In this episode, we enter the season of the Crone — the archetype of wisdom, surrender, and renewal.
Sonia sits with 93-year-old Joan Matthews, yoga teacher, spiritual counselor, and founder of the Sutton Yoga Center, to explore what it means to age with grace, embody wisdom through experience, and serve from the heart.
Through laughter, candor, and humility, Joan shares stories from her extraordinary life — from meditating in India and teaching yoga in prisons, to channeling the spirit of “Black Bear,” the guide who led her to build the Sutton Yoga Center.
She emphasizes the importance of feeling over thinking, the power of collective energy, and the significance of simplicity and presence. Joan also reflects on her relationships, her spiritual journey, and her approach to life, highlighting the wisdom of the Crone in embracing change and letting go.
Together, Sonia and Joan uncover the deeper truth of the Crone:
that transformation is born from stillness, endings are sacred, and wisdom glows quietly from within.
00:00 – Opening Invocation:
Sonia opens with the question, “How do you contain your magic?”
An invitation to hold creative fire, vitality, and alchemy without burning out.
01:45 – Entering the Season of the Crone:
Sonia introduces the Crone archetype — the wise woman who embodies endings and beginnings, rest and renewal.
03:10 – Symbols of the Crone:
The waning moon, the cauldron, the raven, and the earth — reflections of transformation, mystery, and grounded wisdom.
05:00 – Introducing Joan Matthews:
Sonia welcomes Joan — yoga teacher, spiritual counselor, and founder of the Sutton Yoga Center.
A visionary elder whose life and work embody the Crone’s power to see, serve, and surrender.
07:15 – The Sutton Yoga Center as a Living Container:
A space for healing and transformation, where generations of seekers gather to remember who they are.
09:00 – Joan’s Journey to India:
Joan recalls her experiences in India — long meditations, mountain walks, and a lesson on surrender from her guru:
“That’s how much you want enlightenment.”12:00 – From Shadow to Wisdom:
Sonia reflects on Joan’s courage in sharing difficult personal stories — a reminder that growth often begins in darkness and that compassion is born from presence.
14:30 – Yoga as Healing and Self-Inquiry:
Joan describes yoga as a practice of
feeling rather than thinking — a path of awareness and embodiment, even in teaching prisoners to find stillness.
17:45 – Compassion in Action:
Her work across hospitals, penitentiaries, and marginalized communities demonstrates the Crone’s fierce and inclusive love.
20:10 – “Don’t Believe Everything You Think”:
Joan’s signature teaching — open-minded pragmatism and spiritual honesty.
22:00 – Belief, Faith, and Simplicity:
A candid reflection on faith, surrender, and finding the divine in everyday life — watching birds, meditating, and living simply.
25:15 – The Black Bear Vision:
Sonia reads from Joan’s book about the spirit of Black Bear, the guide who appeared at the opening of the Sutton Yoga Center, symbolizing courage and sacred service.
29:30 – The Power of Relationship:
Joan and Sonia explore relationships as mirrors for growth — with self, others, and life itself.
33:45 – Love, Loss, and Acceptance:
Stories of love, freedom, and forgiveness — from romantic relationships to motherhood and reconciliation with her own mother.
38:00 – Creativity, Legacy, and Light:
Louise Penny’s tribute to Joan; her art, writing, and the sign above the Centre that reads
“Let there be light.”41:15 – Meditation as the Final Container:
Stillness as creation; emptiness as possibility.
The Crone’s wisdom lives in simplicity, surrender, and the rhythm of breath.
44:00 – Becoming the Elder:
Joan reflects on what it means to age with choice, to follow your own rhythm, and to live authentically.
47:00 – Closing Reflection:
Sonia guides a grounding meditation — a breath into stillness, release, and renewal.
“Each ending is a seed. Each quiet moment, a new beginning waiting to unfold.”
Sonia invites listeners to share the episode, join the 21-Day Starter Challenge, and return to Episode 1 —
What Does It Mean to Contain Your Magic?53:00 – Closing Meditation:
“Your magic was never lost — it’s simply waiting to be reclaimed and contained with love.”
✨ Connect & Continue the Journey
💌 Join the 21-Day Starter Challenge for Embodied Joy → https://soniabaillon.com/21-day-starter-challenge-4-embodied-joy
🎧 Listen to Episode 1: What Does It Mean to Contain Your Magic? https://containhermagic.podbean.com/e/welcome-what-does-it-mean-to-contain-your-magic/
🌕 Follow Contain Her Magic on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/containhermagic
💫 Learn more about Sonia's yoga and transformational coaching programs: https://soniabaillon.com/links
👉Website: https://soniabaillon.com
💬Contact me: https://soniabaillon.com/contact
💖If you found value in this podcast, please offer your support by making a donation! https://paypal.me/soniabaillon
https://www.facebook.com/sonia4embodiedjoy
https://www.instagram.com/soniabaillon/
https://www.youtube.com/@SoniaBaillon
🎵Soundtrack for Contain Her Magic - Return To Me, by Scenic Kiss (Sonia Baillon & Mark Gibson)
