Howya now? We love to shine a spotlight on the lovely people that make Galway great. In this edition of 'Howya', get to know more about the incredible owner of She Kneads and Office Kneads, Giada Labrecque...
Based in Galway city, She Kneads is a holistic and remedial massage and health care provider catering for women of all ages and stages of life. Giada is passionate about helping individuals overcome all forms of pain and stress. Whether it’s physical, mental, emotional, or even spiritual, Giada offers holistic support to guide you towards healing and balance. Book your consultation with her today to discover all the ways in which she can assist you!
Q. Can you introduce yourself?
A. My name is Giada Labrecque, I am Metis, originally from Toronto, Canada. To put it simply, I am a massage therapist, but the real title that I’ve worked towards over the last decade is “Remedial Therapist”. My goal all along has essentially been to be a sanctuary for women and a source of support, and remedial information whether the issues are physical, mental, emotional or spiritual.
In 2023, I was nominated and won an award for Remedial Therapist of the Year for Ireland. This is possibly my greatest achievement of all time. As of 2020, I am a published author. My book is called “Self-Care Solutions @ Work” which can be found on Amazon. I have also written a bit of content for some magazines, the main
one being Brainz Magazine, whose articles can be found on my She Kneads website. As of this year I am a podcaster as well. My podcast is called In The Skin, and it is about tattoos, and the people, stories, life experiences, and philosophies behind them.
I live in Galway with my partner Spud Kennedy and our gorgeous sphynx Persephone. My clinic is called She Kneads, and it is based on Father Griffin Ave above Maple Motion Physio.
Q. What is one phrase you would use to describe yourself and your business?
A. I am a remedial therapist and the owner and operator of two massage based businesses: She Kneads and Office Kneads, which offer top quality care services that are guaranteed to make a difference.
Q. What do your services help with?
A. My services help women with managing aches, pains, stresses and strains. Everything from back pain, to fluid retention, to stress, distress, headaches, sore feet, and beyond. For more in depth information, please see HERE.
Q. What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone looking to live a healthy/balanced lifestyle?
A. Hmm, it’s hard to give a catch-all. I’d recommend cutting out sugar as much as possible, as soon as possible. To switch the shower to cold for a few seconds at the end of every shower. And to develop a regular stretching practice and get regular counselling. Oh! And take medicinal mushrooms! (In Galway, a shop called West Coast Herbs sells them, it’s called the Longevity Blend. You’ll be supporting your immune system / whole body massively.)
Q. What is your business ‘Office Kneads’? What services do you provide?
A. Office Kneads is my corporate wellness company that mainly offers onsite chair massage services. The massage sessions are 15-30 minutes, and are fully clothed, no oils but still just as effective!
Alongside the chair massage, I offer remedial self-care advice. Anything from stretches to strengthening to natural supplements, alternative / complementary therapies and more. I wrote a book during the first lockdown to offer all this information, it’s called Self-Care Solutions @ Work, and I also have an online course version and a webinar version. I love speaking about this stuff, it really is my passion, and I love when people participate and understand the value of what I am teaching them. So any opportunity to do a bit of public speaking under the topic of natural wellness, I am up for.
Q. What is your favourite part of your job?
A. My favourite part is when the client leaves feeling significantly better than when they came in. If they say to me “I feel like a new woman!” I know I’ve done my job.
I also love making custom massage oils, using essential oils in specific combinations to address the particular concerns of my clients.
Q. Why did you choose to do this type of work?
A. I chose this work because I knew how badly I wanted and needed it myself. I experienced the healing benefits of these therapies first hand and wanted to be able to share them with as many people as possible. I love one-on-one dynamics, I love customer service, and creating a treatment to suit the particular needs of the client. I chose to work with women specifically because I feel they are society’s unsung heroes who often put themselves last and therefore need it the most.
Q. Why do you feel self care is important?
A. Like most things, self-care doesn’t get done unless we do it for ourselves. Very often we need reminding to show up for ourselves, to put ourselves first and take needed care. Especially now the burn out is so common, stress is at an all time high, and depression and anxiety are more common than a cold.
I think people treat self-care as a luxury and a pipe dream, like it’s something unaffordable and time consuming. Sure, it can be, but it doesn’t have to be. A little bit of self-care goes a very long way, and can be as simple as blowing yourself a kiss in the mirror, writing an angry letter and ripping it up or singing along to your favourite playlist in the shower. There’s so many ways to self-care, and it should be as top priority as brushing your teeth or refilling the gas tank.
Q. How can we sign up for your services?!
A. I’d say the best way is to go to my websites, www.shekneads.ie or www.officekneads.ie. Everything else is just a middle man to those same destinations.
All photos courtesy of She Kneads.
