Julia Geisler, owner of Park City Yoga Adventures, has turned her passion for the outdoors into guided yoga experiences that help people connect with nature in and around Park City.
Originally from Western Maryland, Julia moved to the area nearly two decades ago after growing up in a rural ski town.
“I grew up on a ski mountain and came to Park City to ski, and of course, fell in love with all the things and wanted to start a small business here,” Julia says.
The idea to start a yoga business came to her while working at a former therapeutic boarding school in the city of Oakley in Summit County, Utah, where she took teenagers outside on weekends and discovered they, like her, enjoyed practicing yoga in nature.
“Watching them outside for two hours doing yoga and taking a hike, I saw they were more grounded and present and figured if they liked it, everybody would.”
Before launching her own brand, Julia built her expertise as a guide with White Pond Touring and earned her yoga teacher certification, giving her both the technical training and local knowledge to lead outdoor-focused classes and excursions.
We sat down with Julia to discuss how she brings outdoor wellness experiences to life in Park City and how her partnership with the chamber led to her business success.
What Julia’s Business Brings to Park City
Park City Yoga Adventures offers guided outdoor yoga experiences designed for both residents and visitors looking to get outside and move in a scenic setting. From mountaintop yoga hikes to paddleboard yoga in the Homestead Crater hot springs and hike-and-yoga sessions in a backcountry yurt, each experience combines light activity with time in nature.
The offerings are designed to be accessible to all levels, whether participants are experienced yogis or simply looking to stretch and enjoy the outdoors.
As Julia explains, “Some people don't like yoga, but they're okay with stretching, so it's a chance to get outside, and we’re seeing that it's a lot of second homeowners, tourists, and locals alike taking part.”
How Chamber Membership Helped Julia Grow Her Business
Never having been part of a chamber before, Julia didn’t have specific expectations about what membership might entail. However, after participating in chamber-sponsored FAM (familiarization trip) specializing in educational excursions for the media and the travel industry, and working as a guide for White Pine Touring, Julia witnessed the chamber's small-town connection This led her to consider whether joining might be the right fit, especially if it could support her marketing efforts.
“I don't market very much, and the chamber is pretty much my marketing dollars, because we're very small and can get much better press than we ever could,” she adds.
The marketing efforts have since paid off. Julia and her company have been featured in the New York Times and the Washington Journal, as well as in coffee-table books.
“Most of that press has come because of the chamber, and of the work that we do in partnership to accommodate groups when they come to town,” Julia says.
Julia’s relationship with the chamber is essential in helping her get the word out about her offerings throughout the year, as well as highlight specific experiences she wants to promote, such as paddleboard yoga in the crater, to gain traction.
“I think the chamber definitely hears what we want and tries to encourage the press to do those kinds of things, and that's been helpful.”