439 Butler St, Saugatuck
Julie Denooyer
Julie started her yoga journey in 2015 after the birth of her twins. As a lifelong
sports and fitness enthusiast, she was looking for a workout that served her busier and more hectic life. She was attracted to the mind, body and spirit connection that yoga offers, and the peaceful, quiet space a yoga studio provides. Julie loves the physical strength and flexibility gained from her practice, but the benefits of yoga have become life-changing for her because of the sense of inner-strength, calm and acceptance she gains through breath work paired with movement. Julie believes yoga allows us to connect more deeply with ourselves, and the world around us. Julie completed Satya Yoga’s YTT and is a 200 Hour E-RYT with Yoga Alliance, trained in Hatha Yoga. In Julie’s empowered flow class you will awaken your inner confidence and power through playful poses as part of a physical flow, with
emphasis on keeping with breath and staying connected to Self.
How did you find yoga?
I was looking to move my body and regain my strength after my twins were born. I had always been active in sports as well as group fitness classes at the gym, but Satya Yoga was very close to my house at the time and so I tried a yoga studio class because the time and location worked with my newly very busy schedule. I loved yoga right away because of the calming atmosphere and the intentionality of all the movements. The whole experience at Satya Yoga felt creative, beautiful and sacred in addition to being healthy for my physical body. Everyone was so kind and welcoming, and I enjoyed having a place to check in with my mind, body, and spirit.
What does yoga mean to you?
I think yoga means more to me than I even understand. I am sure that I have avoided many physical, mental and emotional obstacles because of dedication to my practice. I use breathwork tools daily to find my center and calm. When life gets rough, I can always come back to my mat for a reset. Yoga has also been such a nurturing experience for me. I feel a sense of love and acceptance when I enter the studio and the Satya teacher and student community is always so warm. The difference between yoga movement and other exercises and sports I have been involved in is the concept of lifelong practice. We are not trying to achieve a perfect outcome. We dedicate ourselves to our practice and receive the benefits as they come. This is such a relief and a healing balm for me after living in a performance-based world for so long. The idea of listening to the subtleties of my body and finding a balance between effort and ease really works, and my body feels healthier for the long-run.
If you could teach people one thing in yoga, what would it be?
We can’t control so much of life, but yoga gives us the tools to be intentional and impactful with things we can control - our breath, our movement, the people we surround ourselves with. Coming back to your mat is like coming back home, and this practice will give you a sense of haven and calm, while also working out your body to create longevity. Movement doesn’t have to be intense to make a difference.
How does the Satya community impact you?
Oh where do I begin. Satya gave me a place to feel safe and loved during a very stressful time in my life. I have always felt like I am welcome. My first teacher taught me to believe in myself and my own strength, internally and externally, while I was working into more challenging poses in her class at Satya. When I feel alone or stressed or chaotic, I walk into Satya and my chest releases. The studio, fellow teachers, and students are a haven for me.
Satya has also given me a beautiful platform to use my gifts and talents to benefit others. I love creating sequences and singing meditative mantra. When my students say they feel better and stronger in their bodies from coming to my class, it fills my cup. After leaving a corporate job when I had my twins, I felt lost. My place at Satya gives me purpose outside of my home which is so important. It gives me an outlet for continued learning in areas that are naturally so interesting to me, and a community of like-minded people to share these learnings with.
What’s something that would surprise people about you?
I am the original creator of the Pirate’s Booty sundae at Captain Sundae in Holland. It was the 2002 sundae contest winner and it is the second most popular item on the menu, after their signature Tommy Turtle. Everything in moderation, right? Yum!
How long have you been practicing yoga?
Apart from a few scattered classes or gym yoga classes, I hadn’t practiced in a yoga studio until around 10-11 years ago. I had played many sports, but more team sports. I had also participated in my fair share of group fitness classes at the gym. Satya was my first experience with a dedicated yoga studio, and I really enjoyed the intentional strength and stretch combination, because with many team sports the stretch part is really lacking. I also have a background in mat Pilates; this enriches my yoga teaching.
Where did you receive your training and when?
I was in the first graduating class from Satya Yoga’s 200-hour teacher training in 2021. I set a goal for myself that when my twins went to kindergarten, I would do the 200-hour training. I looked at programs in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, but when Teresa announced Satya Yoga’s training, I knew it was the perfect choice for me. I have been teaching in Saugatuck and Holland since I graduated in spring of 2021.
What are some signature things about your classes?
We almost always begin class with time on our backs with the BackMitra (a specific prop used to unwind tension in the mid back). I incorporate poses that make my students smile and are a little playful. We feel the core shake as we find a full-body flow with lots of verbal cueing to make transitions between poses seamless. When you leave my class you will feel like you have been physically challenged, and many of my students say they experience the “yoga float” - that sense that you are floating out of the studio, from the combination of breathwork, flowing full-body physical movement, and meditative mantra that I sing at the close of class.
