Jana Johnson | Yoga Teacher

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

Hi Jana, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
You can only move forward. So you’ve got to be honest with yourself about the big picture of what moving forward in a certain endeavor truly looks like for you. How does it feel when you think of moving forward? How does it feel when you think of choosing a different option? It may not be that you have to totally give up on something, it may simply be a tweaking of your approach.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a yoga student & teacher. I say student first because yoga for me is an ever-present, ever-evolving listening to/learning from/observation of life. That is what comes with me in any yoga space in which I am teaching. I love what I do and I love sharing this experience with others. It has been, and continues to be, a fascinating journey for me. I started practicing yoga in New York and it has traveled with me to the Peace Corps in Paraguay and here to Los Angeles where I currently reside and began teaching. Continuing to learn & recognize my own voice, truth, and dreams is what inspired me to keep walking on this path.

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?
There’s so much to explore in Los Angeles! If a friend was visiting, we would likely first make our way to a dispensary (Buddha Company in the Arts District, a local shop near 85th and Western, or discover a new one and get some fun first-timer deals!), and then we would come to my house where I would prepare a lavish, healthy, and delicious meal, whilst/before/after enjoying our goodies from the dispensary. Then, in no particular order for the rest of the trip (because you don’t do LA on a tight schedule, just a few solid options, a few loose options, and ride the wave as you go): A good day party is key where we could enjoy some good music and dancing, maybe a little daytime libations. We would go to some beaches: Venice, Manhattan, and Malibu are some of my favs. Sip & Sonder coffee shop in Inglewood. Sunday morning at Hollywood Farmers Market and if you want to do more Hollywood walking/browsing/driving around then do that. Sunday afternoon at Leimert Park with food trucks, drum circles, great people & vibes. And lastly, you must experience a sunrise or sunset over the ocean.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wow! Every person and experience gets some credit for me and my success because it is all part of my journey & story. I would especially give a shoutout to my mother and grandfather, who are always with me in spirit. They continue to help me navigate the spiritual realm while here on Earth, which let’s me continue to learn myself and my spiritual nature in Human form. My relationship with them is a fun, delightful unfolding of new discoveries, brilliant ideas, harmonious occurrences, and simply joyful presence.