about julia
Yoga is for everyone. Yoga does not care about age, shape, fitness ability or flexibility. I am here to listen, guide, and support you on your own ‘Yoga Journey’.
My Yoga Journey
Living and working in London, being overstressed ( I thought I wasn’t stressed ), I was suffering with lower back pains, I had no extra energy to enjoy a life, I was moody and, felt totally disconnect from my body.
A friend of mine introduced me to yoga. Being gymnast and contemporary dancer in my childhood till teenage years, yoga instantly appealed to me – on physical level. “How hard could that yoga be?” I had a vivid memory of being super flexible, supple, bendy and without fear I would try any pose. Not the same enjoyment when you in pain.
In Spring 2010, I became member in Balham Bikram yoga studio and started practicing on regular basis. It was sort of love and hate relationship. Repetitive sequences, being 90mins in 40C heated studio was not easy to focus on poses but mostly dealing with heat and I was barely breathing. I experienced muscles tension released in heat which felt really good initially and, enjoyed it especially in winter months. I sort of became addicted to it for a while until I had an episode of excruciating back pain during the session and barely return home. When that pain repeated second time within 10 months, I had to ceased my membership. I had anterior pelvic tilt on one side of my body. My pelvis and right hip was rotating forward and my right leg was slightly longer – which I had no idea at that time. Later on, I have I developed SI join instability too and, that was the end of bikram yoga.
For the next few years, I practiced yoga on and off, but could not commit to regular practice because of my unpredictable work hours. I travel a lot and had no consistent working hours. I developed chronic pains not just in my lower back but in my entire body. I had not had physical strength and, started suffering as well mentally and emotionally.
I believed in some changes. But, no one could have done any changes for me. There is always help around, if you get a courage to ask. But, you have to walk your walk.
” That’s exactly how it is in yoga. The places where you have the most resistance are actually the places that are going to be areas of greatest liberation. ” ~
Rodney Yee ~
Here are some of well-respected International yoga teachers I have studied with, in-person and online courses and, continuing being a student… Certifications here.
- 22 hours Online Course Restorative Intensive Level 2. with Anna Ashby – June 2022
- 33 hours Online Course Restorative Level 1. with Anna Ashby – February/March 2022
- Judith H. Lasater & Lizzie Lasater – Teaching Yoga Online Restorative Course in 2021
- 18 hours Online Course – Preventing & Managing Yoga Injury Course with Jason Crandell – November 2020
- 18 hours Online Course – Mastering the Art of Yoga Sequencing with Jason Crandell – October 2020
- Deconstruct to Reconstruct Online Course with Alexandria Crow, Yoga Physics – July 2019
- 50 hours of Mindfulness Module of Yin Yoga with Josh Summers – March 2019, Dublin
- Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra 2-Day Workshop with Adelene Cheong and James Reeves – December 2019, TriYoga
Yoga Alliance Approved YTT 200-hour Program
- 200 hours with Marianne Wells, Costa Rica – March 2018 – Comprehensive Training of Anatomy & Physiology, Yoga Philosophy – in depth study of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Breathing Pranayamas techniques, Meditations and, covered other styles of yoga – Vinyasa, Ashtanga Kundalini, Tibetan and Restorative.
Practice slowly and mindfully
I knew it was a time to search for different style of yoga because I wanted to recover naturally.
So I had to re-invented myself. No more old Julia but new Julia with a different approach. With more gentle approach to myself and with time to be more patient and focus more on a journey rather than goal.
The goal of yoga is not a handstand – as it is easy to focus on physical posture. This is when our mind ( our ego ) is in charge and our body is neglected rather than listen to. As we get older, taking time to get into a pose is more rewarding and safe. And, eventually when the time is right, handstand or even headstand or any other inversion will come naturally – when body is supported and ready.
My journey since I found yoga, has been truly transformational.
I am calmer, more focused, content with myself without trying to change anything ( happy as life is in the present moment ). I started to enjoy daily simple moments. I feel more flexible, spacious in my body and in my mind. And, when gets too much, when life gets busy again, I allow myself a time for being on the mat. Sometimes, might be 10mins and sometimes 60mins. Each day is different, each moment requires a special attention to what body, mind needs.
Yoga mat is my sacred place, my refuge.
” True Yoga is not about the shape of your body, but the shape of your life. Yoga is not to be performed. Yoga is to be lived. Yoga doesn’t care what you have been. Yoga cares about a person you are becoming. Yoga is designed for vast and profound purpose, and for it to be truly called yoga, it’s essence must be embodied. ” ~ Aadil Palkhivala ~
Yoga with Julia
My teaching started in April 2018 and from January 2019, I have been teaching full time.
Since March 2020, I added online live-streaming sessions using Zoom. Please see class schedule for all online and studio classes.
Also, get in touch for any questions and, a complimentary chat with me on how One to One Yoga Session can help you.
I teach Healing Hatha, Slow Flow and Yin with focus on safe and mindful practice throughout with hands-on adjustment. I relate to those who have gone through injuries and chronic pains as I experienced myself. Practice slow yoga with long, deep stretches and breathing techniques has its tremendous benefits especially for beginners. I focus on body anatomy, proper alignments and biomechanics with practical therapeutic yoga routines for optimal health.
I believe in teaching with integrity and compassion and I incorporate breathing techniques to create more Space in the Body, more Space in the Mind with guidance to create more Space to Evolve.