Luminous Wellbeing is Galway’s first Wood Therapy (Maderotherapy) holistic wellness studio specialising in personalised wood therapy and lymphatic drainage massages. Using treatments that work with your body rather than against it, each treatment is tailored to the individual, helping to release tension, improve circulation, and encourage natural detoxification. Are you seeking a moment of relaxation, a boost of rejuvenation, or a more natural lifestyle approach to beauty and health? Luminous Wellbeing can help on your way.
When you arrive at Luminous Wellbeing, the first thing you notice is how calm the space feels. The second thing you notice is the smooth, handcrafted wooden instruments laid out, each one different. And then you meet its owner Vanesa Sogolj, and suddenly it all makes sense.
“I’m the first wood therapist practising in Galway,” Vanesa says. “The treatment originally comes from Colombia. It spread in Europe over a decade ago, that’s when I discovered it as well.” Originally from Croatia, Vanesa had her first wood therapy treatment back home and immediately liked it. When she later moved to Galway eight years ago, she fully intended to continue her treatments. Instead, she discovered there was no one offering it locally. “So I got the idea to become an expert,” she says. “First I was doing it on myself, I got the tools, then I realised my friends wanted treatments too. That’s how it started.”
Two years ago, she opened Luminous Wellbeing, becoming the first dedicated wood therapy practice in Galway. At first, introducing the treatment was a challenge, as women weren’t familiar with wood therapy treatments and its benefits. Drawing on her background, as Vanesa holds a Master’s degree in marketing, she focused on explaining the benefits clearly and consistently. Social media, education, and word of mouth slowly built the business. Today, many clients come through recommendations from sisters, mothers, and friends.
Most people’s first reaction when they see the tools is the same question. “Does it hurt?” Vanesa laughs. “No. I promise, nothing hurts.” Despite how they look, the pressure used is very light. With most first-time clients remarking on how nice the treatment actually feels. “I hear that every day.” All the tools used at Luminous Wellbeing are handmade from beech wood, chosen carefully for how they work with the body.
At the core of every treatment is the lymphatic system. “The lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump, the lymph moves when we move, or when we help it move. If we’re sitting a lot, not moving, it is sluggish, it’s slow and that needs to be sorted because if it’s slow we hold that water and the toxins with it.” Luminous Wellbeing focuses on Brazilian-style lymphatic drainage, which is faster and more dynamic lymphatic massage, combined with wood therapy to enhance results. “It speeds up the lymphatic system and helps detox the body.”
Clients can choose from full-body lymphatic drainage with wood therapy, anti-cellulite treatments that use tools for most of the session, facial lymphatic drainage, or targeted treatments focusing on areas like the legs or upper body. “It’s a very good detox and it can give instant results, and that’s kind of what people are looking for,” Vanesa says. “It’s all-in-one so it has the health part [detox] and it has the beauty part [reduces puffiness, skin tightness and glow] as well.”
Because lymphatic drainage is a detox treatment, aftercare is essential. As Vanesa explains, the toxins leave the body through urine. She recommends drinking at least 2.5 litres of water daily following a treatment, along with gentle movement and clean food. “When we shower on the outside, we feel clean. This is a shower from the inside. We have to drink water to flush the toxins out.”
What becomes clear very quickly is how invested Vanesa is in the people she treats. Appointments are never rushed, and education is always part of the process. She explains what’s happening in the body, why certain areas hold water, and how everyday habits affect how clients feel. “The next day I check in and ask if they have any questions,” she says. Clients also receive a free self-care PDF Vanesa created, with simple diagrams showing how to activate the lymphatic system at home, along with tips on hydration, food, movement, and dry brushing.
While many clients initially come in hoping to reduce cellulite or puffiness, the changes often go far beyond appearance. “People feel lighter,” Vanesa says. “They have better digestion, better energy. Clients tell me they feel just amazing for many days after the treatment.”
What began as a one-woman practice has now grown. Vanesa is joined by maderotherapist Adriana, who brought with her years of experience in physical therapy. “I was very lucky to find her,” Vanesa says. “She joined me in December." In 2025, Luminous Wellbeing received national recognition, winning The Irish Nations Hair & Beauty Award for Massage Specialist of the Year, a milestone that reflects the depth of training and care behind the business.
Treatments at Luminous Wellbeing aren't about quick fixes or trends. It’s about understanding the body, supporting it properly, and helping people feel better in themselves. After spending time in the studio, it’s easy to see why so many clients keep coming back.
For more information on Luminous Wellbeing and to book in for a treatment visit luminouswellbeing.ie. Visit them at Urban Wellbeing, Liosban, Tuam Road, Galway, H91 PY04.
