A Conversation with Julie Martin: On Embodiment, Authenticity, and Why Yoga Still Matters

After participating in one of her teacher trainings in Zurich and later attending a retreat at Casa Gatti in Ticino, I had the opportunity to sit down with Julie and ask her 10 questions about yoga, embodiment, and how we can all return to something more honest in our practice — and in ourselves.

About Julie Martin

Julie Martin is an internationally recognized yoga teacher, mentor, and movement educator known for her progressive, inquiry-based approach to yoga. With over 25 years of experience, she challenges the idea of “perfect poses” and instead encourages students to explore movement in a way that feels natural, honest, and empowering. Drawing from yoga, somatics, and functional movement, Julie invites practitioners to reconnect with their bodies — and themselves — through mindful, embodied exploration. She is the director of Brahmani Yoga and leads continuous education courses for yoga teachers and retreats around the world.

1. What is embodied yoga?

It’s a way of practicing that puts less focus on how a pose looks and more on how it feels. It invites you to tune into your body — to notice sensations, emotions, even resistance — and let that guide your practice. Instead of trying to fit into a shape, you explore what it means to truly be in your body, as you are, right now.

2. What does it mean to move in an embodied way?

To me, it means honoring the intelligence of your body rather than overriding it with rules or expectations. There’s no one right way to move — it’s about listening to what your body is telling you in the moment. It’s a shift from performing yoga to experiencing it.

3. How do embodied yoga and functional movement work together?

They complement each other really well. Functional movement helps us move in ways that support our everyday lives — especially as we deal with things like long hours at a desk or repetitive stress. Embodied yoga brings awareness into that movement. So we’re not just moving efficiently; we’re moving consciously. That’s where the transformation happens.

4. What has shaped your approach to yoga?

I grew up in a Vedantic environment, but my path has included many styles — Iyengar, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, somatics, functional movement. Over time, I began to integrate all of that with a more experiential, body-based understanding. What I teach now is always evolving — it’s rooted in tradition, but not bound by it.

5. How do we keep yoga meaningful in a world full of trends and distractions?

By coming back to its essence. Yoga isn’t about flexibility or aesthetics — it’s about presence, compassion, and deep self-inquiry. If we hold onto those roots, we can evolve the form without losing the soul. But we need to keep asking: Why are we doing this?

6. Can yoga be a form of resistance?

Absolutely — but not in the loud, aggressive way we often think of resistance. Yoga invites us to live differently: more consciously, more compassionately, more in tune with ourselves and others. That quiet shift in how we relate to the world is powerful. It’s activism from the inside out.

7. How do we reconnect with the body in such a hyper-distracted world?

It starts with slowing down and noticing. Our bodies are always sending us signals — but we’re often too busy or disconnected to hear them. Embodied movement brings us back to the present, to sensation. That’s where reconnection begins. And from there, so much can heal.

8. What do you hope people take away from your classes?

That they don’t have to perform or be perfect. That it’s okay to feel, to be messy, to not know. I want people to feel more at home in their bodies — maybe for the first time. If someone leaves class feeling more grounded, more whole, more human — that’s everything.
I think my favorite comment at the end of class is: "Wow, you finally, I feel like you gave me permission to just be myself". And that is, I think, the most impactful thing I can do for anybody.

9. What would you say to someone thinking about becoming a yoga teacher?

Ask yourself why. Teaching is different from practicing — it’s a commitment to holding space, learning continuously, and showing up authentically. Don’t rush. Let your teaching grow from your own experience and integrity, not just from certifications or trends.

10. As a mentor, what's the message you would like to convey to teachers?

Keep investigating your own authenticity. Be real. Don’t try to fit into a mold of what you think a teacher should look or sound like. Your truth, your presence — that’s what resonates. When you teach from that place, people feel it. That’s where the magic happens.

For more information about her work and teaching: