THE BLOG

Choosing Yourself Over the Next Drink: Julianne’s Story

aa alternatives alcohol free lifestyle connection gray area drinking healthpodcast healthy habits sapper spirit sober fit life sober fit life podcast sober yoga soberyoga womens wellness Jul 21, 2025

I invited Julianne Serpa onto Sober Fit Life because her journey is such a real, layered, and relatable example of rethinking alcohol while embracing deeper self-awareness.

We first connected at a yoga class where her energy immediately drew me in. Over time, I learned about the profound shifts she’s made, not just cutting back on drinking, but completely reevaluating her relationship with it, all while deepening her yoga practice.

Julianne shares how in 2020, more downtime and more stress led to daily drinking that felt normal at first but revealed itself as numbing and misaligned with her values. Instead of labeling herself an “alcoholic,” she explored curiosity. She did short breaks, learned to sit with discomfort, and developed an experimental, yogic mindset of self-study (svadhyaya).

We talk about how her journey wasn’t about hitting rock bottom, but about noticing misalignment and seeking something more real, connected, and nourishing. She also opens up about health crises, including multiple surgeries related to BRCA2 gene risk, and how they gave her an even deeper respect for fueling her body without toxins.

She explains why yoga, chanting, kirtan, and creating spaces for other women are now at the heart of her mission. We also talk about grief, childlessness by choice and circumstance, and the power of finding your people so you don’t feel alone in a culture saturated with alcohol.

If you’re looking for an honest, compassionate, and wise conversation about curiosity, sobriety, and living a more intentional life, this one’s for you.