Susan Mondi Bowen
Wellness Entrepreneur:
Susan Mondi Bowen started Thrive Yoga and became a wellness entrepreneur in 2005. Through her commitment to living yoga, a practical fitness and nutritional regime and following her mentors in their footsteps, Thrive Yoga and all its related innovative wellness programs have grown to serve thousands in the community successfully for nearly 25 years. Susan has received accolades for her business acumen and was awarded seed money for her start-up, Thrive Yoga through the StartRight! Women’s Business Plan Competition. Through her own mentorship,knowledge and experience Susan has developed innovative wellness programs and grown boutique fitness business growth for 25 years.
Thrive Yoga has offered more than 20,000 yoga classes, workshops, retreats and events to more than 100,000 clients and continues to be an innovator of combining ancient practices with the latest research in wellness and fitness for all its offering.
Susan has received awards as a business leader in Maryland, including awards in leadership, entrepreneurship, and community giving by the City of Rockville, Rockville Economic Development (REDI). She has been awarded runner-up Entrepreneur of the Year in 2017 through the Maryland Women’s Business Center. Susan’s personal story of creating Thrive Yoga has been featured in The Washington Post, The Gazette, WUSA News, and various local newspapers and TV news.
Thrive Yoga started its Yoga School (Thrive Yoga Academy) in 2009. Lead instructor Susan Mondi Bowen and her staff of highly trained instructors have more than 80 years of combined experience teaching yoga practices from dozens of lineages and methodologies and have graduated more than 650 yoga teachers who are teaching yoga all over the world. To be inclusive Thrive offers BIPOC scholarships to forward the practice of yoga in all communities of all races and backgrounds. Locally, it is likely you will find a Thrive Yoga certified teacher in your nearby yoga hotspot.
Susan (E-RYT500, YACEP, Certified Sound Healer; Certified Integrative Reflexologist) has created training curricula that integrate yoga with complementary science, philosophy, and spirituality techniques. Susan’s experience in teaching integrated methods for human change and transformation spans nearly 20 years and 15,000 hours. Susan has studied and practiced more than 20 various yoga styles and physical healing modalities. Susan is a public speaker and corporate wellness trainer, specifically in stress-reduction and shifting paradigms from stress to joyful living.
Yoga Instructor, Teacher Trainer, Longevity Specialist:
When taking a class with Susan, you will receive personal attention, suggestions for enhancing your practice through anatomy instruction and self-awareness. Susan weaves her class sequences with instructional tips, science-backed ancient techniques and humor. In the Thrive trainings as a curious student, you can expect a depth of knowledge and experience in foundational and advanced yoga methodologies. Susan will challenge students as her greatest teachers challenged her. As a Longevity Specialist, Susan advises and teaches students the target practices and modalities that improve life today and can enhance healthspan and lifespan.
Susan’s recent greatest adventure was white water rafting 185 miles in the Grand Canyon. Her go to music playlist is anything Imagine Dragons.