Doing vs. Being: Q&A with Yoga & Dance Teacher Grace Junek

Grace Junek.

By Thomas Patti, Communications Coordinator 

Grace Junek is a yoga and dance teacher with 15 years of experience. Through group, one-on-one, and online programs, Grace aspires “to help make the world a better place by inspiring joy, supporting healing, and empowering self-awareness.” Learn more about Grace and her business, Be Inspired with Grace, at beinspiredwithgrace.com. 

Grace led popular yoga classes at Wildlands Trust before the COVID-19 pandemic brought our programs to a halt in 2020. Now, she is back, offering two programs in our Community Conservation Barn at Davis-Douglas Farm: Yoga for WellBeing every Wednesday in February and March and Sole to Soul Movement across three Sundays in April. Learn more and register for Grace’s upcoming programs here. 

Earlier this month, I spoke with Grace about her inspiration behind these programs, the benefits of yoga and dance, and the connection between mindful movement and nature.

TP: You have two programs coming up at Wildlands, Yoga for WellBeing and Sole to Soul Movement. Can you tell me a bit about those? 

GJ: For Yoga for WellBeing, I wanted to create a class that feels comprehensive—one that addresses the body, mind, and spirit. The mind piece might begin with a short reflection. The physical aspect focuses on keeping the body strong, flexible, and balanced. And spiritually, it can be as simple as connecting with the breath and allowing that to become a doorway to connecting more deeply with yourself. 

Sole to Soul Movement is really an extension of what I’ve been doing for the past 15 years. I’ve been teaching Latin dance, which is a high-energy style that draws from many genres within the Latin music world. It’s super fun. At the same time, there has always been a therapeutic element to the work. Somatic movement is incredibly beneficial for the body in so many ways. Sole to Soul is a pilot class focused on turning emotion into motion—processing feelings without words or thoughts. I’m really excited about it.  

Who is the ideal audience for these programs? 

Anyone who is truly serious about self-care. I’ve been doing this work for a long time and have taught everyone from teens to people in their 80s. While most participants have been female, there have also been many males over the years. Ultimately, it’s about self-care. 

One of my favorite quotes is, “Self-care is about giving the world the best of you instead of what’s left of you.” That really captures what I’m trying to offer through this work.  

What are the benefits of yoga and dance? 

I consider both yoga and dance to be meditative practices. When you’re practicing them, they naturally bring you into the present moment. There’s no tomorrow, no timeline, no yesterday—just right now. They help you connect with yourself in the moment. 

There’s an important balance between doing and being. So much of life is constant, relentless doing, and these practices invite presence and awareness. My hope is always that the mindfulness cultivated in class extends into other areas of your life. And it does.  

Sunrise Yoga with Grace Junek.

Why are you partnering with Wildlands? How does your work connect to nature? 

Nature is truly the cornerstone of human wellbeing. I deeply admire the work that Wildlands Trust does. Being able to get out into nature allows us to reset, disconnect, and gain perspective—to remember that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves. That awareness plays a central role in wellbeing. 

There is also a powerful synergy between nature and meditative practices. It’s not just about understanding that connection intellectually, but feeling it and living it through experience. 

There’s also a healing aspect to nature. When I use the word “healing,” I’m not just referring to recovery from illness. I’m also talking about healing from the stresses of everyday life. That’s the kind of healing nature so beautifully supports.  

Who are you? How did you arrive at this work? 

My heritage is Brazilian Portuguese, so music and dance have been part of my life since I was born. I came to yoga in my 30s. For me, dance saved my life, and yoga healed it. 

I was a clothing designer for more than 25 years while raising three children. In my 40s, I reached a point where that career became too demanding, and I made the decision to walk away. I naturally returned to dance and yoga—not professionally at first, but for my own healing, balance, and well-being. From there, I realized I could take two of my greatest passions and turn them into my life’s work. When I saw how deeply these practices impacted others, the work began to expand organically. 

This is not a hobby—it’s my life’s work. I truly believe this is how I can help make the world a better place. When individuals become healthier from the inside out, that wellbeing naturally ripples outward to others.  

What can people expect from you when they attend their first class? 

Over the years, the feedback I receive most often is that my work is inspirational. 

There are three core values at the heart of everything I do. The first is quality. When people come to my classes, there is a level of quality that is never compromised. I deeply respect that people are carving time out of their busy lives, and I want them to leave feeling glad that they came. 

The second is compassion. I’ve always believed that yoga and dance meet you exactly where you are. There is no competition—not even with yourself. I emphasize acceptance and non-judgment, whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or a complete beginner. In my dance classes, I always say there’s no such thing as a mistake—only unexpected solos. If you’re having fun, you’re doing it right. 

The third core value is service. That’s what I’m here to do—to serve others as fully and authentically as I can. 

Learn more and register for Grace’s programs here.