Meet Julia Carpenter of Julia Carpenter Yoga & Reiki

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Carpenter.

Hi Julia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory. 
I walked into a yoga class while I was going through a hard time in my life. I was experiencing feelings of not being in control of my body, as I was having difficulty conceiving. I found such an elevation in my mood, and I also worked through some deep emotions while practicing yoga. As a result of that experience, I decided I wanted to help guide other people using breath and movement to feel good in their minds and bodies also. 

I loved teaching yoga and continued studying until I became a 500-hour registered yoga teacher. I taught hatha, vinyasa, prenatal, postnatal, and restorative yoga. I was intrigued by the energy exchange that I felt when teaching restorative yoga, and so I also became a certified reiki practitioner. I added reiki energy healing sessions to my practice and also incorporated reiki into some of my yoga sessions. 

Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. My process of navigating through that experience brought up past traumas. I found that my yoga practice continued to guide me to a place where I could manage my feelings and maintain a steady balance during that really hard time. That is when I chose to get my Yoga for Trauma certification. Teaching trauma-informed yoga led me to pursue getting licensed as a psychotherapist, and I am now in graduate school for counseling psychology. 

Currently, I mainly teach private yoga sessions with a focus on trauma-informed yoga. I also offer reiki energy healing, breathwork, meditation, and relaxation (yoga nidra) sessions. I teach in-person locally in the East Valley (Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Toluca Lake, Burbank, & Beverly Hills) areas of Los Angeles and also online on Zoom. 

I find my work very fulfilling, as I love witnessing the transformation that yoga, breath, and movement in the presence of compassionate energy brings to my clients. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road getting to where I am at today. I continued to work corporate jobs while teaching yoga on the side for several years. Then, when I finally decided to make the jump to teaching yoga full-time, the COVID-19 Pandemic hit. I went from planning to work full-time in a yoga studio, teaching and offering reiki, to teaching 100% online. I was also a parent and needed to let most of my online classes go so that I could be fully present for my child, who was only in first grade and having to navigate online school. By the time he finally went back to school in person, the studio I was working at had shut down. Luckily, I had maintained enough private clients to keep going. I then chose to cater to private clients instead of teaching group classes because my work had transformed into helping individuals with trauma. I am grateful for the struggles because they have led me to where I am at now. I feel like the work that I am doing is some of the most important work I have ever done. 

As you know, we’re big fans of Julia Carpenter Yoga & Reiki. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
I specialize in trauma-informed yoga, and I primarily work with women. This involves helping my clients build a sense of safety within. We move through the poses continually, aware of where our bodies are, how we are breathing, and mindful to find balance instead of pushing through. Nothing is ever forced, and everything I offer is an option. I believe that my clients know themselves best, and so I ask them to see how each breath, each movement, each moment feels within. One thing I always emphasize is grounding at the beginning and throughout our sessions so that my clients have a strong, steady base to come back to. 

I am most proud of the clients that have moved through their traumatic experiences while practicing with me and my being able to hold space for them. The beauty of trauma-informed yoga is that you don’t necessarily have to relive or talk about the trauma that you have been through, but the body remembers, and by moving the body, the trauma can be worked through and transformed. 

I am known for my calming, compassionate presence. One thing that my clients request over and over is a combination of a slow flow and restorative yoga session so that they can experience movement as well as the stillness of relaxation. I tune into my clients, so each session is customized to where they are at in the moment. This attunement has often led my clients to be amazed at how I knew just what they needed in their session. 

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson that I have learned along my journey is that I must stay open to where my path is leading me. By allowing my experiences to inform my journey, I have found deeply rewarding work. 

This also informs how I work with my clients. I may have an idea of what might be useful to them, but I am mindful to stay aware in the present moment so that I guide them through a safe and meaningful practice. 

Pricing:

• Yoga Session – $150/hr
• Reiki Energy Healing Session – $150/hr
• Hybrid Yoga/Reiki Session – $175/hr
• Hybrid Yoga/Meditation/Relaxation Session – $175/hr
• Breathwork and Relaxation Session – $150/hr

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.juliacarpenter.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carpenteryoga
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carpenteryoga
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliacarpenter1/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/julia-carpenter-yoga-and-reiki-los-angeles-2

Image Credits
Julia Carpenter
Yoga & Reiki