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Suitcase Series: Nat Kringoudis, Founder of The Pagoda Tree
This week we caught up with Nat Kringoudis the woman behind the Australian wellness brand – The Pagoda Tree, to find out what she never travels without, her packing tips, and what her most memorable trip has been so far…
With a career spanning over 18 years in the health and wellbeing sector, Nat Kringoudis is one of Australia’s most trusted and respected holistic health experts. With a special interest in fertility, hormonal health and women’s health, Nat currently practices from her highly successful women’s health business, The Pagoda Tree which is located in Melbourne Australia. To date, she has helped transform the lives of over 20,000 of her clients.
With a Bachelor in Health Sciences, Chinese Medicine and an Advanced Diploma in Acupuncture, Nat is often dubbed as the ‘Hormone Revolutionist.’ Her extensive experience has led her to appear on prominent Australian and U.S based television programs including Sunrise, Today Show and the hit American television show, The Doctors. She is often reported in print and radio as an authority on women’s health and is often commissioned as a mentor to speak at large-scale events such as her most recent engagement with Mindshare Master Mind with Dr Joe Dispenza and Marie Forleo. Nat is also frequently invited as a guest on prominent podcasts such as Mind Body Green and JJ Virgin podcasts. From her various digital platforms, Nat reaches over 150,000 people daily!
Outside of her women’s health practice, The Pagoda Tree, Nat is a published author of two best sellers, ‘Beautiful You’ and ‘Well & Good, the founder of ‘The Wellness Collective’, an award-winning podcast and the founder of Yo’Nuts, a special selection of curated packs containing mixed seeds and nuts that are designed to support some of the key building blocks your body needs to thrive.
Married with two incredible children, Nat has made it her mission to empower, inspire and educate women on their well-being. Her philosophy is simple – Balance your hormones, balance your life!
In this week’s Suitcase Series, we take a sneak peek into Nat’s travel psyche…
What’s been your most memorable trip, and why?
I travel a lot for work these days and honestly will say that each journey presents something different and unique. Whether it be hosting one of my various masterclasses on wellbeing, travelling to the other side of the world presenting as a guest speaker or attending media interviews, I try and make it a priority to be present on each venture.
If I had to zero in on the most memorable trip, I would have to say my honeymoon. My husband and I travelled to Europe for 3 months with no real plans; all we had were some key flight dates. We were like Nomads and explored without care or responsibility. The feeling of waking up each day and living without structure or constraint is my absolute ultimate. We weren’t chasing the clock or racing to commitments; we simply explored.
My favourite part of this trip was hands-down Santorini, Greece – the postcard landscape and losing yourself as you look out over the caldera is a memory that is etched in my mind. Santorini is simply breathtaking. Running a very close second is Mallorca in Spain. The culture, the lifestyle and the incredible food are the epitome of what it is like to ‘live’.
What’s your favourite ever hotel?
The Pendry in West Hollywood. It offers the right mix of sheik, pool vibes, amazing food and walking distance to shopping. It’s a total vibe.
Where or what is your escape?
If you could go anywhere tomorrow, it would be…
I think you can guess haha… If I can travel anywhere tomorrow it would have to be Greece! I love the culture, the lifestyle and the balance between work and play. Have you seen the sunset in Oia? It’s like nowhere in the world. Thankfully I can close my eyes and see it. HEAVEN!
What’s your idea of a luxury wellness holiday?
I don’t have one ideal of what a luxury wellness holiday looks like because there are so many different options! For me, I love being in nature but also love the beach and sometimes I want to split up these getaways and do both! As I host many wellness retreats in my line of work, luxury and wellness is something that I like to explore and keep top of mind. Recently, I had the pleasure of hosting an empowering workshop called Press Pause at a retreat in the Byron Bay Hinterland. It was the countryside and it ticked many of the boxes. After the masterclass retreat concluded, I was desperate for some sun and sand, so I decided to head to Halcyon House on Cabarita Beach, Tweed Coast NSW. It is an award-winning beachside hotel, so it quenched my appetite for the beach. This is the perfect example of how I like to mix it up and have the best of both worlds. Other than that, luxury and wellness also means wonderful food, access to indulgent body treatments and the perfect spot where I can switch off from the world and just relax.
My top bucket-list destination is…
If you could sit next to anyone – dead or alive – on a long-haul flight, who would it be?
Rachael Zoe. I have long said this. She is the ultimate mix of a badass businesswoman with kids, a husband and an empire. That’s impressive to me.
What is your jet lag recovery tip?
Believe it or not, I don’t get jet lag! I haven’t had jet lag for years. Not to brag, I managed over 20 international trips from 2017-2020 and have mastered the art of preventing jet lag. I’ve shared my tips and tricks on my podcast The Wellness Collective. You can listen to the episode ‘Top Travel Hacks with Nat Kringoudis’ where I spill all of my secrets! It’s a must for every traveller!
What is your suitcase stalwart?
Softshell Samsonite all the way. The soft shell means it’s got a little extra room. It also has a zip pocket on the side where I put all my chords and a small tub of eye cream. Travel is one of my ultimate values and as such I’ve hacked it to be as effortless as possible. I pack and travel carry-on only for many reasons, but the main reason is that I like having everything with me and also because I travel alone a lot. Mastering carry-on luggage only also means that quick dashes from one flight to the next is a time saver and a stress saver. I have done 3 weeks with carry-on only – yep, you heard right, 3 weeks! I share my tricks and hacks on The Wellness Collective podcast. It’s a game-changer!
What is your number one packing tip?
Outfit sets. They are necessary if you plan on travelling light. I can pair a set together or switch out the top with a pair of jeans or the bottoms with a singlet. 3 outfits from one set is a big win. You require far less than you think you do!
I never travel without…
My quieton noise cancelling earbuds and my hoodie with pockets. A scarf also is essential for a magnitude of reasons. The hoodie with pockets is the difference between sleeping 2 hours or 10. Don’t ask me why but having my hands in my pockets helps me sleep. And as I am author I love to read. Taking a book or downloading an e-book is a must!
In my beauty/toiletry bag, I always bring…
I love the Touch Up Kit (TUK) which reduces what I need to take in terms of makeup. I am also known to look at what hotels have on offer toiletry-wise as it reduces what I need to take. Travel-size skincare is a huge win!
For more information visit natkringoudis.com and agodatree.com.au and check out Nat’s Podcast The Wellness Collective
