Beauty and style
Maggie Gibbons
The Sanctuary at The Fairgreen, Westport is a healing centre run by Maureen Cusack and Lisa Shackleton and is just what you need for healing mind, body and soul. I decided to go there recently as I was weary of all the negativity being bombarded at us through television and print media. I wanted something more than a pampering body massage, I really felt like some real healing in my mind and spirit.
Prior to my visit I had never met either Lisa or Maureen, nor did I give them any background information on myself. I went with an entirely open mind and decided to just relax and enjoy the experience. My appointment was with Lisa and she said she would combine both Reiki and Seichem for the healing.
The healing room has a wonderful calm about it and is simple and unpretentious, quite unlike the more clinical though luxurious feeling of a regular massage room. It’s a little oasis in the whirlpool that is life today, a total distraction from worries and all the other pressures thrown at you. ‘Reiki’ is a Japanese word meaning ‘Universal Life Force Energy’ and Seichem is an ancient healing practice. Together they create a powerful balanced energy healing system.
The healing is unique to the individual, so naturally I won’t share any of my personal details, but Lisa amazed me when she instantly picked up that I was on a spiritual journey and that I’m in the perfect place right now. She intuited that something significant happened in the past year. This was absolutely true, I moved to Louisburgh with my husband last summer – it just felt so right for John and I, and the timing was perfection! It was lovely to have it validated though. There is something about the mountains and sea that floods me with gratitude on a daily basis.
She offered all sorts of other little insights. The healing is a very gentle hands-on which starts at the head and works down to the feet. It is completely safe for everyone, as the energy flow is drawn by the client and not directed by the healer. Suitable for children, pregnant women and the elderly, the healing is designed to promote well-being, cleanse the body of toxins and create a state of balance and harmony.
I felt completely energised afterwards and could have climbed Croagh Patrick on my way home, only I was in a hurry… Ah no I’m only joking, that really would be a miracle, seeing I never wear anything lower than four-inch heels!
Clients can also visit Sanctuary on an individual hourly basis, book a room and just hide away from the world. They can choose to read, meditate or just drink herbal tea and chill! Great for busy mums who have an hour to spare while waiting for school pick up or crèche. An oasis of calm in a busy world.
To book a session at The Sanctuary, the Fairgreen, Westport, call Lisa on 087 9978383 or Maureen on 087 4186092.
Maggie Gibbons is an Image/Style Consultant based in Louisburgh. She can be contacted at living@mayonews.ie.
