When life feels out of balance, it can help to pause and explore where the difficulty lies. Sometimes it shows up physically – stiffness, tight muscles, or the lingering effects of injury or surgery.
Other times, it is restless sleep, anxious thoughts, or the weight of stress. And sometimes it is more subtle – a sense of disconnection, a feeling that life is not as full or as satisfying as it could be.
The following approaches can be combined or selected on their own, as ways to bring support to mind and body.
Qualifications
- Acupuncture (AFI, 2002)
- Shiatsu (SSI registered, 1998)
- Yoga (YTI 2009)
- Yoga Therapy (YTI 2018)
- Restorative Yoga (YTI, Lasater 2021)
- Somatic Movement (SMCI 2021)
- Mindfulness (MAUK 2023)
Yoga for flexibility, stamina and ease in the body
Hatha yoga offers many benefits – both physical and mental. A regular yoga class can build strength, stamina and flexibility, improving our range of movement and giving us more confidence in how we go about in our daily activities. Each class begins with gentle warm-up movements, powanmuktasana, specifically to warm up the back muscles, shoulder, and hip joints. Breathing exercises, pranayama, encourage a deep connection between mind and body. The classic yoga poses help develop strength, stamina, and good posture. Combined, a yoga class offers a way to engage fully with how we are feeling physically and mentally, in a mindful, safe, and empowering way.
I graduated as a yoga teacher in 2009 and as a yoga therapist in 2018 with Yoga Therapy Ireland. I run classes both online and in the community at beginners’ and improvers’ level.
I have also designed a class specifically for over 55’s called ‘Mindful Chair Yoga’. It adapts many of the main yoga poses to be done safely seated in a chair. The pace of the class is easy and inclusive and is designed to help participants find more ease in their movement. I run the classes online, as well as in the community, and through local libraries.
I have also trained in restorative yoga with American teacher Judith Lasater.
Focused treatment for many issues
Acupuncture can treat a variety of ailments – from digestive issues, to joint problems, to the symptoms of stress and overwork.
It works well alongside conventional western medicine and is often sought when a health issue has become chronic or is reoccurring.
I qualified as a licensed acupuncturist in 2002 with the Acupuncture Foundation of Ireland and completed my work experience in Nanjing, China.
for Stress Relief and Wellbeing
Mindfulness is a simple yet powerful practice of being fully present in the moment – gently guiding our attention away from racing thoughts and distractions. It is not about silencing the mind or striving for perfection, but about cultivating awareness and a sense of calm through learning structured practices. These practices are easy to learn and with practice become a life-line in a hectic, demand-driven day. There are formal guided practices and in-formal ones that can be used during the day, easing overthinking and feelings of overwhelm. In all. these simple mindfulness techniques can help us reconnect with ourselves and help us feel more grounded.
The regular practice of mindfulness offers many proven benefits. It can improve focus and concentration, support better sleep and enhance overall mental and emotional wellbeing. People who practice mindfulness often report feeling more present, less on auto-pilot, more connected and more present for other people. Mindfulness is not about perfection but a practical science-backed way to manage stress, improve mood and create lasting positive change – one mindful moment at a time.
I run a weekly drop-in community donation-based mindfulness session, called Mindful Mondays. It is open to anyone, especially those new to mindfulness. The session lasts 45 minutes and involves explanation around the main ideas behind the practice, with space for people to ask questions. We do a short 5 minute ‘gathering sit’, followed by a longer 20-minute practice, where I guide the group in the easy steps of getting into the practice.
In November, I will be leading the popular Mindfulness 5 Day Challenge – an opportunity to tune in online for 30 minutes in the morning for 5 days in a row, when I will guide the group in different practices so that you can experience the benefits of a regular practice first hand.
Early next year, I will be running an 8-week Mindfulness Based Living course, as designed by the Mindfulness Association UK and The Sanctuary, in Dublin, where participants can learn in more detail how to establish a personal practice and the evidence-based research behind the practice.
Please see the Mindfulness page for more details.
Shiatsu Bodywork
Shiatsu is a form of bodywork that is more than just massage. Done through the clothes, a treatment involves using hand and finger pressure along the median lines of the body to rebalance the energetic flow found there.
The emphasis in this gentle approach is to locate any imbalances and improve the flow of ‘ki’ or life-force. Many clients have used the benefits of this quiet and restorative treatment to aid their journey in counselling and psychotherapy.
I qualified in shiatsu in 1998 with The Irish School of Shiatsu and have been working with private clients over many years.
Somatic Movement is a very specific approach to chronic muscle tension. It is taught in a series of classes – individually or in a group. Somatic Movement builds a focused programme of exercises, done very slowly and with attention, the aim of which is to consciously feel and release taut, over-worked muscles. The programme of exercises features core movements, which are then supplements with tailored exercises to address individual needs.
I qualified with in 2021 with the American based Somatic Movement Centre.