Book cover titled "ground + grace" with a white silhouette of a person meditating in a lotus position, surrounded by a dotted semicircle, on a brown background. Subtitle: "Yoga with Julia Starkey."

Philosophy

Ground + Grace was born from personal healing. It’s a reflection of what I’ve learned, and what I now teach.

To ground is to come home to the body, to the breath — to anchor into the present moment and soothe the nervous system when life feels overwhelming.

To move with grace is to soften the edges, to meet ourselves (and each other) with compassion, even when things are messy.

These two words have become my foundation. They are the heart of every class I offer. I’m still Julia — yoga teacher, mum, lifelong student — here to hold space for breath, movement, and connection.

If you’ve practiced with me before, I hope this feels like a homecoming. And if we haven’t met yet, I can’t wait to welcome you.

Woman practicing yoga meditating on a wooden bench by a pond surrounded by green trees and plants.

What you can expect

For beginners, returners, and seasoned yogis alike, at Ground + Grace, you can enjoy:

Inclusive and supportive yoga
all bodies, all levels, all welcome

Creative, thoughtful sequences
from slow and grounding to dynamic and flowing

Trauma-informed approach
optionality, agency, and gentle guidance throughout

Breath + stillness
practices that soothe the nervous system and support mental clarity

Experience you can trust
teaching since 2011 across studios, community spaces, and retreats

Community and connection
classes are a space to belong, not just attend

A woman practicing yoga outdoors near a body of water with a city skyline in the background, sitting cross-legged on a black yoga mat during sunset.

Meet Julia Starkey

Hi, I'm Julia—a yoga teacher based in Brisbane, here to share the joy and grounding power of yoga with you. Whether you're new to the mat or returning to your practice, you’re warmly welcome.

My yoga journey began in 2003—or perhaps yoga found me. As a journalist, I was assigned to cover a story on Ashtanga yoga. From my very first class, something clicked. It felt like discovering a missing piece of myself. What began as a way to manage stress became a deeply rooted way of living.

In 2011, I completed my teacher training with My Health Yoga—a holistic, transformative experience that shaped how I teach and live. Since then, I’ve taught extensively across Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, offering gentle flow, hatha, vinyasa, power yoga, yin, and restorative styles. I’ve also had the joy of hosting yoga retreats in Northern NSW and the Sunshine Coast.

My teaching is shaped by over 20 years of practice, the depth of motherhood (I’m a mum of three, including twins!), and my commitment to lifelong learning. In 2014, I sat my first 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat—an experience that still shapes my inner world and teaching. More recently, I completed a 50-hour training in Yoga for Trauma, Anxiety, Depression and Body Image with Sarah Ball, which profoundly deepened how I hold space.

My classes are creative and grounding, strong yet nurturing—an invitation to move with awareness, breathe deeply, and come home to yourself. For me, yoga continues to be a source of strength, insight, and stillness. It’s a joy and a privilege to share this practice with others. I can’t wait to meet you on the mat.