Studio Spotlight: Roots Wellness Ireland

Roots Wellness is a studio set up by Niamh Glackin designed to be a sanctuary for balancing self-care, home life and work pressures. We caught up with Niamh to learn more about Roots Wellness and Niamh’s wellness mission.

Learn more about Roots Wellness and to book a class here: https://www.rootswellness.ie/

Tell us a bit about your background and your yoga journey…

Well, I’m a mother of three children under 11. Originally from Kildare in Ireland and moved to the west of Ireland just over 11 years ago when my youngest child was 3 months old. Myself and my husband loved the freedom that came with our move to this part of Ireland, being beside the beach, water, woods and mountains was exactly what we needed. Before yoga became my day job, I worked in HR. I loved the psychology side of it – understanding people, supporting them, helping them thrive – but I didn’t love the endless disciplinaries, egos, or ticking boxes in companies that didn’t truly care about wellbeing. Yoga was my own anchor through the chaos of early adulthood, motherhood, and grown up life. It gave me space to breathe, to feel strong, and to figure myself out. Eventually, I realised I wanted to help people in a way that felt more me– less policy, more presence. And so, the yoga path began. I finished my 200hr YTT in June of 2022 and jumped right into teaching, after a while I left my corporate career behind and never looked back. Since then, I’ve trained in Prenatal yoga, Yin yoga, Restorative yoga, Inside Flow, foreshadowing, forest bathing and I’m looking forward to beginning my 300hr YTT this year. Yoga has gotten me through the worst and best parts of my life, and everything in between.

What inspired you to open Roots Wellness and when did you open the studio?

Roots Wellness was born out of my journey with yoga being a support for me and I wanted to share that with other people to have something to bring the balance into their lives. I’ve experienced alot of ups and downs through my life and yoga was always a practice that brought me some peace. I wanted to create a space where people could come exactly as they are – stressed, busy, aching, overwhelmed – and just breathe. No judgment, no fluff, no ‘woo-woo’ language. Just practical talk, calm, clarity, movement, and some laughs. I wanted a place where people could find community and support for each other. I opened Roots Wellness studio in Ballina, Co. Mayo in July 2023, and since then it’s grown into something really special – a space where people reconnect with themselves, lie down under a blanket, make friends and find support and leave feeling a little more human.

What is your mission with Roots Wellness?

To make yoga and wellness feel accessible, supportive, welcoming, and normal. I want people to feel like they can show up as they are – messy, tired, emotional, stiff – and still belong.  Whether it’s through a creative vinyasa flow, a restorative class with a mountain of cushions, or a breathwork moment between the chaos of life, Roots Wellness is about giving people a place to feel held, heard, home in themselves, free of judgement, drop away responsibilities and just feel comfortable to catch their breath.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of opening their own studio?

Make sure your “why” is strong – and get really clear on what that looks like in a studio before you start. Your energy will shape the space, so be honest about what kind of space you would want to walk into. Also: don’t underestimate how much time you’ll spend folding blankets, making playlists, answering messages, and wondering if it’s all worth it (it is). Keep showing up. People don’t just come for yoga – they come for you. Your tribe will find you!

Do you have a quote or mantra that you live by?

Two, actually — “BE KIND” and “COME AS YOU ARE.”

They’re simple, but they hold so much.
“Be kind” is about how we show up in the world, how we treat others, but also how we treat ourselves — especially on the days when everything feels like a mess.
And “Come as you are” is the reminder I try to bring into every class and every interaction. You don’t need to be flexible, calm, or sorted. You don’t need to have the answers. You don’t need to have it all together. You just need to show up, and keep showing up — tired, joyful, heartbroken, hopeful — whatever you’ve got, bring it.

That’s where the real magic happens.

Learn more about Roots Wellness and to book a class here: https://www.rootswellness.ie/

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