1. To start, can you tell us about your journey into holistic wellness and what led you to the work you do today?
I’ve always had an interest, but it wasn’t until I was trying to get pregnant with Stella that things really kicked into gear. Then, once having her, organic became a main focus. Now that she’s nearly 14, the journey continues, and I look back on how much I have learned and incorporated that isn’t just food - it’s a whole lifestyle approach. I feel pretty fortunate to be able to share with others, which basically is my work, helping anyone that listens to make more mindful, connected, and aligned decisions.
2. Your work brings together nourishment, sound, and ritual. How do you approach creating experiences that feel both grounding and transformative?
Fantastic choice of words - grounding and transformative! I am a virgo sun sign, so naturally, most of what I do needs to feel grounded at its core to be authentic for me. Here’s the spice though, my Venus is in Scorpio, meaning this is my love language, so I absolutely adore the element of transformation! However, it is essential to say, any transformation is very much up to the receiver, I cannot control or manipulate. But you know what? Sometimes the simple act of tuning in, listening to that inner voice, and honoring our own feelings can be transformative enough in a busy life.
3. As a mother, creator, and wellness practitioner, in a world that often feels fast and overstimulating, how do you stay connected to your intuition and sense of calm?
I honestly don’t all of the time. That virgo placement I mentioned can also tell you that I’m very good at looking like I’ve got my shit together and remaining calm, when there is a storm raging inside! I have moments of overwhelm, just as we all do, but again, coming back to that home base of what I know works for me is key. Whole- foods, not too much sugar, meditation, and an element of personal development help to keep the wheels from totally falling off. Getting still and quiet helps me tune into my intuition like nothing else. My best ideas and insights come through in meditation for sure.
4. What does a typical day look like for you at the moment? Are there any daily rituals or practices you always return to?
I guess theres a typical day of during school term, and a different type of typical when school is on holidays. When school is in, I like to get up a little earlier, always tongue scrape first thing, then a little facial massage or brushing to get the face woken up. Warm lemon water, then I pull a tarot or oracle card for the day, prep my breakfast, feed the dog, and then wake Stella. Work can be varied during the day, depending on what I’ve got happening. It could be recipe development, filming, emailing, meetings, or working on my SARAHMONY ritual brand. A park walk or some form of movement, school pick up, being mum, dinner, meditation in bed, and generally thats the base. In school holidays, it is all about Stella. She is a competitive runner and orienteer, so often it’s a road trip to somewhere in NZ for her various events.
5. How do you personally define wellness, and how has that definition shifted over time?
I define it by how I feel. That’s it. I’m 48 in September, and I’m relieved that I care less
about the physical appearance of the body as a measure of my wellness, and more about how it feels. Wellness to me is a whole self well. Emotionally, spiritually, physically, the whole self. I am all about nourishment, not punishment. Moderation really is key - including our approach to “wellness”. Life is short and I don’t want to spend it measuring, monitoring and comparing like I did in younger years.
6. Food plays a central role in your philosophy. How do you approach “food as medicine” in a way that feels both nourishing and joyful?
Food is the gateway I believe, well, actually, the skin is. I had a nail salon in my 20s and I opened it with only natural products and skin care. My second business was an organic smoothie delivery service, so here started the next level, to now, where I work with food and more esoteric approaches. From an emotional perspective, anything can be medicine. I often say, “how you feel about your food is how your food will make you feel”. A happy donut is better than a sad salad!
7. You’ve spent years exploring sound healing. What first drew you to it, and how has it shaped your own wellbeing?
Music has always touched me so deeply, from a very young age. I played the flute through school, and really use to go to another place when I practised. Through high school, I hit the grunge era of music, which was very depressive in a way. Some of those frequencies and lyrics made for a pretty gloomy teen phase! Dance music was probably my first experience of how uplifting certain frequencies can be - without knowing it at the time. My first time in a sound bath was when I really fell into the fascination of wanting to know more. That was over a decade ago, and since then I have grown my instrument collection, I did a sound journey album during one of the lockdowns, and now co-host regular events where I weave the magic of sound in with my food offerings. It feels like the bow on everything else I do - working from the skin to the cells and to the soul.
8. You share so much through content, recipes, and retreats. What’s currently inspiring you most in your work and creative expression?
Anybody else that is creating with passion inspires me. Handmade and artisan jewellery makers really inspire me. I’ve always loved beading, it is a hobby, so seeing what others make gets me going. People in business who are doing really well inspire me. I don’t mean just in the material aspect, I mean, making profit is important, but I more mean in the spiritual aspect. People that are living their truth through their work, making a positive impact in the world, that is awesome to me. It’s very easy to be a grump, it takes work to get up and do cool shit with a smile!
9. We’d love to hear about your body care rituals—how do you extend your philosophy of wellness beyond food and sound into caring for your body?
Movement is absolutely a ritual. I have seasons of where I love high impact, weight based movement, and then, like now, I have periods of slower, nature based movement. Like food, I have to feel good about what I’m doing, this keeps me consistent. Body brushing has never looked the same since I got the Tronque Ionic Body Brush - this has changed my bathing experience massively! I feel so invigorated and alive after it! Drinking great water is key, and daily meditation. My mind strongly overrides my body if I let it, so to get still and quiet is how I drop back into the body so I can listen and feel what it needs.
10. Which Tronque product have you been reaching for the most, and what makes it a staple in your routine?
I think I answered this above - honestly, the brush is phenomenal, then I follow it up with Firming Body Butter. I love the comforting scent, and the texture is like nothing else. My skin can have a tendency to be on the dry side, so these 2 things combined are a total game changer.
11. Looking ahead, what are you calling in for this next chapter—personally and professionally?
Funny you use the word chapter, as I have been working on a book for what feels like the longest time. And it’s not a cookbook! Last year I was pitched to dozens of publishers, here and in Australia for a cookbook deal, and every single one declined. I wanted it to have a spiritual aspect to it, and I guess, they thought the market wasn’t ready. This swung me back to a book I’ve had in my head for years. Hopefully it’s not too many years more before I can actaully say it’s here! Personally, I really am trying to make an effort to practise patience more deeply. For myself, and others.
Quickfire questions:
Favourite way to reset your energy?
Meditation.
A piece of advice you return to often?
Lao Tzu - “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” I can easily slip into analysis paralysis so this reminds to just take one step, one action.
A ritual you swear by?
Tongue scraping. I genuinely feel gross if I don’t do it first thing.
A place that instantly grounds you?
Ironically, the same place that can spin me out. My head. Kind of handy as it’s in every place I am.
A song you have on repeat?
Krishna Das Sri Argala Stotram (Show me love) - this with headphones and eyes closed takes me places!
Leave a comment