![Julie Shannon Williams, Certified Yoga Therapist [C-IAYT] on Influential Women](https://cdn.bmapinc.com/uploads/client_data/20052791/photo-450w-450h.webp)
Her Story
About Julie Shannon
Julie Shannon Williams is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT) with over 1,000 hours of training who owns Santosha Yoga Therapy LLC, which she founded in 2014. She specializes in supporting clients with chronic pain, autoimmune illnesses, grief and loss, anxiety, and depression through pain neuroscience education, therapeutic movement, and mind-body practices, and she also works as an intuitive medium. Her background includes 16 years as an elementary educator with a BA in psychology earned in 1994 and a master's in education earned in 1998. Prior to focusing fully on her business, she served as a yoga therapist at TRIA Orthopedic Center and HealthPartners Neuroscience Center, helping clients regain mobility and manage chronic pain. She holds additional certifications including Restorative Renew with Judith Lassiter, Yin Yoga Levels 1 and 2, and Pain Care Aware lead trainer through her mentorship with Neil Pearson. Julie attributes her success to building relationships in healthcare and mental health fields and emphasizes authenticity, compassion, and tenacity in her work.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Julie Shannon
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to relationships. Most of my clients come through connections with friends in healthcare or mental health industries who have experienced my work. I do best when speaking to people in groups or through personal coffee visits, making connections that help them feel comfortable signing up for services.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice is to be present, get in front of people, and just be yourself even when things don't go as planned. Tenacity is key - staying with it despite challenges, especially without a business background, and balancing the hard times with the rewarding client sessions.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Refine your niche and find what resonates naturally with you rather than trying to fit into what's popular. Explore trainings but sit with what feels authentic, then amplify that instead of copying others, especially in a saturated field like yoga.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My key values include assertiveness, authenticity, caring, compassion, contribution, courage, creativity, fitness, freedom, fun and humor, respect, self-care, self-awareness, and spirituality. Lately I've been focusing on authenticity, self-respect, self-care, and compassion for self and others, which leads to freedom and courage, and I value having fun as good medicine.
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