Meet Natasha Jones: Yoga Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Natasha Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natasha, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
My balance has shifted significantly over the last year. My husband and I welcomed our first child in August 2019, which has been a huge blessing and also a challenge we’ve learned to embrace. We are continuously learning how to be more flexible, open-minded, and patient as we lean into our new responsibilities. During the pandemic, we have learned how to work from home full time, actively parent our busy toddler, and make time for ourselves and our businesses. I have pivoted from teaching yoga classes in person to doing virtual classes for larger groups and private lessons for individual clients. Some days are more challenging than others, but the willingness to learn and adapt makes life easier and more enjoyable. I think of balance as prioritizing things that are most important to me and my family while also taking care of myself. I think it’s important to learn to adapt in inconvenient and uncomfortable situations. I also think it’s important to practice self-care on a regular basis, even if it just means 5 minutes of meditation during the day. So although this year has been challenging for many of us, it’s also given us the opportunity to be still, assess our priorities, and find a new form of balance in our lives.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Outside of being a yoga teacher, I’m a financial resources specialist at the CDC here in Atlanta. I’m proud to be part of an organization that’s at the forefront of public health, and love having an integral role to many important public health initiatives. I have been working in public service for nearly 10 years, and have worked my way up in my career through networking and always being diligent in my responsibilities. I’ve overcome challenges in my career through keeping an open mind, always having a willingness to grow and learn, and remaining flexible in challenging situations. I’ve learned that it’s important to be able to adapt to change and to be a team player to be successful. I’ve also learned that seeking mentorship and being a lifelong student, even in informal settings, are key to professional growth. Being a part of an organization that is invested in public health and wellness is meaningful and ties into my goal of improving the health and wellness of others as a yoga teacher. I’m grateful to have a career that ties into my personal business goals.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My three favorite areas to hang out in Atlanta are the Battery, Inman Park, and the Beltline. The Battery is the area around the Atlanta Braves stadium with lots of restaurants, bars, shops, a concert venue, and a movie theater all right there in one place. It’s such a fun place to hang out either with friends or even with our son, especially during the summer months when the Braves are in season and the weather is nice enough to spend time outdoors. Another area I love is Inman Park because it has some restaurants I love (Beetlecat, Bar Taco, and Barcelona Wine Bar) and some great scenery. The Beltline is a multi-use trail that runs through the city. I love walking the trail to get to some cool places like Piedmont Park, Ponce City Market, and Old Fourth Ward skate park. It’s a fun place to get exercise, people watch, and take some good pictures because there are some great murals and artwork all along the trail.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to recognize cycle élan, an indoor cycling and yoga studio in Smyrna, GA. I have been teaching at that studio for over two years and have loved leading my clients through many yoga classes in studio and virtually. The owners have helped me to grow as a teacher and I’ve had a great time working with them.

Website: www.natashajonesyoga.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tasha.bianca/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnLeaS_wt3suLBhOMHDYLpQ

Image Credits
Rome Allen