Jule has been guiding Alaskan oceans, rivers and mountains for 15 years.
She is a certified Wilderness First Responder and has 1000+ days wilderness experience. She professionally guides remote multi-day packrafting, rafting, kayaking and backpacking trips throughout the state.
A yogi since 2005, she began teaching in 2012 after studying in India and has 500 hrs of training with the Yoga Alliance. She has studied and practiced Ashtanga, Hatha, Iyengar, Kundalini & Restorative Yoga, but like’s to “teach to the room-” blending her own style that utilizes mindful movement with breath and postural awareness. Jule uses yoga to strengthen and relax both mind and body.
She is also a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner with the National Association of Ayurvedic Medicine & holds an M.A. in Counseling from University of Alaska Anchorage. She has a private “Integrative” Mental Health Counseling practice in Anchorage, AK where she specializes in using Ayurveda, Yoga & Mindfulness practices alongside CBT & DBT talk therapy techniques to help clients achieve higher states of wellness.
Jule teaches yoga classes, workshops, 200 & 300 hr Yoga Alliance approved teacher trainings & wilderness retreats throughout Alaska. She loves sharing these holistic arts with others in wilderness surroundings. Her goal is to help others on their journey towards health and wellness while having fun along the way.
Her Story
Originally an Iowa native, I ventured to Alaska to discover a healthier lifestyle & experience real wilderness in 2007. I struggled with anxiety, depression, poor body image, disorderly eating, substance abuse and other self-destructive tendencies.
In pursuit of personal wellness, I finished a B.A. in Counseling Psychology in 2009 from Alaska Pacific University; I knew wanted to somehow support people on their journey towards health and happiness as I began figuring out mine.
With a sense of adventure and real love for being in wild places, I began guiding wilderness backpacking, rafting and sea kayaking trips for different outfitters throughout the state. I worked with teenagers in wilderness therapy programs, took children on weekend trips, and guided adults on longer expeditions.
Those extended periods of time in the wilderness felt refreshing & inspiring- I was connected with myself & everything made sense. My anxiety, self-doubt, sadness…all of those things started to go away.
I found that simply spending time in nature was transformative, fun & healing by itself... however, being out in the elements began to physically take a toll on my body.
I needed to give back to myself. I started regularly practicing yoga in 2005 to restore and strengthen my body; it felt good to move with my breath and gave me energy for my Alaskan adventures. I was drawn to many styles: Hatha, Vinyasa, Iyengar, Restorative, Yin, Bikram, Kundalini, Ashtanga- I liked & drew something from all of them.
A few years later, I experienced some unfortunate life changing events that prompted further self-reflection and a desire to feel whole again. I ended up traveling to India in 2011; with aspirations of becoming a yoga teacher, I completed a 200 hr YTT in Rishikiish. Living in an Ashram for 2 months immersed in a yogic lifestyle helped shed light on my turmoil while yoga's more subtle aspects were revealed.
The transition from my Himalayan paradise back to "real life" took some getting used to, but I was excited to teach yoga and share what I learned from my experience. I continued seasonally guiding wilderness trips throughout summers so I could ski, travel, practice and teach yoga throughout the winter.
India called again in 2013; I returned to the ashram lifestyle to complete a 300 hr YTT with my same teachers. Again, I was impressed at how great my body felt, how still my mind was, and how much peace I found within myself from a regular asana, mantra, pranayama and meditation routine. I was deep in my practice one morning when I experienced the first of many "a-ha!" moments that helped me feel true peace, contentment, appreciation & understanding for everything around me- both good and bad. I thought, "I need to share this goodness, this light with others!"
I began studying and implementing the healing art of Ayurveda into my life as I continued graduate studies in Mental Health Counseling at U.A.A. Throughout the course of being a student I still continued teaching yoga classes & workshops. I completed my graduate level intern hours with Set Free Alaska, an outpatient treatment facility working with adults who struggle with addictions and co-occurring disorders in 2015. I utilized meditation & yoga during group therapy sessions with patients and used a Vedic approach to healing alongside their treatment progress.
I studied Ayurveda with Amanda Lyon at Spirit Path Yoga & Wellness & became an Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC) with the National Association of Ayurvedic Medicine (NAMA) that same year. Since 2013, I've completed over 1700 hours of Ayurveda Education & Clinical Supervision, becoming a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner (CAP) in 2018. I have training in pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis, physical & mental examinations to help determine patient Prakruti (consistution) & Vikruti (imbalances).
I've been offering Ayurvedic Counseling & Mental Health services through Spirit Path Yoga & Wellness since 2016. I really believe yoga and ayurveda are sister sciences; learning ayurveda has taught me how to use food to heal & that creating daily habits & routines build immunity & strength.
I was also reminded of the magic that happens when you create time & space for the things you love (for me, being in wild places)…you heal, feel grounded & regain clarity. It enlivens your spirit!
In 2016 I launched Alaska Yoga Adventures- I wanted to combine the wilderness experience with yoga & ayurveda. Wow, talk about living in alignment with your dharma!
Bringing people outside into the Alaskan wild to practice yoga is what I was put on this earth to do.
I found that people can experience parts of themselves and tap into something special when they take their yoga practice outside, step away from their normal day to day & allow nature to renew their energies.
I see myself as a lifelong learner, student & seeker- everyone and everything are my teachers. Ancient wisdom from yoga, ayurveda, nature, intentional living & holistic health continue to fascinate me.
Nothing brings me more joy than taking people out into Alaska’s wilderness & teaching yoga. Join me for more than a camping trip- come along & experience a mind, body & soul adventure.
