At Home with... Katie Brindle

After a car accident ended her dreams of becoming an opera singer, she was eventually healed by Chinese medicine and indeed was so inspired that she decided to train as a practitioner herself.

Katie advocates self-care as the first step – and she believes that it’s the bit that we can all do. As she explains on her website, her “mission in life became to help others using this remarkable healing system. Whilst Western medicine has transformed health care as we know it, there’s a gap that it doesn’t address and that’s the ‘almost-well’, the ‘not feeling so good’, the tired out and over-stressed. This is a gap I have seen Chinese medicine – specifically yang sheng – fill beautifully.”

Katie went on to found the Hayo’u Method and published a book: both of which distil ancient Chinese medicine techniques into simple daily rituals. She hopes that the information, techniques and tools that changed her life and those of many others, can help you feel energised, well and healthy, too.

At the beginning of lockdown, Katie began to share her daily Qigong practice on Instagram and she now has over 75,000 followers and regularly posts videos and conducts Lives to share all of the wisdom and expertise she has from the comfort of her stunning home.

Katie kindly took some time out of her busy day to let us in to a snapshot of her life and home. 

I live in the countryside!

12 years

Yes – masses! It was a huge project that took around 18 months to complete. Pretty much every part of the house needed attention, but it was worth every moment to get it just right.

Definitely. I’d call it 1930s glamorous chic – elegant, a bit nostalgic, and full of character. I love mixing vintage touches with modern comfort.

Everywhere, really. I’m always flicking through interiors magazines, scrolling Instagram, picking up ideas while travelling, or popping into design shops. I’m constantly gathering little sparks of inspiration.

Our new outside tortoise, Hercules, which is a bronze sculpture by Michael Cooper. I also have some very beautiful Japanese tea screens, which I absolutely love.

Two Damien Hurst pictures, ‘Blossom’.

Rather than a specific piece of furniture, my focus is on the outside space at the moment. I’d love to get the gardens fully replanted and start rewilding some of the surrounding fields. Creating a natural, nurturing environment outdoors feels just as important as curating the interiors.

My home is everything – it’s where I live, work, and spend time with my family, so it really is a lifestyle as much as a space. I love working from home; it allows me to stay grounded and connected to what matters most, both personally and professionally.