Susan Bowen
Studio owner; Yoga Training Director and a RYT500. Susan’s classes are challenging and inspire students to explore the practice of unifying the breath, mind and body to a place of comfort from the common Western habit of distraction and discomfort.
Susan has studied and practiced more than 12 yoga styles and encourages students to explore what works for them in yoga without concern for the “right” way to practice. Susan was first introduced to yoga 20 years ago while in college and has studied and practiced yoga while traveling for 15 years in the corporate world. Because of many years in a high-stress job (tight shoulders and distracted mind), Susan sequences yoga classes to help students de-stress, de-tox and become more aware of their own vitality. Sometimes that means getting more fit through movement and breathing exercises… sometimes that means hands-on assistance to stretch an ailing or tight muscle! Susan cues her classes to inspire awareness of the whole being-physical, emotion, mental and spiritual.
Leading Thrive
Susan has been honored as a leading woman entrepreneur in Montgomery County for over a decade. As the Director of Programming for Thrive Yoga, she has been responsible for bringing both classical and cutting-edge yoga and wellness programs and staff to the studio. Susan facilitates and lectures at corporate, non-profit, and government events and retreats on a variety of topics including: stress-management, goal setting, and techniques for greater vitality in a busy world.
Susan has made Thrive Yoga a leader in community outreach through charity yoga events and partnerships with local recreation and wellness programs. Susan Bowen and Thrive Yoga have predominant sponsors and speakers for the National Institutes of Health. In the past two years, Ms. Bowen keynoted at The NIH Yoga Week; NIH CORE Week; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) Mentorship Program; and the NHLBI Employee Wellness Program. Thrive Yoga also proudly serves other parts of our community such as Montgomery County Public Schools; Montgomery County Recreation Department; Rockville Recreation Department; numerous local corporations and non-profit organizations.
