Julie granger
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
Julie: I love what I do and I am always looking forward to seeing my client in class. There is also the thought of moving my body. So, movement and people, which create the work I am passionate about. I feel lucky because I am always enthusiastic in the morning. When I got back from NYC last year, something clicked, and I started valuing my sleep much more, so now I wake up between 7-7:30 AM. It wasn’t like that before, and I wished I had valued it more when I was younger: it contributed to my injury, but you learn with age! Sleep helps me regenerate, stay creative, and stay motivated.
Ines: Yes, I think it is a very important aspect of taking care of yourself, and sometimes, it gets thrown out the window because we want to stay productive and do so many things. On IG, you shared about changing your pace of living and realising what is important. It was really relatable; I loved that.
Julie: Yes, I thought I wanted to move back to NYC last year and get back to the grind. After some time, despite finding what I craved, I realised it was no longer time for this. There was a time in my life that was all about teaching all these classes every day, being super dynamic and never sleeping. Now I live in Lisbon, I enjoy the sun, and life is a bit more quiet. You grow older, I guess (laughs)! Now, I prioritise sleep, and I enjoy being more in receiving energy, rather than in push mode.
Can you give me two things you’ve kept from your career as a former ballerina?
Julie: Good question! I’ve kept many things, but discipline is what comes to mind first. I have a business, so my schedule no longer allows for as long a practice as before, but I’ve kept my discipline. Also, attention to detail is important when it comes to conceiving a workout. It is what makes a difference in my workouts: they are choreographed in a specific and detailed way, just like ballet.
can you share 3 wellness habits you aim for each week to implement into your life?
Julie: I just started doing breathing exercises twice a day, and because I am disciplined, I know I will keep going.
I also do affirmations.
Lastly, stretching is something I think we should all do. It makes a difference in everything you do in your life and how you feel. If you are achy and stretched, the next day, you can have a new body; it is unbelievable.
Ines: I totally agree. Stretching in the morning as soon as you get up allows you to get into your body and return to your centre.
Julie: Exactly. For me, you have to move in the morning. I have a “good morning” routine for that. It gives you this moment when you’re not thinking about work or your problems; you think about yourself, and you have a conversation with your body. When you are injured or burned about, it’s your mind being detached from your body because you didn’t listen. That is why tuning into your body allows you to notice how you feel.
What is your favourite way of taking care of yourself?
Julie: Definitely massages. I love them, and I need strong ones.
I enjoy taking time for little beauty things and doing something for myself that is not movement. I love the usual girl stuff, like taking a nice bath, wearing a face mask, or painting my nails.
Because you travel a lot, can you share your jet lag hacks?
When you go West, the problem is you will wake up very early. If I am going to NYC from France, I try to take a 4 PM flight, so when I arrive, I have to stay awake (NYC will give me the energy anyway) and go to sleep around 10 PM. Hopefully, I can have a good night’s sleep.
When I go East, I take the last flight out (midnight) and I don’t bother turning on the TV or eating on the plane; I do that before. As soon as I sit down, I put on a hoodie and a sleeping mask, and I try to fall asleep even before we take off.
Any tips to stay consistent with your workouts when you travel?
That is the magic of these on-demand platforms! Keep going with your routines and keep using the same methods you consistently use. 10-20mn online workouts are great for that. Now is not really the time to change your workout because you might not like the new one or you might have a hard time adjusting.
If you go to a city with great workouts (NYC or London, for example), check it out! It’s nice to take a class in another country. I usually make a list that I keep on Mapstr.
You talk a lot about consistency and how 10 minutes of movement are better than no minutes. Can you elaborate more?
Julie: The benefits of working out are not for physical purposes; we should work out for the well-being it makes us feel. It’s not really about aesthetics but feeling strong or toned. Endorphins get released, and you also feel proud of yourself after your workout, especially when things get busy and life gets in the way. We need to start creating good habits that may start something in our brain and in our body as soon as we exercise. That is why, even if it’s just 5 minutes, a switch gets turned on, and we start the conversation with our body. The combination of 5 minutes every day throughout your life has an impact. If you only do it once, you will not feel the benefits, just like meditation or breathing exercises. So, it is all about creating habits.
Ines: I love the mindset of “it is how it feels rather than how it looks”, but when you’re in the business of owning a fitness studio and people want results, how do you navigate that?
Julie: That is a big question I have these days. I know my concepts work, and I strongly believe in them, but I refuse to sell results or do before/ after on Instagram. I don’t find it elegant, and it is against my values. I use certain terms like “beach body”, but I don’t want to push that too much. People who want quick results might never come back because they are not looking for any long-term benefits.
I created something that is efficient, and I wanted people to look forward to doing it, and enjoy working out. With barre, you get a nice posture, grace and coordination, and these qualities are harder to sell than “get a six-pack in one week”. But my approach is much more realistic and long-term. At the end of the day, you do find the clients who know that; they have gone around, tried different things and know there is no magic pill or miracle solution. My clients are super disciplined, and they take their wellness more seriously. I appeal more to those people.
Ines: To come back on the quick fixes, it is super hard to get fast results, and if you do, it won’t be sustainable.
Julie: I love doing challenges (such as Booty Challenge or Tank Top challenge), but if you don’t sustain after that period, the results will eventually go away. It’s a nice way to get motivated, but it is also short-term, while I am trying to sell habits and long-term.
I: I have done a few of your challenges, and usually, I do longer workouts later in the day. But starting my day off with a short burst of movement set me up for a good day!
Thank you Julie!
To connect with Julie: Instagram, free 7-day trial & online studio - use my link https://thestudioparis.com/?referral_code=DBHekaJBHJgHF
To connect with Ines: Instagram
