Growing up in the West Cork countryside with plenty of walking and swimming, gave me a great foundation in wellness. I continue to draw nourishment from these resources to this day. After completing my BA in French and Anthropology, I travelled extensively and lived abroad for many years. I originally trained in holistic massage in Brussels in 1997 and simultaneously started to study and practice
Tibetan Buddhist Meditation. This led me, in 1999, to an immersive 3.5 years in monasteries in Scotland and Canada, training in and practicing meditation and mindfulness. I also spent 6 months in India and Nepal undergoing further studies and training. Feeling the need to connect more with the body, it was in 2001 that I discovered the benefits of Shiatsu while completing my MA in Sociology. Regular sessions helped me to manage my stress and anxiety while writing my dissertation. I was hooked! In 2007, I undertook the 3 year training in Edinburgh and went onto assist at The Shiatsu School of Edinburgh for a further 3 years. I trained in Ear Acupuncture over several years which naturally complemented my shiatsu practice. I have a background in Community Development having worked as a coordinator with projects connected to refugees and ethnic minorities, mental health and domestic abuse for many years. I was struck by the impact traumatic experiences had on some clients, leading to ongoing stress and stress-based physical ailments. I felt that relaxation through body work had a crucial role in enabling clients to feel resourced and safe and this led me to start practicing Shiatsu and Ear Acupuncture full time. I moved back to Ireland in 2017 where I live near Clonakilty with my partner, two daughters and our cat. Shiatsu and Ear Acupuncture are very much a part of my life; both therapies helped me during the births of my daughters and I continue to treat them when there is an imbalance, such as with sleep or digestion. In 2019, my friend, Maria Exposito, and I launched Work Well Therapies, a corporate wellness service, offering onsite and online treatments and consultations, in response to the growing number of office based ailments we were treating in our clinics. It is hard to work when we are in physical and emotional discomfort, so these treatments offer relaxation
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, I have moved my business online and much to my amazement, I love working this way. In my online consultations, I integrate my love of meditation and body work. Not only do we work together to release physical tension and settle the mind through stretches, self-massage, pressure points and a deep relaxation, but each session is tailor made and unique and offers a toolkit for self-care in these challenging times. I work through English and French, locally, nationally and internationally. I continue to train and develop my skills and I’m currently undergoing training on the Polyvaygal Nervous System and in Meditation and Psychotherapy. I believe that when we feel nourished; we feel full up, we feel well and this wellness has a ripple effect out into our families, our workplaces and our communities. Through the nourishing tools of Shiatsu and Ear Acupuncture, I offer you a wellness journey; the opportunity to release tension, settle the mind, gain greater understanding of your needs, and tap into the deep place of resource in order to live life in a fulfilling and embodied way!
