HEALING HANDS

Marie Kelly visits an intuitive healer in search of true wellness

I’m certainly not a sceptic, but I tend to take a lighthearted approach to wellness packages; if I get an hour of lovely downtime in a dimly lit room with whale music in the background, I’m happy. Having said that, this time I was hopeful of more. It’s been a challenging start to 2020; I lost my job in November, my dog died in December, and my dear dad passed away in January. I was feeling ready to “reconnect and recharge”, as the press release put it.

I immediately liked “intuitive specialist” Sinéad de hÓra (pictured below). She is gentle and warm and struck me as someone I’d like to be friends with. I lay on the treatment table, and she explained that she would do an initial reading of my energy, or my chakra, by rubbing in circular motions particular parts of my body; in this case, she focused on my stomach and head. After about ten minutes, she stopped and gave me her analysis, telling me that I was an incredibly creative person who wasn’t reaching her full potential because of a lack of confidence and a preoccupation with what others think. Ten out of ten. She also told me that all of my energy came from my mother; that all of my learned behaviours had been picked up from her. Twelve out of ten. I was impressed.

According to Sinéad, “you address the issue through the tissue”, so she uses a variety of massage techniques to help heal and repair. Unlike any traditional massage I’ve had, where there’s a consistent rhythm that can often lull you to sleep, Sinéad’s method made me feel much more aware of each part of my body as she kneaded and moulded, gently at times, intensely at others. When she finished, we sat and chatted for a while. I told her about my rocky start to the year, and she revealed that despite this, I had surprisingly positive energy. As well as being an energy reader, a gift she says she’s had since the age of about four, Sinéad is also qualified in CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) and offers a variet y of ser vices from managing anxiety to business start-up and strateg y planning. She inspires trust immediately and balances beautifully the practical and emotional sides of the consultation. She gave me “homework” to take away and provided her email address should I have any follow-up questions (not for the purposes of this review, but simply for me as a client).

Based on Sinéad’s assessment, I was then treated to a head and foot massage by another therapist. The head massage was to encourage my creativity, the foot massage to help me anchor myself. Having been so impressed with Sinéad, I thought the subsequent treatment might be a bit of a let-down. But I was handed over to a young therapist named Georgia, who did an absolutely sublime job. It was heavenly.

The entire treatment lasted a full two hours, which made me feel thoroughly looked after. And Sinéad followed up with an email a couple of days later, reiterating the steps I should take to encourage my creativity and dampen down my anxiety, which certainly made this treatment feel more special and bespoke. It is an expensive pick-me-up, though. For the Complete Wellness package with lunch in the Druids Glen Garden Room (a lovely spot to sit and eat), you’ll pay €255.

I certainly felt much better after the treatment than I had beforehand, and I liked the fact that Sinéad’s homework gave practical take-aways to help me put her advice into practice. Whether at Druids Glen or elsewhere, Sinéad is someone I’d very much like to work with again. She was so interesting and helpful to talk to – although, I think I’ll choose mentoring rather than massaging next time.

After a stressful start to 2020,

MARIE KELLY turns to intuitive healer Sinéad de hÓra for a wellness experience with clout.

To book, phone 01 287 0834 or visit druidsglenresort.com.