Single mum from Portsmouth dubbed ‘Freedom Guru’ writes book after lockdown wiped out her weight-loss business

Sabrina Simmons, from Landport, was fast building a name for herself as a freedom therapist and movement to music instructor when the pandemic struck last year.

The 41-year-old – nicknamed the Freedom Guru – had built up a following through her classes at the Charles Dickens Centre, which helped others to discover the way she managed to lose weight

When the pandemic brought a stop to her classes, it brought her business to a halt, and overnight she lost everything she had built up.

However, Sabrina used the time in lockdown to write a book, called The F2S Plan, which has been published by Tricorn Books, and she has kept in touch with her group through social media.

Now she is looking forward to getting back to in-person classes in June – and she hopes others will join her.

She said: ‘I found that my classes built up confidence. My story resonated with people.

‘There’s just me – a normal-sized woman – jumping around at the front of the class.

‘The classes built up quickly as people could relate to my story. There was no prejudgement.

‘When the Covid pandemic hit, it all just stopped. It was so sad as it had built up into something special.

‘I have moved some of it online, and it was lovely to see that support people through lockdown, but I can’t wait to get back to classes.’

Sabrina, who has two daughters Romy-Leigh, 19, and Isla, 12, said she is thankful for the community’s support over the past 12 months.

She has been keeping herself busy volunteering at her local community centre – and she says she believes this kindness has been repaid by the community, as her first 200 books sold out within days.

She said: ‘As someone that had suffered for many years with severe depression, anxiety and a binge eating disorder when I decided to make some changes in my life I decide to do so on a deep and psychological level.

‘So I learnt as much as I could about behavioural modification, holistic health practices and therapy methods and I created a plan to change my mindset and life.

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‘When I realised that what I had created was pretty powerful I decided to qualify as a freedom therapist and health coach and share this plan with others.

‘The F2S plan was created, along with behavioural tools that support it like my freedom movement.

‘I'm hoping to help as many people as I can to take control of their own mental health, circumstances and success to feel happy, free and empowered.

‘My book is called The F2S Plan - the freedom to succeed and it's about achieving emotional liberation and goal success.

‘I have always put into my community and I was so happy when everyone backed me. They were asking me about my book and they sold out within two days.

‘It was real community spirit. It kept me going and inspired me to start writing my next book.’

For more go to facebook.com/freedomgurusabrina

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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