20 Questions with Julia Peach AKA @jewelpeachyoga

You've seen her gorgeous photography featured on our social media pages, and if you don't follow her already, you'll want to. Julia Peach is one of the most authentic souls we've had the privilege to work with and we wanted you to get to know a little more about the woman in front of the camera, and behind it.

1) Where are you originally from?

Washington D.C.-  born and raised!

2) Where do you currently live?

Orem, Utah - right next door to Provo, just down the highway from Salt Lake City. 2 hours from Moab, 2 hours from Idaho.

3) How did you get into photography?

I picked up a camera at 8 years old and have never put it down, documenting everything about my pre-teen and teenage years, from trips to the mall with girlfriends to travels to Mexico and Australia. That developed in my college and adult years into client work, photojournalism, conceptual and fashion photography, and story telling photography. My history is in film photography...being a darkroom and developing film is literally creating art with your hands. I shoot digital, too, and develop with VSCO film in Adobe Lightroom to keep a consistency between my film and digital work. All of my photography must tell a story or give you a quick glimpse into life at that very moment.

4) How long have you been practicing yoga and how has is affected your life?

I have been practicing yoga for 5 years, teaching for 4. It has affected my life by becoming my life....my way of thinking, breathing, relating to people, mothering, marriage, relationships to all people and animals and food; all are touched by the 8 limbs of yoga in some way. Yoga saved me from PTSD, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and a completely backwards way of thinking.

5) What inspires you?

Nature, first and foremost. Music, travel, history, photography, movement, hiking, animals....all a close second :)

6) Favorite food?

Vegetables and fruits. Not even kidding. Haters, unfollow me now. You might come back when you learn it's basically allll about avocados and onions!!!

7) What is a typical day like for you?

A typical day involves awakening with the sun (6 AM ...ish...), hot water with lemon/tea and ACV, morning pre and probiotics, reading a daily meditation/intention card and the Bible followed by journaling, some sort of self care in the skin and bathing department followed by caring for my animals, awakening my 8 year old and prepping him for his day at school, running him where he needs to be followed by lifting at the gym, editing photo-shoots or prepping for a shoot (either myself or another soul), errands/food prep/picking up my son, practicing yoga in the evenings as well as teaching my own workshops and classes, more caring for children and animals, eating somewhere in all of this, a bunch of inversion drills outside, attempting to watch the sun go down at the top of the mountain by house, snuggling with my husband and writing some more flows, dreams, and ideas down in my journal. I start counting sheep around 10 PM.

8) Any special projects you are working on or fantasize about?

I am a big traveler and am planning some more awesome travels in the coming year! I also have a big dream to have a sustainable farm and greenhouse and provide free organic food and free yoga to single moms, veterans, really anyone who needs it.

9) Favorite place to chill out?

Place me on a mountain top with a cool breeze and a view of the sun and moon, please. I have a reclining lawn chair and I'm not afraid to use it.

10) How would you describe your style?

Thrifty and relaxed. Weird. Eccentric. Lace though, cause I'm a lady, dammit.

11) If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Montana or Iceland.

12) What is your greatest dream?

To love without fear, to have a way to provide care and compassion for all living beings, to stop being anxious, to see as much of the world as I can before I sleep.  

13) Favorite show to binge watch?

THE OFFICE. Parks and Rec. That 70's Show.

14) One word you would use to describe yourself?

Adventurous!

15) Whats on your go-to playlist?

A lot of Grey Killer, Sleeping at Last, and Queen.

16) Favorite place you have traveled?

Iceland, Israel, Honduras!

17) Favorite way to de-stress?

Hot springs! In the wild!

18) Chasing your dreams and believing that you can do anything...what does it take?

A lot of peace and clarity about your goals, trust and patience in the seasons of waiting, and strength to persevere to the end.  

19) What is one thing you wish every woman would take to heart as far as body image?

Know your body is a vessel for your soul, your spirit, your personality, your very essence- take care of the vessel, but know that who you are will last even after your body is dust. Know that it's important to enter into a practice of speaking truth to yourself and combating the lies that we hear and see all over the media in the modeling/Hollywood/image industry. Know that your worth is not defined by a stomach roll or your thighs touching or not touching. Know that food isn't something you "get" to eat because you worked out and working out/moving your body isn't a punishment for what you eat. Love yourself and be compassionate with yourself and your view of your body will shift into peace and positive thinking.  

20) Happiness means...

complete peace in mind, body, and spirit. OM Shanti!

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Keep up with Julia Peach on her Instagram page @jewelpeachyoga!