Urban sense wellness clinic

Urban sense wellness clinic Our Story

Cheryl Penna is the founder of urban sense wellness, one of Melbourne’s most innovative and thriving natural health practices.

I help women 40+navigate the changes of midlife and beyond with confidence, energy and clarity.

20y+ experience in Naturopathy, Ayurvedic medicine, & Skincare — I bring a unique, holistic perspective to women’s wellness and healthy ageing. Our mission at urban sense is to inspire change and contribute to health and well-being by providing the best care to every client through an integrated clinic

al approach that focuses on education and patient centered goals. Established in 1998, the urban sense brand originally began as a range of natural skincare products that Cheryl developed for her clients during her studies at Southern School of Natural Therapies in Melbourne. Cheryl's creative blends were one of the first naturally made skin care ranges that were free of toxic chemicals, containing only pure plant based extracts and essential oils. The urban sense skincare range became very successful and was sold locally and overseas for many years. During that time, urban sense has grown and developed into a renowned wellness clinic in the field of Naturopathic Medicine and Nutritional Wellness. Cheryl ‘s interest in health and wellness began in her twenties after being diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. She spent many years consulting with medical practitioners and alternative therapists to address her own health concerns. It was during this time that she discovered her passion for alternative medicine. Her journey began learning about the principle's of Western Herbal & Nutritional Medicine. Over the years, she has completed studies in Functional Medicine, Fertility & Reproductive health, and still has a strong passion in addressing Skin Health and advising her clients on appropriate skin care. Cheryl has also compled studies in Ayurvedic Medicine & Skin Therapy that she is now incorporating into her wellness practice.

For years we've been told that the same diet, the same exercise program, and the same health advice should work for ever...
02/08/2026

For years we've been told that the same diet, the same exercise program, and the same health advice should work for everyone.

But what if that was never true?

Creating lasting health starts with truly understanding who you are.

Your biology.
Your metabolism.
Your stress response.
Your sleep patterns.
Your unique HealthType.

When we understand how your body works, we can stop guessing and start making choices that actually support your health.

That's why I'm excited to share that Precision Health Advantage is now part of every patient journey at Urban Sense Wellness.

This next-level program combines advanced health insights with my clinical experience to help us personalise your health plan like never before. No more one-size-fits-all advice—just a clearer understanding of what your body needs to thrive.

Because the best health plan isn't the one that's worked for someone else...

It's the one that's designed for you.

🎥 This short video beautifully explains why understanding ourselves is the foundation of creating better health.

I'd love to know what you think after watching it.



Find out what ph360 is and how it works! The world's first online H...

Why Does Your Friend Lose Weight... But You Don't?One of the biggest confirmations for me at the recent ACNEM Conference...
28/07/2026

Why Does Your Friend Lose Weight... But You Don't?

One of the biggest confirmations for me at the recent ACNEM Conference was something I've been seeing in clinic for years.

Two women can eat the same food, follow the same exercise program, and get completely different results.

One loses weight.
One gains weight.
One feels amazing.
One is exhausted.

And for years we've been told that's because one person simply isn't trying hard enough.

I don't believe that's true.

As women move through perimenopause and menopause, our hormones don't just affect hot flushes or our menstrual cycle.

They influence our:
• Muscle mass
• Insulin sensitivity
• Fat storage
• Sleep quality
• Stress response
• Energy production inside our cells

So, when your body changes, it doesn't necessarily mean you're doing something wrong.

It may simply mean your body now needs a different approach.

One of the messages that came through loud and clear during the conference was that personalisation is no longer a luxury—it is becoming essential. We need to assess metabolic health, preserve muscle, support blood sugar, improve sleep, reduce inflammation, and tailor nutrition to the individual rather than relying on generic advice.

This is exactly why I've been so excited to introduce Precision Health Advantage into my clinic.

Because I've learnt that understanding how your body responds is often more important than following the latest diet trend.

I've experienced this myself.

When I completed my own Precision Health assessment, I discovered that some of the healthy habits I'd been following for years weren't actually the best fit for my biology. Making a few personalised changes gave me one of those genuine "Aha!" moments—and the improvements in my energy and sleep came surprisingly quickly.

That's why I believe the future of women's health isn't more restriction.

It's more understanding.

Because your body isn't generic...

Your health plan shouldn't be either. 💚

'sHealth

What an incredible few days at the ACNEM 2026 Conference!This year's theme, Hormonal Health Across the Lifespan: Fertili...
26/07/2026

What an incredible few days at the ACNEM 2026 Conference!

This year's theme, Hormonal Health Across the Lifespan: Fertility, Midlife & Longevity, couldn't have aligned more closely with the direction I'm taking at Urban Sense Wellness.

After two full days of learning, I came home inspired, challenged and with pages of notes that I'm already looking forward to incorporating into patient care.

A few of my highlights included:

✨ Mitochondrial health and its central role in energy, healthy ageing and chronic disease. It reinforced just how important it is to support our cells from the inside out.

✨ The latest research on Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and its growing role in mitochondrial function, cardiovascular health, fertility and healthy ageing. It's exciting to see the evidence around this essential nutrient continue to evolve.

✨ Meeting the team from Prenuvo, pioneers in advanced whole-body MRI screening. It was fascinating to learn more about how this technology may help identify health concerns earlier and support a more proactive approach to long-term health.

✨ Reconnecting and networking with some truly inspiring practitioners from across Australia. One of the greatest parts of conferences is sharing ideas, learning from each other's clinical experiences and being surrounded by people who are equally passionate about helping patients live healthier lives.

The biggest takeaway for me?

Women's health is changing. The science is evolving rapidly, and we're learning more than ever about the connection between hormones, metabolism, mitochondria, nutrition, lifestyle and longevity. It's an exciting time to be in clinical practice.

These insights fit beautifully with the work I'm continuing to develop through Precision Health Advantage—helping women move beyond generic health advice and towards a truly personalised approach to healthy ageing.

Thank you to ACNEM and all the incredible speakers for an inspiring weekend. I'm excited to bring these new insights back into the clinic and continue sharing them with my patients over the coming months.

Here's to lifelong learning... because our patients deserve nothing less. 💚

'sHealth

26/07/2026
Why Can't I Sleep? 🌙It's 2:17 am.You're exhausted.Your body is desperate for sleep.....but your brain has decided it's t...
16/07/2026

Why Can't I Sleep? 🌙

It's 2:17 am.

You're exhausted.

Your body is desperate for sleep...
..but your brain has decided it's the perfect time to replay yesterday's conversations, plan tomorrow's to-do list and remind you of everything you've forgotten.

Sound familiar?

If you've searched online for help, you've probably seen recommendations for:

✨ Magnesium

✨ Ashwagandha

✨ Melatonin

✨ Passionflower

✨ Lemon balm

These aren't wrong.

In fact, I recommend many of them in clinical practice.

But here's the question social media rarely asks...

Why is your body waking you in the first place?

As women move through perimenopause and menopause, sleep isn't just influenced by hormones.

It's affected by your blood sugar, stress, muscle health, gut health, circadian rhythm, daily habits... and something we rarely talk about...

Your unique biology.

That's why the same supplement can work beautifully for one woman and do very little for another.

At Urban Sense Wellness, I don't start by asking,

"What should you take?"

I start by asking,

"Why is your body responding this way?"

That's the philosophy behind our new Precision Health Advantage program.

Because the future of health isn't generic.

It's personal. 💚

Cheryl Penna
Naturopath & Medical Herbalist

Exercise is medicine... but like any medicine, the right prescription depends on the person.One of the biggest messages ...
07/07/2026

Exercise is medicine... but like any medicine, the right prescription depends on the person.

One of the biggest messages women hear in perimenopause and menopause is...

"You need to lift heavy."

And for many women...

That's excellent advice.

But here's something we don't hear often enough.

In one study:
84% of people increased their lean muscle from resistance training.

Fantastic.

But that also means around 1 in 6 people didn't.

Even more interesting...

58% of people increased lean muscle from endurance training.

So maybe the question isn't...

"Should every woman lift heavy?"

Maybe the better question is...

"How does your body respond to exercise?"

During perimenopause and after menopause, our bodies are changing.

Hormones change.
Recovery changes.
Inflammation changes.
Stress tolerance changes.
Muscle adaptation changes.

Two women can follow exactly the same exercise program.

One feels stronger, builds muscle and recovers well.

The other finishes every session exhausted, struggles with soreness, experiences poor recovery or simply doesn't achieve the same results.

That doesn't mean she's failing.

It means her body may need a different approach.

Resistance training remains one of the most important tools we have for maintaining muscle, protecting bone density and supporting healthy ageing.

But precision health asks a few more questions...

• What type of resistance training?
• How much? How often? What time of day?
• At what intensity?
• What recovery does her body need?
• How does cardio fit into her program?

Because the goal isn't to copy someone else's exercise plan.

The goal is to understand what your body is designed to respond to.

That's why I'm so passionate about PHA360.

It helps us move beyond generic fitness advice and start understanding the unique way each woman responds to movement, recovery and stress.

Because the future of women's health isn't one-size-fits-all.

It's Precision Health.

💚 The best exercise isn't the one that's trending... it's the one your body can adapt to.

'sHealth

"You should try this..."It's probably the most common health advice we hear.💬 "Join my 5am bootcamp."💬 "Everyone should ...
05/07/2026

"You should try this..."

It's probably the most common health advice we hear.

💬 "Join my 5am bootcamp."
💬 "Everyone should fast."
💬 "This superfood is amazing."
💬 "Cut out carbs."
💬 "Drink celery juice."

The problem?

Generic advice isn't personalised health advice.

We all have different bodies, different genetics, different stress responses, different digestive systems and different ways of producing energy.

What helps one person thrive may leave someone else exhausted, hungry, inflamed or wondering why they aren't getting results.

This is exactly why I'm so passionate about understanding the differences in the health-types™ that show us how to eat, to live, how to build resilience and thrive in the world we live in.

Instead of following the latest trend, you learn how your body naturally works—so your food, movement, recovery and daily habits actually support your health rather than fight against it.

Personalised health isn't about doing what's popular.

It's about doing what's right for your body.

✨ Stop copying everyone else's health plan.
✨ Start understanding your own.

Interested in learning more?

Ask us about our Precision Health Assessment Program.

Why do some people thrive on a high-protein breakfast while others struggle?Why can one person exercise every day and fe...
22/06/2026

Why do some people thrive on a high-protein breakfast while others struggle?

Why can one person exercise every day and feel energised, while another ends up exhausted and burnt out?

Why do some people love structure and routine, while others need flexibility and variety?

The answer may be simpler than you think.

We are not all designed the same.

For years, health advice has often followed a "one-size-fits-all" approach. Eat this. Avoid that. Exercise more. Sleep better. Don't eat carbs. Eat more protein.

But after more than 20+ years in clinical practice, one thing has become very clear:

Different bodies have different needs.

Your body shape, metabolism, personality, stress response, food preferences, exercise tolerance, recovery patterns and even the way you respond to different environments can provide valuable clues about what helps you function at your best.

This is the foundation of HealthTypes™ and our new Precision Health Program at Urban Sense Wellness.

Rather than focusing only on symptoms, we look at the bigger picture:

✔ How your body is designed to function

✔ Your unique strengths and vulnerabilities

✔ Your energy and recovery patterns

✔ Nutrition that works for your body

✔ Exercise that supports rather than depletes you

✔ Lifestyle habits that align with your natural tendencies

✔ Long-term health and wellbeing goals

Because true health isn't about following someone else's plan.

It's about understanding what works for you.

Imagine knowing:

✨ The foods that best support your body

✨ The exercise that helps you thrive

✨ How to structure your day for better energy

✨ Why stress affects you the way it does

✨ How to create a lifestyle that feels sustainable rather than exhausting

When we understand our individual blueprint, health becomes less about guessing and more about making informed choices.

Health is personal.

And perhaps the future of wellness isn't about doing more.

It's about understanding yourself better.

Have you ever noticed that what works brilliantly for someone else doesn't always work for you?

I'd love to hear your thoughts below. 👇

Coming soon to urban sense wellness the Ultimate Health Assessment program. We have a 5-day program starting in next 2 w...
13/06/2026

Coming soon to urban sense wellness the Ultimate Health Assessment program.

We have a 5-day program starting in next 2 weeks. If you would like to part of our initial program group, please reach out to me at urban sense.

We have already had an amazing response and only have a few spots left so please respond this week to learn more.

You don't have the wrong body. You may just have the wrong health plan.For years we've been told that the same diet, exe...
30/05/2026

You don't have the wrong body. You may just have the wrong health plan.

For years we've been told that the same diet, exercise program, sleep routine, or wellness strategy should work for everyone.

But when you look around, it's obvious that people are different.

Some naturally thrive on routine and structure, while others need flexibility and variety.

Some build muscle easily. Others struggle despite doing all the "right" things.

Some feel energised by social connection, while others need time alone to recharge.

These differences aren't flaws.

They're clues.

That's why I'm excited to introduce a new assessment program at Urban Sense Wellness that helps identify your unique health type.

This assessment helps us better understand your individual physiological blueprint, including:

✨ Your natural body shape and tendencies
✨ How your nervous system responds to stress
✨ What motivates you
✨ The type of support your body needs to thrive
✨ Food and exercise strategies that may suit you best
✨ The lifestyle habits that work with your biology, not against it

Because personalised health isn't about forcing your body to follow someone else's plan.

It's about understanding how your body works and creating a strategy that supports your natural strengths.

The more we understand ourselves, the easier it becomes to create sustainable health, energy and wellbeing.

Address

Ground Floor, Corporate One 84 Hotham Street Preston
Preston, VIC
3072

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+61400551968

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