Meet Susan Frankovich: The Yoga Therapist Who Learned Her Most Important Lesson on Her Yoga Mat

What would you do if your body betrayed you in the middle of doing what you loved most?

Two days before her 40th birthday, Susan Frankovich was flowing through a hot yoga class when panic struck. She found herself curled in child's pose, tears streaming down her face, her body in complete distress. Days later, after being rushed to urgent care with what doctors initially feared was a heart attack, she received news that would change everything: she was "beyond the measure of health" physically, but her stress was literally suffocating her.

Here was someone attending six yoga classes a week, teaching dance and yoga, getting weekly massages—doing everything "right"—yet still drowning in stress. Sound familiar?

That moment of crisis became Susan's greatest teacher, launching her into yoga therapy studies and a complete life transformation that brought her back to Reno after 22 years away. Now, as a Yoga Therapist specializing in Embodied Balance, Susan uses that hard-won wisdom to help others discover what she learned the hard way: there's so much more to healing than what happens on the mat.

We asked Susan to share her story and insights about her unique approach to yoga therapy. Her ultimate goal? To help her clients know themselves so well they no longer need her. Come discover what that looks like Wednesdays at noon or Saturdays at 11 am, and prepare to experience yoga in a completely different way.

Check Out Susan's Radiant Flow & Therapeutic Flow Classes Here

What is the greatest gift you've received from yoga?

I've received so many gifts from yoga over the years. There are two that I would like to highlight, and the first is community. I've met so many wonderful people over the years as a student and as a teacher.

The second is more of a story...

Two days before my 40th birthday, I was in the middle of a hot yoga class, and I had a panic attack. I got down in childs pose and cried and cried for the rest of the class and for many hours after. 

A few days later I traveled to Portland to celebrate my birthday with friends, and I could hardly breathe from just walking down the street. I wasn't sure what was happening to me, but my body was still in distress. I called a care facility to get checked out and they rushed me in because they thought I was having a heart attack. 

They did an EKG, a chest x-ray, and a full blood panel. After a thorough exam, they told me I was beyond the measure of health, and I just needed to learn how to manage my stress. 

While I was relieved, I was also mad. 

At the time I was going to 6 yoga classes a week, teaching two, and teaching dance classes as well. I also got a 2-hour massage once a week. I thought, what else am I supposed to do to manage my stress!?

After that, I made some huge life changes, which included moving back to Reno after 22 years away. I began my yoga therapy studies, and this was where the missing piece came in for me. I learned so many different ways to regulate the systems of my body. I learned that yoga asana is far from the only way I could help myself and others. 

It was the deep study and practice of the other limbs of the practice and the guidance of a stellar teacher who helped me find what I was missing. My life is forever changed.

What do you want or wish more people knew about yoga?

There's so much to it beyond the physical practice, and not all things work for all people. 

If something doesn't work for you, there's nothing wrong with you, you just haven't found the right practice yet, so don't give up. Our systems are constantly in flux, so on the other hand, if something has been working for you for a long time and it doesn't seem to be working anymore, it might mean it's time to mix it up and try something new. 

If you have the time and patience to explore on your own, it's a worthy exploration and will teach you a lot about yourself. If you are suffering and want relief, it's useful to consult someone to work with you 1:1 who knows how to assess and prescribe practices to help you learn how to balance your imbalances.

What makes your style of teaching unique or special?

I think it partly has to do with my extensive background as a movement teacher. I've been teaching movement for 25 years, twenty as a dance teacher and officially eleven as a yoga teacher. There's a certain softness, ease, and flow that I invite people to explore. In addition, my training as a Yoga Therapist really shifted the way I teach. I intentionally bring in techniques based on the themes we're exploring for the class or what I feel people need. It's not what you're doing, but rather how you do it that can really help you have a different experience.

These days, I'm more interested in helping people tune into interoception rather than being concerned about the outward appearance of the practice. I intentionally guide people to become aware of the sensations of the body, the flow of energy, or noticing thoughts and emotions. There's so much to feel and experience in our own bodies, and this is where the healing and the wisdom comes from. 

I also like to bring in a little silliness and play. We do not have to take ourselves so seriously! 

What is the song you play on repeat?

I play binaural beats for healing from YouTube all day long. My dog likes them too.

Winter or summer? Dessert or dinner?

I'm definitely a late summer girl; however, I was in my own personal winter for many years. I've been slowly transitioning into spring, and I look forward to feeling that summer energy again one day. 

Savory over sweet, so dinner for sure.