Hidden Gems: Meet Julie Odysseos of Kalopsia Yoga and Wellness

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Odysseos.

Hi Julie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My journey on the path of yoga started about 20 years ago. I was a member at a local gym and I was regularly taking a Les Mills class called Body Balance (I think it’s called Body Flow now), which is a combo of yoga, pilates, and tai chi. I loved it! One day, the instructor told me there was a yoga studio that opened up close by and I’d probably like that, so I tried it out. I took all the classes and yin was the one that made me realize that yoga was going to be my path.

Long story short, both my parents passed away (my Dad in 1991 and my Mom in 2001), which was a tragedy for me. I saw different therapists and tried different forms of therapy and medication to cope with grief, but I didn’t feel any of it was helping. I turned to alternative healing practices such as acupuncture, kinesiology and the practice of yoga was the one that truly helped me on my healing journey. After learning how to practice the poses, meditate and use my breath, I realized how powerful yoga is and I wanted to share it with other people. Especially people suffering from depression.

My mother suffered from depression and bipolar disorder for as long as I could remember, and ultimately committed suicide. I know that if she had practiced yoga, she would still be here today to see the value and opportunity that Life has to offer. I realized the power of yoga in 2011. I was then an attorney in Brussels, Belgium. I decided to leave my job – and overall my life – to move to Arizona (where I have siblings), started yoga teacher training at Spirit of Yoga in Tempe and the rest is history!

I graduated in 2014 with my 200-hour certificate, taught for 6 years to gain experience in various studios and with many different clients, and in 2021, in the middle of the pandemic, I completed my 300-hour yoga teacher training and several other pieces of training such as Mindfulness Coaching, Meditation, and Pranayama. Now, with Kalopsia Yoga and Wellness, I offer group and individual sessions: yoga, meditation, breath work, and coaching.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest hurdle I would say has been to go from being an employee (in a comfort zone) to being an entrepreneur. It’s a lonely journey. You have to come up with a product or service, find your niche, stand your ground and believe in yourself constantly, and by that I mean “fight off” the nay-sayers and overall the negative energy people throw on you because they have their own self-limiting beliefs and project them on you.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My business specializes in offering yoga sessions in a group or individually. I offer Yin yoga, Hatha yoga, Flow, Restorative yoga, Yoga Nidra, and Meditation. Individually, I offer Wellness Coaching sessions and Breathwork. In my Wellness Coaching program, I sit with my client and we identify a goal, which usually helps to identify self-limiting beliefs that we carry with us from projections, misperceptions, and old stories.

I work with my client to overcome these self-limiting beliefs to achieve their goal and their deepest heartfelt desire. Whether in a group setting or individually, I always sit down with my clients to set a program that is tailored to them so they can have the best experience.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I enjoy listening to podcasts in the car: Kino McGregor, Jay Shetty, and Mel Robbins are my faves. I use Insight Timer, a meditation app, daily, for my practice. I love books so it’s hard to pick! Fascinating book has been Waking the Tiger by Peter Levine, Breath by James Nestor and The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van der Kolk.

Pricing:

• The first consultation is free
• $75 – 60-minute coaching
• $400 – Personalized Wellness Package (6 60-minute classes including yoga, breath, and meditation coaching)
• $120 – group yoga session for up to 6 people

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @kalopsiayogaandwellness
• Facebook: @Kalopsia Yoga and Wellness