A THERAPIST bounced back from a series of horrific tragedies a decade ago to devote her life to helping others.

Julie Burns, from Linwood, lost her 21-year-old brother in a car crash when she was just 18.

Then she discovered the body of her best friend in his home after he had died in his sleep.

Julie, who was 27 at the time, also saw her ambition to become a firefighter dashed because of a serious skin complaint.

She fell into a deep depression and knew something had to change for the better.

Speaking back in 2008, Julie said: “I’ve had a lot to deal with but you have to take what life throws at you and just get on with it.

“In between my brother and my best friend dying, both my grandads also died.

“I’ve been so depressed that I couldn’t get out of bed in the morning and didn’t want to talk to anyone.

“You know when you want to smile but your body won’t let you? All I knew was I needed to get away.”

Julie then made the decision to travel to India to learn ancient healing methods, including a special type of yoga.

She added: “I went to India to learn Hatha yoga, which is about controlled breathing.”

Julie, who ran classes at the Paisley Physiotherapy Centre, focused on the positive and made it her mission to learn new life-changing skills.