About Me
Julie Cooper
I was led to yoga after a running injury. I was frustrated and looking for something to give me “runners high” feeling without the actual running.
I found Bikram yoga, my type A personality liked the strict rules, same 26 postures day in and out and the quiet rhythm of class. I would leave drenched in sweat and depleted (probably from all the sweat!) yet energized. I did this style of yoga for longer than I care to admit. I was quite literally hooked! After having my 4th child I realized I needed something more. I needed more freedom, more movements, more challenge. Enter vinyaysa yoga in an ashtanga based style. I had a friend that was a teacher and turned me onto this by just suggesting over and over that I try it. Finally, I did and it was just the challenge I was looking for. I started practicing this style, which was still rather hot, but not nearly as humid. I loved the energy of the class, the music that was not your traditional “yoga” music but more of a hip hop energizing playlist. My practice brought me so much joy I wanted to share & teach it to others. Enter my first 200 hr teacher training. I loved it. I learned so much, at times it was overwhelming. I became more confident in myself and my yoga. I started teaching in 2015. I never looked back after that. Challenging myself each week to develop an exciting new class and playlist. I loved taking my friends classes as well, they were always inspiring and a time where I did not have to be in charge of the movements or music. When I went on vacation I would typically do my own practice or go to a local place (*hot tip- you never know what you are going to get at these, but it will always be either a challenge or a humbling lesson in patience!). One particular vacation I stumbled up Yoga Girls OneOeight website and found Lara Heimann, I don’t know what about her interested me, but I decided to take her class. It was one of the best class’s I had ever taken, the knowledge and cueing were next level. I was finally able to access my deep core (not just the superficial of 1000 situps) I opened easier and left with more knowledge of why I was doing certain movements. I began following Lara and taking her classes frequently. I began to use parts of her class for inspiration. I really wanted to take her training, but it was in Aruba at the time. I could not leave my family for 9 weeks in the summer and take off to Aruba to learn & do more yoga. (As lovely as that sounded!) Alas, COVID 19 swept the world and Lara held a 200 hr teacher training online! I signed up with barely a second thought, knowing this was the chance I had been waiting for. Lara is a physical therapist and provided the most thought out training I could have ever hoped for. Her anatomy lessons were top notch and her inspiration to make the world move more often and safely are just part of the magic. She lives her yoga. I am so grateful to have trained under her and her colleagues to become a certified LYT teacher. I now combine all the methods I have learned to build a safe, yet fun and challenging practice for all levels. I hope you will trust me to take you on your own yoga journey. Finding new ways to open your body & mind. I believe, it is through awareness of our body that we begin to pay attention to and appreciate all aspects of our life. Making us not only more open, but better human beings. Its all connected!
“I believe, it is through awareness of our body that we begin to pay attention to and appreciate all aspects of our life. Making us not only more open, but better human beings.”—Julie Cooper