How to get back into exercise gently and stick with it? Advice from an expert female wellness coach

Getting back into physical activity can be daunting when you're short on time, motivation, or fitness. However, moving your body, even for a few minutes a day, can transform your day... or even your life. Julie Cukierman, a former high-level fitness coach and founder of the MoveWithJulie method, coached athletes all the way to the Olympic Games before turning to compassionate coaching for women. In this interview, she shares her tips for incorporating exercise into your daily life with pleasure, her wellness tips, her nutrition philosophy, and her simple and inspiring morning routine.

Can you tell us about your background and what led you to create a gentle and effective sports method?

Julie: Hello Cocoon Paris, delighted to chat with you! I'm Julie Cukierman, founder of the MoveWithJulie method and platform. For as long as I can remember, I've always been immersed in a sporting world. My mother was a French kayaking champion, my father a lifeguard; for my part, I was a French Rhythmic Gymnastics champion and then I played tennis at a very good level.

Moving towards a career in sports was therefore an obvious choice. I began my career as a physical trainer for several French teams – notably the French fencing team – which I prepared for the London (2012) and Rio (2016) Olympic Games.
After the birth of my two children, I wanted to focus on coaching "normal" women, like you and me, to help them feel better in their bodies and minds. I founded my method, a mix of yoga, Pilates, muscle strengthening, and stretching. A very gentle method for the body but ultra-effective!

What sets elite athletes apart in their ability to succeed? And what can we learn from this in our daily lives?

Julie: I would say that beyond their extraordinary athletic level, what characterizes them above all is an extraordinary personality, a real "extra something" on a mental level. I admire high-level athletes for their ability to believe in themselves, to make so many sacrifices in their lives for an event that happens once every 4 years, the Olympic Games.

How can you enjoy exercising and stick with it over time, even with a busy schedule?

Julie: Start by setting achievable goals; it's better to set the goal of exercising once a week and stick to it for life, rather than starting out three times and stopping after a few months because we can't keep up with our busy lives, work, children, etc.
And then, something essential to me: sport should not be a source of suffering. This is why I created my method, accessible to all women, regardless of their level, their body type, or their sporting background.
All the women who do sessions on MoveWithJulie write to me to tell me that they finally feel like they've found an effective but pain-free method, one that doesn't leave them sore for 3 days afterwards. And I promise you, that changes the way we think about exercise!

What role does nutrition play in your well-being, and how can you adopt a more intuitive approach?

Julie: I think eating well and having a healthy and peaceful relationship with food goes a long way. I totally agree that nutrition plays a very important role in well-being; for me, it's one of the pillars, just like physical activity and sleep.
For my part, I'm pretty balanced; I cook a lot, I eat healthily most of the time, but I'm also very greedy. I love to eat (laughs!).
There is one thing I try to be uncompromising about because I consider it to be a real poison for our bodies, especially in terms of fatigue and emotions: added sugar (apart from fruit). I try not to eat it during the week, and I treat myself on the weekend. It's the balance I've found and it suits me well.

What does a simple and effective wellness routine look like to start the day off right?

Julie: I get up at 6 a.m. in the morning (a real little discipline!) to have time to do my wellness routine: I dry brush my legs, I shower, and I sit on my yoga mat.
I apply my energizing Cocoon Paris Instant Toning roll-on: it's a sign that my day can really start and that I'm in the right energy! I love its subtle scent of mandarin and yuzu; I slip it into my bag and apply it several times throughout the day.
To get back to my morning wellness routine, I then do my unlocking routine: 10 minutes flat of a mix of yoga and stretching, which you can find on MoveWithJulie . These are really the 10 minutes that change my whole day afterwards!

Which Cocoon Paris roll-ons do you use on a daily basis and how do you incorporate them into your rituals?

Julie: It's hard to choose a favorite, because they really correspond to different energies and therefore different moments of my day! In the evening, when my work day is over, I love to put on Instant Douceur, it's soothing to make my brain understand that it can "switch off" after the long day, and that now is the time for rest and relaxation!

What mantra or advice do you most often inspire in your students?

Julie: “Choose to live the life you really want, not the one you see on social media.”
I love all the inspiration social media brings us, in terms of well-being, discoveries, sports or nutrition, but I am also fundamentally convinced of its harmful effects on our mental health.
I always try to keep in mind what fundamentally makes me feel good, what my dreams are, the life I want to lead. In this case, allowing myself to go and recharge my batteries every year in Miami, my favorite place on Earth, spend precious moments with my children and my family, have a lifestyle centered around well-being and make a living from my job that I love so much. This is why I live.

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