Meet Julie Lepere

We were lucky to catch up with Julie Lepere recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Julie, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

I always envisioned training in a beautiful, zened-out yoga studio under a yoga guru who could teach me how to effortlessly do handstands. That was not my situation. I trained online during the pandemic, mostly at night, sleep-deprived while nursing my newborn. So yes, my imposter syndrome was at an all time high when I started teaching in person. I wasn’t prepared with first-hand experience of leading a class – hearing my own voice and familiarizing myself with a cadence that captivates the class and takes them on a journey of the body and mind. I vividly remember the intrusive self-doubting thoughts after teaching my first few classes. Hearing my voice was…uncomfortable. Was it too fast? Did I hold the poses long enough? Too long? I needed practice, lots of it.

I started by teaching free yoga flows with a group of moms in my neighborhood. We were all working from home and would meet on our lunch break at our community center for a quick flow. This group of ladies became a focus group of sorts, where I could practice without fear of harsh criticism, yet a promise of honesty and kindness. These ladies become my greatest supporters and also my closest friends. These Friday flows taught me that yoga is not in the least about me, the instructor. I learned that showing up to lead a class is about honoring the space for those sharing their time with me and respecting what they hope or need to get out from the class.

But soon enough, I learned that imposter syndrome plagues anyone and everyone – no matter how seasoned or experienced you are. What matters is your mindset. I started a meditation practice in which I visualized my best self – all the bits and pieces of her. How she talked, how she held herself, how she made others feel, how she handled challenges and how she fearlessly took on new opportunities. With each meditation, I added new details and elements. The vision of my best self was so tangible and real. When it came time for me to show up – whether it be leading a yoga class or juggling the challenges of mom life – I did it by stepping into this beautiful manifestation of my best self. I believe this meditation practice helps us to keep our sights on who we want to be day in and day out. No matter the challenges at hand, we can always rise to the occasion and step into the person we strive to be.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a mom of two wild souls, wife of third grade crush, yogi, gardener and lover of life and all things in it. I became a mom in the pandemic…and struggled. Later to realize I suffered from postpartum depression but didn’t know it at the time. I was head over heels in love with my baby girl, but terrified, anxiety ridden and incredibly lonely. Not anything what I imagined motherhood to be life. When I became pregnant 15 months later (still in the unknown and unraveling grips of Covid), my mental health deteriorated quickly and I found myself unable to manage the surge of pregnancy hormones with life’s stresses. I quickly was able to get the support I needed – which was truly a blessing as many suffered from mental health challenges during the pandemic and mental health support was at an all-time high. I am forever grateful for the love and support my husband, family and friends shared with me during this time.

Two weeks out from having my second baby, I signed up for an online yoga teacher training. I promised myself that the birth of my second would be different, and I would not go back to the fear and loneliness I experienced in the months following the birth of our first. Through the night wakings and 24/7 breastfeeding, I worked through the course – something that fueled me with a healthy challenge and inspiration to come out of this a better mom, partner and person. Becoming a yoga teacher helped me to take control of my ‘season of life’ and empowered me with a sense of control, calmness and inner peace. Qualities that I now see reflected in my girls. Today, being 4 and 2, they love to show off their yoga poses and will even guide me in an adorably inspirational flow and meditation.

In the midst of all of this, we moved to 45 acres – with the hope to instill a love of nature with our kids and help them develop a genuine connection with their “wild” side. But I also wanted to share this personal passion with our community, so we created an outdoor yoga sanctuary under a large oak tree. Each week I lead a wilderness yoga flow where yogis and nature lovers can immerse themselves in nature and truly disconnect to connect. To feel the fresh clean air, hear the leaves rustle in the breeze, and feel the sunlight dance on your face – there is no better way to center yourself.

Giving others the gift of nature also comes to life in my pursuit of gardening. I believe everyone should have the understanding and knowledge to grow their own healthy, pure food in their backyards – or simply on their windowsill. My hope is to sustainably grow food for my family, while fostering an appreciation through educating my girls along the way. In doing so, I’m an open book for anyone else who would like to join me on this journey back to nutritious and locally grown foods.

At the core, my story is about nature – and finding a way back to it despite our ever-evolving and fast-moving world.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

My journey as a mother and yogi are deeply entwined. I’ve learned that a slow, intentional life trumps a completed to do list any day of the week. I’ve learned that kindness trumps being right – with “connection over correction” as my daily mama mantra. As I look back on my journey, the three qualities that led me to who I am today are:

1. Acceptance – Leading with an open heart helped me to create a safe and welcoming space for others to come to a yoga class and fulfill their own personal intentions. But further, living life with kindness and genuineness has led me to some of my deepest relationships with family, friends and myself.

2. Gratitude – The attitude of gratitude is the fastest way to turn a bad day into a good one. We all have so much to be thankful for and shining a light on the wonderful aspects of our lives make those areas brighten and grow more so.

3. Growth Mindset – I believe in an unquenchable thirst for learning as a way to continue our own personal journeys of growth and transformation. This growth mindset gives us the grace and understanding that we are all works in progress. Perfection isn’t what we strive for, instead we should seek areas of our lives that we want to develop – ultimately manifesting the life of our dreams.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

Without a doubt, my husband. Despite being the busiest person I know, he will stop at nothing to move mountains for the girls and I. When I became a yoga instructor, he made my dreams of an outdoor yoga studio come true, building it with his own two hands. My dreams of raising our family on a homestead, with a big garden to grow our own food and the space for our girls to grow up with the love, respect and appreciation for nature – all of that wouldn’t have been possible without him. In my moments of self-doubt, he never fails to uplift and remind me that there is nothing one cannot do without perseverance and a little creative thinking. I’m forever grateful to have him as my inspiration and my partner.

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