Julie Hale has been interested in the mind/body connection from an early age. She studied the discipline of Tae Kwon Do karate in her youth, achieving the rank of fourth degree brown belt by age 17. She also was a fitness instructor and practiced meditation extensively, but it wasn't until 1990 that she discovered yoga, and personally experienced the wondrous mental and physical health benefits that are an automatic result of a regular yoga practice.

She began her immersion in yoga practicing with Steve Ross of Maha Yoga, and then studied with Gurmukh Kaur Kalsa of Golden Bridge Yoga for several years, particularly focusing on prenatal yoga for the birth of her three children. Other powerful influences in Julie's style of yoga include the practices Micheline Berry of Exhale, and Govindas at Power Yoga. Her work with Mark Whitwell has enhanced and inspired her personal vision of the beauty and benefits of yoga. He not only showed her that yoga as a lifestyle practice is eminently attainable to all that seek it, but that the advantages of doing so can change ones life in dramatic ways virtually immediately.

Julie's spiritual influences include the teachings of Ram Dass, whom she travels to see on retreat in Maui annually.

In 2006 Julie completed her teacher training under the tutelage of Shiva Rea, and in 2008 received her Master's Degree in Psychology from Antioch University.

Julie's focus in her life's work has been the connection between the mind and the body, and how the two aspects can interplay together in order to achieve optimum functioning and harmony in life. As a result of her studies and life experiences, Julie developed Bhava Gati Yoga Therapy, a practice that has not only transformed her own life, but one that anyone of any age or ability can utilize to create more ease and balance in their own lives.

"Julie Hale represents the necessary accord between contemporary and ancient mental health tools. She combines her western mental health expertise with careful attention to Yoga understanding and personal practice. Julie is a sincere teacher with sincere teachings who offers real help to her friends and students looking for good health, intimacy and well being." — Mark Whitwell (www.heartofyoga.com)