Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Veronesi.
Hi Julia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I believe we all have a wild self; an unbridled, liberated personality that lies dormant within all of us and that over time becomes hardened by the world around us. I believe we all have an inner child; an innocent, playful, creative, free spirit that is not far removed from the raw soul, tucked away, hiding from our everyday lives. My passion in life for as long as I can remember is to find these crucial missing elements of human nature, and the first step in finding them for me was to embody my artistic side. With transformation for myself and others being a motivating factor, I have found many different outlets to help with this discovery.
As a kid, I gravitated towards the stage where I connected with my artistic abilities, such as singing, dancing, and acting. I have a handful of accomplishments that, to this day, I am so proud to have under my belt. It was an honor to be crowned Miss Connecticut twice throughout my teenage years where I connected with my passion for public speaking. This taught me the ability to be in front of a crowd, to speak in a way that is relatable, and to harness the confidence to capture the attention of a room. I went on to win a World Champion Hip-Hop competition with my dance team, Street Elite, where I learned the importance of teamwork, training, and consistency. I attended a performing arts high school where I was able to officially start my training as an actor, eventually leading to my acceptance into one of the country’s top acting schools, SUNY Purchase. I had an eventful childhood to say the least. I worked hard, dedicated my time and energy to my craft, and was never afraid to try new things.
Most importantly, I was never afraid to fail. After graduating from Purchase, I worked professionally as an actor for two years – until one day when it felt like “life hit me”. It felt as though my traumas embodied me and I experienced what it was like to hit rock bottom. When reflecting on what made me truly happy, one thing came to mind: movement. There is something so healing about physically expressing your body – whether it be dance, improv, singing, boxing, cycling, yoga, the list goes on and on. There is a through-line in all of them: release. During this low period of my life, I found a Yoga practice as well as SoulCycle. From that point on, my life and career were changed for the better. I decided to quit acting and use my talents, accomplishments, and training to become a full-time fitness professional. For me, it’s more about the internal experience than anything external. I would rather coach and hold space for someone to work through a mental block than to lose 10 pounds. Both are great, but it starts with your mindset. And that’s where I come in.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not, and I wouldn’t have wanted it to be. I believe that the setbacks we encounter throughout our lives are gifts. We get a chance to really look at ourselves in the mirror and listen closely to what the universe is telling us. A bumpy road has made me closer to understanding my authentic self, so I encourage challenges. Personally, some of my biggest struggles have been “impostor syndrome”. I was severely bullied when I was growing up, which crafted my mind to be my worst enemy at times – thinking I am not good enough or that I do not deserve good things. What I noticed is that when working with resistance when an obstacle arises, it actually creates a harder journey. When I lived in NYC, I felt that was all I was doing – missing opportunities and living with a mostly negative mindset. Once I moved to ATX, I made it a goal to be more aligned with “what is”, and from there, things have fallen into place in the best way possible.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have always been a hustler so having one job is a concept I do not understand. I am a SoulCycle instructor here in ATX, and a Yoga Instructor at Equinox Austin and YTX. I am also a Meditation and Vin/Yin Yoga instructor at a Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center in North Austin. I like to think I specialize in the human experience. With SoulCycle, I have worked hard to be one of the top utilized instructors in Texas where I have a pretty strong college following. I have recognized the importance of being a leader to the generation below myself and I proudly hold that responsibility at SoulCycle. My Yoga offerings are all very different depending on the location of where I teach. Equinox and YTX vary from advanced Power classes, where I use my gymnastics, dance, and crossfit training to push the mind and body beyond its habitual limitations. I believe that in the most vulnerable moments in class, one can then learn to embody their wild self and find a deeper sense of healing.
What sets me apart from others is simple – I am honest with my work and teachings and meet each and every client/student where they are at without judgment or expectation. I carry myself without any shame and bring as much joy as I can to each person I come across.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I am a certified clown! I know, hysterical. But really! I went to a pretty intense training one summer in Philly and came out with a deep knowledge of improv, clowning, and mask work. I also think it’s my secret weapon for being a good teacher, I am quick on my feet and can always get a good laugh out of people.
Pricing:
- SoulCycle: $20 first time, $24 Student Rate, $32 single classes, Packages vary
- Private Yoga Classes: $100
Contact Info:
- Email: juliataylorveronesi@
gmail.com - Website: https://linktr.ee/
juliataylorveronesi - Instagram: @
juliataylorveronesi - Youtube: https://www.youtube.
com/channel/ UC5Isss4zMs5ILLBRtWE0wrw?view_ as=subscriber - Spotify: Julia Taylor Veronesi
Image Credits
Photographers: Lane Womack, Kelsey Applebaum
