Svenja Petry

Massage Therapist and Acupuncturist

Meet Svenja: The Influences Behind My Work

I’ve always been fascinated by the body — its wisdom, its rhythms and its ability to adapt, heal and change. For more than 20 years, I’ve worked as a holistic health practitioner, and over that time my work has continued to evolve. My path has taken me through acupuncture, remedial and pregnancy massage, doula work, childbirth education, teaching Vinyasa & Yin yoga, Shamanic Womencraft and my own motherhood journey. While these may seem like quite different threads, to me they are all connected by the same curiosity: what helps us feel more at home in ourselves.

Since June, I’ve been seeing clients at Beattie Street Health and divide my time now between Balmain and Mullumbimby in the Northern Rivers, where I live and run my clinic. Practising in the Inner West again feels particularly special to me as I used to run my own clinic here, so returning to the area feels like coming home, and I thoroughly enjoy reconnecting with clients and getting to know new ones.

A Personalised Approach to Treatment

For me, being a practitioner is about much more than just the treatment itself. I’m interested in the whole person who walks through the door — what is happening in their body, what are they experiencing in their life and what might they need at that particular moment. For that reason, I don’t believe in a ‘one size fits all’ treatment because no two bodies, two people or even the same person on two different days are the same. That’s why I believe a good treatment starts with being present, able to hold space and listening to see what is needed. I practise both Chinese and Japanese styles of acupuncture, drawing from different techniques to create treatments that are tailored to each individual. Acupuncture can be supportive for a wide range of concerns, including muscular tension and pain, stress, sleep, immune/digestive health and women’s health to name a few.

My massage treatments may incorporate myofascial release, trigger point therapy, acupressure and deeper remedial techniques, depending on what the body needs. I also offer lymphatic drainage, using gentle, rhythmic techniques to encourage fluid circulation and leave you feeling lighter, relaxed and cared for. I particularly enjoy being able to combine Eastern & Western philosophies and their different modalities when it feels appropriate. You can book acupuncture and massage together, or combine acupuncture with lymphatic drainage, allowing us to work with the body in different ways within one treatment and go that one step further, creating a longer lasting and more profound effect.

Ultimately, I want my treatment space to feel welcoming, grounded and personal, somewhere you can feel comfortable, listened to and cared for. Sometimes the body needs focused, therapeutic work. Sometimes it needs gentleness and space. Often, it needs a little of both.

Women’s Health & Life Transitions

Women’s health has been a significant part of my journey as a practitioner. I have a particular interest in supporting women through the many seasons and transitions of life: from fertility, pregnancy and birth through to postpartum, perimenopause and menopause. As a pregnancy and postnatal massage therapist, doula and independent childbirth educator, I’ve spent many years alongside women & their partners, supporting them during some of life’s most profound physical and emotional transitions. My work has also grown to include Shamanic Womancraft, where I offer 1:1 sessions exploring some of the deeper experiences and patterns that can shape our lives. This includes looking & exploring intergenerational patterns, the individual birth imprint, childhood experiences, rites of passages and personal birthing formulas.And Yes, Men Are Welcome Too! Although women’s health is a particular passion of mine, I also warmly welcome menfor acupuncture, remedial massage and lymphatic drainage. Our bodies carry the effects of work, exercise, stress, injury and everyday life. Whether you’re experiencing a specific muscular issue, ongoing tension or simply feel like your body needs some attention, treatments can be shaped around what you need.