Meet Julie Cielo | Somatic Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Julie Cielo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julie, what role has risk played in your life or career?
For me, risk has never been optional—it has been the only way forward. I left home at 17 with just $800 in my pocket after a childhood of neglect and abuse, and with no support system I put myself through mortuary college in Florida while working at a convenience store to survive. From there I took out loans to attend massage school, moved from state to state to support my ex-husband’s education while working in spas and doctors’ offices, and kept investing in my own training year after year—eventually amassing over 30 years of education and more than 40,000 clinical hours. I opened my first private practice with no clients, no financial cushion, and no roadmap, but I built it into a thriving studio that lasted nearly two decades. I was one of the first yoga teachers in the U.S. and then went on to become a certified yoga therapist leading worldwide retreats all before the internet. I began my own yoga practice at age 14 due to a severe scoliosis and started sitting in silent meditation for a minimum of 10 days a year since age 19—long before yoga and meditation were trendy.
When I divorced, I sold everything I owned and took another massive leap—moving across the country to California with no car, no apartment, no job, and not a single friend. What I did have was a love for fresh produce and a determination to rebuild. Out of that blank slate, I founded Ferm Fatale, the first non-alcoholic, zero-proof cocktail brand in the U.S., years before “sober curious” was even a phrase. I raised $2M as a solo female founder in a male-dominated industry, scaled into national distribution, survived a global pandemic, and helped forge an entirely new category that is now worth $50B. When a catastrophic manufacturing failure shut it all down in 2022, I was shattered but found the will to reinvent myself yet again at age 49 despite my most devastating identity meltdown. Not to mention at 50, I took out the breast implants my former husband asked me to get when young & dumb and have been reclaiming my voice, my body & the power I gave away. Perimenopause is in itself a powerful catalyst for a woman.
Today, I’ve returned to my roots in healing with even greater depth. I’m completing advanced training in Somatic Experiencing, got certified in Somatic Breathwork, and am now coaching, teaching and leading globally in trauma recovery, nervous system regulation, embodiment, and women’s wellness speaking at events, retreats, conferences and in addiction recovery circles.
To me, risk is not recklessness—it’s devotion. It’s following the deeper call of the heart even when logic says it’s impossible. I’ve risked financial stability, reputation, relationships, and certainty itself. But each risk has been an initiation, and each leap has forged resilience, creativity, and the capacity to serve others in ways I never could have imagined.
I don’t just take risks—I live them. It’s the path of the iconoclast, the cycle breaker, the thriving scapegoat…the woman who refuses to play small. And for me, there has never been another way. Stay tuned for my book being published in the spring. More at www.Julie Cielo.com

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I run Studio Soma in Venice and also see clients from all over the country online where I provide Somatic Coaching to help heal complex trauma, chronic stress, addiction, autoimmune & more. What sets me apart is the longevity and depth of my work—over 30 years in the healing arts, 40,000+ clinical hours, becoming a Gut Health expert and training in everything from Mortuary Science to Somatic Experiencing. I also host The Thriving Scapegoat podcast, where I speak candidly about family estrangement, narcissistic abuse, and the path of healing. Getting here was not easy. When my non-alcoholic beverage company, Ferm Fatale, closed in 2022 after years of pioneering the sober-curious movement, I was devastated to say the least. Layered on top of divorce, then estrangement from my family and surviving an abusive relationship during COVID, I hit bottom. Reaching out to a somatic practitioner changed everything—it was the most integrative work I’d ever experienced, and she encouraged me to share it. That turning point led me back to school, into new certifications, and eventually to launching Studio Soma, juliecielo.com & ‘The Thriving Scapegoat’ podcast.
The lesson I’ve learned is that resilience doesn’t mean avoiding the fall—it means learning how to rise differently. My work today isn’t about performing wellness; it’s about genuine nervous system repair, authentic embodiment, and reclaiming the parts of ourselves we were told to hide. Healing is messy, cyclical, and deeply human—and it’s available to anyone ready to step into their own freedom.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We’d start with what brought me to LA in the first place—fresh farmer’s market produce, cool ocean air, and the rhythm of my pedestrian life here in Venice. A morning walk on the beach, followed by coffee at a local spot like Menotti’s, then a wander through the Venice Farmers Market for the kind of vibrant food you simply can’t get anywhere else. From there, I’d take them up the PCH for a day of nature + soul nourishment. We’d bring a picnic and spend time at El Matador Beach in Malibu, the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine—doing breathwork, meditation, and soaking in the peace that LA somehow holds right next to all its chaos.
Afternoons would be for rest and integration at my Venice home—because wellness in LA is also about balance, not just running from one thing to the next. Evenings? Dinner at RVR in Venice, Felix for a more casual meal, Great White with the Venice sign in view with the sun setting.
During the week we’d dip into different flavors of LA:
Hikes are tough right now post fires, but typically a hike in Temescal Canyon, followed by juices at Juice Ladies.
A day trip to Santa Barbara for a hot springs hike for some fresh air, and a different pace.
A cultural evening—maybe some live music at The Greek,
And always—avoiding traffic at all costs by choosing flow over frenzy. To me, the most fun and exciting part of LA is the people who create, innovate, and heal here. It’s a city of dreamers and builders, and Venice especially holds this incredible mix of beach, art, spirituality, diversity and grit that’s endlessly inspiring.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’ll always give the deepest credit to my clients in Vero Beach, Florida, where I ran my healing arts clinic, Ebb & Flow for nearly 20 years. The love and support I received there sustained me long after I moved away after my divorce moving across the country with no job, car nor apartment. They weren’t just clients—they were my community, the family I never had. They taught me healing is always reciprocal. Here in Los Angeles—the city of innovation—I found the courage to take even bigger risks. I created Ferm Fatale–one of the first non-alcoholic drink companies in the world here. Being invited to BevNet’s Startup Beverage Showdown in 2015—before my product was even on the market—was a defining moment. At that time, I was one of the only non-alcoholic beverage founders in the world. Today I see many others carrying that movement forward. LA has always had that kind of ripple effect, inspiring pioneers to take the leap. It’s also where I reinvented myself yet again, even at 49 years young, launching Studio Soma in Venice, juliecielo.com online and recently, ‘The Thriving Scapegoat’ podcast and soon I’ll be publishing my first book. The people who show up in my Venice practice, online, or at one of my classes or events continue to inspire me with their bravery and commitment to healing.

Website: https://www.juliecielo.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliecieloofficial

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/juliecielo

Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/Dd8aVHtxBiwP3Yz0MT

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliecieloofficial

Yelp: https://www.yelp.to/lp3xVxWd8S

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/juliecielo

Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/3VmvKqi0GSShxSZZ1jwC6p?si=30623946868f4a71 https://share.google/3umKRxIqil4CZQT9g

Image Credits
Alan Penney