Welcome back, friends! I am back with a new episode of What's Next Now! and am happy to be joined by Susan Mondi Bowen, my yoga teacher, mentor, and friend! She was among the first 500 employees at Salesforce.com, working in the early days of Silicon Valley when internet startups were still considered risky bets.
Throughout our conversation, Susan draws some striking parallels between yoga and technology. Just as cloud computing works seamlessly in the background, yoga, she explains, can integrate into our lives as a quiet, grounding “technology” for being fully present. She brings this to life with a simple but powerful practice which she calls the “three-second space” which involves pausing, engaging all five senses, and being present in the moment. She challenges listeners to try it as a 30-day experiment, noting how profoundly it can transform decision-making, stress, and perspective.
Susan and I also talk about her belief that the turning point in any big change comes when the suffering of staying the same finally outweighs the fear of stepping into the unknown and how, for her, it was realizing that chasing success and material things such as ten pairs of shoes or endless hours of work was actually draining her life, not enriching it. She therefore decided to take a risk and try something different, and Thrive Yoga was born.
Of course, Susan doesn’t shy away from the business side, either. She’s candid about leading with kindness and compassion, while also being direct and holding staff accountable to the studio’s vision. That balance of authenticity, firmness, and care is a true throughline in how she approaches her students, employees, and community.
If you have ever wondered what it takes to leap from a high-powered career into something radically different, or if you’re curious about the intersection of yoga, business, and living fully, this is an episode worth your time!
Episode Highlights: [2:18] - Hear how Susan found that tech’s risk and energy mirrored yoga’s potential for innovative living.[4:14] - Susan explains that the word vinyasa means “flowing presence” like yoga or cloud computing quietly supporting life’s experiences.[6:37] - Living fully means embracing the present moment beyond just success, wealth, or biological impulses.[9:53] - I note how calming through breathwork seems simple but can actually be tough with real-life stressors.[10:52] - Susan argues that you have to truly want change in order for it to happen; it comes down to motivation.[13:22] - I highlight Susan’s bold move from tech into pioneering yoga entrepreneurship but wonder, why yoga, and why then?[14:13] - Susan committed to yoga over tech when suffering outweighed fear.[17:02] - Susan asserts that core beliefs, not certainty, drive change.[19:55] - Susan uses curiosity and listening in order to design programs that meet people’s deeper needs.[22:33] - Susan and I discuss how Thrive Yoga uses Feng Shui to create relaxation and a natural atmosphere.[25:10] - Hear how Susan balances compassion with honesty, mentoring staff while upholding her vision.[28:24] - I wrap up by highlighting key points from throughout the episode.
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Email Gary: gary@garydanoff.com