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Bodywork, Massage Therapy, and Somatic Therapy in Dublin

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Each session is tailored to your body and your unique needs, drawing from a wide range of therapeutic and somatic modalities to support lasting, sustainable change. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all massage, this work listens closely to how your body holds tension, compensates for injury, and adapts to stress, trauma, or chronic pain.

By addressing biomechanical, biochemical, emotional, and scar tissue patterns, these sessions aim to work at the root rather than the surface. Long-term recovery and resilience may also include personalised lifestyle or dietary guidance where appropriate, supporting your body beyond the treatment room and into daily life.

The benefits of integrative bodywork and somatic therapy may include . . .

⫸ Greater alignment, ease of movement, and embodied awareness
⫸ Relief from chronic pain, including TMJ, migraines, back, neck, shoulder, hip, and sciatic pain
⫸ Support for resolving scar tissue from surgery, injury, trauma, birth, or caesarean sections
⫸ Improved sleep, reduced stress, and enhanced overall wellbeing
⫸ Increased circulation, vitality, and energy flow
⫸ Support for emotional release and trauma held in the tissues
⫸ Improved digestion and visceral organ function
⫸ A deeper sense of grounding, resilience, and connection to your body

As a professional member of the Irish Massage Therapists Association (IMTA), I provide invoicing for insurance reimbursement with Irish Life Insurance for all massage therapy and bodywork treatments.

What is somatic therapy?

Somatic therapy bridges mind and body, recognising that our emotions, stress, and life experiences are not only held in our mind, but also influence the health of our tissues, our breath, posture, movement, and the state of our nervous system. Rather than relying solely on talk-based processing, somatic therapy invites awareness into bodily sensations and patterns that often show up as tension, anxiety, pain, shutdown, or cycles of dysregulation.

In my Somatic Therapy sessions in Dublin, we work gently with awareness practices, breathwork, story, trauma-informed touch (when appropriate), and guided tracking of sensation. This approach supports the nervous system in releasing protective patterns, strengthening resilience, and restoring our sense of safety, embodiment, pleasure and choice.

Somatic therapy can be supportive for trauma recovery, stress and burnout, emotional regulation, chronic pain or illness sufferers, those seeking deeper embodiment and connection with their bodies. This work is slow, respectful, and collaborative, honouring your body’s pace and wisdom.

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MODALITIES THAT MAY BE INTEGRATED

Sessions draw from a wide range of therapeutic and somatic approaches, including . . .

⫸ Structural Integration (Rolfing)
⫸ Osteopathic and Neuropathic Massage
⫸ Cayce-Reilly Massotherapy
⫸ Scar Tissue Remediation Therapy™
⫸ Craniosacral Therapy
⫸ Myofascial and Neuromuscular Therapy
⫸ Visceral Manipulation™, Chi Nei Tsang, and Mayan Abdominal Massage
⫸ Manual Lymphatic Drainage
⫸ Facial Fascia, Buccal / Intra-Oral Massage, and Face-Lifting Techniques
⫸ Guasha, Dry Needling, and Cupping Therapy
⫸ Jin Shin Do® Bodymind Acupressure
⫸ Nervous System Care, Dennison Work, and Co-Regulation
⫸ Somatic Processing and Somatic Therapy

These sessions blend hands-on expertise with trauma-informed somatic awareness to supporting the release of chronic tension, scar tissue, and long-held protective patterns while fostering embodiment, resilience, ease and a deeper sense of vitality.

What clients have felt and experienced . . .

  • Tiina Vili - Dublin, IE

    “I call her a muscular whisperer :). Makia has excellent energy and very sensitive hands. She is very good at noticing the troubled areas, and she is perfectly skilled at manipulating your soft tissues to get rid of all the tension and knots in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. I have many old sports-related injuries, and she does magic with her hands. I always feel like a newborn after her sessions.”

  • Dr. Jennifer Wannehag, Chiropractic Doctor -

    “I have had the pleasure of working with Makia for the last eight months. Of all massage therapists I have worked with during my four years as a Chiropractor, Makia has been the most caring, professional and enthusiastic one. Makia ́s one-to-one professional skills are beyond exceptional and all of our common patients have expressed her competency and are extremely pleased with their care from her. Makia has an outstanding interest on continuing to educate herself to grow her knowledge to better support her clients”

  • Katarina I. - Wicklow, IE

    “Makia, you know the body so well! I felt so safe when you worked on my belly and chest. After years of endometriosis and digestive pain, having anyone touch my belly felt terrifying, but it was so easy and safe to do with you. It was truly a magical experience and I can’t wait for my next session.”

  • Karen E. - Dublin, IE

    “The BEST bodywork I have ever received and I don't say this lightly. Makia is an exceptional bodyworker and practitioner. Her deep rooted knowledge and sensitivity of the body and tissues is unparalleled.”

  • Henry F. - Dublin, IE

    “Sex has never been an easy one, but Makia instantly made me feel so comfortable and safe. The sessions felt more like a causual conversation than a therapy session. She gave me tools to use at home and a safe place to share my desires and fears. A very rare thing as a man. My relationship to my erotic self is still a very complicated one, but with Makia’s support is becoming more joyful and natural. Thanks a million!"

  • Priya S. - Dublin, IE

    “The best massage in Dublin. I have tried almost every massage centre in Dublin City Centre and the surrounding areas. So when I say Makia's massage was THE BEST, I mean it. She did exactly what I needed, was communicative and kind. Her diverse education combined with her wisdom of the body is incredible - you will know it when you feel it. I've booked in again for two weeks from now.”

  • Maura J. - Dublin, IE

    “There is not one thing you couldn’t ask Makia about your yoni, your sexuality and the many of ways you can experience pleasure. She is right there with you, ready to answer and she is the embodiment of what she teaches.”

  • Ciara S. - Dublin, IE

    “Sessions with Makia are always so restorative and deep. Her calm and grounding energy in combination with her excellent communication and depth of knowledge and experience makes me feel at total ease and in full trust, which is something that's hard for me to find in bodyworkers.”

  • Aoife M. - Physiotherapist Dublin, IE

    “I have high standards when it comes to bodywork. Countless times I've laid on a massage table optimistic that I have found a therapist that possesses the rare qualities which enable me to trust and surrender into their hands, only to leave feeling disappointed and disgruntled. Quite the opposite occurs with Makia. Not only does she hold an impecable, grounded space, she is a master of touch and so attentively attuned to working with the different layers involved in bodywork that the experience was uniquely magical, relaxing, energising and balancing. I could not recommend her more.“

  • Nikki B. - Dublin, IE

    “I walked out of the clinic floating on cloud nine! Makia's was the most amazing massage and bodywork treatment I've ever received. I struggle with chronic migraines and jaw pain from grinding at night. Her jaw, face and scalp work, OMG just incredible. 90 minutes flew by. Thanks a million!"

  • Cian M. - Dublin, IE

    “We learned new qualities of touch and how to use sensory impliments to help our intimacy. My wife and I now have more tools and a whole other way to be intimate together. With your playfulness, warmth and the natural candor of your sessions we immediately felt at ease and found ways to unlock new pleasure in our 7 year marriage.”

  • M.M - Dublin, IE

    “Thank you for all these session. Your skill and calming presence made it a truly superb experience, and I’m already looking forward to our next appointment! I am really grateful to you for the all the work that you have done soo far.”

  • Dr. Susan P - Doctor of Chiropractic San Diego, CA

    “I am a Chiropractor and was on vacay in Dublin with a group of friends from San Diego. I found Makia in my first search for a massage. All of the luggage, sitting on planes, trains and sleeping on awful mattresses really did a number on my back. She did some of the best work that I have ever had, I was able to walk all over Dublin without pain for the remainder of my travels. Highly recommended. It was great to see another friendly Californian in a foreign country.”

  • Sínead M - Psychotherapist Dublin, IE

    “I had a incredible session with Makia. I love that she is giving it as a form of therapy, a source of closeness and human connection that has been forgotten in our society. We’ve forgotten that connection is a real need of people. I hope to come back for more.”

  • Maeve K. - Dublin, IE

    “Makia always makes me feel welcome and at ease. She has such a natural and down to earth way about her when it comes to discussing anything from body parts to sexuality. There’s not one single moment that I felt awkward during my sessions.”

  • Stephen L. - Dublin, IE

    “I have been in severe pain for the last seven years after a serious accident. I tried every approach without success, just resigning myself to a life of chronic back and hip pain. After my first session with Makia I was pain free for nearly 3 weeks. I've been seeking her fortnightly for the past six months and have been mostly pain free. It doesn't hurt that she's great craic, the laughter makes the deep tissue work more tolerable. I have my life back thanks to her magical hands and kind heart.”

  • Sínead B. - Dublin, IE

    “I’ve been working with Makia for years now. She incorporates a variety of different modalities based on what my body needs. She listens so carefully, uses her intuition & years of knowledge to create a unique experience in each session I’ve had. Since we been working together for a few years now, she really knows exactly what my body needs. I wish I had learned earlier in life just how important self-care is. So I definitely keep up my massages with Makia on a regular basis. She is not just a great massage therapist, but a healing presence.”

  • Ciara L. - Dublin, IE

    “From walking in earlier this morning I felt a sense of well-being. Makia really listened to me on areas I’d like particular focus and it was without doubt the best set of treatments I’ve ever had. I have re-booked for 6 weeks time. Thank you so much!”

  • Elizabeth + Keith - Dublin, IE

    “Thank you so much, Makia. I enjoyed working with you, you are a wonderful, giving, intuitive person. I feel so centred & relaxed in the following days after receiving your incredible massages. ​Keith also echos this!”

  • Martina C. - London, UK

    “Both an effective and deeply relaxing massage. Makia also worked on my scar tissue therapeutically which I have not experienced before in massage. Looking forward to my next visit!”

  • Gráinne D. - Dublin, IE

    “Makia! You’ve completely changed my life and my relationship with my body & embodiment. You are the most wise and gifted bodyworker I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. I feel like I have a new body. I tell everyone I know you're the best massage treatment in Dublin.”

  • Eoghan D. - Dublin, IE

    "First time with Makia yesterday for chronic TMJ attacks and migraine headaches. She was excellent. She even spent the time on areas of my back, chest and neck that had muscle knots. Her communication throughout was really good. Felt great afterwards and today is the first time in over 3 months that I've not had a headache. Incredible.

  • T.M - Dublin, IE

    “I’m fascinated by how much I enjoy these sessions. I feel a great relief to be able to unburden myself. You are such a joy to talk to. My basic takeaway was how liberating it was to talk openly about how poor I’ve been for so long.”

SOMATIC BODYWORK FAQs

  • Somatic bodywork is a hands-on therapeutic approach that works with the body as a living, sensing system rather than a mechanical object to be fixed. It combines skilled manual therapy with awareness of the nervous system, breath, emotions, and lived experience. Somatic bodywork supports physical relief while also helping people feel more present, regulated, and connected in their bodies.

  • While massage often focuses on relaxation or muscle tension, somatic bodywork works more slowly and precisely with fascia, connective tissue, posture, and nervous system responses. Sessions are interactive and responsive, supporting long-term change rather than short-term relief.

  • Somatic bodywork may support chronic pain, tension patterns, stress, burnout, trauma recovery, postural strain, injury recovery, scar tissue, trauma held in the body and a sense of disconnection from the body. Many clients also seek this work to improve embodiment, resilience, and overall wellbeing.

  • Yes. All sessions are grounded in trauma-informed principles, including consent, choice, pacing, and nervous system regulation. Clients are never pushed beyond their capacity, and sessions are shaped collaboratively.

  • Sessions typically include a short verbal check-in, hands-on bodywork, and time for integration. Touch is always negotiated and adapted to your needs on the day. Breath, awareness, and gentle movement may also be included.

  • No. Verbal sharing is always optional. The body can be supported without retelling stories, and you are welcome to share only what feels relevant or supportive.

  • Yes. I offer somatic bodywork sessions in Dublin, Ireland, working with both local and international clients seeking trauma-informed, integrative care. Sessions are available by appointment in-person from my studio in Dún Laogharie and Somatic Therapy is available online for clients world wide.

  • Somatic bodywork may help chronic pain by working with connective tissue, posture, and nervous system patterns that contribute to ongoing discomfort. It supports the body in finding more efficient and regulated ways of functioning.

  • Yes. I regularly work with clients who are visiting or living in Dublin for short periods, including artists, researchers, students, tech workers, IT professionals, interns and people on extended stays. Short-term care plans can be discussed.

  • This work sits at the intersection of coaching, education, and somatic therapy. It is not psychotherapy, but it is trauma-informed and deeply respectful of nervous system capacity and consent.