Julianne Hough defends her viral 'energy work session' after receiving criticism in 2020

Julianne Hough has defended her viral “energy work session,” for which she first received criticism in 2020.

The 36-year-old actress addressed the energy work she once did at the World Economic Forum during a recent appearance on The Kaitlyn Bristowe Show. Out of the vine The 2020 viral video first showed Hough lying face down on a table, as Dr. John Amaral moved his hands over her body. She responded by raising her arms, legs and the upper half of her body before letting out a scream.

Hough, during her conversation with Bristowe, recalled the energy work session she had and the criticism she faced afterward.

“I had some of these supernatural experiences and a lot of people were like, ‘Oh, she lost control,’” she explained. “I did an energy work session and it went viral. People were like, ‘She has demons and an exorcist coming out of her anus!’”

He Dancing with the stars The co-host acknowledged that since this power session was almost five years ago, she doesn't necessarily think people would have the same reaction if she did this now.

“It’s much more accessible now. People understand what’s going on. Energy is everything,” she said. “This table is literally energy, it’s like you’re all there.”

After the first one Bachelorette party The star recalled her reaction to the energy work video and thought, “Oh, that's real.” Hough praised other celebrities who have spoken openly about being spiritual, such as Gwyneth Paltrow.

“Whatever you say about her, she’s a fanatic or whatever, I’m so grateful for her,” she said of the Goop founder. “Because she probably got the most criticism from everyone for being a pioneer. And when you’re a pioneer in something and you have the courage and guts to put it out there, you’re going to get a huge backlash. I give her all the credit.”

Hough went on to applaud Paltrow's reality show, Sex, love and goopduring which couples spoke with experts about the importance of intimacy and sex in relationships.

“All of these things were very instructive,” he added. “And they were not taboo, but rather a permission to experiment and learn from so much wisdom that exists.”

During the 2020 World Economic Forum, Hough first described how significant the energy working session was and how it ultimately helped her.

“I feel so much more liberated inside because I can speak my truth clearly, stand in my power and not feel dominated by emotion or my mind, and I feel free inside to just be,” she explained during the demonstration.

She went on to say that the energy work session could help people who feel they “don't have the courage,” the environment or the atmosphere “to speak up” in their lives.

“If there is a safe place for people to express themselves in your organization, it changes people’s lives,” Hough added. “It can connect them to their current purpose, so they can move forward in what they know is their power, rather than feeling scared and repressed.”