SENSE Women’s Wellness - Holistic Therapies - Loughrea

01/09/2026

They’re back to school.
You’re allowed back in the treatment room.

September routines are returning… and perhaps there’s finally a little space for you too.

Come in. Switch off. I’ll take it from here 💗

www.senseofshiatsu.ie

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28/08/2026

10+ years of treating, learning, growing and meeting so many lovely people along the way… and every now and then, a little reminder that boundaries are part of the job too 😉

Being warm, flexible and accommodating has always been important to me — but so is having a few clear policies in place.

So this is a little ‘Before You Book’ reminder. Nothing new or dramatic, just the important bits that help appointments run smoothly and make sure we’re all on the same page.

There’s some practical treatment info in there too, so whether you’ve been coming to me for years or you’re thinking about booking your first appointment, have a quick swipe through.

Consider it a little housekeeping post… and a gentle reminder to myself that boundaries and being nice can, in fact, coexist 😂

With Love xx
Anna

26/08/2026

I think a lot of us are living in Yang without even realising it ☯️

Always doing, planning, rushing, exercising, working, scrolling, thinking about the next thing…

And then wondering why, when we finally get the chance to rest, we can’t actually switch off.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we need both Yin and Yang.

🌙 Yin is the slower, quieter side — rest, nourishment, stillness, turning inward.

☀️ Yang is movement, warmth, action, doing and outward energy.

Neither is better. And balance doesn’t mean being 50/50 all the time.

Some days we need to retreat and soften.
Other days we need to get up, move, connect and get things flowing again.

Why I like to look at it this way? Because it takes away the idea that we should always be doing more.

Sometimes you just need LESS.

So maybe check in with yourself today…

Are you feeling wired, busy and unable to switch off?

Or heavy, stuck and finding it hard to get going?

What are you craving right now — more Yin 🌙 or more Yang ☀️?

With this sleepy, wet weather, my inner Yin is very happy to take over today 🤣 I might re-emerge when the sun does!

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25/08/2026

SHIATSU SOS – Pericardium 6

One of my favourite points to know for moments of stress, nausea, nervousness or when you simply need to settle yourself is Pericardium 6, also known as Neiguan – Inner Pass.

To find the point, turn your palm to face you.

Place three fingers across the inside of your wrist, starting at the wrist crease. Pericardium 6 is approximately where the edge of your third finger lands, between the two prominent tendons in the centre of the inner forearm.

Once you find the point, use your thumb to apply comfortable, steady pressure. You can hold it, gently massage it in small circles, or breathe slowly while pressing for around 30 seconds to a couple of minutes, then repeat on the other wrist.

In traditional East Asian medicine, Pericardium 6 is used to open and relax the chest and calm the Heart and spirit. It may be a useful supportive point when you are experiencing feelings of chest tension, palpitations associated with stress, nervousness, anxiety, difficulty settling or sleeping, mental agitation or feeling overwhelmed.

It is also one of the best-known acupressure points for the digestive system, particularly for nausea, vomiting, seasickness, motion sickness and discomfort in the upper stomach.

Because of its location on the inner wrist and forearm, it may also be used as part of a shiatsu treatment for tension or discomfort around the wrist and conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Think of Pericardium 6 as a beautiful point for helping the body settle.

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If someone has new, severe or unexplained chest pain or tightness, difficulty breathing, symptoms of angina, or a suspected medical emergency, seek urgent medical care. Acupressure can be used for comfort while appropriate help is being sought, but it should not delay emergency treatment.

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22/08/2026

Late summer is a transitional time. Summer is still with us, but there’s a change in the light and a subtle sense that something is beginning to come to an end.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, late summer is associated with the Earth element and the Spleen and Stomach.

The Spleen in Chinese medicine is different from the anatomical spleen in Western medicine. It describes a functional system involved in the transformation and transportation of nourishment — how we receive food, extract what we need from it and use it to support our energy.

When Spleen Qi is depleted, TCM describes patterns such as tiredness, heaviness, digestive discomfort and a tendency towards worry, rumination and overthinking.

And sometimes — cravings for sweet foods.

Sweet is the flavour of the Earth element. Traditionally, this means the gentle, natural sweetness found in foods rather than refined sugar.

And nature is quite clever at this time of year: beets, carrots, sweet potatoes, plums, apples and pears all offer that natural sweetness. Cooked and warming foods can also begin to feel more supportive as we transition towards autumn.

The Spleen is associated with Yi- usually translated as thought, intellect, intention or our capacity for focused thinking. When balanced, Yi gives us focus and clarity. When unsettled, we can find ourselves going over and over things in our minds.

In Shiatsu, working with the Spleen and Stomach meridians can be particularly supportive during this seasonal transition — bringing attention back into the body and encouraging a sense of grounding and steadiness.

Late summer is a time to nourish, digest and integrate what has been — before autumn arrives and the energy begins to turn inward.

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17/08/2026

PROMISING RESEARCH INTO SHIATSU IN MATERNITY CARE
🔬 Full study: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11472127t/

PROMISING RESEARCH INTO SHIATSU IN MATERNITY CARE
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SHIATSU & LABOUR

What does the research show?

A 2024 randomised controlled trial explored the effects of Shiatsu on pain and anxiety during labour in 80 first-time mothers.

40 received Shiatsu | 40 received standard care

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PAIN LEVELS

Shiatsu group
6.85 → 4.78 ↓

Control group
6.85 → 8.85 ↑

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ANXIETY

Participants receiving Shiatsu reported reduced anxiety levels, while anxiety increased in the control group as labour progressed.
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WHAT THIS SUGGESTS

The study indicates that Shiatsu may be a supportive, non-pharmacological approach that could help reduce pain and anxiety during labour in the population studied.

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Norhapifah H, Isa MR, Abdullah B, Mohamed S. (2024). The Impact of Shiatsu Massage on Labour Pain and Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial. International Journal of Community Based Nursing and Midwifery, 12(4), 243–253.
🔗 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11472127/

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12/08/2026

I’ve seen so many posts encouraging people to look directly at an eclipse without proper eye protection. Please don’t follow this advice.

Even when the Sun is partially covered, looking directly at it can damage the retina - and you may not feel that damage happening.

Use certified eclipse glasses or a safe indirect viewing method. Regular sunglasses are NOT enough.

An eclipse may last only minutes. Your eyesight needs to last a lifetime.

Please share this with someone who needs to hear it.

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protectyoureyes

31/07/2026

Shiatsu & Feeling Safe in Your Body

Feeling safe is an important part of any therapeutic relationship.

Trauma-informed Shiatsu recognises the importance of choice, consent and working at a pace that feels right for you. Treatments are tailored to your needs, with your comfort at the centre of every session.

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29/07/2026

Somehow, being tired has become the norm.

So has feeling stressed.
Running on coffee.
Waking up exhausted.
Never really switching off.

As women, we’re so used to carrying on that we often don’t notice when our body has been in survival mode for far too long.

But feeling this way isn’t something you just have to accept.

A dysregulated nervous system can show up as fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, anxiety, muscle tension, digestive issues, and even weight gain.

Through slow, therapeutic, mindful touch, Shiatsu helps calm the nervous system and supports your body in moving from stress into rest. It’s in this state that your body can regulate, restore, and heal.

My treatments bring together the wisdom of Traditional East Asian Medicine with a modern understanding of anatomy, physiology, pathology, and how chronic stress affects the nervous system.

If you’ve forgotten what it feels like to be deeply relaxed, your body might be asking for something different.

Maybe it’s time to stop pushing through and start listening 💗

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27/07/2026

Great article. It’s encouraging to see growing scientific evidence supporting what many therapists witness every day.
A 2024 review of 212 studies (nearly 13,000 participants) found that safe, consensual touch can reduce anxiety, depression, pain and stress while supporting emotional wellbeing.
Therapeutic touch is about so much more than relaxation - it can help regulate the nervous system and foster a sense of safety and connection 💗

Physical contact is vital for our wellbeing. New research is revealing why