Julie Bernier is an Ayurvedic Practitioner based in Los Angeles, CA. She promotes and facilitates her clients in creating a way of living that is inherent to our true human nature. A life well-lived in harmony with nature’s rhythms; those of the sun, the moon, and the seasons; and one that honors our own unique reflection of the nature around us.

Julie 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 individualized 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.

True Ayurveda is not a path of superfoods and supplements, but of realigning our relationship to our body and to the world around us. The best vitamins, after all, are our thoughts and acts of self-love. Julie helps her clients restore to their natural lifestyle: that which makes them feel balanced, connected, energetic, fulfilled, and spiritually uplifted. Through her Ayurvedic practice and yoga, she offers a holistic approach to healing and balanced health. Her approach is not solely a change in diet or a few medicinal herbs, her main aim is to work together with her clients in teaching them how and why to care for the body and mind.

Like us, she believes that the body is a gift. This physical incarnation of our bodies allows us each to uniquely enjoy this insanely beautiful and complicated world around us. Julie’s work allows us to better harness this blessing, given to fulfill our purpose, or dharma, and to ultimately evolve as spiritual beings.

Julie studied at the source in India. Her teachings are not based in fads; she roots her practice in knowledge that has been passed down and used for thousands of years, evolving with the ages yet rooted in timeless philosophy.

If you need a dose of GLOW in your life, definitely book a session with Julie. She offers tele-sessions through zoom during this time, and you will leave her feeling infinitely better.

True Ayurveda // www.trueayurveda.com

NAME:

Julie Bernier

NICKNAME: PROFESSION:

Ayurvedic Practitioner

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

Hawaii & Virginia

WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

LA

WHEN YOU’RE EATING HEALTHY, WHAT IS A TYPICAL…

BREAKFAST: A slice of Sarah Brittons Life-Changing Loaf of Bread with butter, or a slice of ancient grain bread from my local Topanga baker, Patty Winter, also with butter :)

LUNCH: A warm bowl of kitcharee - ayurvedic superfood! - made with basmati rice, mung beans, veggies, avocado and a big spoonful of ghee. After lunch I have takra, an ayurvedic lassi that helps with digestion and absorption.

DINNER: Brown rice pasta with creamy broccoli sauce and goat cheese.

SNACK: Fresh fruit - whatever looked good at the Calabasas Farmer’s market on my Saturday morning shop. Before bed, a mug of hot milk with nutmeg to help me sleep.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SPOTS/RESTAURANTS TO EAT HEALTHY?

Honestly, my kitchen. I feel best when I cook at home and homemade food tastes the best to me. My ayurveda friends are all great cooks, too, and whenever they invite me over for a meal the answer is an emphatic yes!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INDULGENCE?

I truly love pizza. And chocolate.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SPOTS/RESTAURANTS TO INDULGE?

Meals by Genet in LA’s Little Ethiopia, it is above and beyond.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR LAST MEAL ON EARTH?

Caccio e pepe.

WHAT IS THE BEST DISH YOU COOK/ YOUR FAVORITE RECIPE?

My kitcharee is delicious and I make it almost every day. I sauté turmeric, ginger, cumin, and curry leaves in ghee. Then I sauté rice and lentils, add some water, salt and coriander powder, and toss in whatever veggies I have in the fridge. It cooks like rice for 25 minutes and then becomes this velvety, savory, magical porridge. Especially with a big dallop of ghee on top, yum!

WHERE DO YOU GROCERY SHOP?

Mostly at Erewhon and the Calabasas farmers market with a bit of Little India in between.

TOP 3 ITEMS YOU ALWAYS HAVE IN YOUR KITCHEN?Homemade ghee, basmati rice, and lentils.WHAT IS YOUR FITNESS REGIMEN? (how often & what you do)

I do reformer pilates classes a few days a week, and on the other days I walk the hills in my neighborhood, hike, or do some home yoga. I move my body everyday, except during my period when I rest my body fully.

WHAT IS YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE? (products, facials, etc)

Cleanse, serum, and an oil morning and night. I love face masks and usually do a couple a week, either with a fresh aloe leaf that I cut open and rub on my face or with yogurt with chickpea flour, turmeric and a few special ayurvedic herbs. I also wear a super nerdy SPF protection hat when I’m hiking or at the beach because I love the sun but don’t love sunscreen.For my body I do self abhyanga/ayurvedic oil massage at least once a week. Then I sit in this funny pop up steamer I keep in my bathroom and steep in ayurvedic herbs, and shower off with mung bean paste. My shower is a bit of a mess but it’s worth it!

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MAKEUP/NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS?

ISUN Phyto-Infusion Serum, ISUN Ultra Restore Facial Oil, RMS Champagne Rose Luminizer, and RMS Lip2Cheek.

IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 PRODUCTS WOULD YOU TAKE WITH YOU?

Assuming I’ll be fried to a crisp after all the ocean swims I’ll be enjoying… aloe, pawpaw, and rosewater.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY/HEALTH/FITNESS/SPIRITUAL GURUS DO YOU SWEAR BY?

The ancient ayurvedic sages! Charaka, Sushruta, and Vagbhata.

TOP 3 FAVORITE SONGS?

Right now I’m listening mostly to mantras — Mahamrityunjaya Mantra from Sacred Sound Choir, Om Nama Shivaya from Singers of the Art of Living, and Raag Bhupali from Maya Deepak when I need some energy.

MOST-WATCHED MOVIE?

Eight Miles High - not to be confused with Eminem’s 8 Mile.

MOST LIFE-CHANGING BOOK?

Prakriti, by Dr. Robert Svoboda. It was my very first intro to ayurveda and when I read it I thought, this is TRUTH! It definitely changed my life.

FAVORITE SHOPS/BOUTIQUES?

Saks Off Fifth, I love the treasure hunt.

COOLEST PLACE YOU’VE EVER VISITED?

Camping in the White Desert of Egypt was above and beyond.

FAVORITE HOTELS?

A little spot called Green House Homestay in Kochi, India. It’s nothing fancy — actually it’s super basic — but it feels like my Indian home away from home and the owners feel like family.

WHAT IS THE BEST GIFT YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?

A very sentimental tomato plant.

MOST PROFOUND HEALING EXPERIENCE YOU’VE EVER HAD?

I can’t pinpoint it to one profound moment but many profound years of being held and healed by ayurveda no matter what was the problem was in my body or mind.

WHO ARE YOUR MOST TRUSTED HEALERS?

My dear teachers, Dr. Manjusha Vinjamury and Dr. Mali.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST LEARNING EXPERIENCE YOU’VE HAD TO FACE AND WHAT DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM IT?

My romantic partnerships have all been epic learning experiences. Each partner showed me a mirror that was not always pretty but helped me to grow and evolve.

DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY.

Ooo it makes me happy to think about — I wake up in the tropics to the sounds of birds and monkeys. I take a sunrise ocean dip, do my spiritual practices, eat some papaya and mango and have a nice latte, then swim, sun, repeat all day. Guacamole and quesadillas for lunch. Sun, swim. Have one of those epic post-beach-day showers where you feel so clean and reborn. Have some tacos for dinner, and another sunset swim. It is not my usual day, obviously, more like my once in a blue moon vacation in Mexico day, but for me, it’s perfection.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST VALUABLE GLOW TIP/SECRET?

Oil! I use it all over. I eat it, swish it, massage by body with it, put it in my nose, and use it as my daily moisturizer.

FAVORITE QUOTE?

“A queen never rushes”, something a dear friend once said to me that sticks in my mind every time I’m rushing, which is unfortunately quite often.

WHAT ARE YOU GRATEFUL FOR?

I’m currently feeling particularly grateful for my freedom — that I’m a woman who gets to drive a car and have a business and travel wherever I want, and I hope that one day it’s the same for all women. I’m grateful that I can turn on the faucet and out comes running water, anytime I need it. I’m so grateful for all of the beautiful food in my fridge. I’m grateful for my bed, wool socks, sweaters, access to education, my body and all that it does for me…I could go on and on but I’ll stop here. Humbly grateful for everything.