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Meet Julie Campilio of Radiant Beginnings in Metro

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Campilio.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve struggled with anxiety since I can remember. I followed the directions and was quiet, a good kid. Noone knew panic attacks were abundant because I hid it so well.

When I was in High School, I tried yoga at my local gym. I played sports my entire life so I assumed I wouldn’t be ‘good’ at it due to my inflexibility. I was wrong. I realized quickly that the anxiety I felt was melting away in class. I kept practicing and noticing changes in my mind and body. I was overcoming self-doubt and panic attacks were slowly fading. I was getting stronger in ways I had never experienced or imagined. I was no longer a prisoner to a mental health condition. For the first time in my life, I felt free!

My yoga and mindfulness practice gave me a new perspective. I was able to place myself in uncomfortable situations without running away from discomfort. This practice was changing me and I knew it had the power to help youth, too. If I could teach them tools to be present and how to create healthy coping strategies, they would have positive tools for the rest of their lives!

I created an afterschool enrichment class in 2008 while I was a substitute teacher. Often times children were coming to class dysregulated then leaving focused and calm. Teachers would remark on the shift in their students’ behavior. Parents would also point out the visible improvement they noticed in their child. I saw this over and over again in my work with all ages and learning styles. I knew this practice was powerful for adults and it was proving the same with youth. After seeing such a positive impact, I knew I had to put my life’s purpose of working with youth and my deep passion for yoga together.

I was 26 with a vision and a strong mission to help youth develop mindful tools for stress and anxiety.

Over the past 11 years, I have taught thousands of classes to ages 3-18. I’ve worked extensively in Public Schools working predominantly with at-risk youth which has helped me create a trauma-informed curriculum. I’ve lead teacher training and professional development and on-boarded other teachers to share this work around Denver. I’ve had the honor of collaborating with social workers, occupational therapists, teachers, and researchers to create data-driven content that supports the social and emotional needs of ages 3-18.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I absolutely love the freedom that comes with owning a business, but man it can be hard since there is so much uncertainty. I need to be sure I am consistently practicing yoga and meditation to ensure my mental health is where it needs to be so I can be the best business owner I am capable of.

I am now learning the importance of slowing down and putting my self-care first. It’s so important to take time off to reboot and shift perspective. I’ve hit burn out a few times when I was working too hard/much. I get really excited and committed to this work, which is great but sometimes it comes at the price of my health. Lately, I’m trying to find the balance between effort and ease.

A very recent struggle is being a business owner and a first-time mom. My baby came a month early and caught me off guard, to say the least. I have learned the importance of asking for help in life and in business, something that doesn’t come easily to me. Not having a paid maternity leave and still needing/wanting to keep the momentum going has been a challenge. I am now sinking in and loving the new role of a ‘momprenuer’.

When I reflect on the challenges along the way, I notice that personal growth and business growth tend to go hand in hand. The struggles always help me create a stronger business with more clarity and integrity.

Please tell us about Radiant Beginnings.
Since 2010 Radiant Beginnings equips youth with evidence-based tools to manage stress and anxiety.

Our program focuses on deep breathing techniques, mindfulness, and guided imagery to calm the nervous system naturally. We give youth healthy coping strategies that they can carry with them throughout their lives.

We do this through enrichment programming in schools, teacher training (training adults how to teach youth yoga and mindfulness) and through an emotional health video curriculum.

I am really excited about our video curriculum. After meeting with a consultant five years ago, she asked what my highest priority was with Radiant Beginnings. I replied, “to help more people.” This inspired me to put 5 minutes of a lesson on video to see if it had the same effect as an hour-long class. After beta-testing it and collaborating with researchers, it was proven to help increase attention, self-regulation, empathy and decrease stress. It is not just helping students manage their stress, but also teachers and caregivers.

Each video includes 5-minutes of deep breathing, mindfulness and guided imagery to calm the nervous system. We are in schools and hospitals in Denver, CO, and Portland, ME. This program helps youth and adults practice calming the nervous system at the same time, together!

I am also about to publish a children’s book with two talented friends/colleagues. It’s called Micah the Snow Leopard: A quest for curiosity. It’s about a heroines journey to learn how to self-soothe. Stay tuned!

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I grew up on a culdesac with many kids around the same age. I spent so much of my childhood playing outside — We would explore the woods behind my house, have epic games of hide and seek- like the kind where you wear camouflage at night and have routes behind neighbors houses. We played Capture the Flag, built tree and blanket forts, and spent lots of time gathering after frequent trips to the ice-cream truck.

I have so many fond memories living on Kimberly Dr. it’s hard to choose just one! Overall, I would say my favorite memory from childhood was being free-spirited and learning so much through play, connection with others and exploration.

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
Kelly Shroads Photography

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