Julie’s Personal Story
Hi, I’m Julie Wix—the founder of Pause & Exhale. I’m so pleased you’re here.
“I chose the name Pause and Exhale because in the rush of modern life, the power of stillness is often overlooked. Pausing allows us to reconnect—with our breath, our body, our inner peace and the emotions living beneath the surface. And when we exhale—slowly, intentionally—we signal safety to the nervous system. It’s not just a breath… it’s a way to connect mind and body and return to inner balance.”
Like many women, I spent years juggling full-time work, parenting, and managing constant daily demands. In my mid-30s, I began feeling deeply disconnected—from myself, my body, my husband and kids. I was constantly exhausted and stressed and started experiencing persistent pelvic and back pain—one of the early signs that something bigger was shifting beneath the surface.
Enter "The Pause"
At the time, I didn’t realise I was entering perimenopause. My focus was solely on solving the exhaustion, stress and pain, unaware that it was part of a broader hormonal and emotional transition.
I navigated the medical system for 10+ years consulting numerous general practitioners, pain specialists, gynaecologists, gastroenterologists, urologists, physiotherapists, psychologists and cariologists.
This is a picture of my pelvis where a vascular surgeon attempted to coil my ovarian vein to relieve me of my pain, I knew it was an experiment, but I was desperate for relief, it didn’t help, my pain remained the same and the coil is still there (I don’t beep while going through security gates though which is a positive!)
I tried every therapy diet and supplement imaginable —but nothing truly helped. Eventually, my pain specialist at my local hospital, Dr. Jason Chow, advised that I was in perimenopause which can cause heighted stress and overwhelm and gently suggested that I try a mind-body approach to manage my pain. That insight flipped my world - and I will be forever grateful for his ability to think outside the box and the mainstream approach to pain.
Education
Over the years that followed, I explored and trialled a wide range of mind-body modalities to manage my stress and regulate my nervous system. I was determined to find what truly worked. By my mid-40s, as more information began surfacing online about perimenopause, I was shocked to learn how many women experience heightened stress during perimenopause due to sex hormones declining—and that cortisol often becomes a dominant hormone during this phase of life.
That moment marked the beginning of a profound transformation—not just in how I managed my pain, but in how I understood myself. I began exploring breathwork, nervous system regulation, and mind-body practices that connected me to a deeper sense of agency and calm. For the first time in over a decade, I felt like I wasn’t fighting my body—I was working with it. Perimenopause, once an invisible force behind my symptoms, became a lens through which I rediscovered resilience, compassion, and purpose. It changed how I live, how I lead, and how I advocate for others who are told to just endure.
Chronic Stress
Without proper tools and support to manage chronic stress, the nervous system can become dysregulated, leading to feelings of overwhelm, disconnection, and in many cases like me, chronic pain (with no medical diagnosis or solution). Years of pushing through had taken a toll on both my physical and emotional health. I began learning how the nervous system responds to long-term stress—and how certain thought and behaviour patterns can reinforce emotional and physical symptoms.
Back to School
Through that process, I discovered which approaches created lasting change. To build on my honours degree in Behavioural Science (major Psychology), I formally trained in the modalities that helped me most—breathwork, neuroplastic pain and mind-body coaching—so I could share them with others.
I transitioned into menopause at 47, and only experienced the full benefit of these tools in the final few years of a decade-long perimenopause. That’s what fuels my mission today: to support women earlier, with the right information, tools, and guidance—so they can prepare for a calmer, more empowered menopause transition.
I’ve always been fascinated by human behaviour—what drives us, and what holds us back. With an honours degree in Behavioural Science (Psychology), a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management, and a 20-year career in People and Culture in senior leadership roles, I’ve seen firsthand how chronic stress can quietly erode even the most resilient people, chipping away at their confidence, clarity, and connection.
In my final role, before starting Pause and Exhale, I led wellbeing and engagement initiatives aimed at improving how people experienced their work. Over time, I came to a deeper realisation: while workplaces can provide meaningful strategies, they often only scratch the surface. True, lasting and impactful change, happens when individuals learn how to regulate their internal world—when they’re equipped to shift their nervous system state, reset their mindset, and reconnect with themselves. This impacts how they show up and experience work.
That understanding, shaped both by my professional experience and personal chronic stress journey through my 30s and 40s, inspired me to develop workplace programs that go beyond surface-level wellness. I now support teams and leaders with practical tools and science-informed strategies to help them navigate stress, build emotional resilience, and access calm clarity—so they can show up with purpose and presence in both work and life.
My Professional Story | Development of Workplace Programs
Bsc ( Hons) Behavioural Science (major in Psychology)
200hrs Breathwork Facilitator
Mind-Body Syndrome ( Neuroplastic Pain/TMS) Practitioner
Mindset Coach
Menopause Wellness Coach
Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management
Certificate IV Training and Assessment in the Workplace
Holistic Employee Experience Practitioner
