Our Story

We are Julie and Shawn, and we would like to take a moment to introduce ourselves and share a little about how we got here.

We met in graduate school at Eastern Michigan University. What began as a partnership on group assignments soon grew into mutual support through the many challenges of graduate school. Along the way, we even traveled together through Ireland—an experience that deepened what had already become a meaningful and lasting friendship.

As our careers unfolded, we continued to support one another along our professional paths. Both of us felt drawn to work with individuals who have experienced trauma, and many of our conversations naturally centered on understanding the impact of trauma and the ways people heal, adapt, and reconnect. Over the years, this shared commitment to compassionate, trauma-informed work strengthened not only our professional perspectives, but also our enduring friendship.

Our paths continued to unfold in meaningful ways. For Shawn, the turning point came during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

During that time, when the world felt overwhelming, I witnessed the deep burnout affecting teachers, nurses, therapists, caregivers, and advocates in our communities. As a therapist, I understood the profound impact of trauma, burnout, and secondary trauma, I kept returning to one simple question: How can I help?

That question became the starting point for Gentle Spirit Yoga. I began offering yoga to teachers in schools, providing yoga therapy in crisis centers, and leading sessions wherever someone reached out—even in unexpected places like hair salons.

When Evolve Behavioral Health generously offered space for one-on-one sessions, Gentle Spirit Yoga began to take root and grow.

Six years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are opening the door to a new chapter. Julie brings her experience in somatic work, nervous system healing, and training in vibrational sound bowls. She has joined Shawn as a contributor to Gentle Spirit Connection, helping expand into a larger space to better serve our community.

As Gentle Spirit Yoga grows into Gentle Spirit Connection, we are able to offer more opportunities for healing and support. Together, we now provide Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga, nervous system regulation practices, vibrational sound bowl experiences, small group classes, workshops, and individual sessions designed to support stress reduction, resilience, and overall wellbeing.

Our hope is to create a welcoming space where people can slow down, reconnect with themselves, and experience practices that support healing in a gentle and accessible way.

We look forward to sharing this space with the community and welcoming all who are seeking a place to slow down, reconnect, and care for themselves.