SENSE Women’s Wellness - Holistic Therapies - Loughrea
Shiatsu Therapist & Health Coach | Advocate for Women's Health & Natural Skincare | Promoting Wellness | Slow living 🌿 Gardening & Mindful Cooking | 🌿 Galway.
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Anna is a fully qualified and registered (SSI, IMTA) Shiatsu, Zone Face Lift and HOLOS Skincare practitioner. Her clinic is located in Loughrea Town Centre, Co. She is offering complementary Body Therapies: Zen Shiatsu, Chinese Cupping, Moxibustion, HOLOS Holistic Facials as well as ZONE Face Lift – award winning natural anti-ageing Facial Therapy. Anna has completed 3 years Shiatsu Diploma course with Shiatsu College Dublin. Shiatsu – Japanese body work – is an effective therapy, working on both – Body and Mind. Gentle pressure, stretches and rotations helps relax body and release tension and held emotions. Shiatsu is working on sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Deep relaxation and unblocking the energy and blood flow improve body ability to heal itself. Shiatsu is also a great physical therapy, very effective in treating sport injuries, sciatica, spinal issues and all kind of muscles and joints problems. Anna is often using other techniques alongside with Shiatsu :
Sotai – Japanese muscle mobilisation technique – to improve body alignment and mobility. Chinese cupping – to improve blood circulation, boost immune system and relax tight muscles
Moxibustion to reduce pains and aches and bring warmth and heat into the body
Anna is particularly interested in women’s health, especially endocrine problems and related issues. She is successfully helping women in all ages dealing with physical and mental problems: stress, anxiety, depression, pains, hormonal imbalances, autoimmune diseases to name just a few. While working with women in all ages she found out, that they all (including herself) wish not only to be and feel healthy but also to have a healthy, glowing look. After some research and try-outs of varied skin treatments she discovered the one that combines both – health and beauty benefits – Zone Face Lift Bergman Method. Ziggie Bergman, creator of ZFL, is popular and successful therapist and teacher based in London. Anna has successfully completed all the modules and became certified Zone Face Lift practitioner in 2017. In 2019 Anna has completed training with Niamh Hogan, CEO of Irish brand 'HOLOS Skin Care from Nature', and became certified HOLOS therapist. Anna’s treatments include lifestyle and dietary changes recommendations. She has completed Nutrition Course with The Open College, and is currently studying Health and Wellness Coaching with Institute of Health Sciences.
11/02/2026
Shiatsu: Listening Through Touch 🙌
Shiatsu is a hands-on therapy grounded in attentive, responsive contact. Central to Shiatsu practice is the ability to listen through touch — meeting the body with presence, sensitivity, and respect.
Practitioners perceive information such as changes in tissue quality, temperature, movement, breath, and energetic response.
This ongoing listening guides the treatment process, allowing Shiatsu to respond to the individual rather than follow a fixed approach.
Listening through touch reflects the depth and professionalism of Shiatsu practice and supports a client-centred, holistic approach that honours the body’s natural capacity for balance and self-regulation.
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10/02/2026
Shiatsu for the Lymphatic System.
Your lymphatic system is like your body’s quiet clean-up crew. It helps move waste, toxins, and excess fluid out of the tissues—but unlike your heart, it doesn’t have a pump. It relies on movement, breath, and gentle pressure to do its job.
That’s where Shiatsu comes in.
Shiatsu uses slow, rhythmic pressure along meridians and key areas of the body, encouraging lymph to move more freely.
The result?
✨ Less heaviness and puffiness
✨ A calmer nervous system
✨ Better circulation and immune support
✨ A feeling of lightness and clarity
Many people don’t realize how much sluggish lymph can show up as fatigue, swelling, skin issues, or that “stuck” feeling in the body. Shiatsu supports the lymphatic system in a way that’s effective but never forceful—perfect if you’re sensitive or easily overwhelmed.
Spring is a powerful time to focus on lymphatic health, but honestly… your body will thank you for this kind of support any time of year.
If you’ve been feeling tired, inflamed, or just not quite yourself, your lymphatic system might be asking for a little extra care 💗
Save this, share it with someone who loves body wisdom, or come experience it for yourself.
On one side, we’re told: “Be your true self. Listen to your inner voice.”
On the other side — especially on social media — we’re shown exactly how that “true self” should look.
What to wear.
How to think.
What healing, success, and even authenticity should look like.
Trends move fast, but their impact is slow. Without noticing, we start shaping ourselves to fit the feed — editing parts of who we are to belong, be seen, or stay relevant.
That pressure lives in the body. It fuels comparison, anxiety, and chronic stress.
From a TCM perspective, it disrupts the smooth flow of Qi, constrains the Liver, and unsettles the Heart (Shen). From a biological lens, suppressing our truth creates inner conflict — the nervous system stays on alert because it doesn’t feel safe to fully be ourselves.
Trends will always change.
But your body knows when you’re out of alignment.
When was the last time you chose what felt true for you — even if it wasn’t trending?
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04/02/2026
I’m a qualified Shiatsu Therapist, Health & Wellness Coach, and Holistic Facialist based in Loughrea, Co. Galway.My work is rooted in the belief that true wellness happens when body, mind, and …
03/02/2026
Fast dopamine, fake happiness & why we’re all so tired and dissatisfied 😒
We live on fast rewards.
Scrolling.
10-second videos.
Likes.
Constant stimulation.
They give us dopamine — and it feels like happiness.
But it’s not real happiness.
It’s fake, fast, and empty.
Fake happiness is loud.
It needs more and more.
And it quietly exhausts the nervous system.
— What fast dopamine does to us —
Without noticing, we start to feel:
• restless but tired
• foggy and unfocused
• emotionally flat or anxious
• disconnected from ourselves
The nervous system stays switched on, always searching.
— Fake happiness vs real happiness —
Fake happiness:
• comes fast
• disappears fast
• leaves us craving
Real happiness:
• builds slowly
• feels calm and grounded
• lives in the body, not the screen
Real happiness comes from connection, not consumption.
— How we gently rewire the nervous system —
The nervous system doesn’t need discipline — it needs safety and rhythm.
Slow dopamine heals:
• reading books or long articles
• talking to people face-to-face (this literally creates new brain connections)
• creating with your hands
• walking mindfully
• sitting in silence
This is how the brain rests.
This is how creativity returns.
— From a TCM perspective —
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, fast living scatters Qi and overheats the Heart.
Endless stimulation drains our reserves.
Living in harmony means slowing down, following the seasons, and being present in the moment — not chasing the next hit.
— Real happiness lives here —
Not in the next scroll.
But in the here & now.
In your body.
In real connection.
Sometimes the most powerful medicine is simply:
put the phone down and come back to yourself 💗
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31/01/2026
SHIATSU more than massage, more than acupressure.
Shiatsu is often described as deeply relaxing — but that’s only the surface.
At its core, Shiastu is a body–mind therapy rooted in East Asian medicine. Through intentional pressure along energy pathways (meridians), gentle stretches, and stillness, it supports the nervous system and the body’s natural ability to regulate itself.
People often seek Shiatsu when they feel:
• tired but wired
• stressed, anxious, or emotionally overloaded
• disconnected from their body
• holding chronic tension in the neck, shoulders, jaw, or lower back
• experiencing headaches, poor sleep, or digestive discomfort
This work is not about fixing symptoms in isolation.
In Shiatsu, symptoms are seen as meaningful signals — the body’s intelligent response to long-term stress, depletion, or overload.
Tight shoulders, fatigue, or digestive issues rarely exist on their own. They reflect how the whole system has been coping over time.
Shiatsu works with the whole person — body, breath, emotions, and energy — creating the conditions for the system to self-regulate.
As circulation improves and the nervous system softens out of survival mode, balance can re-emerge naturally. Symptoms often shift not because they were forced to change, but because the underlying strain has eased.
Slowing down is essential.
In quiet, attentive touch, the body finally has space to speak — through sensation, release, breath, or deep rest.
What has been held for a long time can begin to unwind, gently and at its own pace.
Sometimes the most powerful healing doesn’t feel dramatic.
It feels like coming home to your body again.
Life doesn’t move in straight lines.
It expands, contracts, surprises us, and sometimes asks more than we feel ready to give.
There are moments when it feels manageable…
and moments when everything comes at once.
When pressure builds, the body responds long before the mind catches up.
You might notice:
• your breath shortening
• your jaw or shoulders holding tension
• your digestion changing
• your sleep becoming lighter or restless
• emotions rising faster than usual
In Chinese Medicine, this is the body adapting to unpredictability.
The Liver tightens when plans shift or emotions aren’t fully expressed.
The Heart becomes unsettled when there’s too much stimulation or uncertainty.
The Earth element struggles when there’s no time to pause and digest — Physically or Emotionally — Do you know that knot in the stomach?
That heavy, tight feeling that shows up when life feels like too much, too fast?
Over time, this constant adjustment can drain your system. Cortisol stays elevated, the nervous system forgets how to fully rest, and the body starts holding stress in the muscles, joints, and connective tissue —
often experienced as ongoing pain or tension.
Shiatsu offers a pause inside the movement of life.
Through grounded touch, the nervous system is reminded that it doesn’t need to stay on alert.
When the body feels supported:
• the breath deepens
• the organs soften
• clarity returns
• resilience rebuilds
This isn’t about fixing your life.
It’s about creating enough internal stability to meet it as it is.
You don’t need to have everything figured out.
You just need moments of safety, presence, and support 💗
Blue Monday is often described as the most difficult emotional day of the year — low mood, fatigue, lack of motivation.
For many women in perimenopause, this doesn’t feel like a single day…
it feels like an ongoing inner shift that hasn’t yet been named.
Perimenopause can begin in the late 30s, as ovarian function starts to fluctuate.
Oestrogen and progesterone no longer follow predictable rhythms, which directly affects:
• the nervous system
• sleep and circadian rhythm
• serotonin and mood regulation
• stress response and resilience
• temperature regulation and energy levels
This is why symptoms can feel both emotional and physical:
low mood, anxiety, irritability, brain fog, poor sleep, exhaustion, a sense of not recognising yourself.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this phase is understood as a natural transition in the Water Element (Kidneys) — our foundation for hormones, vitality, and long-term energy.
Winter, Blue Monday, and perimenopause all reflect a similar theme:
conservation, slowing down, and deep nourishment.
When Kidney (Water) energy becomes depleted, it can affect:
🔥 Heart / Fire — low joy, restlessness, sleep disturbance
🪵 Liver / Wood — frustration, emotional tension, hormonal stagnation
In Shiatsu, we work gently with these relationships — supporting the body’s own ability to rebalance rather than forcing it to “push through”.
This is not about fixing something that’s broken.
It’s about responding intelligently to a changing physiology.
Low mood during this time is not a personal failure.
It’s often a sign that the nervous and hormonal systems need support, rhythm, and care.
Perimenopause deserves understanding — not minimisation.
Balance — not dismissal.
Gentle, skilled support — not endurance.
Your body is communicating.
And when we listen, it can be supported back into harmony ☯️
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15/01/2026
As a woman, you hold space for so much.
You carry emotions, responsibilities, conversations, expectations.
You listen. You nurture.
You show up — even when you’re tired.
You hold space for your family, your work, your friendships, your community.
You are the steady one, the strong one, the one others lean on.
But… who holds space for you?
My treatments are an invitation to rest.
A place where you don’t have to explain yourself, fix anything, or be anything other than exactly who you are in that moment.
Within this space, your body is gently supported to slow down.
Tension can soften.
Breath can deepen.
Your nervous system can begin to settle — often allowing both the body and mind to feel more grounded, calmer, and at ease.
I offer a safe, non-judgmental space, rooted in professional care and deep respect for your nervous system.
A space that supports your physical body, mental health, and emotional wellbeing — because true healing often begins when you feel held, seen, and supported.
There is no expectation to talk or to change anything.
Just an opportunity to listen to what your body needs, at your own pace.
This is your permission to receive.
To soften.
To breathe.
To be held for a while.
You deserve care that honours the whole of you.
You’re welcome to explore the treatments on my website: www.senseofshiatsu.ie
or DM me if you have any questions 💗
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14/01/2026
10 years ago!
It was the year I stepped away from the safe, supportive arms of Shiatsu Collage Dublin and began building my own practice.
Exciting, yes… but also deeply stretching.
I felt a real mix of emotions at the time — joy and freedom alongside doubt, fear, and anxiety.
Leaving structure and certainty to follow something that felt right in my body and heart wasn’t easy, especially while quietly comparing myself to what I saw online.
Now, almost 10 years later, I can see just how much that journey has given me.
How much I’ve learned — not only about my work, but about myself. The skills, the experience, the quiet confidence that only time can bring. Along the way I’ve met so many wonderful people from this field — inspiring teachers, generous mentors, and beautiful souls who became friends. I’m deeply grateful for every connection and lesson.
One thing this decade has taught me is that nothing in this life is certain. There are no guarantees, no perfect timing, no clear map. But if something is calling you deeply from the heart — gently, persistently — it’s worth listening. Following that inner lead, even when it feels scary, can open doors you didn’t know existed.
There is honestly nothing else I’d rather be doing.
Grateful for the courage of my younger self — and for the journey that continues 💗
And from my heart — thank you!
To all my wonderful ladies who have supported me along the way. Some of you have been with me since the very beginning, and even stayed with me when I moved my practice from Galway to Loughrea. You stood by me through the lockdowns, the uncertainty, and the many challenges along the way. Your trust, loyalty, and presence have meant more than I can ever put into words. I wouldn’t be here without you! 💗
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#2016
07/01/2026
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, winter is a yin season - a time of rest, conservation, and inward energy.
But when stillness becomes stagnation, lymph and Qi can slow, creating Dampness and heaviness in the body.
Supporting lymphatic flow in winter doesn’t require intensity.
It asks for warmth, rhythm, and gentle stimulation.
Shiatsu, Indian head massage, and facial massage help restore movement without exhausting the system - working with the season, not against it ❄️
Little Christmas has always held something special here.
A quieter day.
A softer ending to the season.
As someone who came to Ireland nearly 15 years ago, I’ve grown to really love Nollaig na mBan.
A day that honours women - not with grand gestures, but with rest.
With letting go.
With permission to stop tending for everyone else.
Traditionally, it was the day women stepped back.
When decorations came down,
when the work of Christmas was complete,
and there was space - finally - to sit, breathe, and be held.
I love the wisdom of this day.
The understanding that care must also be returned.
That rest is not earned - it’s needed.
May we honour that tradition.
In whatever small way we can.
A pause.
A cup of tea.
A moment to ourselves.
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Contact The Practice
Send a message to SENSE Women’s Wellness - Holistic Therapies - Loughrea:
Anna is a fully qualified and registered (SSI, IMTA) Shiatsu and Zone Face Lift practitioner. Her clinic is located in Loughrea Town Centre, Co. Galway. She is offering complementary Body Therapies: Zen Shiatsu, Chinese Cupping, Moxibustion, HOLOS Holistic Facials as well as ZONE Face Lift – award winning natural anti-ageing Facial Therapy.
Anna has completed 3 years Shiatsu Diploma course with Shiatsu College Dublin.
Shiatsu – Japanese body work – is an effective therapy, working on both – Body and Mind. Gentle pressure, stretches and rotations helps relax body and release tension and held emotions. Shiatsu is working on sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Deep relaxation and unblocking the energy and blood flow improve body ability to heal itself. Shiatsu is also a great physical therapy, very effective in treating sport injuries, sciatica, spinal issues and all kind of muscles and joints problems. Anna is often using other techniques alongside with Shiatsu :
Sotai – Japanese muscle mobilisation technique – to improve body alignment and mobility.
Chinese cupping – to improve blood circulation, boost immune system and relax tight muscles
Moxibustion to reduce pains and aches and bring warmth and heat into the body
Anna is particularly interested in women’s health, especially endocrine problems and related issues. She is successfully helping women in all ages dealing with physical and mental problems: stress, anxiety, depression, pains, hormonal imbalances, autoimmune diseases to name just a few.
While working with women she found out, that they all (including herself) wish not only to be and feel healthy but also to have a healthy, glowing look.
After some research and try-outs of varied skin treatments she discovered the one that combines both – health and beauty benefits – Zone Face Lift Bergman Method. Ziggie Bergman, creator of ZFL, is popular and successful therapist and teacher based in London. Anna has successfully completed all the modules and became certified Zone Face Lift practitioner. Anna’s treatments include lifestyle and dietary changes recommendations.
