Sand & Saltwater: A Saturday Morning Reset

26 Jul

Discover the magic of a Saturday morning in Tynemouth, from beach yoga and cold-water dips to local market finds.

I love trying new things.

Sampling a dish I’ve never heard of. Exploring a new place on my travel list. Challenging myself to a new work opportunity.

Sometimes, a simple series of ‘yeses’ can slowly change your perspective, opening yourself to experiences you never thought you'd try. My latest ‘yes’ brought me straight to the golden sands of Longsands beach in Tynemouth, tucked in the beautiful North East coastline.

Here’s how I swapped my usual cosy Saturday routine for a morning of beach pilates, yoga, and a dip in the North Sea.

Beach Pilates & Yoga

On Saturday morning, my friend and I headed to Tynemouth for our 8 am start. Equipped with towels and our yoga mats, we joined a crowd of eager early-birds on the sand of Longsands beach. It was amazing to see the wide array of activities already happening on the sand, from yoga and swimming to various exercise classes. I’m not usually an early riser, but this made me crave the energy of that early-morning coastal lifestyle.

The session was hosted by the lovely Kate (@koveclub_), with the fantastic Tammie (@namastam_) joining to lead the yoga portion of the workout. Over the course of an hour, we moved through a balanced blend of targeted glute and core exercises and restorative yoga movements.

Kate and Tammie set the most welcoming tone, emphasising that there was zero expectation to do everything perfectly; simply showing up was more than enough. Not even the gale-force winds, which sent a few yoga mats airborne, could ruin the mood. If anything, the sand drifts were just an added bonus: it’s just free full-body exfoliation, right?

*Longsands beach was filled with early-morning activities, from exercise classes to cold-water swimming.*

*The gorgeous morning light peeking through the clouds as we set up for our beach pilates and yoga.*

Taking the plunge

After the session, we stayed back to do something we hadn’t done before: a sea dip. I’m all for an ocean swim, but the icy British coastline usually gets a firm pass from me. However, this was a morning of new experiences, so into the North Sea we went.

We shedded our warm layers and braved the incoming waves, and after a chorus of squeals, we finally committed and dunked right in. As expected, it was freezing; the kind of cold that seems to seep right into your bones. But I can completely see why people fall in love with it; I came out feeling totally refreshed, energised, and more connected to my body. Better yet, we still had the entire day stretching ahead of us, making it such a fulfilling start to the weekend.

What I love most about saying ‘yes’ is how naturally small moments can turn into a new routine – we’re already planning more beach trips and sea dips to fill our summer ‘26 diaries! 🧘🏻‍♀️ 🌊

Two friends sit on the sandy beach, sporting stylish sunglasses and soaking up the sun. — *Taking the plunge into the North Sea.*

Coffee, Pastries & Tynemouth Market

After our dip, we wrapped up warm and headed off for a well-deserved coffee and a wander through Tynemouth Market. We browsed the various stalls that housed everything from paintings and trinkets, to handmade jewellery and sweet treats. As always, I was magnetised towards the jewellery, lingering over chunky gold rings, adorable charms and dainty pendants.

We then ended our morning in the best way possible, with pastries from Adam’s Bakery in Cullercoats. They had a mouthwatering selection of cakes and savoury bites, and it was practically impossible to leave empty-handed. Equipped with two mammoth pastries and two more coffees (caffeine was very much needed), we declared the morning a huge success and happily devoured our treats before the drive home.

From the full-body workout to the fresh sea dip and colourful coastal market, setting that early alarm was worth every second. If this morning taught me anything, it’s to take the plunge and to say yes to new experiences (and to always, without exception, say yes to pastries.)