Julia Jonson

Yoga Educator, Owner, E-RYT 500®, YACEP®, Creative Director

Julia Jonson is a yoga educator who teaches yoga as a full-spectrum lifestyle practice, integrating alignment-based asana, conscious breathing, yoga philosophy, and nervous system education to help students calm the mind, center the heart, and live with greater awareness. Her approach makes yoga’s traditional teachings practical and relevant, offering students tools they can carry into everyday life.

A dedicated yoga student since 1991, Julia apprenticed with Gabriel Halpern for seven years at the Yoga Circle in Chicago and served as his assistant teacher for two years. She continues to study with Prasad Rangnekar and has also learned a great deal from the Venerable Bhante Sujatha. With more than 1,500 hours of formal training and 20 years of teaching experience, Julia co-owns TBY Yoga, leads a highly regarded Yoga Teacher Training program, mentors teachers, and leads international yoga retreats in Spain, Italy, and India. When it comes to asana, she specializes in therapeutic and functional movement. She incorporates philosophy and pranayama into her teaching.

Julia first practiced yoga in college while seeking relief from physical pain and emotional stress. What began as a personal practice became a profound exploration of the relationship between body and mind—and ultimately a lifelong commitment to sharing yoga’s transformative techniques and philosophy with others.

Her work and community contributions have also been recognized beyond the studio. Julia served as a lululemon Ambassador at the Lake Forest Market Square store from 2024–2026 and was a recipient of the Community Initiative Fund, supporting efforts to raise awareness and funds for the Northern Illinois Food Bank. She was also named one of 21 Creative Yoga Teachers Redefining Traditional Wisdom by India-based yoga school hellomyyoga.

Before dedicating her career to yoga, Julia spent more than a decade as a television newscast producer in South Bend, Orlando, and Chicago, including at WGN-TV. She now brings her background in communication and storytelling into her teaching. She is also the author of Just Me & The Trees: A Children’s Guide to Meditation, created to make meditation and yoga approachable for children and families.

Julia is the proud mom of two young adults and two rescue dogs. Outside of teaching, she enjoys nature, creative plant-based cooking, ballroom dancing, barre, travel, reading yoga philosophy, and studying a second language. Her life continues to be shaped by the same curiosity and commitment to learning that first drew her to yoga more than three decades ago.