Today we’d like to introduce you to Susann (“Susie”) Dreiling.
Hi Susann (“Susie”), so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
After earning my MBA from Pepperdine University, I worked in St. Louis as a Marketing Director before being appointed as a Special Agent (1811) with the FBI in 1997. I served for over 23 years, beginning in Los Angeles where I investigated white-collar and organized crime.
In 2006, I transitioned into management as a Supervisory Special Agent, overseeing new recruits at the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA. Three years later, I was promoted to Unit Chief of the Physical Training Unit—becoming the first and only woman to ever hold this position. In that role, I was responsible for the bureau-wide management of three key programs: Defensive Tactics, Physical Fitness, and Less-Lethal Training. It was during this high-pressure assignment that I began to deepen my personal interest in yoga, mindfulness, and meditation.
In 2015, I returned to investigative work, transferring to the Pinellas Resident Agency (PRA) in Clearwater, FL. There, I focused on violent crime investigations, including bank robberies, Hobbs Act violations, Crimes Aboard the High Seas, and fugitive apprehensions.
Early in my career, I also became an FBI Advanced Instructor, then Master Police Instructor, traveling globally to train law enforcement professionals on instructional best practices. I retired from the FBI in 2020.
Since 2013, I have actively pursued ongoing education in yoga and wellness. I am currently an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher at the 500-hour level (E-RYT 500) and am working toward my 1,000-hour certification. I am also a designated Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP).
In 2022, I founded 1811 Yoga, a company dedicated to bringing the benefits of yoga and meditation to first responders. I hold numerous specialized certifications, including:
• Restorative Yoga (with Judith Lasater and Yoga Medicine)
• Warriors at Ease (focused on military personnel and their families)
• Myofascial Release Yoga (Yoga Medicine)
• Yin Yoga (MMY Yoga)
• iRest Meditation
• Yoga & Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Throughout my law enforcement career, the primary challenges I faced were cultural in nature. Women had not historically risen to the levels I achieved in the specialized disciplines in which I became qualified. However, I never viewed these challenges as obstacles—instead, I saw them as opportunities to demonstrate how a female agent could not only succeed in male-dominated environments but also bring valuable new perspectives to the management of programs that affected every Agent in the FBI.
Similarly, as I transitioned into my second career which focused on yoga and meditation, I encountered a different kind of resistance—gaining acceptance of these practices from the very population I was once part of: first responders. The prevailing mindset in these professions is that traditional fitness methods (e.g., weightlifting, running) are sufficient for job readiness. As a result, the benefits of alternative approaches like yoga and meditation were often overlooked or dismissed.
To overcome that barrier, I’ve focused on education through demonstration—showing rather than telling. By helping first responders experience firsthand how yoga and mindfulness practices can not only sustain but potentially extend their physical performance and career longevity, I’ve been able to bridge that initial skepticism.
First responders—such as police officers, firefighters, and paramedics—are often subject to cumulative physical and emotional stress. Over time, this strain can take a significant toll. Yoga and meditation offer powerful tools for managing these demands, supporting both personal well-being and professional performance. For many in this community, seeing truly is believing. Once they recognized how stress affects their bodies, minds, and relationships, they become more open to exploring strategies that equip them to navigate challenges before they escalate into more serious personal or professional consequences. I have since found these same principles beneficial throughout the yoga community, not exclusively for the benefit of first responders.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Since retiring, I’ve had the privilege of teaching yoga and meditation in a wide range of settings across various locations. I currently lead in-person classes weekly in both Trinity and Lakeland, FL, as well as live online sessions twice a week, accessible from anywhere. While virtual teaching wasn’t part of my original plan, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted me to adapt—and since 2020, I’ve continued to offer these online sessions. I’m proud to have clients who join from both U.S. coasts and even internationally, including from Costa Rica. Some have practiced with me online for over five years, demonstrating the lasting impact of consistent wellness instruction.
In addition to regular classes, I contribute to yoga teacher trainings, sharing my knowledge and experience with the next generation of instructors. Through my Warriors at Ease (WAE) certification, I also teach military personnel and volunteer my time at annual fundraising events in support of WAE programs.
I regularly lead specialized workshops and events tailored to specific needs—such as stress relief, mobility enhancement, and performance recovery—ensuring that yoga and meditation remain practical, accessible tools for everyday life.
Beyond my independent teaching, I serve as a Yoga Specialist with O2X Human Performance, a Massachusetts-based company founded by former Navy SEALs. O2X delivers customized wellness programs for high-performing organizations using a holistic approach that integrates sleep, nutrition, physical training, resilience, and stress management through its EAT SWEAT THRIVE™ methodology. In this role, I travel across the U.S. delivering yoga and iRest meditation instruction to diverse groups of first responders, including federal agents, military personnel, police officers and firefighters. Drawing from my own 23-year career as a retired 1811 FBI Special Agent, I’m able to share personal examples of how these practices supported my performance, resilience, and longevity in service.
In addition to my work in wellness, I co-founded Comprehensive Defensive Systems LLC (CDS), a firearms and self-defense company based in Lakeland, FL. When not teaching yoga, I provide instruction in firearms safety, active shooter response, concealed carry, church safety and self-defense alongside my partner, Mike. Since 2022, we’ve trained hundreds of students annually and continue to educate the public on Second Amendment rights and personal safety laws through a range of practical, real-world training sessions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.floridacds.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1811yoga
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yogisusie
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/comprehensivedefensivesystemsllc/
