5Q Interview with Susana Jones

1. Tell me about your personal journey with yoga. Why is it important to you?

I was first exposed to Yoga by my parents, who raised my brother and me to recognize the Divine within and around us all.  As I grew into adulthood, the spiritual foundation of my upbringing led me to postural Yoga, which I took up in order to be my strongest and best Self. I remember feeling distraught by world affairs one day, showing up to Yoga, and committing to the practice so I could be a helpful presence on this planet. At a time on Earth where things are rapidly changing and often confusing, it helps me to have this time-honored system to keep moving forward on a sustainable and harmonious path.

2. When did you first begin teaching yoga? What made you transition into a leadership position?

I began to teach in 2009, only a year after committing to regular practice. In teaching my first “cues” during Yoga teacher training, I felt like I was born to do this. The Science of Mind philosophy I had grown up with was given a new language in postural Yoga. I found it effortless to share spiritual principles with people via the physical body and breath. My transition into becoming a leader in the local Yoga community was brought about by a special blend of right timing, grit and reliance on the principles of Yoga to show me the way.

3. What makes your classes unique?

There’s a lot of kick-ass Yoga out there in which people are straining, getting discouraged or getting injured. We can’t afford for people to get hurt or burnt-out in Yoga. While you’d have to ask a student, I like to think that what sets me apart is that I teach in a way that challenges the body and focuses the mind just enough that the student can relax. Ultimately, what makes us feel so good after Yoga is its calming effect. Everything I do as a teacher is meant to steer us in the direction of tranquility.

4. How does music benefit your guidance in a yoga class?

Guiding a Yoga class means guiding changes in people’s nervous systems. We’re all unique, so when I guide a class, I use music to help bring us together as a group. I strategically build my Yoga playlists to integrate the autonomic nervous system and promote relaxation. My next step as a teacher is to get comfortable leading mantras, which have soothing and deeply transformational effects. In the meantime, I’m very grateful for all the recording artists who give us music as tools for practice.

5. Tell me about your next event and where we can follow you online.

My next big event is Urban Yogi’s 200 Hour Yoga Studies & Teacher Training, which starts in January! Follow me on Instagram @urbanyogisandiego and check out my website, www.UrbanYogiSD.com. I’d love to hear from you!

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