JULIE BERNIER
“Ayurveda is something that I live every day. Its practices are woven into my daily routine, my diet, my sleep. It’s influenced the way that I see the world — for example through the lens of the Doshas — which I call my Dosha goggles! It’s impossible to take them off!”
Julie Bernier helps women to bring their bodies back into balance, whether they’re struggling with hormonal imbalances, period problems, digestive troubles, skin conditions, anxiety, depression, preparing for or recovering from giving birth, or any other dis-ease. This holistic approach to individualised wellness is rooted in Ayurveda: a holistic system of healing from ancient India. Julie is a registered Ayurvedic Practitioner and Ayurvedic Yoga Therapist with the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) as well as a Certified Massage Therapist. She studied each of these modalities in the US and straight from the source in India.
Follow Julie:
Website: True Ayurveda
Instagram: @juliebernier
“It’s amazing to see in myself and in my clients how sometimes the smallest shifts can completely change the state of balance in the body.”
What does Ayurveda mean to you?
I think of Ayurveda as the ultimate self-help manual with a title something like this: “How to Live a Long, Healthy, Happy Life,” written by Mother Nature. It’s wisdom that teaches us how to take care of ourselves in a way that’s aligned with nature so that we’re healthy, happy, joyous, and fulfilled.
When did you discover it? How long have you been practising it?
Somewhere along my yoga journey, I heard the word “Ayurveda” and looking back now, I believe that was the moment that I remembered Ayurveda from a past life! I immediately bought my first Ayurveda book: “Prakriti” by Robert Svoboda, and devoured it. It felt like truth — everything made so much sense to me. It was a logical way of understanding myself and the world. I’ve been deep in Ayurvedic studies ever since and plan to be for the rest of my life! It’s a deep, rich ocean of knowledge.
Has it helped you with anything major?
It’s helped me with everything, major and minor! When I first came to Ayurveda, I had a lot of health issues — what Western medicine had deemed as unserious, but I knew that getting my period twice a month, sudden adult acne, and absolutely horrendous digestion were not normal! I started working with an Ayurvedic practitioner and was amazed how quickly my body came back into balance. Since then, I have used Ayurveda for any and every imbalance I experience, and it will forever be my main medicine.
Is Ayurveda part of your everyday life or just for your medicine cabinet or fall-back routine?
Ayurveda is something that I live every day. Its practices are woven into my daily routine, my diet, my sleep. It’s influenced the way that I see the world — for example through the lens of the Doshas — which I call my Dosha goggles! It’s impossible to take them off! It’s also part of my medicine cabinet; I work a lot with herbs in my practice so I use them as helpers when needed. But for the most part, it’s my everyday Ayurvedic lifestyle that keeps me healthy.
What are your top 3 Ayurvedic tips that have worked for you?
Going to bed early and waking up early. I really believe this is the secret of life!
Eating warm, freshly cooked foods.
Eating around the same time every day.
What surprised you most about Ayurveda?
Small shifts can make a big difference. That’s very different from the typical American mindset that bigger is better. It’s amazing to see in myself and in my clients how sometimes the smallest shifts can completely change the state of balance in the body.
Did you integrate it gradually or overnight for any particular reason?
Ayurveda is something that I’ve been integrating gradually over the years. It took a long time to create new habits around food and eating around the same time every day. But my favourite motto is “what comes slowly lasts,” and with my slowness I know that these practices will continue to serve me for the rest of my life! At this point, the practices and way of living have become something that I automatically do — as intuitive as brushing my teeth.
What is your favourite Ayurvedic recipe or go-to ingredient?
Definitely ghee!
What do you wish was easier in our society to make an Ayurvedic lifestyle more accessible?
Our western minds, haha! I have seen so many people brush off Ayurveda because they assume that it will require them to completely change their lives... that if they don’t follow all of it and go on a kitchari fast and give themselves an Abhyanga every single day, then it’s not for them. The beauty of Ayurveda is that it’s meant to be adapted for the individual, and even making one small little shift can have an enormous impact on the body and mind.
Do people around you/in your circle of friends know about Ayurveda?
Probably only because I am an Ayurvedic practitioner, but yes! Ayurveda is still not so widely known in the US, but slowly it’s getting the attention it deserves.
What’s the one thing you would encourage everyone to try or you think would benefit the majority of people’s health for the better?
Make sleep a priority. It has such an enormous impact on our body and mind — it can’t be skipped!