Our Story
The most important part of your healing journey is feeling connected to the support you choose.
Read below to get a sense of our story and approach, and see if it feels right for you.
Our Apprach
Wellness these days can feel… overwhelming to say the least.
We open our phones and get flooded with messages that sell the idea of a quick fix, something out there that will suddenly make everything better. The truth is, it’s not that easy, but that doesn’t mean change isn’t possible.
At Koru Wellness, we do things differently.
Just as the Koru (baby fern) grows when its environment is cared for, our approach follows a similar path. You can’t force it open, and you can’t rush its growth. The only thing you can do is support the environment it grows in.
Our approach is much the same.
We take the time to explore what’s happening within you and around you, and begin to understand what may need to change. From there, we look at how to create the right conditions for growth, because without that internal foundation, it’s hard for anything to truly change.
The centre of our approach is understanding. Understanding your thoughts, your patterns, your triggers, and the way you’ve learned to move through the world. Without that, it’s easy to feel stuck, like you’re trying to move forward but not really getting anywhere.
This is why Koru Wellness brings together psychology and yoga practices, offering a grounded and holistic approach that supports both the mind and the body.
Meet the founder
Hi, I’m Arnika Ruegg,
Some of you may know me as Arny, the kiwi living in Aus. This is my story.
At the heart of Koru Wellness is a seed of self-discovery and connection.
I’ve walked through grief, loss, and heartbreak, and slowly found my way back home to myself.
For years, anxiety and stress shaped my life. After losing my mum as a child, fear and control became my normal. My mind was often in a constant spiral, and I experienced anxiety attacks regularly. I spent a long time feeling overwhelmed, lost, and stuck.
However, things eventually started to change for me.
Through a long process of learning, unlearning, and rebuilding, I gradually moved into a place of peace and clarity in who I was. I eventually came home to myself again. Through this journey, I discovered it was my mission to help others find their way too.
This is where Koru Wellness was born.
I’m now a qualified counsellor, specialising in anxiety and mental health, as well as a certified yoga teacher. I also am the proud founder of Sydney Girls Connect, a womens community. My work brings together formal counselling and psychology studies with lived experience, offering a grounded and relatable approach.
I’ve spent years learning how to understand anxiety, rather than fight it, and building a different relationship with it. This is now at the centre of the work I share.
These offerings are here to support you on your journey, just as they supported me. Personalised to suit YOU, and to empower you to guide yourself home.
Our Story
Our story begins with community.
Before Koru Wellness, Arnika started a small group called Sydney Girls Connect. Moving here from NZ, she felt lonely alot of the time and struggled to make friends. She felt others must feel the same, so decided to do something about it…
She started by hosting crafty events at Coogee Beach, designed to connect with other women in the same boat. Over time, these events evolved into a range of events and meet ups. The response was overwhelmingly positive, showing a real need in the community.
The group has now grown to over 8,000 women in Sydney who connect, support, and inspire each other every day.
The story of our name
I grew up in New Zealand, surrounded by Māori culture through school, kapa haka, and community.
I have a deep respect for the way Māori culture holds connection to land, nature, and spirit. The belief that there is knowledge and presence in the land is extremely powerful and something I’ve always resonated with. This belief has shaped the way I live my life and continues to shape the way I approach this work.
In Te Reo Māori (the Māori language), Koru refers to the unfurling fern. Within Te Ao Māori (the Māori worldview), it holds deeper meaning, often connected to growth, new beginnings, and the natural cycles of life.
For years I felt the energy of this business. I could feel the warmth and depth of the service I wanted to offer. I didn’t want it to be performative or ‘quick fixy’. I wanted to empower others to find their center and make long term, sustainable change.
When the word ‘Koru’ came to me, it was perfect. It encapsulated everything I was trying to put into words.
For a Koru cannot grow faster than nature intends as you cannot pull open the baby fern. You must respect its natural growth, and respect the land in which it came from. As I wish to respect those I work with.