Hā Habit | Julia Wikeepa

Kia hora te marino,

Kia whakapapa pounamu te moana,

Kia tere te karohirohi i mua i tō huarahi.

May peace be widespread,

May the sea glisten like greenstone,

And may the shimmering light guide you on your way.

This whakataukī is a well-known Māori blessing, often shared as a message of guidance and protection for those embarking on a journey.

We have been told by whānau that this whakataukī was spoken by our tīpuna, Rangawhenua, to Tāwhiao before his journey to England. He travelled to visit the Queen to discuss the tensions between Pākehā and Māori in Aotearoa and to find a resolution to Māori land confiscation. This was Rangawhenua’s korero to wish Tawhiao well on his journey.

For me, this whakataukī serves as a reminder to find peace amidst life’s struggles—when the seas turn stormy, it’s easy to be consumed by the chaos. Instead, we must focus on the light in our lives, focus on our mission, allowing it to guide us forward.

• Can you tell us about the mahi you’re leading and the impact you’re seeing in your community?

I help people understand the powerful impact of hā—how it regulates the nervous system, rewires old habits, and supports emotional well-being. I work with organizations like Hāpai te Hauora, Te Whatu Ora, Hauora groups, and schools, sharing the benefits of integrating hā into daily life.

One of my greatest passions is running retreats that support anxiety and stress management, guiding people through transformational breathwork. I also love seeing the growing international interest in our Hā Tools—there’s a deep connection to our culture and the mana within our people.

I share my own experiences navigating social anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, and personal transformation, showing others that change is possible even when it feels out of reach. I’m continuously on this journey of transformation, but I’ve learned that stepping into the unknown, facing fear, and regulating the body as we do so leads to deeper meaning and richer experiences.

Through Hā Habit, I’ve been privileged to impact thousands of people across Aotearoa and internationally—whether through our Hā Tools, wānanga, retreats, or e-book—helping others cultivate awareness, self-regulation, and transformation.

• What drew you to this kaupapa, and how has your journey shaped the way you approach this work?

I started Hā Habit as a natural extension of my own journey and the mahi I was engaged in. Growing up in Aotearoa, I navigated the tensions of my Māori and Pākehā heritage while struggling with anxiety, self-destructive habits, and substance abuse. Becoming a mother was my turning point—I knew I had to break the cycle.

This led me to immerse myself in mental health, psychology, and human behaviour, earning a Bachelor of Social Sciences. Through studying leading experts, ancient wisdom, and neuroscience, I discovered the power of breathwork and nervous system regulation. My journey of reconnecting with te ao Māori deepened my understanding, integrating concepts like whakapapa, te taiao, ngā atua, and mahi toi into my own healing and work.

While teaching hauroa & self-regulation in schools, I saw the positive impact of breathwork on tamariki. Inspired by taonga pūoro and the whakapapa of hā, I created a Māori-inspired breathing tool—both a physical support to slow down breathing and an anchor reminding us that life’s challenges are opportunities for growth. Hā Habit is a reflection of everything I’ve learned—bridging science and mātauranga Māori to help others find peace, strength, and transformation.

• What do you love most about the mahi?

My mahi is a reflection of my own journey—the more I expand, lean into peace, embrace discomfort, and practice acceptance, the more I can help others do the same. I believe that as I grow, I create space for others to grow alongside me.

There are moments when I feel at a standstill or as if I’ve moved backward, but the beauty of this work is knowing that change is always possible the moment I’m ready. I love helping people find peace within themselves, accept where they are, and take small, sustainable steps toward transformation.

Alongside my good friend Dr. Rawiri Karena, we co-authored a journal article on Hā and the Hā Tool, exploring breathwork as a healing modality from a Māori perspective, you can read all about it here. We look forward to continuing this work, conducting research on the potential benefits of hā for mental health, particularly in supporting those with PTSD, trauma, and anxiety. To further this kaupapa, we have established a trust dedicated to research and providing our services to underserved communities.

I love seeing people experience the power of hā—using it to sit with discomfort, regulate their emotions, and find moments of calm, hope, gratitude, and joy through simply being.

What are some of the most powerful stories of transformation you’ve witnessed through your work?

Through facilitating transformational hā, I’ve witnessed people experience deep breakthroughs—gaining clarity on their relationships, finance, personal growth, and business direction. I was inspired to start Hā Habit because of the inspiration I had during a breathwork session. Breathwork creates a space to silence external noise, tune into inner wisdom, and receive guidance that is always within us.

I’ve received hundreds of success stories from people using the Hā Tool to manage anxiety, panic attacks, pain, asthma, habit change and quit smoking. By improving their breathing habits, they not only enhance their physical well-being—oxygenating their bodies and activating natural healing—but also shift their awareness. Many realise that anxiety and stress are deeply physical, not just mental, and by learning to regulate their nervous system, they can navigate challenges with greater resilience.

The most powerful transformations happen when people understand that they don’t have to be controlled by their emotions. When they learn to ride the biochemical waves of stress instead of resisting them, they create lasting change across all areas of life.

• What have the challenges been?

There have been many challenges with the Hā Habit, just starting was difficult.  I felt like I had a lack of resources and didn’t have any experience in business. Building this kaupapa from the ground up has taught me that there is always a solution—it’s about not giving up and finding it.

A big part of this journey has been overcoming imposter syndrome—the belief that I’m not knowledgeable enough, Māori enough, confident enough, or academic enough to do this mahi. These doubts still surface, but I’ve learned to move forward anyway, knowing that confidence is built by doing the hard things, failing, and continuing regardless.

Coming from 18 years as a beneficiary to becoming self-sufficient and running my own business has been a huge leap of faith. It has required continuous self-reflection, emotional regulation, and resilience. I’m still navigating the financial ups and downs of business, but I remain committed to this journey, trusting in the impact and purpose behind this work.

I’m three years into this business—it’s still early days, and I have to remind myself that this is a long-term game. Right now, I’m building strong foundations through small, sustainable habits and learning to prioritise my focus, time, and energy to take Hā Habit to a place where it can create a massive positive impact.

My vision is to help tangata whenua and people worldwide better navigate discomfort, anxiety, and practice self-regulation, becoming more resilient and adaptable. Ultimately, this mahi is about transforming pain into light, using our own experiences to uplift others on their journey forward.

• What inspires you and who have your greatest teachers and mentors been?

One of the biggest shifts in my life came when I truly embraced the teachings of Jesus Christ and actively worked to apply them. This taught me that committing to a life of service, growth, and using my skills to uplift others became a turning point in my healing journey. Believing in something bigger than myself that guides me, helps me to move forward in my journey.

Creativity played a huge role—sewing and designing clothing became an outlet for processing pain. At the same time, I deepened my connection to te ao Māori, a journey I continue today. Through it all, hā became a profound teacher, bringing intuition, clarity, and peace into my life. Alongside, connecting with te taiao regularly and movement.

I am inspired by my sister, Paula Arthur, whose authenticity and deep capacity for love I truly admire. My son is also a huge inspiration—he has faced his own struggles with mental health and has blossomed into an incredible young man that I am so proud of.

I draw strength from my tīpuna, whom I often turn to for guidance and support. I am also deeply grateful for the teachings of Kathrin Zenkina, who introduced me to transformational breathwork, and Max Strom, whose wisdom and experience in breathwork have influenced my journey.

• What’s one whakaaro or piece of advice you’d give to others working in this space who want to create meaningful change?

I’m learning that consistency and intention are everything. It’s about building on where you are, taking small steps, and surrounding yourself with the right people and environments that support your growth.

Something that has really helped me is shifting the focus from chasing results to creating the feelings I want to experience—whether that’s peace, freedom, gratitude, joy, or fulfilment. Instead of waiting for a milestone to feel that way, I try to bring more of those moments into my everyday life. For me, that looks like continuing my te reo Māori journey, learning golf with my son and friends, doing a kind act, spending time with whānau, getting out in nature, doing hot and cold plunges, movement in the form of cross fit, walking and running, eating well, saying karakia, and working on adding value to my business.

There’s no perfect formula, but I’ve found that when I focus on what genuinely brings me joy and balance, everything else starts to fall into place.

Reclaim your calm: A Stress Reset Starter Kit

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j8natqCzH8qduO7DAlq-n46PFVjs4fHH/view?usp=sharing

Join us for Kia Kai-Kōrero Tātou with Julia Wikeepa, founder of Hā Habit, who will share how breathwork—rooted in both Mātauranga Māori and modern science—supports nervous system regulation, habit change, and emotional wellbeing. 

When: Thursday 10 April, 12-1pm
Where: Zoom
Register here.

Kaikorero: Julia Wikeepa, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Pākehā, Dutch, English, Jewish, Kaiwhakahaere, Hā Habit

Facilitated by: Philleen Dickson, Rereahu, Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa, Ringa Tohutohu Matua, Māori Lead, Te Pou & Blueprint for Learning.