One thing I know for sure is that most people do not know what they do not know. This was something I learned at a group therapy that was for personal development. I was trying to figure out how to manage a family and business, and I learned something fascinating about myself. As a child, I strived to be perfect in everything I did, whether is was performance art, Yoga, or hospitality management, which is my Bachelors Degree from Florida International University. I walked away from that experience realizing that I was not perfect, there is no such thing as perfect, and all we can do is try our best. Honestly and with integrity, really moving forward in the world with truth and being open to keep learning and growing.

Social media is a place where truth is skewed with filters, misinformation and tantalizing calls to action. I am shocked by the misuse of words and narrative. I try to have a dialogue and understand where people are getting their information, so I can do my research. My goal with this blog is to make you aware that what you are reading and watching is probably opinion, perspective or at worst parroting. Please do your research and keep talking to everyone, not yelling, not hurting, not ripping down kidnapped posters of hostages. I was walking with my kids at sundown last night after Shabbat, and a man walked right in front of us to a pole and ripped off a poster of a child. I screamed but he did not hear me. My daughter told me to be quiet, and I realized that I had to be careful not to hurt myself or my children. I had my phone with me, so I took a picture, I was quite close, he did not see me at all, and I sent it to the police. It was like he was in a different dimension of hate and destruction. It is so crazy to me how people just jump in to fight, without knowing and understanding what they are fighting for, or who they are hurting.

I would like to give some definitions of words that you may hear, so you will understand when they are used incorrectly:

GENOCIDE: The deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group:

APARTHEID: (in South Africa) a policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race.

In Israel everybody has equal rights. The term apartheid is used incorrectly, because it has nothing to do with the segregation that existed in South Africa. This narrative is dangerous, because it gives people terms that they feel will help, but instead they harm and misinform.

COLONIZER: a country that sends settlers to a place and establishes political control over it:"Portugal was a major colonizer in both Brazil and parts of Africa"

Did you know that after World War I, many countries were formed after Great Britain, France and others decided to get out of the region, including Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Why is Israel the only one that was attacked by surrounding countries in 1948, and they miraculously won. For some reason the narrative wants to put Israel in the same category of actual colonial powers. Please go further back in history, and hopefully you will understand the the leaders of the Palestinian people have never agreed to all the attempts at peace.

These are voices to follow that speak truth, please spread the word so we all can have dialogue. Maybe if we work together, we can bring peace to the world. I believe this can happen.

@gedalefenster @noordahri @bassemeid @hillelfuld @lizzysavetsky @noatishby @montanatucker @henmazzig

Coach Yulia

American English Idiom “Out of this world”

1. “Out of this world” is a rather out-of-date idiom meaning “very good” or “unusual” (in a positive sense). Like, “Wow, this pizza is out of this world!” meaning it is very good, not emphasizing any word in the phrase over the others. There can be some stress in the idiom, usually equally on “out” and “world.” To stress the entire idiom, drawl “world.” E.g., “Oh, man, that pizza was out of this woooooorld!”

2. The literal meaning, which is rarely used, is that the thing is supernatural. (“This world” is the mundane, physical plane.) The idiomatic meaning is that it is unusual in a good way.

Welcome to my brain of words, and how I love to deeply understand all the ways to use a word or phrase. Two days ago I was supporting a beautiful family as a Doula for 24 hours. It is so amazing how the baby and body know exactly what to do, and with a mother centered support team, everything flows at the right time. My description of the mom when someone asked how she was doing, I said that she is “out of this world.” If you look at the definitions above, this would fit into definition number two. She was a sight to behold, so peaceful yet fierce. So focused, yet in another dimension. Feeling supported by her group of midwives, doula, doctor, nurses, and her one of a kind partner, the best dad.

The war against evil that is happening as we speak has taken a toll on everyone. Maybe not everyone, it is shocking how many are staying silent. Maybe they are not connected to the news, or the countries and people that are directly affected. For Jews all over the world, we are one big family, and we are hurting. We all have our own way to combat. I use my words and my voice to clarify truth, to give perspective as well as balance and inner calm.

Whether a Jewish person is religious or non observant, by our DNA we are a people and a culture. At the core of our identity is the Torah, which is called the old testament, and also a calling to heal the world and bring light. The Torah has many stories, and for children they learn it like a book or a movie, all about the different characters. Every year, we understand it deeper, there are so many lessons, and once we finish all five books, we start all over again after Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. There are also the holidays of Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah which directly celebrate connecting with our soul and growing in our sense of self, our purpose and being Godly in this world.

The shock of what happened on October 7 which in Israel was Shabbat and Simchat Torah, for me personally is Holocaust level. Many Jews are feeling that we now understand how the Holocaust happened, because there is revealed hate in the streets, and so many do not see it clearly and even support it. What keeps me grounded is that the deep learning in the Torah talks about pure evil, and how truth will always prevail. Jewish people have to exist “out of this world,” because it is just getting crazier. From teaching kids gender and sex in elementary school to calling for gassing the Jews, freedom of speech. The worst part is that we are asked to prove how horrific the atrocities were, and defend ourselves for defending ourselves. There is only one side, Jewish voices are strong on social media, and Israel exists.

If anybody wants to talk about the conflict, what is happening, or how you can help, please reach out to me directly. The time is now to stand with truth and against hate.

The first definition of “out of this world” is exactly the great escape that I needed. Last night, after my 24 hour birth, I had a full day of work, and then had to take care of me. I love GNR, I grew up with them in high school, and their music is nostalgia. I went to the Hollywood Bowl with a new friend that used to be a manager for some big bands of that era, and we had the best time. We even got to sneak up front because our friends brought us in with them right in front of the stage!

How do you take care of you? I was off all social media yesterday. I needed to take a break and recharge. Now I am ready to fight, stand loud and proud.

Stand with Israel and the Jewish people,

There is only one side,

Coach Yulia

This is one of my favorite Yuliaisms, “Technology is good when it works.” When a call drops, or the screen freezes, especially when we’re making a purchase, it is so frustrating. We want it all and we want it now! I will give you a few examples of when it’s magic.

I am a Labor and Birth Doula, and each experience is unique and beautiful in its own way. First of all I love my apple watch because I have the Jewish Calendar on it too, and the picture above shows my Hebrew birthday, which starts tonight through Thursday night. I was called to a birth literally last minute, because her husband got sick, and when she asked if I was available, and I asked when are you due, she said her labor had already begun. I listened to her breathing over the phone, and it still seemed early. Since it was her seventh baby, I knew to trust my gut and keep in touch because you never know when the body will suddenly start active labor. She was week overdue, and her labor kept starting and stopping, but she said this time it felt stronger and it was not stopping. I decided to drive over to be close, because I knew that once it got going, we would have to head to the hospital immediately. Thank God she was feeling good, so we ended up walking around her neighborhood for an hour, it was a beautiful evening. The contractions suddenly went from 10-7 minutes apart to three minutes apart, so we got in the car and luckily the hospital was not too far. Once we were in the room, nobody believed she was far along because she was so calm, but once it got intense, they were rushing to get everything together. She wanted to hear Nigunim, thanks to Youtube, I found these specific Jewish tunes that Chabad says stir the soul. While the songs were playing, her husband called my phone because hers was not working, and I answered on my apple watch! As she was giving birth, she was looking at the Rebbe’s picture on Youtube, listening the the melodies, and her husband was there for all of it thanks to technology.

Another good example of when technology works is when we learn something, and it is actually factual, showing every part. For those of you that want some solid history about Israel and what is happening, and why some people do not see that Hamas are terrorists and going to keep destroying the whole world if they are not stopped. I learned many new historical facts from the Ottoman Empire until the British Mandate of Palestine, and how Israel became a state after 2000 years of exile and diaspora. Please do not believe everything you see and read, research other sources, and actually talk to people about their experiences.

The best part of technology is we can share who we are, what we do, and how to get together!

TRUTH AND LIGHT ❤️

Happy Birthday to me!

Coach Yulia

My friends of all backgrounds, Jewish and not Jewish are asking me why. It is incomprehensible and unfathomable the atrocities that Hamas is saying and doing while filming with no remorse. Many of you are being thrust into the unknown. There is only one truth and there is only one side. I am going to share with you what brings me peace and knowledge that the horrors that the world has witnessed make clear that we are dealing with extremists that want to destroy the whole world. It does not stop at Israel and Jews.

I wanted to share with you the roots of the word Jew. Trust me, even I am still learning about history and facts about my own culture and people. I love learning about my history, and one article that I want to share has many Hebrew words, so if you want to understand it deeper, please reach out. We just had our Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashana that was followed by Yom Kippur, and we are focused on reviewing our year and trying to become the best version of ourselves. This article talks about how truth is the only way forward, with ourselves and as a society. In biblical times we learn about twelve tribes, and the tribe that we are named after is the tribe of Yehuda or Judah in English, that is why we are called Jews. If you want to read it on line, go to page 13 when you follow this link, https://e.issuu.com/embed.html?d=tlajh_rh23_layout&u=thelajewishhome.

One word that really bothers me when referring to Hamas, is calling them animals. They are worse than animals. Animals are kind, instinctual and not premeditating murder and genocide. Here is a beautiful article about a book with animals and their characteristics from a Torah perspective, https://jewishjournal.com/culture/arts/books/363237/teaching-kids-about-animals-from-a-torah-perspective/.

I had a conversation with my hairdresser who is not Jewish and calls me her Jewish google. She came to the conclusion that it is pure hate, definitely mental health issues, and that is the only way she could make sense of a call to extinguish Israel and the Jewish people.

TALK TO A JEW,

THERE IS ONLY ONE SIDE 🇮🇱

עם ישראל חי

Coach Yulia

We are all one of a kind. We all have a purpose. We all have a unique voice. We all must speak with our voice of truth. This is a deep concept, and it is our intuition, our divine connection. There is one truth, and human beings have so much power to spread light. I am happy to discuss with anybody that wants to learn and understand, please reach out, no fear, only truth, we are all in this together.

Yesterday, October 11, I turned 51 years old, and I am celebrating. I have gratitude for my life journey, all of the people in it, and all of the experiences that made me know deeper, my purpose in this world.

I love to be myself, find yourself, who are you? Speak for humanity, use your voice, we all comfort each other to battle inhumanity, evil and lies. We help each other stay strong physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

All I have is gratitude and feel peace with my community standing loud and proud against hate. My Hebrew birthday is Daled Cheshvan. This is the Scorpio month, and it is all about bringing your light to the darkness. All my life before I got married at 34 years old, I connected to the Libra energy. Yulia is the name my parents gave me when I was born in the Soviet Union, because they were not allowed to use my Jewish name, Yehudit. Yulia loves beauty, justice and balance, and that is what the outside world sees. I love bringing people together, having fun, being happy and enjoying life. I knew the deep passion, feeling alive and free, even when surrounded by darkness, plus unwavering loyalty was also part of my constitution. When I learned of my Hebrew birthday, it all made sense that deep inside is a person that is so connected, and yearns to be a source of understanding and connection to everyone and everything in my life. Please reach out to me if you have any questions about what is happening in Israel, the truth is clear, evil needs to be dealt with, there is only one side.

My gratitude is beyond bounds in the 51st year of my life, my brother was singing the birthday song to me adding that I was half a century, and I chimed in, plus one! Here are a few reasons why below, and to all of my family and friends, my Jewish bubble all over the world, and all my students and clients that bring me immense joy, energy exchange, and knowing I am being utilized as a vessel for self expression and truth.

Baruch Hashem!

Am Israel Chai 🇮🇱

I love you all ❤️

Coach Yulia

Happy New Year to all my Jewish brothers and sisters, may you be inscribed into the book of life! Sometimes I feel like an exhibitionist, and love to be in the limelight, performing and inspiring. Lately, I want to just be flowing behind the scenes, and it feels so good to orchestrate all the pieces falling into place. Case in point, the picture above shows my first born, he just had a birthday, 15! My brilliant hair dresser for over 20 years, Glenda, one of a kind, blessed to have her in my life. Do you see me? I am capturing the moment, looking cute, happy with how everything aligns. I see the connections all the time. I see revealed miracles, magic moments as they happen. Have you seen the new perfect word to describe this phenomenon, glimmers? Especially since the pandemic, in a very beautiful way we are all feeling more free to be present with our traumas and triggers. Glimmers is the other side of it, try to see the lesson, a breakdown is a breakthrough. Something what seemed simple or out of left field, was the final piece of the puzzle.

I live in my Emunah bubble, in Hebrew it translates as faith. I would rather be in a happy and peaceful state of being. If life happens, I do what I need to do to handle it, and jump back in my bubble. I am sure you have heard of the Chinese New Year, there is also a Persian New Year, so many cultures celebrate their roots and ancestors, honoring their history. The Jewish Calendar is Lunar, and we literally live two lives. I love jumping off of our crazy, non stop and overstimulated world into celebration, connection and delving into a deeper understanding of my purpose in this world. We are in between Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year and Yom Kippur, where we hope and pray that we can transcend the mundane, and let go of any contracts moving forward free and clear for another year.

I have been blessed beyond measure, with a beautiful family and the work I love. In my Coach Yulia role, besides supporting women during pregnancy and birth, I work with all populations and various modalities. From Yoga with children and families, to an 86 year old client that has the most amazing strength and form in Pilates. I enjoy working with Special Needs clients of all ages, and watching the rebirth of addiction recovery. Our world is so full of excess, and with lack of meaning many people turn towards the popular, trendy or extreme to feel alive. These words came to mind:

Easy access, to much excess.
Who am I? I want to be, 
Honest, real, raw, authentic. 
Be myself, just for me.

Everyone around is on their own path.
It has nothing to do with me,
What they think of me, is none of my business.
What's important is how I feel and what I see.

Love yourself, believe in yourself, trust yourself,
It is your portal to the Divine connection.
Find your purpose, heal the world,
Live with meaning, you will be moving in the right direction.

It was really only the first five words that appeared to me, and I love rhymes, so the rest just flowed about my message in everything I do. Feels so good to be me, feel good to be you!

Coach Yulia

‏שנה טובה ומתוקה

גמר חתימה טובה

🍎🍯 חג שמח

gift

noun

1: a notable capacity, talent, or endowment

2: something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation

3: the act, right, or power of giving

verb

gifted; gifting; gifts

1: to endow with some power, quality, or attribute

2: to make a gift of

3: Present

It is so important to gift yourself. Put yourself first, or who else will do it for you. It is so nice to get wishes and even gifts from the heart. Being present is a gift just for you. I feel very peaceful this mothers day, with no expectations. I was happy to talk to my magical mom this morning, and she reminded me that we are surrounded by our matriarchs. Her mother’s Yartziet, the anniversary of her passing was the day before, we called her Babushka Anya. Also my paternal grandmother’s birthday is tomorrow, she would have been 108, her name is Babushka Zina. My daughter Ziona is named after her, and the waffles you see above were a mother’s day surprise this morning, with the cutest little waffle maker that she bought for the occassion.

Speaking of a gift, we all come to this world with gifts. There is no body else like you, and nobody can do what you can do. We are all different and that is how it is supposed to be. I love to keep evolving, and it is so exciting to be on the verge of a new self expression. Writing, I love writing, I have always loved writing, I type 90 words per minute. As my thoughts flow out, they easily glide onto the screen. I have undertaken a new challenge, and I love jumping right in, no ego, and gratefully trusting my gut with the right support. I am already a published writer, in different publications, but this week I will have my first front page feature!

Stay tuned,

Coach Yulia

For the past six years, my daughter and I have been models for one of the most powerful events for women in our community and beyond: Karen Michelle’s Love Your Body fashion show. This year, it’s happening on Sunday, March 26, 2023 from 10:30am-4:30pm. 

Karen created an all-inclusive fashion show that features modest, modern and elegant clothing. It also includes a shopping event with a runway representing women and girls of all ages, shapes, backgrounds, and abilities. She showcases multiple designers, and offers a full day of hair and makeup for the over 100 models that participate. The models range from 3 years old to bubbies, and include a beautiful woman in a wheelchair who always has the most gorgeous wedding gown on. The location, the Luxe Hotel on Sunset, is exquisite. Over 1,000 people come to enjoy the VIP delights, or all the free options, including the fashion show and fabulous vendors.

For the event, Karen partners with Artists For Trauma, a non-profit located in Los Angeles that is dedicated to enriching the lives of trauma patients and survivors through artistic expression and human connection.

She also has vendors that serve the needs of our Jewish community, such as holiday items for Pesach and general Judaica. The clothes that many of the designers are modeling are also for sale, and you can buy them hot off the racks.

I enjoy modeling and getting dressed up, and have been lucky to participate in Love Your Body since 2013, a year after I had my third child. It was so much fun to be pampered and enjoy a professional experience, but also just to feel good in my own skin. 

I brought my daughter in 2015 when she was almost 5 years old, and she was a bit shy. Her little cousin was there too, so I walked the runway holding their hands. The next year, I told my daughter I wanted the runway all to myself. Luckily, she likes being in the spotlight just like her mama. Some of her friends were also in the fashion show; they walked the runway together and of course, they all had a wonderful experience.

Karen says, “the fashion show and LYB event is my passion, promoting self-esteem, empowerment, and inclusivity,” and she enjoys featuring women in our community. It all started with her signature store in Pico-Robertson, and now she focuses on this amazing charity event as her passion.  

This year, Karen and Artists For Trauma will be recognizing civilian and veteran medical trauma professionals with the Karen Michelle Heart Award. The three honorees are Dr. Andrea Fineberg from Kansas City,KS / Los Angeles,  Dr. Genise Fraiman and Dr. Hengemah Monsef are both from Los Angeles.They will be honored for their outstanding contributions to the community..

She loves working with people, and now has the mazel to work with her son, Josh Halaszi, a Shalhevet graduate. He is the owner of the GlobalGreen Insurance Agency of Beverly Hills. They work as a team, serving all of the insurance needs of our community.

Whether it is family, work or our creative outlet, in our Jewish lives, we are always nurturing and expanding our minds with Torah. The Rambam, Maimonides, emphasizes the need to take care of our bodies. He was a brilliant physician who treated the patient rather than the illness and espoused moderation and disease prevention. 

I am a yoga and pilates instructor and my message is to take care of you! It is not selfish; it is self care. We need to squeeze ourselves in, in order to be there for everyone and everything in our lives. Self care could be quiet time by yourself, or a dinner with friends. For me, it is expressing my creative side with fashion and dress up.

There is no perfect way or one way — there is just your way. Someone may inspire you, but take everything at your own pace and check in with yourself.

When we tune into our body and clear our mind, then our soul is free to shine. Each person has a unique purpose in the world. There is nobody else like you and nobody will do what you can do. 

Especially for women and girls, feeling comfortable in our own skin, and knowing that true beauty comes from within, is so important. However, enjoying dressing up and feeling good on the outside is fun.  

When the last Love Your Body Fashion show was about to begin, Karen told me I was opening the show. I was so excited, and I told the makeup artist to make me shine since I am the first model everyone will see. We all have different sides to us, and I am so grateful to Karen Michelle for giving my daughter and I and many other women an outlet of fashion and fun for a good cause.

Free tickets for the event are still available by going to lyb2023.eventbrite.com.

Always double check your text messages. I like to dictate. I don’t know if it’s because you hear the phone battery is bad for your brain, or I just don’t love to text, I’m old school. I used to have a blackberry, and I loved that it looked like an actual keyboard. I’m still very proud that I can type 90 words a minute.

When you know that you are doing what you’re meant to do, it’s an incredible feeling. We just visited family, and had a wonderful time and really enjoyed everything about being somewhere else. Since I got back it’s right back to Yoga and Pilates clients, and supporting beautiful women as a Doula. It’s where I’m meant to be, even if LA has changed so much. LA needs me as much as I need LA.

This morning I had to let everybody know that I was at a birth, so my dictation interpreted what I said as “I’m out of earth.”The messages are all around us, just tune in and see your path. Birth is literally in between worlds. So it was so powerful for me to see the interpretation of what I was saying right in front of me. My purpose, what brings meaning and a living to me and my family. I am so grateful.

Also I missed my regulars, so happy to get back to my private clients, and my online zoom classes.

LIFE IS A BLESSING.

Coach Yulia

I am deeply connected. My essence and energy is connected. We are here to connect with each other, and to connect with the source. We all have such a unique journey and purpose in this world, and I’m always in awe how mine unfolds.

When I teach class, I tell everyone that they have to find themselves fascinating. There’s so much talk of self-care and self-love. Why should we treat everyone and everything else with kindness? We deserve it too!

Sunday mornings have become my hike day at sunrise. It was the first hike in this new decade of my life. I feel so grateful for my health, family, community, and the work that I love.

In this new era of identity, on one hand we are trying not to fit in boxes, but on the other hand we stand up for our way of life. My amazing hairdresser said it best. When a small child asked her her identity, she said I’m just Glenda. I love it so much, as important as it is to express yourself, just being simply yourself is the point of it all. If you want to go even deeper, we are beyond our name, our astrological sign, and any other external labels. We all have a unique essence, that is the greatest connection of all.

This has been a month of uplifting holidays for the Jewish community. We are at the culmination, where we will dance in the streets with the Torah celebrating the laws, customs, and connection to God.

I love talking with my mother, who is very wise and deeply connected. She was telling me that we are not only celebrating the intellectual learning, but connecting to the stories of our ancestors. At first it talks about the individual, then about family and tribes. The laws are guiding humanity on how to coexist. The best part is that it’s always alive, on one hand we read what’s right in front of us, but the interpretations vary based on each circumstance and each person.

I love to learn, and one of my favorite teachers, Yehudit Garmaise, said that one of the most important things is when we are present with people, they don’t feel we are rushed. 

Relating to each other, really listening, and being open to dialogue is magic. Wishing everyone deep connection, true, full self expression, and deep love for yourself and for everyone and everything around you.

See the miracles unfold, open your eyes, open your heart.

Let’s stop keeping each other apart.

Connection is healing, kind, and true,

Tell yourself, your deep self, your true self,

I love you.

חג שמח

Coach Yulia