There's a moment, usually somewhere between the heat hitting your chest and the outside world going quiet, when you remember why you started.

That moment happened for me recently, sitting across from Jess, the founder of Nana-J, inside our Bondi studio. We were recording a conversation for the brand's takeover of our space for the month of June, and within about five minutes, I realised we weren't just doing a nice little collab chat. We were telling essentially the same story.

Jess left a career in music and advertising, moved to Bali, and built a clothing brand rooted in the idea that creativity itself is a wellness tool. That making something with your hands or your mind, getting into that flow state where nothing else exists, is just as valid a part of your health as what you eat or how you move.

I hadn't heard it framed quite like that before, but I knew exactly what she meant.

Why we started, and why it still matters

Sue and I opened Nimbus in Bondi ten years ago this year. We didn't start it because wellness was trending. We started it because we needed it. Sue was dealing with Lyme's disease. I was navigating inflammation, autoimmune issues, and anxiety. We found infrared saunas through research, saw what was happening in the US, where people were using it as a preventative lifestyle tool rather than a last resort, and thought: Why isn't anyone doing that here?

A decade on, I still believe the same thing I believed then. The most powerful tools for your health are usually the simplest ones. Sleep. Movement. Cold. Heat. Breathwork. Community. None of that requires a $500 supplement stack or the latest biohacking gadget. What it requires is consistency and a reason to keep showing up.

On balance, and giving yourself a break

One thing Jess and I talked about honestly was the slippery slope of wellness perfectionism. I did a 90-day elimination diet a while back. No sugar, no caffeine, no alcohol, no dairy. People assumed I felt incredible. I mostly felt miserable. Some good habits stuck. Others didn't, and that's fine too.

The point isn't to be relentless. The point is to know yourself well enough to know what actually works for you, and to be honest about what you can sustain. A once-a-year reset might serve you far better than a rigid routine that makes you resent the whole thing.

The stuff no one talks about

We got into mental health, which felt right. It's something I've been more open about over the years because I think it matters for people to hear it from someone who isn't presenting as having it all figured out.

I've dealt with anxiety for a long time. Performance anxiety that, at its worst, made a one-on-one coffee feel like standing in front of a stadium. I've done years of psychology, worked with a life coach, explored somatic practices, and breathwork. None of it was a silver bullet. All of it, slowly, helped.

One thing that's stuck with me is a small mindset shift around anxiety itself: the neural pathways for anxiety and excitement are virtually identical. The only distinction is the story you tell yourself. That one reframe, moving from "I'm anxious" to "I'm just excited," has genuinely changed how I move through hard moments.

The other thing worth saying: tell people. When you're in the thick of it, you often can't see your own markers. The people around you can. Give them permission to check in properly, not just a passing "you alright?" but a real look. That kind of community is worth more than any modality.

Why this collaboration felt right

We're intentional about who we bring into the Nimbus space. Not because we're precious, but because our community trusts us. When someone walks through our doors, whether it's for a session, an event, or to try on a rack of clothes while they wait for the sauna, we want everything they encounter to feel like it belongs.

Nana-J belongs. The fabrics, the ethos, the story behind it. Jess built something with care and intention, and that's exactly the kind of brand energy we want in this space.

If you're in Bondi this month, come by. There are playlist cards, lookbooks, and a rack of Nana-J to browse. Try something on after your session. Let the heat do its thing, then see how you feel when you put on something that was made thoughtfully, for your body and your state of mind.

That's what June at Nimbus looks like. We think you're going to love it.