Athenry News & Views Spring 2026

Spring 2026

felt like a barrier can become a path forward. This is no longer just anecdotal. In November 2025, leading cardiovascular authorities in the United States formally acknowledged the role of TM in stress reduction. A commentary in Nature Reviews Cardiology examined new guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, which specifically recommend the TM technique as an effective aid in preventing and treating high blood pressure—alongside other lifestyle changes. Research shows that chronic stress nearly doubles the risk of heart attack and stroke. TM stands out as a low-risk, evidence-based method for reducing that stress, and it is the only meditation technique cited in these guidelines as having strong scientific support for heart health. Catherine Magnier, a local TM teacher, explains it simply: “We all need to be calm under pressure, free from tension and fatigue. TM facilitates this by allowing us to access inner resources of energy and creativity. The beauty of TM is that it has been so thoroughly researched. It’s genuine, easy to learn, and pleasant to do. If someone wants to improve their health and overall wellbeing, it’s well worth exploring.” TM instruction is available locally in Athenry. For more information, Catherine can be contacted through tm-ireland.orgor by telephone at 091 845967 Sometimes, the most effective solutions really are the simplest.

Are you, or someone close to you, living with a cancer diagnosis? Reflexology is a gentle, non invasive therapy that may help ease some side effects during and after treatment. As a brain cancer survivor, I have personally experienced the comfort and support reflexology can provide. Each session is carefully tailored, with safety, comfort, and wellbeing at its heart. Where specialist support is limited or travel is difficult, home visits are available, allowing you to relax and receive treatment in the comfort of your own home. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US by Marie Hanna Curran No two people are alike A crowd of humans is akin to a collection of paintings in an art gallery; some of us are easily understood, while many of us veer towards the abstract. Different is our superpower. If everyone were programmed to be the same and to think the same, the solutions to life’s puzzles would also be the same. Equally, the gaps, voids, and unsolved problems would remain, because while we would share similar capabilities, we would also share similar limitations. Thankfully, differences exist. There are people gifted at reading others — sensing situations and helping to keep heads cool, collected, and focused. Others can examine a problem and spot the tiny error no one else has seen. Yet those same people may struggle to read emotions, unsure why some react with anger while others respond with confusion when the solution becomes clear. There are people who create magnificent art, music, dance, and prose, leaving the rest of us wondering how such talent is possible. Each of us possesses our own set of skills and abilities, and each of us carries limitations. When a collective is different from its individual pieces, it can harness varied strengths and talents. In doing so, we become inventive and creative as we navigate life’s challenges and weave solutions together. Different deserves to be embraced We need to own it and use it to our advantage. We need to congeal and meld together, rather than trying to become a homogenous mass — identical beings confined to the same ticked box.

Supportive Reflexology During and After Cancer Treatment

CHERYL WINSTON REFLEXOLOGY FOR CANCER SUPPORT & RECOVERY 085 103 1317 www.bareyoursole.ie bareyoursoleathenry@gmail.com

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