On Movement, Motherhood, and Milestones: A 2025 Reflection

For the past decade, I have used the "Rose, Thorn, Bud" format to reflect on my life, both professionally and personally. For those who read my recent newsletter and wanted a deeper look at what I’ve been up to, I’m sharing my 2025 reflections below.

A little context: I am currently the primary caregiver for my 19-month-old daughter, Talula. My professional life is "squeezed" into two full days a week, while the rest of my time is spent at singalongs, playgrounds, and playgroups. It is a busy, heart-filling season.

Rose(s):

  • 1:1 Movement Clients: I feel so grateful to have maintained meaningful relationships with my longtime movement clients. It is a true honor to watch them grow physically and emotionally and to be a small part of their process.

  • Wilder Retreat: I had the joy of teaching at Lauren Fleshman’s Wilder Retreats in Bend, Oregon, this past May and October. I’ve taught at Wilder for a decade, and it was bittersweet to share yoga and functional strength with these runner-writers one last time as Lauren has decided to step away from leading Wilder retreats in Oregon. The header picture above is a snapshot from teaching at the Wilder retreat this past May. :)

  • LMHC License: In August 2025, I officially became a Licensed Mental Health Counselor! After thousands of supervised hours and two national board exams, I am now an independently licensed therapist—a goal I’ve been working toward since 2019.

  • Continuing Education: I completed Katie St. Clair’s Empowered Performance 3-month long course, expanding my knowledge of biomechanics and biotensegrity. Integrating these elements into my 1:1 teaching has been a refreshing evolution for my practice.

Thorn(s):

  • Psychotherapy: I stepped away from my role at a group psychotherapy practice to better balance my family’s needs and my movement teaching practice. While it was the right choice, leaving that clinical environment was a difficult transition to say goodbye to a clinical community I loved.

  • Internal tug o war: I imagine most parents feel their own version of a pull between wanting to be with their kids and pursuing meaningful work. I have dreams of building a private psychotherapy practice, teaching in person weekly classes, and returning to podcasting, but with limited childcare, there simply aren't enough hours for everything right now. Accepting those limits is a practice in itself.

Bud(s):

  • New Movement Clients: I am excited to have limited openings for my 1:1 movement practice. Please feel free to read here to learn about my movement teaching and if it might be a fit for you.

  • In-Person Workshops: I’ll be teaching several in-person workshops in the Boston area during Spring/Summer 2026. Keep an eye on my website and the next newsletter for dates!

  • Clinical Contemplation: I am exploring the future of my psychotherapy work. I’m deeply passionate about Internal Family Systems (IFS), Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, and Somatic therapies, and I look forward to pursuing advanced training in these areas before launching my private psychotherapy practice.

  • Community: Committing to a seasonal newsletter feels like a healthy, sustainable way to reconnect. I’m also excited to launch the "Community Corner" on my website to share resources and referrals that support your journey.

What has been your rose, thorn, and bud of 2025? Whether it’s personal, professional, or both, I’d love to hear from you.
Feel free to email me directly to share.

Happy New Year (only one month late!)

Julia