special. Healing, even. A reconnection to her mum’s side of the family, and a gentle step away from the environment she had been trying to escape.

For the first time, she found herself in a 9–5 office job. It wasn’t exciting, and it didn’t light her up — but it gave her something she hadn’t had in a long time: space.

Space to think.
Space to breathe.
Space to dream again.

And slowly… she started to imagine a different life.

And in That Moment — A Dream Was Born

Hannah decided to take a leap of faith.

She trained as a Pilates instructor — but not the polished, perfect version you often see. She wanted something real. Something honest. Something healing. A space where people could show up exactly as they are.

And so, Hannah’s House Pilates was born.

Built in her back garden, her studio is more than just a place to exercise — it’s a sanctuary. A space filled with warmth, connection, and acceptance. A space where strangers become friends, and where movement becomes medicine.

Since launching in January 2025, Hannah’s House Pilates has grown into something truly special. Alongside classes, she now hosts community events — nature walks, retreats, craft sessions, and powerful mindset and manifestation workshops.

Because for Hannah, this isn’t just about movement.

It’s about healing.
It’s about connection.
It’s about reminding people that they don’t have to do life alone.

A New Way of Living

Where alcohol once filled the gaps, Hannah now turns to healthier tools — Pilates, EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), mindfulness, and community.

She believes that healing happens when we reconnect — with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us.

Her mission is simple but powerful:
To create spaces where people feel seen, supported, and lifted.

Spaces that bring people back to life.

Hannah’s Message

When I asked Hannah what she would say to others, her answer was simple, yet powerful:

“Feel comfortable and confident in yourself. It’s not just about getting stronger physically, but emotionally and spiritually too — by learning to trust yourself. Find a community of like-minded women. Find a way of moving that you love. And take that step forward.”