Press Pause Podcast

In today’s episode, we’re slowing things down and coming back to ourselves with a simple but powerful three-question check-in. This practice is designed to help you recognise where you might be out of alignment, reconnect with what supports you, and take gentle action to bring your life back into balance.
 These three questions are practical, grounding, and perfect for anyone feeling stretched, overwhelmed, or disconnected from their self-care. Take some time to answer these 3 questions

1. What area of my life feels out of balance right now?

This is your chance to pause and scan your life honestly.
 Is it your physical health? Your emotional wellbeing? Your relationships? Your work-life boundaries? Your environment?
 Often, we carry an underlying tension or heaviness without naming it — and once you identify the specific area that feels off, you create clarity.

2. What small thing have I let fall away that used to help me feel grounded or good?

Life gets busy, habits drift, and sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference.
 Maybe you stopped walking in the mornings, journaling, drinking enough water, sitting in silence, or creating space for genuine connection.
 This question brings your awareness back to the supportive practices you once relied on — the things that made you feel calm, centered, or connected.

3. What’s one gentle step I can take today to bring myself back into balance?

This is where intention becomes action.
 And the key word here is gentle.
We’re not aiming for drastic changes or rigid routines — just one small, supportive step that meets you where you are.

We hope this helps you to slow down, reset and recognise some areas that may just need abit more TLC.

If you would like more support in this area you can connect with us via our websites or social media platforms.
Feel free to get in touch, share your thoughts and feedback, or ask any questions you have.

Katrina  -  [email protected]
Lauren  -  [email protected]

Today we discuss how because we live in a tangible and intangible world, we also need to be aware of how they affect each other and also make sure we are looking after both.

We talk a lot about how the tangible is the "doing" and the intangible is the "being" energy. At times we can get stuck doing something because there is actually something intangible that needs to be shifted or looked at. 

Perhaps you have goals and don't seem to keep them consistent enough to get the result you need? Is there a limiting belief that if addressed could change you're entire approach?

Or do you have great self worth and because of that, struggle to really see the point in maintain movement and exercise every week? 

These are just some examples. We encourage you today, to reflect on how you balance your tangible self care and intangible self care? And let it be ok when you aren't doing as much, because there can be so much inner wiring shifting. And also not to get too comfortable and complacent in being either.

We just loved talking about this and highlighting the importance of both coexisting.   

 If you would like more support in this area you can connect with us via our websites or social media platforms.
Feel free to get in touch, share your thoughts and feedback, or ask any questions you have.

Katrina  -  [email protected]
Lauren  -  [email protected]

Today we talk about one of the most universal and versatile oils for health and beauty - Organic Castor Oil.

Castor oil is pressed from castor beans, the seed from the plant Ricinus Communis. 

Castor oil has a long and fascinating history dating back to ancient civilizations. Its prominence can be traced to Egypt, India, and its adoption by the Greeks and Romans.  

It is used for various purposes:

• Promoting hair growth and hair conditioning
• Joint health
• Supporting digestive function
• Treatment for constipation
• Moisturiser and cleanser
• Promote eyelash and eye brow growth
• Recommended for wound healing
• Enhance Liver detoxification

In this episode we share many different ways Castor oil can be used, including our own personal testimonies, and what to look for to make sure you are using the best quality castor oil.

At Grasses of Life NZ we are so grateful to be able to provide you Premium Castor oil that is Certified Organic, Certified Fair Trade and is Hexane Free. As well as organic 2 & 7 piece castor oil packs that include a hot/cold pack, if you wish to concentrate it on specific areas for longer periods of time.  

Just visit our website to find out more:

https://www.grassesoflife.co.nz/product/certified-organic-castor-oil-in-glass-hexane-free/

Apologies we were not able to attach our Castor Oil E-Book to the podcast notes. However feel free to reach out to Lauren at [email protected], reference the podcast, and she will happily send you a copy.

Castor oil is a game changer in beauty and health. Keep it in the bathroom, along with your first aid kit and work directly with the phenomenal powers of nature itself. 

 If you would like more support in this area you can connect with us via our websites or social media platforms.
Feel free to get in touch, share your thoughts and feedback, or ask any questions you have.

Katrina  -  [email protected]
Lauren  -  [email protected]

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Nerida Mills, a master psychosomatic healer, coach, guide, and mentor, whose life’s work is about giving people the handbook to life they were never given.

Nerida’s mission is to empower others to fully experience the gift of being human — to transform the challenges, pain, and lessons of life into medicine for the soul. Through her deep understanding of mind–body connection, she helps people optimize their human experience and rediscover who they truly are with grace, compassion, and awareness.

Having navigated toxic relationships, grief, and over two decades of chronic health conditions, Nerida brings lived wisdom and empathy to her work. Her upcoming book, Life as Medicine, distills her personal journey and the powerful framework she uses to guide others toward self-healing, wholeness, and transformation.

This conversation is a reminder that healing isn’t about fixing what’s broken — it’s about remembering who we are beneath the noise and learning to live in alignment with our soul’s truth.

You can connect and follow Nerida via her platforms.

Website -www.neridamills.com

instagram.com/neridamills

facebook.com/neridamills.au

If you would like more support in this area you can connect with us via our websites or social media platforms.
Feel free to get in touch, share your thoughts and feedback, or ask any questions you have.

Katrina  -  [email protected]
Lauren  -  [email protected]

Have you ever caught yourself scrolling mindlessly, only to realise an hour's gone by, and you don't even feel better for it?

Today we want to talk about how cutting back on social media and technology can completely shift our physical and mental health, energy and connection to outselves.

You may not be aware of how much you are programmed to reach for technology when bored, get a quick dopamaine hit when feeling low or unconsciously be checking your phone for no reason at all. 

In this episode we bring more awareness to why it's important to pay attention to disconnecting from technology to be connected, how you can do it with some simple tools and know that it will benefit you in so many ways before it creates long term issues, mentally and physically.

To be good role models for the younger generations, and feel in control of technology so it doesn't control you. This is a great chat that we know will have you walk away inquirying into how you use technology and set some healthy boundaries around it.

If you would like more support in this area you can connect with us via our websites or social media platforms.
Feel free to get in touch, share your thoughts and feedback, or ask any questions you have.

Katrina  -  [email protected]
Lauren  -  [email protected]

Today we give you some tangible ways to handle stress.

We specifically made these strategies where there is little time involved and more presence and awareness.

These may or may not suit you, they are simply a starting point for you to work from and we encourage you to make your own or be inspired by them in some way. 

1. Decide 1-2 Non-negotiable's that you can achieve for the week. Even if you don't manage to get to the gym or do everything you normally do in your self care routine, choose 1-2 things that no matter what you show up for either daily or during the week.

2. Check in with yourself in the morning and at night. Tune into where you are at in this moment and what can you potentially let go of. 

3. Pause and Zoom out. Recognise where the stress is coming from, zoom out and take a birds eye view at the stress or situation. Reflect through writing int down, moving your body or doing something creative that connects you to deeper part of who you are. 

Try these and experiment with your own, remembering that less is more when we are going through stressful times. 

If you would like more support in this area you can connect with us via our websites or social media platforms.
Feel free to get in touch, share your thoughts and feedback, or ask any questions you have.

Katrina  -  [email protected]
Lauren  -  [email protected]

Today we talk about the vast journey of how when we are learning, growing, healing, it is a process and a matter of peeling back the layers. Similar to how nature does when she sheds her skin. A time of transforming and peeling back the old. 

This may not always happen easy, fast or the same each time. 

We encourage you to:

• Experience a variety of ways healing or practices. 
• Consider mental, emotional, soulful and physical as onions that peel as different times.
• Continue to receive support and safe environments as you welcome growth and transformation on a regular basis. 

Self Care is a lifetime journey.

If you would like more support in this area you can connect with us via our websites or social media platforms.
Feel free to get in touch, share your thoughts and feedback, or ask any questions you have.

Katrina  -  [email protected]
Lauren  -  [email protected]

Methylation is a natural process where your body adds a tiny molecule (a methyl group) to DNA, proteins, or enzymes. It helps turn genes on or off, detoxify, produce energy and hormones, and regulate mood and immunity.

It relies on nutrients like B vitamins (B12, B6, folate) and choline. When methylation isn’t balanced, it can affect energy, mood, and overall health.

Notes from  Dani - So many women come to me feeling exhausted, foggy, or “off”… and they’ve been told “your bloods are fine.”

But here’s the thing ⬇️
 Most standard blood work only scratches the surface.

Below is a list of recommended tests that can shed more light on what may be going on for you, and I’ve broken them down into testing that your GP should be able to request, or whether you may need to seek some tests privately. 

Blood tests to request from your GP: 

- Iron studies —> great to rule out fatigue; be sure not to do these if unwell as inflammation can inflate your results and mask a deficiency. 

- Fasting glucose & fasting insulin —> important for metabolic health. Most GPs will do fasting glucose but many won’t test fasting insulin as standard practice. Insulin resistance can often be missed if it’s only fasting glucose being tested. 

- Blood lipids —> this includes markers like total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL cholesterol. If these markers are elevated, it can be a clue to a dysfunctional thyroid, insulin resistance, gut imbalances and/or PEMT gene support required. 

- Full blood count (FBC) & Urea & electrolytes (U/Es)—> great reference panels to measure other markers by. 

- LFTs (liver function tests) & KFTs (kidney function tests) —> important to check and can provide information on liver and kidney function, which can also reveal methylation challenges. 

- Thyroid testing: TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone), free T4, free T3 —> important to check for fatigue, sleep, weight and energy issues. Thyroid function is closely linked to methylation balance and mitochondrial function, so these are important markers to review. See below for notes on further thyroid studies that may also be worthwhile. 

 - MTHFR gene status + homocysteine + B vitamins (B1, B6, B12 and folate) —> important to understand your MTHFR gene status and how that may be impacting your homocysteine levels. Most GPs won’t request homocysteine levels unless you are over 50yrs and present with cardiovascular risk factors. Their reference range is also different. They consider anything above 15 umol/L a concern, however, our measurement lens is different and we are looking for more tighter control, between 6-8 umol/L. Testing B vitamins is also a great reference point as it can help to paint a picture of what’s happening within your methylation cycle and whether B vitamin deficiencies or excesses may in part be responsible for the imbalance. While it may not be the first thing your GP will request, if you ask them, they should be able to request these tests also. For some, there may be a small out-of-pocket fee. 

 These aren’t just numbers on a page — they’re clues that help us see why you’re feeling the way you do, and what your body needs to feel better. And working with the right practitioner can help you to dive deeper into the root cause of what’s going on for you and how to help move your body towards healing. 

If you have any questions or would like more individual advice, please reach out to me at [email protected], via Instagram @theinstituteforhealth or via website www.theinstituteforhealth.com (coming soon). 

We are back with a NEW LOOK. We realised we have been running for over 2 years and felt it was time for something fresh to represent who we are now and how we have grown into the incredible work we get to do.

Everyone from time to time should be evolving, growing or showing up in a new way as we are always continuing to grow. 

Never be afraid to take a step in a new way, create a new look for yourself or even a new approach. All these things help refresh us and are a huge part of self care and honouring your true authentic self. 

Be bold - Be Brave, and always show the world who you truly are today, no matter how different it may look from yesterday. 

We have absolutely loved the whole process of creating a new look, new music and want to give a huge thank you to everyone who helped make this possible.

Bailey Rose Creative who redesigned our entire podcast look and cover, and Andrew Cesan who did all of our music making, mastering and voice editing.

Highly recommend these people.

What are in your life can you give a new look or evolve in some way to bring it to life and match who you have now grown to be?

If you would like more support in this area you can connect with us via our websites or social media platforms.
Feel free to get in touch, share your thoughts and feedback, or ask any questions you have.

Katrina  -  [email protected]
Lauren  -  [email protected]

The power of setting your intentions first thing in the morning is an absolute game changer, and scientifically rewires the brain. 

We can get stuck in thought patterns we aren't even aware of, which can be a  huge part of the missing links as to why we can put ourself first, or have the things we truly desire. Morning Go To's are a way you can hack the subconscious auto pilot thoughts that enter into our awareness as soon as we wake, and create new beliefs about ourselves. 

First, try becoming aware of what you're feeling and thinking, and be present with it. Then reframe those thoughts to what you feel more aligned and where you wish to see yourself. Believing it and feeling it. 

Perhaps you're so tiered you're not sure what you're feeling or thinking until you have had your first hot drink, that's fine. What we are talking about today is the most powerful window of opportunity that you have in the morning (and before you go to sleep) to tell your brain who you really are. Rather than what your mind tells you as it pulls from memories and experiences that have nothing to do with your true potential.

We ask you today to consistently partake in the powerful act of intentionally speaking over your life and watch the way you feel, think and behave begin to transform.

We share 3 Morning Go To's to help get you started. Feel free to finish them in your own way and also add your own as you go. You may want to repeat them 20 times individually or all three for a minute. You decide. 

What matters most is you do this consistently.

3 MORNING GO TO'S  

1. "I choose to start this day with Gratitude and Presence."

2. "I am in charge of how I feel, and today I choose" ........

3. "I honour myself for what I need today because I deserve" .....

If you would like more support in this area you can connect with us via our websites or social media platforms.
Feel free to get in touch, share your thoughts and feedback, or ask any questions you have.

Katrina  -  [email protected]
Lauren  -  [email protected]