Women Duos We Love in Berlin
In honor of International Women's Day we called on women duos we admire in Berlin to share about their connection and advice they'd pass on.
Let’s make it International Women’s Month, or even better, let’s just celebrate each other all the time!? There’s a certain magic when women come together, and when it manifests into something like a retreat, a studio, or some type of creative act or project, it makes us swoon.
If you’re looking for a boost of inspiration, read on for reflections from women duos we deeply admire in Berlin - friends, co-founders, collaborators and even family. At the end, we’ve shared a bit about our own dynamic, along with a list of other women duos you should check out.
In what ways do you complement each other?
Juliana: I feel we complement each other beautifully because, while our individual focuses differ, our bigger “why” is closely aligned and our energies resonate. Habiba brings expertise in original Hatha Yoga flows and breath work while I bring somatic movement and ancestral wisdom, allowing us to share our unique gifts while weaving them together. We both study tantra, love sound and music as tools, are deeply creative, and place a strong emphasis on community, nature, and intentional curation.
Habiba: The magic lies in our different modalities, all different pathways to meet yourself on different levels and layers. I love guiding deep Breathwork and Sound Journeys that invite us to drop into the subconscious, into deep trance states. Juliana brings something else entirely - playfulness, the kind that gets you out of your own way through somatics and dance. When we host retreats, each day builds on the next. It’s not “just” yoga asana. We both love storytelling, traveling through different realms through our practices and rituals. One of us holds space for the depth, the other sparks the aliveness and vice versa: and somehow together, that becomes whole.
What’s the most fun or unexpected part of working together?
Juliana: The most fun part is definitely getting to work with one of my closest friends, which brings lots of laughter, love, growth and the joy of witnessing each other pursue our passions. Every time we host a retreat together in these beautiful, nature-rich spaces and connect with community, I am in awe that this is our work. I just feel so, so, so grateful.
Habiba: The late nights building playlists & workshop frameworks together, running on tiredness but somehow tipping into that giddy, punchy energy where everything becomes hilarious. There’s a dedication that comes naturally when you genuinely love what you’re doing and who you’re doing it with. And even in the hard moments, one of us is always grounded when the other isn’t, it just works that way. You don’t have to explain it. Someone is already there, holding it steady. Work becomes something else entirely.
What advice would you give to other women who are thinking about working together with a friend?
Juliana: My advice would be to establish a foundation where you feel comfortable talking openly to each other, as communication is key in any creative or business relationship. Be clear about your bigger “why” and what you each need from the partnership to stay in flow. Remembering that this is not rigid, it ebbs and flows, grows and evolves, so your communication channel should always remain open to meet what’s coming up in a loving way.
Habiba: Do it. Women are so often conditioned to see each other as competition. And yet in male business culture, collaborating with your people is just… normal. Why did we inherit that differently? Let’s stop carrying that imprint. Be each other’s “Rückenwind”, that untranslatable German word for the wind at someone’s back, the person who makes you feel like you can move forward. But one rule: don’t swallow things. The moment something sits unspoken, a slow heaviness enters. Speak what your intuition is telling you. Be kind, understand your whys. That’s what keeps the flow alive.
What’s next?
Juliana and Habiba are hosting a retreat together, wild body retreat: a return to your embodied essence in Ibiza from May 14 - 19th. There are two spots left if you’d like to join!
Leonie & Marlene, Co-Founders of Yoga on the Move
In what ways do you complement each other?
In many ways we’re like Yin & Yang. Leonie is more introverted and strong with numbers, while Marlene loves being out there and connecting with people. What we both share, though, is a love for creative work, for bringing ideas to life together and moving things forward.
What’s the most fun or unexpected part of working together?
Like any journey, we experience both highs and lows. What’s been really special for us is that our energy levels often balance each other out. In moments when one of us felt overwhelmed or doubtful, the other had the energy and perspective to keep things moving forward. Supporting each other through those phases has made our partnership even stronger.
What advice would you give to other women who are thinking about working together with a friend?
Do it! You’ll learn so much about each other along the way. Be open, honest and transparent with one another. Talk about the challenging things, communicate openly and try not to take everything personally. If you grow together through those moments, it can become an incredibly rewarding experience.
What’s next?
Marlene and Leonie are part of the teaching team for Yoga on the Move’s 200hr Yoga Teacher Training and a 300hr Yoga Teacher Training both starting in May.
In what ways do you complement each other?
Paula: I tend to be more cautious and deliberate, sometimes taking longer than necessary to make decisions. Rebecca, on the other hand, arrives like the wind, full of momentum and inspiration, and encourages me to move forward with confidence. In many ways, she is my fire.
Rebecca: Paula brings a thoughtful steadiness that I deeply admire. We naturally approach things from different life perspectives as mother and daughter, which helps us see challenges from more than one angle. It creates a balanced and dynamic partnership, something we carry into everything we’re building through The Pear.
What’s the most fun or unexpected part of working together?
Paula: It has been an unexpected gift to have her help me navigate modern technology, which can sometimes feel overwhelming. I love the fresh perspective Rebecca brings. Her vision and energy constantly inspire me. Thanks to Rebecca, many of the ideas we dream up for The Pear are actually finding their way into the world.
Rebecca: The most fun moments often happen when Paula and I face challenges we’ve never encountered before. Instead of getting stuck, we get creative, trust each other and remember to laugh. Very often those difficult moments end up leading to our biggest breakthroughs. Knowing we have each other’s backs makes the whole process not only easier, but genuinely enjoyable.
What have you learned about each other through building The Pear together?
Paula: Rebecca inspires me to think bigger and step outside my comfort zone. Through this journey I’ve discovered in her a dynamic, thoughtful and deeply intelligent spirit.
Rebecca: Building The Pear with Paula has taught me the value of slowing down and staying open to different perspectives. Our generational difference has become one of our greatest strengths: the energy of youth meeting the wisdom of experience. It’s a balance we now bring into everything we create through The Pear.
What’s next?
Paula and Rebecca are hosting Creative by Nature Retreat together in Analusia, Spain from April 20th to 26th.
Marianne & Natalie, Co-Founders of Soul Collective
In what ways do you complement each other?
Echoing what Leonie and Marlene shared, we’ve often felt like our relationship is very yin and yang - and we appreciate that balance so much. It feels like we’ve really learned how to ebb and flow with each other over the years, recognizing where one person struggles, maybe the other one thrives, and knowing when to call on what. Marianne is very organized, structured, a problem-solver, and super quick, whereas Natalie leads more with intuition, creativity and feelings, and needing more time and space to process things.
What’s the most fun or unexpected part of working together?
We have so much fun going to events together, and it reminds us of how and why we even started doing this. Back in 2019, we were going to all these events and workshops, eager to connect with the city in a conscious way, learn more about ourselves and our inner landscape, and meet new people along the way. Now, whenever we get invited to events or festivals, we often remark on how cool it is that we get to experience these things and have it be a part of our job. It feels like things have come full circle, going from participants to really being a part of this community in Berlin. It never gets old and every year it’s so fun see what pops up.
What advice would you give to other women who are thinking about working together with a friend?
Just like having a romantic partner, working with a friend also means having someone there to witness a big part of your life. If you’re starting a project with a friend and it’s something you’re both passionate about, not only will you grow individually and together, you’ll also be able to reflect back on that shared time. Work takes up so much of your life — isn’t it ideal if it’s something you love AND something you’re doing with someone you care about deeply!?
More women duos we admire & think you should check out:
Yasemin & Kimi from The Portal
Valery & Nush from Unfold Studio
Eli & Sandra from Flashquad
Nancy & Cindy from LA Cold Press
