Rest Repair Recover Reviews 

I joined the programme in 2023. The classes are good: a mixture of yoga nidra, mindfulness, and breathwork, as well as some gentle movement classes for those less severely affected.

However, the whole offering is spoilt in my opinion by Suzy's insistence that ME/CFS and Long Covid are manifestations of the brain feeling unsafe, and can be cured by teaching the brain that it is in fact safe. She says being ill is a choice. This is the same messaging used in the Lightning Process and other "brain retraining" programmes targeted at ME/CFS and Long Covid as well as by Joe Dispenza, whose work she also promotes. She appropriates the language of the Lightning Process to say that people need to find their way out of "the pit". This messaging is repeated across most of her classes, as well as in emails she regularly sends out to participants and on her social media. The assumption underpinning the programme is that everyone will recover or at least improve to the extent that they are able to live a full life again. Of course this will be true for some people, given the nature of these conditions: recovery in the first two years is the norm, and for those for whom the illness persists beyond that point, a fluctuating course is common and improvement or recovery is possible for some. The conditions also span a wide range of severity, from those able to live a normal life with a few additional guard rails, to those confined to their beds, tube fed and intolerant of all external stimuli - as well as everything in between. When presented with the reality that some people doing her programme are getting worse or remain very unwell, she ignores it or rationalises it away. She says that people who disagree are cynical and choosing to stay ill. People who have tried the programme and not seen improvement write about their psychological distress on her Facebook page and she ignores it. She is perpetuating harm yet cannot see it.

The programme has caused damage to me in two ways. First, emotional harm in having been convinced by Suzy that I would recover if I followed her programme. In fact, over the years since I first joined the programme, I have got worse. The dashing of false hope is crushing. Secondly, physical harm, having heard Suzy's messaging that activity done joyfully is safe. She doesn't explain about post-exertional malaise so one can, as I was, be persuaded that one can overcome physical limitations through mindset. By doing just slightly more than usual during just one week I went from being able to leave the house a few times a week for a 10 minute walk to (now) almost entirely bedbound. She may not encourage pushing but she talks about "expanding", a "5% stretch" and about leaving the "harbour" of a reduced life to go out to swim in the sea again, not recognising that even what she sees as small, safe, gentle suggestions will in fact be disastrous for some of her cohort. She asks people to write "future stories", imagining that they do an activity and then feel fine afterwards. This fails to recognise that where one is dealing with a condition whose key feature is a disproportionate and very significant delayed exacerbation of symptoms following trivial exertion, manifesting that everything will be fine is just magical thinking. When concerns about her messaging are raised with Suzy on her Facebook page or in the chat of classes, she doesn't listen, seeing them as negative, rather than trying to step into the shoes of someone who has not been lucky enough to recover and to understand what they are trying to convey to her. She has shown time and again that she will not budge from her fundamental belief that everyone should recover if they follow her approach, and has treated people who raise their contrary experience with contempt, saying she knows it is "confronting" but suggesting patients should "gently" open their minds. This is patronising in the extreme. She insinuates that people who question her approach are somehow less than she is, and just haven't been able to see yet how right she is. This is cruelty, not compassion.

I also worry about Suzy's role in the healthcare system for ME/CFS and Long Covid. I know that she liaises with NHS teams and that some of them refer patients to her programme. I think she should make clear that she can only provide relaxation classes and community. What she should not be doing is purporting to provide a recovery programme. Healthcare professionals who refer patients to her should know that they are absolving responsibility to provide care for this patient group and potentially exposing them to harm. They should know that increasingly she has the fervour of a religious convert and ask themselves whether this is what safe healthcare looks like for patients.

I'm writing this review as someone who has Long Covid/ME/CFS. I've been part of RRR for a couple of years now and did Fern last year. If I could give ratings for the Fern and RRR (Rest, Repair, Recover) programmes separately it would be: 1/5 for Fern and 3/5 for RRR.

I'll start with Fern. It focused on things like the 'fear' response, neuroplasticity and personality drivers. There was no acknowledgement of the biological processes going on within these conditions - the discussions were very one-sided. Some of the things we were encouraged to watch, e.g. the 'Heal' film, were shocking in my opinion. The film even featured a 'Medical Medium' - what on earth is that?! The other videos we were encouraged to watch were very one-sided, I remember one telling us that our symptoms were linked to trauma and that if we weren't aware of anything it must be subconscious. At the beginning of doing the programme, even with my frustrations, I tried to use some of the strategies and take them into account - as you're essentially told that's the only explanation for what's going on. But since then I've become more and more frustrated by the programme's messaging and it's safe to say I didn't sign up for the ongoing coaching sessions post-Fern.

RRR on the other hand, has been mostly positive. It has a wide range of classes focusing on breathwork, yoga, meditation, gentle movement/nervous system regulation. It's great value for money with the amount you can access, and I find the classes helpful as they can be restful and relaxing. I wouldn't say I feel they've led to any improvement, as such, but they do form part of my weekly routine. However, the messaging from Fern seems to seep through to the Tuesday and Thursday RRR classes. Sometimes it's acknowledged that some things aren't the case for everyone, but more often than not things are said as 'fact'. I stopped joining the after-class chats in these classes as I found them too frustrating to listen to. There's so much focus on 'joy' as though that's the magic answer to everything, we just need to focus on the joy, re-train our brain and respond 'calmly' to symptoms. If it was as simple as that then no-one would be chronically ill! I can do the most joyful things, but still experience PEM after because that is the BIOLOGICAL nature of this condition. So I try to take from these classes what works for me and ignore the rest.

I love the RRR programme as an adjunct to my weekly routine whilst recovering from long covid. There is a wide range of classes that you can dip in and out of, as well as an excellent community aspect too. This has definitely been a labour of love for Suzy and I marvel regularly at how much she has to hold. Since starting the programme I have incorporated in daily nidras, breathwork and other practices and I feel they have made a significant improvement in my condition. I also completed Fern and learnt a lot about myself and how to incorporate neuroplasticity techniques into my recovery.

There are however some wider challenges I see with the programme and how it fits into the whole picture of long covid. 1. Discussion of science is seen as "scaring the nervous system" when the both realities can co-exist. 2. Discussion of pacing within the programme is essentially non-existent and whilst focusing on joy is very helpful, if you experience post exertional malaise you are likely to feel fine in the moment of joy. During Fern we were encouraged to not use any devices to track, but this is not always helpful. 3. Whilst the programme begins at level 0, for 18 months before I was able to join RRR I was too severe. Teachers say you can log out and in, but if you can tolerate less than 5 mins of audio then you are paying a lot for a service you will never use. I've often thought a -1 level - shorter bursts - could be helpful for those in that situation.

I want to make people aware that this company appears to routinely contest and attempt to take down any reviews voicing concerns.

I wrote a very balanced review describing both the positives and also my personal negatives, including the effect it had on my MH, and they reported it for defamation.

Thankfully TrustPilot quickly overturned that spurious claim. However RRR then claimed I was not a genuine customer and requested all my personal details including email address and phone number.

Given RRR's argumentative responses to other negative reviews on here, and the defamation claim, I was very reluctant to provide them with my details. I was seriously concerned what they would do. As a result my review has been removed.

I have however provided extensive evidence to TrustPilot that I was an RRR customer for almost 2 years and I am hoping that review will be reinstated.

However given the time this is taking, and my concerns that other negative reviews are likely being treated the same way, and the reviewers may not have the energy to fight, I wanted to warn people that the reviews on this company are likely to be one-sided.

I have been a member of the RRR community for over 2 years, as well as having completed the Fern programme with Suzy. My experience with the Fern programme was incredibly positive; as well as practical tools to aid recovery I benefited from being part of a recovery focused group of people who understand the challenges of living with chronic illness. We continue to support each other throughout the ups and downs of our individual health journeys. The Fern programme was a catalyst for improvement in my condition & making necessary changes to my lifestyle to support my health.

The RRR programme offers excellent value for money, with a range of classes to suit your abilities, recognising that this can be different at different times. Each class is clearly marked with a level helping you to understand whether it is appropriate for you to participate in. Many classes are level 0 and suitable for all.

I use the relaxation / rest classes daily and have also benefited from some gentle appropriate movement to build up my strength over time. Suzy has a positive and uplifting attitude and encourages building safety over pushing yourself. The range of teachers and types of classes also means there is always something to suit your individual preference or mood, which each teacher bringing their own life experiences and approach to the table. I would highly recommend!

I don’t even know where to begin with all the positives I can say about Suzy, her team and this programme. I have been a member since 2023 and whether I recover from LC or not I think I will keep my membership for as long as RRR keeps running! Everything that is taught is equally relevant for ‘healthy’ people.

There are a bewildering number of programmes out there for those with ME/LC and I researched many before joining RRR. Many felt dangerously like they were taking financial advantage of people’s desperation to get well, charging exorbitant amounts for access - even more galling when you consider many of us are unable to work and have very limited income. I have felt completely the opposite about Suzy. The prices are kept purposefully low, offered at two tiers to further increase accessibility, and the quality and breadth of content offered for the price is quite frankly astounding. You can also try two weeks for free, which I did before fully signing up.

I have done both RRR and Fern. Neither have resulted in a cure for me but both have increased the quality of my life immensely and facilitated a closer, more sustainable and healthier relationship with my body, energy levels and symptoms. I view the programmes as helping me to learn how to get my body into the most suitable state possible to allow healing to take place. I use it alongside medical intervention and for my situation think both are equally important.

Suzy is truly one of a kind - deeply compassionate, infectiously silly and joyful, authentic and willing to be vulnerable which in turn encourages others to do the same in the space she holds so gently for us all. That she has managed to build and continue to grow this programme and community while dealing with her own chronic health challenges blows my mind. She has a knack for finding incredible teachers to join the team, each bringing their own skills but all with an understanding of and compassion for living with difficult health circumstances. This extends to the support staff too, who I have found so kind and helpful.

I remember feeling such a sense of freedom and relief when I first started the classes, realising I had found a place where my lived reality was implicitly understood and catered for. It’s completely fine to turn up in your pjs with unwashed hair, and from bed if you prefer. There is something so freeing about turning up on video simply as you are and being accepted (though it is also perfectly fine to leave your video off if you prefer!). The overarching message is always to listen to your body and do less than you think you can, and to be aware of internal drivers that might be pushing you to do more (perfectionism, achievement etc) when actually your body wants less.

The offerings include classes such as breathe, mindfulness, qi gong (can be done in many ways from standing to sitting to lying and imagining the movement), yoga nidra (a type of deep rest, no movement), and the signature RRR community classes of very gentle optional movement with a group chat afterwards. There are also separate courses, weekend workshops and retreats for an extra fee. I have done some of these and all were of the same quality and infused with the same energy.

Suzy and the RRR programme have genuinely saved me from some very dark places over the past few years - the community aspect is incredible. Being mostly housebound my life is very small and to have a way to meet and engage and share tips with others who get it is invaluable. I’ve learned more from the group’s ’hive mind’ than I have from any of the NHS LC programmes I was sent on before our local LC clinics closed. I’ve also been lucky enough to attend Restival (short, accessible retreat) the last few years and to meet some of the community (as well as Suzy and other teachers!) in person has been so wonderful.

In short, if you’re wondering whether to try it - do! I’m so grateful for all Suzy and the programme has brought into my life.

I was a member of the RRR program for about 18 months. I really enjoyed many of the classes, from qi gong and pilates to weights and breathwork. It was reassuring to find a community of people going through a similar experience with ME/CFS, and teachers with understanding of chronic illness and pacing.

Unfortunately more recently, the messaging has changed to an increasing emphasis on “miracle recoveries” which is just depressing for those of us who have not got better. People who recover are vocally celebrated, even if they later relapse, while it’s implied that staying ill is a “choice” or lack of dedication. This emphasis on “recovery journeys” coupled with constant encouragement to repeatedly try and do a little more, can be actively harmful to people with ME, as overexertion can cause significant and long-term reductions in functionality.

Emails from the founder now emphasise recruitment, with financial incentives, and encouragement to introduce “stressed” friends to what was originally a focused program for really unwell people. This dilutes the value of the program, as these people will have very different needs that could be served by a regular yoga/meditation offering.

There also used to be practical sessions with a qualified occupational therapist, who has now left the program - this was the biggest differentiator from free classes on Youtube or Insight Timer.

The pricing is reasonable compared to other live online offerings, at £9 a week (£468 a year, no discounts for longer periods). There is a cheaper on-demand option, but this unfortunately doesn’t include the same variety of classes.

I joined RRR in 2022 when all else had failed to help with long covid and the medical profession had given up. Suzy's ability to build a loving, compassionate and non-judgemental community is second to none! I've learnt how I have some responsibility in my health outcomes and I now have many tools to help calm my overactive ANS. I can now say that I am fully recovered but these lessons will serve me for life!

Just returned from the Restival retreat and I can’t recommend it enough. I have been dipping in and out of Suzy’s classes for years as I have long Covid and decided to go to the Restival in the hope of a reset after a very busy period. I never expected to enjoy it as much as I did and the feeling of calm I am still bathing in is unbelievable. It was truly a magical, beautiful weekend being surrounded by people who understand Long Covid. I haven’t laughed so much in a long time, huge thank you Suzy and team.

I found Suzy and RRR (rest, repair, recover) 2 years after I got long COVID. I wish I'd known about it sooner! At first I watched some of the videos of classes on YouTube but quickly realised that I wanted to sign up to the live classes and have that sense of community and shared experiences with other people with long COVID.

There's so much on the timetable on offer, and I tried pretty much everything before settling on the classes that gave me the most benefit. For me this was RRR, breathwork, yoga nidra and there was a class with an occupational health once a week which sadly stopped. I found the approach of 'listen to your body, rest rather than push through' really helpful and also the community Q&A is always useful.

I've been part of Suzy's program for 2 1/2 years now. I'm back at work so I dip in and out of classes as I need and want to. Nervous system regulation was, for me, a huge part of the puzzle alongside seeing the long COVID clinic and starting medication for POTS and MCAS. Both medication and regulating my body have been necessary for me, and probably many others too! So thank you to Suzy and the team for teaching me these skills!

I’m so surprised by some of the negative reviews here. I’ve had nothing but help, support, kindness and understanding, and dare I say it, joy (NOT a dirty word), from Suzy and the excellent team she has assembled. Having the weekly support from people who actually understand chronic illness and that the autonomic nervous system is where mind and body (and soul) unite is healing in itself in a world that so often struggles to understand the lived experience of people like me. The messaging around safety is around ways we can support our jangled, dysregulated nervous systems and about not pushing ourselves too hard, too soon. The messaging around taking responsibility for our own healing is NOT about blame or saying if we aren’t healing then it’s our own fault, it’s about going at our own pace, looking for our own glimmers and realising that everybody’s healing and recovery will look different. I have several chronic conditions that interact and exacerbate each other. What I can do changes day to day, week to week, and I always feel like I belong to the community and I always find something that helps me in my own recovery. The programme offers physical, mental, spiritual support and it’s so lovely to be part of a community that cares and with people who get it. I do a mixture of live classes and recordings and there is also the chance to interact further via the Facebook page. There is movement, breathwork and meditation classes available throughout the week. It’s actually amazing. I understand my body, and specifically my nervous system and how it works, so much better and that gives me tools for rest, repair and recovery. What it says on the tin basically- worth every penny in my book.

The programme offers some great classes with great teachers. Sadly in the 2 years i’ve been a member it partially shifted from a programme for sick people seeing Long Covid and ME as real physical illnesses to a wellness programme for the stressed with some very harmful messaging. The belief is everyone can get better if only they want to and therefore if you aren’t it’s your own fault as you don’t want it enough which is 1. wrong, 2. dangerous and 3. victim blaming. Those of us with ME can’t just joyfully think ourselves better. Very real physical and severe illnesses have been psychologised and attributed to stress/feeling unsafe. Constructive criticism and ideas submitted by friends were met with blame and seen as personal attacks. At this point the programme has some culty aspects with Suzy seen as the saviour figure and has to be used with caution.

Quite possibly the single most important ingredient of my recovery journey

I completed the Fern course recently and am a regular participant in various RRR sessions. I have found this to be hugely supportive and my symptoms have improved significantly. The approach is very gentle and encourages you to tune in to your own body and your own unique needs. There is no pressure, everything that is offered can be adapted or simply left out if you don't feel it's what you need at that point in time. The facilitators are lovely and many have lived experience of ME-CFS or similar conditions so they really understand. Being around other people who "get it" is hugely validating and reassuring.

I have tried other similar programs and felt that they just weren't quite the right fit. What I love most about Suzy's program is the joyful and supportive community aspect. I felt it instantly in my first online class here. The second thing I love most about Suzy's program is how she gives you permission to not push yourself, not try hard, and not be an overachiever. It is a place to expand and grow, part of which is the process of learning when and how to slow down and when and how to expand. Through Suzy's class I learned that there is another way to live with chronic illness. My brain was stuck in a protective pattern and I learned how to find joy again, see positive things in my life, listen to my body and emotions, and stop focusing quite so much on the symptoms and fear - all while experiencing symptoms and fear. I have also gained the support of my fellow Fernies! Living with chronic illness is rubbish, but you don't have to add more rubbish to it. And maybe, just maybe, I am beginning to believe it is possible for me to fully recover.

A fantastic community that holds a space for chronic illness (long covid, CFS/ME). There's an amazing range of classes and community sessions. This gives a sense of order, humour and hope to my week like nothing else.

I was recommended Suzy's RRR programme and FERN by my NHS Long Covid clinic back in 2022. I can't recommend Suzy's programmes highly enough—FERN, in particular, has been truly transformative for me.

When I joined FERN, I was severely affected by Long Covid and in a very dark place mentally. The programme gave me hope, and although I haven't fully recovered yet, I know I'm on the right path.

I continue to sign up for Suzy's workshops and coaching because I find them so valuable. Suzy is an incredible coach who has inspired me immensely throughout my recovery. I am deeply grateful for her and her programmes.

Not only have they helped me cope with my illness and make meaningful progress, but they have also changed my outlook on life in general. Suzy has genuinely changed my life for the better, both in my recovery and beyond.

Fred.

When I found Suzy’s programme I was living a life that wasn’t my own. I barely recognised myself such were my debilitating symptoms. My world had shrunk and the fear of my condition was overwhelming. Suzy has such a capacity for compassion, warmth and healing,and over time that fear dissipated and I slowly began to reclaim my life back. She has a wealth of knowledge in her field, and brings with her a significant number of online trained experts in therapies that cohesively address all facets of chronic conditions such as long covid, me/cfs. There are daily live and on demand sessions, in addition there are monthly coaching workshops which provide a deep dive approach to healing and wellbeing. Some of which do require you to reflect on your life situations and play with the idea of adopting strategies, tools and techniques designed to improve wellbeing and introduce joy.
I don’t believe I would have recovered to the extent I have and be able to live the life I have if I hadn’t stumbled across Suzy’s early YouTube videos back in Oct 2023 which led me to her platform. Despite my health improvements I keep coming back because there is no other programme that meets my needs what ever stage I am at on this crazy journey.
You have nothing to lose by investing the equivalent of a daily cheap cup of coffee. Yet you have everything to gain. Community, kindness, healing, reflection. And did I mention the joy she brings? She brings it in spades!

I joined Suzy Bolts community when I was house bound with long COVID. As I am in New Zealand I mostly did on demand but I did manage to do the Fern course. The on demand classes taught me how to purposefully rest in a way that was unknown to my body. Fern brought a more intimate community, validation and agency. It gave me tools to consider and a gateway of hope, a framework and structure to find hope and joy. I am back to life in a way I never knew possible. I remain in the on demand classes as it helps anchor me to continuing looking after myself with kindness and compassion.

The Fern program was brilliant for me. It saved me both emotionally and physically through all the different tools I learnt to use and all the ways in which the carefully structured sessions gave me great support and a greater understanding of myself and how I could make different choices to care better for myself.