Live happy. That’s the motto Julie Wilkes has built her livelihood and business on. Julie was born with a severe heart condition that caused doctors to pronounce her dead at birth. Though her heart revived on its own, doctors did not expect her to live past that day. When she did, they said she wouldn’t live past three years of age. When she outlived age three, they moved her life expectancy to age 12.
Over the next several years, as she continued to defy doctors’ expectations, Julie discovered her love of fitness. When Julie ran her first marathon at age 24 – in Alaska, nonetheless – she told herself that a marathon meant her heart was working “pretty darn good.” And it was at that point that Julie decided to pay it forward and help others realize their potential while taking care of their bodies and minds.
Today, Julie owns 7 Studios – a yoga/fitness studio concept – located in downtown Columbus. She’s also a motivational speaker, an author, a certified life coach, an aromatherapy line creator, and an entrepreneur. Her most-recent project – Good Energy by Seven – opened at Easton earlier this summer.
But it wasn’t easy. The Good Energy concept was set to open in another location, but after six months of work to get the shop open, things fell through. Though disappointed, Julie and her team chalked it up to “everything happens for a reason.” And a week later, she received a call asking her to test the brand out at Easton.
“Easton was a perfect place for us, because we wanted to expand into spaces that people who were interested in the things we were doing would show up for,” Julie said.
Good Energy identifies as an inspirational retail boutique that offers customized apparel – the Choose Happy line – create-your-own skin and body care products, Julie’s own candles and lip gloss lines, and the Alo Yoga line, which boasts seamless, buttery-soft activewear. For those who aren’t ready to visit the store, Good Energy has launched its Box of Good Energy concept. A monthly subscription box, subscribers will receive anything from candles to workout gear, plus a certificate for a 7 Studios virtual class.
The location offers in-person fitness classes throughout the week to complement the virtual classes and offerings at 7 Studios’ downtown Columbus location. Good Energy began offering in-person, outdoor classes at Easton in September. You can register for classes at Easton here.
