Cycle Hood

Niousha Haghbin

Cycle Hood is your go to space for understanding your body, balancing your hormones, and syncing your life with your cycle. Hosted by Niousha Haghbin, integrative nutrition health coach and hormone health educator, each episode offers practical tools, expert insights, and honest conversations to help you feel at home in your body and thrive through every phase of your cycle and every cycle of your life.

  1. 19 May

    Befriending Uncertainty: What a Week in Sardinia Taught Me About Life

    I'm back in Dubai and my heart is full. In this solo episode, I'm sharing my most personal and reflective takeaways from a yoga retreat in Sardinia, one of the world's five Blue Zones, where I spent a week disconnecting, going deep, and letting myself just be. From deleting Instagram and getting comfortable with boredom, to navigating real uncertainty as an Iranian woman not knowing if I could board my flight home, this episode covers a lot of ground. We talk about: Why unstructured time might be the most productive thing you doBefriending uncertainty (not just controlling the controllables)Having fun with fear, and why that's on my bucket listWhat "home" really means when you're building a life far from where you were bornThe awareness index: thoughts, feelings, and why action completes the triangleFilling your cup so full it overflowsPlus the quote that stopped me in my tracks: "You're questioning the timing of a universe that has never missed a sunrise." If you've been feeling heavy, ungrounded, or stuck, this one's for you. Grab your journal, because this episode is packed with prompts to help you go deep, no flight to Sardinia required! 🎉 Exciting news: Cycle Hood just launched on Instagram! (I know finalyyyy!!!) Come find us, we're just getting started and we'd love to have you there. Follow us here for wellness tips, reflections, journal prompts and everything in between. 💌 And if any of the topics in this episode stirred something in you and you want to dive deeper, slide into our DMs, at Cycle Hood we offer 1:1 holistic health coaching sessions tailored to your bio individual needs and the first discovery call is free.

    35 min
  2. 30 Apr

    The Best 50 Minutes of Your Day with Connor

    In this episode of Cycle Hood, I sit down with Connor — Barry’s instructor, performer, storyteller, and the person so many of us know as “Mr. Good Vibes.” But behind the energy, dancing, and unforgettable classes is a story of resilience that feels like a movie. Connor opens up about growing up as a dancer in South Africa, finding fitness almost by accident, moving to Dubai after a breakup, and facing some of the hardest moments of his life while trying to build a future from scratch. From sleeping on floors, walking hours to work, surviving on bread and peanut butter, and almost giving up — to becoming one of Dubai’s most loved instructors and being voted number one instructor on ClassPass two years in a row — this conversation is about what it really takes to keep going when no one sees the full story. We also talk about the pressure of being “the good vibes person,” what it means to give people the best 50 minutes of their day, the performance behind fitness, the role of dance in Connor’s teaching style, and the next chapter he is building beyond fitness. This is a conversation about resilience, identity, ambition, friendship, and the people whose small acts of kindness can change the direction of your life. Connect with Connor:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notmoodie_connor/ Connect with me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nioushaan/Website: cyclehood.co — book a free discovery session and explore my 1:1 coaching programs in hormone health, holistic health, nutrition, and life coaching.

    1hr 5min
  3. 17 Apr

    Control the Controllables: Brain Foods for Uncertain Times

    In this solo episode of Cycle Hood, I’m talking about one more thing we can bring back into our control when life feels uncertain: the way we nourish our brain. I’m breaking down the Antidepressant Food Scale (AFS) in a simple and accessible way — what it is, how it was developed, which nutrients are most strongly linked to brain and mental health, and which foods came out on top. We also get into omega-3s, BDNF, neuroplasticity, flavonoids, and why certain foods can help support resilience, mood, and overall brain function. This episode is not about perfection, restriction, or replacing therapy and medical support. It’s about understanding the physiology behind how food can support the brain, and using that knowledge to make more intentional choices in seasons of stress. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, emotionally heavy, or simply wanting to feel a little more supported from the inside out, this episode is for you. If you’d like deeper support, I offer 1:1 coaching programs that take a holistic approach to health and life. My 3-month coaching program includes 6 biweekly sessions focused on one key area of your life through a lens of physical, hormonal, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. My 6-month coaching program includes 12 biweekly sessions for a deeper, more comprehensive journey toward sustainable lifestyle change, hormone health, and overall wellbeing. You can learn more and book a free discovery session at cyclehood.co. And because gut health is such an important part of the brain-body conversation, I’m also sharing my Seed referral link here if you’d like to explore the probiotic I personally use:https://refer.seed.com/by/cyclehood Connect with me on Instagram: @nioushaanExplore more: cyclehood.co

    35 min
  4. 8 Apr

    Finding Home Within: Breath-work, Belonging & the Power of Presence with Isha Sharma

    Podcast description:In this episode of Cycle Hood, I’m joined by Isha Sharma for a deeply grounding conversation on breathwork, belonging, movement, mindfulness, and what it really means to feel at home within yourself. Isha is a sound healer, meditation trainer, yoga and Pilates teacher, and a public policy strategist working across international development. In this conversation, she shares her powerful personal journey — from moving constantly throughout childhood, to journaling from the age of nine, to living in an ashram in India, and how breathwork became a life-changing daily practice she has stayed devoted to for 13 years. We talk about the connection between breath and emotions, the difference between exercise and movement, what true health and healing can look like, and how women can reconnect with their bodies in a more holistic and empowering way. We also explore belonging, displacement, feminine power, purpose, and the importance of creating inner stability in a fast-moving world. This episode is for anyone craving more calm, clarity, connection, and a deeper relationship with themselves. Connect with Isha: @isharma108Connect with me: @nioushaan If this conversation resonated with you and you’re ready to deepen your relationship with your body, your hormones, and your overall wellbeing, you can book a free discovery session with me through my website here: cyclehood.co

    45 min
  5. 31 Mar

    The Water Boost Episode: Founder of Shake Your Plants on Hydration, Gut Health & Purpose

    In this episode of Cycle Hood, I sit down with Justine, founder of Shake Your Plants, the UAE-based water boost brand on a mission to make hydration more functional, enjoyable, and conscious. We talk about the personal health journey that led her into wellness, how small daily habits like drinking more water can create big shifts in how we feel, and why gut health, probiotics, and hydration matter more than ever in a modern lifestyle. Justine also shares the story behind building Shake Your Plants, from her first plant-based business to creating a brand rooted in transparency, sustainability, and purpose. We also get into entrepreneurship, endurance sports, motherhood, energy management, and the discipline it takes to build a business while staying connected to yourself. If you’ve been wanting to support your gut, drink more water, and hear an honest founder story behind a wellness brand that truly walks its talk, this episode is for you. We talk about:- how Justine’s wellness journey began- the story behind Shake Your Plants- kombucha, probiotics, and gut health- hydration as a simple but powerful wellness tool- conscious sourcing and building a purpose-led brand- running, resilience, and entrepreneurship- motherhood, boundaries, and protecting your energy Justine also generously offered Cycle Hood listeners 15% off with the code CYCLEHOOD15. You can find Shake Your Plants here:Website: shakeyourplants.comInstagram: @shakeyourplants If you enjoy the episode, don’t forget to share it, send it to a friend, you can also find me at @nioushaan on Instagram.

    49 min
  6. 22 Mar

    Your Nervous System Knows This Is War (Here’s What To Do)

    We’re living in a moment that doesn’t feel real…And yet, our bodies know exactly what’s happening. In this solo episode, I’m opening up about what it feels like to live through uncertainty, war in the background, and the emotional tension of feeling both safe and not okay at the same time. If you’ve been feeling anxious, overwhelmed, glued to the news, or just… off — this episode is for you. I share the exact tools I’m using right now to regulate my nervous system, shift out of survival mode, and take back a sense of control in a world that feels unpredictable. Inside this episode, we talk about:– Why your nervous system feels like you’re in danger (even if you’re “safe”)– What happens in your body when you receive constant alerts & bad news– How to move from fight/flight/freeze → back to calm– Simple somatic tools to release stress– “Control the controllables” (and how to actually apply it)– Why “fake peace” doesn’t work — and what to do instead– Listening to your body when your usual routines stop working– How to stay grounded without disconnecting from reality This is your reminder:You’re responding to a very real situation. And you can support your body through it. If you want to go deeper and take ownership of your health, energy, and nervous system during this time, and get back on track if you feel off:DM me on Instagram @cycle__hood to book a free discovery session. I also share one tool that’s been helping me regulate my nervous system daily, here's my referral link for you: Activation App (not sponsored, just something I genuinely use):https://share.activations.com/nioushahaghbin If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs it 🤍And don’t forget to follow/subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes. Stay safe. Take care of your nervous system.

    43 min

About

Cycle Hood is your go to space for understanding your body, balancing your hormones, and syncing your life with your cycle. Hosted by Niousha Haghbin, integrative nutrition health coach and hormone health educator, each episode offers practical tools, expert insights, and honest conversations to help you feel at home in your body and thrive through every phase of your cycle and every cycle of your life.

You Might Also Like