Our Story

Two Journeys, One Purpose

Matt's story

I spent over 30 years climbing the corporate ladder, 17 of those as a director managing teams across the UK, Dubai, China, and Switzerland. From the outside, I had it all: the prestige, the salary, the impressive title.

But beneath the surface, my nervous system was screaming. The stress was relentless, the anger management issues were real, and I'd become someone I didn't recognise, suppressing my natural personality to fit the corporate mould.

Sandra's story

My journey was different but equally challenging. Through my teens and into adulthood, I faced health battles that would have broken many people: endometriosis, polycystic ovaries, four rounds of IVF, and ultimately a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy at just 34 years old.

Being told I'd never have children was a rock bottom moment. I refused to accept it.

The Turning Points

Matt

My transformation began whilst I was still wearing the director's suit having spent 30 years in construction, 17 of them at director level. I started training as an acupuncturist in 2018, a three-year journey that opened my eyes to a different way of healing. Then came a breathwork retreat in Costa Rica in 2023 that, quite literally, changed everything. By 2024, at 51 years old, I left corporate life behind. It was daunting, yes. But alongside the challenge came an overwhelming sense of relief.

From Corporate Director to Holistic Healer

Sandra

For me, holistic therapies weren't just alternative options, they became my lifeline. I combined acupuncture and movement practices with IVF treatment, eventually welcoming two children. This experience taught me the power of integrating holistic and conventional approaches. Over 15 years, I've built extensive expertise: traditional reflexology, Reiki, Indian head massage, multiple yoga certifications (Hatha, Yin, Vinyasa, Yoga Nidra), breathwork training (Buteyko, Advanced Oxygen Advantage Instructor, ARIA).

15+ years as a holistic therapist

Why We Created Seven Rivers Together

After walking our own difficult paths, we knew exactly what we wanted to create.

We wanted to combine Matt's fresh corporate-to-healing journey with Sandra's 15+ years of holistic expertise. We wanted to integrate seven streams of wellness, breathwork, movement, acupressure, meditation, functional wellness, nervous system regulation, and community support, because we understood from personal experience how interconnected these elements truly are.

We wanted to provide flexibility, from 2-minute resets to 60-minute deep sessions, because we knew what it's like to have demanding lives with limited time. And we wanted to offer genuine ongoing partnership, supporting people throughout their entire transformation journey.

Who We Are Today

Matt

I bring lived experience of corporate burnout, high-pressure environments, and the transformation journey itself. I'm a qualified acupuncturist registered with the Acupuncture Foundation Professional Association Ireland, advanced oxygen advantage instructor and Reiki practitioner who speaks the language of stressed professionals because I was one. My approach is honest, direct, grounded in science, and empathetic.

Sandra

I bring 15+ years of holistic practice and profound understanding of hormonal health challenges. I specialise in supporting people juggling demanding careers, family responsibilities, and their own wellbeing, because I've lived that overwhelm intimately. My philosophy is simple but powerful: "Most people just need to be listened to and acknowledged. Sometimes it's about giving someone space and time to be recognised for who they truly are."

Together, we've navigated 45+ years of lived experience with the exact challenges our clients face. We remember how it feels when your body seems to be letting you down, when stress is stealing your life one cancelled plan at a time, when everyone needs something from you and there's nothing left for yourself.

Our Approach

The Seven Rivers Method™ integrates breathwork, movement, acupressure, reflexology, meditation, functional wellness, nervous system regulation, and community support. We address the whole system because we understand from experience how interconnected everything truly is.

We offer practices ranging from 2-minute resets to 60-minute deep sessions, because sustainable wellness must fit your real life. We build nervous system capacity the way athletes train their bodies, progressively, sustainably, effectively. We work alongside menopausal medication, mental health prescriptions, and medical treatment. Integration creates the best outcomes, and you deserve access to every tool that supports your wellbeing.

Most importantly, we teach lifelong skills that create autonomy. Success means you're fulfilled through independence.

Why This Matters

We created Seven Rivers Wellness because we believe everyone deserves access to comprehensive, evidence-based practices delivered with genuine understanding. We know what it's like to be stuck in survival mode. We understand the overwhelm, the exhaustion, the feeling that something had to change but not knowing where to start.

That's why we're here, not just as practitioners, but as people who've walked this path ourselves.

We're based in the Republic of Ireland and work with clients online worldwide. Whether you're navigating corporate stress, hormonal transitions, chronic pain, or simply feeling like life is demanding more than you have to give, we understand.

Ready to build capacity?

Let's explore if Seven Rivers Wellness is right for you.

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