Julie Van Wyk

Julie Van Wyk
Foundations + Advanced Program Graduate
C-IAYT Yoga Therapist, Retired School Psychologist
Location: Maple Grove, MN
Website: www.joydogyoga.com

Since I began the program in June of 2021, I have learned so much about the ways in which yogic practices can be used to help individuals feel better and live better. It has helped me personally to very significantly reduce my suffering from chronic pain, and this has instilled a passion in me to help others do the same. I also now teach a Therapeutic Yoga class at Life Time and, even though it isn’t one of their “signature formats”, it has been very well-received by members, and I could not have done this without what I have learned from the BDYT program.

The Advanced Program has helped me learn the tools to help individual clients with a variety of conditions, including neurological impairment, autoimmune conditions, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, frozen shoulder, PTSD, anxiety, various muscle and doshic imbalances, and more. Whereas I know I will continue to learn how to better help individual clients with various conditions and goals, I am confident in my abilities and knowledge to work as a certified yoga therapist and help empower many more individuals to reduce their own suffering.

When I applied and enrolled in the Breathing Deeply Yoga Therapy Program, I was suffering from chronic pain and migraines, stemming from severe cervical stenosis. I also had frequent pain from herniated discs in my lumbar spine and pain from an old gluteal injury. I did not know why I felt better when I did some yoga classes, whereas other yoga classes exacerbated my pain. I went to a Therapeutic Yoga class at a local Life Time Fitness and always felt better/less pain afterwards. After taking this class for several months, I spoke with the instructor, a yoga therapist, who encouraged me to look into yoga therapy programs. I researched several programs, reached out to BDYT, and one other program. Anna responded to me promptly, and when we spoke on the phone, everything just clicked. I had no doubt this was the program I should be in and the path I should be on. I’ve loved every single bit of it, and I’m so thankful for this program and school!

I have come to intimately understand the power of balancing all of the koshas, and know that this is a lifelong journey. Being able to share this understanding and passion with others is something for which I will always be grateful. Physically, the advanced unit on back and hip pathologies helped me learn what was contraindicated for my severe stenosis and herniated discs. This was a game-changer for me, and I have been able to go off or significantly reduce medications I was on for migraines and chronic pain. Breathing practices have also helped me, not only physically, but emotionally, as well. Learning more about yogic philosophy and how, for example, concepts in the yoga sutras, as well as the Yamas and Niyamas, have been instrumental in heightening my appreciation for all that this life has to offer, to continue with meditation and other daily practices to help me better approach things with a sense of equanimity.

I no longer teach yoga that is simply geared towards “fitness”, without threading in some yoga therapy concepts, and I try to share some nugget I’ve learned that may possibly help my students deepen their practice in some way. I have worked with clients who knew nothing about yoga and some who knew quite a bit. Clients who have worked with me for at least 4 sessions have been amazed by progress towards their goals and have said things like “Why hasn’t anyone ever told me (or showed me) this before?”, and “My only regret is not doing this sooner”. Clients whose knee/shoulder/back/or hip pain went away, clients who were very vata imbalanced at the beginning and doubted themselves in just about every area of life, who then became more balanced, confident in themselves and their decisions, and were able to experience much more joy and much less fear. A stroke victim who had significant sensory impairment on one side of their body, which affected their balance and their daily life activities, after working 1:1 for several months, increased their body awareness, their balance/stamina, and their confidence to have a safer, more active lifestyle. I am so honored to be able to do the work I do!

As much as I love helping others, the most valuable part of the program, for me, has been the empowerment I have felt in improving my own health and wellness. My chronic pain is greatly reduced (and when I have more pain, I typically realize it is from a lapse in my regular practice), and depression/anxiety is very significantly decreased. The quality of my life has improved, and this allows me to be more present and available to help others.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this training, other than to better understand why I felt less pain after going regularly to a therapeutic yoga class. I am a retired school psychologist and have always been interested in health and wellness. I feel that the BDYT program has been a wonderful amalgamation and building upon of my passion and skill sets. I was a bit worried about the cost, but it was helpful to spread the cost out over the 4 years, and it has been worth every penny!

My advice if you’re considering joining: If you are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of time, effort, and money involved, for example, just start with the Foundations program and go from there. You will not regret it. What can be more fulfilling than learning more about how to improve your own mental and physical health and, if one chooses to, helping other individuals improve their mental and/or physical health. Reducing suffering, that of your own, as well as others, if it is a passion….this is the program.

I am currently working as a yoga therapist seeing clients 1:1 with members at my local Life Time Fitness, as well as work 1:1 with individuals in my home. I also teach Therapeutic Yoga, which is very fulfilling and helps me spread more awareness of what yoga therapy is (and what it is not).

Finally, to Brandt, I cannot thank you enough for teaching me and mentoring me through this program! I will continue to sing the praises of BDYT and hope to lead others to your program as well. I will still pop in for Zoom meetings from time to time. 🙂 Thank you again for everything!