Conversations for Yoga Teachers

Do you dream of teaching yoga as the primary way you support yourself and earn a living? If so, this episode is for you! Even if you dream of that as a next step in your future, this episode will give you a number of specific factors to consider. All of this is reviewed in my book, “Stretched: Build Your Yoga Business, Grow Your Teaching Techniques” which you can get on Amazon. Also, don’t forget to come to my 200th Episode Podcast Party on 8/24/22 from 4-5 pm. Registration is free and there will be give-aways too! Register here: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/200th-episode-podcast-party/

Here we are at episode 200 and to mark this milestone, I’m hosting a party! On 8/24/22 at 4 pm ET, join me for a virtual podcast party where I’ll walk you through some of the topics covered in past episodes. We’ll talk about anatomy, teaching skills and more and if you can show up live, you’ll be eligible for prizes! On today’s show, after reflecting on the growth of the podcast, I dive into a topic that’s not often discussed: teacher education and crafting a well-thought out (read: not hours driven) education and growth plan. You don’t want to miss this one!

Even though there’s an older episode on this topic, it’s always a good one that’s ever changing so I wanted to record another one on this topic of teaching online. If you’re feeling a bit like a fish out of water, know that in this episode, you’ll get a number of actionable tips you can start to use right away. There is a download of all the things I cover in the episode and you can get that here: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/tips-for-teaching-online-classes/ Please reach out to me with any questions!

In today’s episode, you’ll do a quick body scan and learn some of the key muscles of the upper body. Notice how easy it is to present muscles in a conversational way once you learn them! This is where you can be also in both your teaching and conversations with students, even if you’ve felt in the past it’s been too hard to learn anatomy. In the episode, I share information about a free guide you can download called “Ten Key Steps to Learning Anatomy.” You can get that here: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/ten-steps-to-learning-anatomy/ Email me with any questions or comments. I’d love to hear from you!

In today’s episode, you’ll meet yoga teacher Allison Ray Jeraci. Allison is an RYT 500 Hour Teacher and teaches both online and in person. Allison’s classes are filled with lots of opportunities to explore poses using various props and she has an interesting way of presenting the practice that gives the practitioner not only lots of options but cues geared towards increasing body awareness in the posture. Allison can be found on Instagram at @allisonrayjeraci.com and her IG profile directs you to her links for her classes and membership. One other note: the two teacher guides I referred to in the intro for this episode are linked below: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/mindset-tips-for-teachers/ https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/tips-for-teaching-online-classes/ And this week’s workshop registration page is below: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/masterclass/

In today’s episode, you’ll meet yoga teacher Crystal Hoyos. I met Crystal after she enrolled in my program, The Yoga Anatomy Blueprint Learning Program, and I have been so impressed with her dedication to growth and the quality of her commitment. Crystal also runs her own business so she’s got the entrepreneurial spirit as well. Here she shares her story and talks about what she’s learned as she’s expanded her understanding of anatomy. In today’s intro, I talk about a new PDF Guide I have on “Mindset Tips for Teachers.” You can get that here: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/mindset-tips-for-teachers/

In today’s episode, I share a number of shifts that you can use to change your way of thinking when it comes to teaching challenges. Sometimes, it just takes a different way of looking at things to find a better approach to teaching, connecting with your students and growing your classes. This episode covers a number of tips and you can get them in this easy to reference download: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/mindset-tips-for-teachers/

Looking for ideas to grow as a teacher and build your business? Here are some lessons I’ve learned that I was recently asked to share and I thought they’d be helpful to share here on the podcast as well. I hope you find them helpful!

In this week’s episode, you’ll meet Francisca Ruff. Fransisca is well versed in movement disciplines, having completed several trainings as well as being enrolled in my Yoga Anatomy Blueprint Learning Program. Her recent experiences in my program have given me a chance to find out more about her and I’ve seen the gains she’s made in her understanding of anatomy. Her approach to learning, including how she makes the process easy and fun is one that I wanted to share. It was a complete inspiration to find out more about her and I hope you enjoy meeting her also. Sharing stories of other teachers is a total joy to me and I hope you find inspiration in listening.

In today’s episode, I share cues for a number of poses, including Triangle, Twisting Triangle and Wheel. Once you listen, if you have any questions, send me a DM on Instagram and I’m happy to help!

In today’s episode, I share a number of stories from the past 15 years of teaching. They cover a wide range of situations and give us a chance to think about how you might have handled them. Let me know what you think after you listen!

In today’s episode, we cover some concepts about the nervous system. For reference, I refer to the Huberman Lab Podcast, Episode on Stretching. You can find it here: https://hubermanlab.com/improve-flexibility-with-research-supported-stretching-protocols/ Within my episode, I refer to a study that Dr. Huberman highlighted. Here is the study: https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/77/10/1090/2633110?login=false I end the episode with an invitation to you to join my summer workshop series that comes with an opportunity to access my online course on anatomy or the full Yoga Anatomy Blueprint Learning Program. The invitation is here: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/workshop-series/ If you have any questions, please email me at [email protected]

In today’s episode, I cover some of the common questions I hear and see from teachers. I also share at the end of the episode a shift in the format of my program to offer you more of an opportunity to enroll. If you’re ready to shift your teaching in amazing directions and step into your most powerful self as a teacher, enroll today! Send me an email at [email protected] to get your special discount off the program’s full rate.

Did you ever think of what it costs you to wait to get the training you need? Many times we only think of the cost of training; we don’t always think of the value we get. Sometimes it can be helpful to identify the costs of doing nothing or even just maintaining what you’re currently doing, knowing that it’s not getting you the results you want. This is part of what I cover in today’s episode.

In today’s episode, I’m excited to share my conversation with Joanna Sapir. Joanna Sapir has been a teacher and mentor for more than twenty years, from the classroom to the gym floor and now to wellness practices across the world. She works with established practitioners that are doing innovative and transformational work in their fields on the business-side of things like marketing, sales, and administration. Joanna's special ability is in helping practitioners step into true leadership of their businesses, find more fulfillment and purpose in their work, serve their clients more deeply - and create predictable income and streamlined systems while doing it. A San Francisco Bay Area native, she now lives in Sonoma County, is the mother of two teenaged sons, and is a national champion in Olympic-style Weightlifting. Learn more at http://joannasapir.com In the episode, Joanna refers to a podcast she did on her own show with a yoga teacher. To listen to that episode, use this link: https://www.facebook.com/JoannaSapirConsultant/videos/998221830826408 Also, Joanna shares a valuable asset with us which is a recorded MasterClass where she shares her business strategy with you. To watch that Masterclass, use this link: https://joannasapir.com/TheBareBonesYogaPodcast I hope you enjoy this episode!

This episode covers how movement can be used as a model to help people process their feelings and it’s viewed through the lens of anatomy.

Where do you spend your energies when you teach? Are they 100% focused outwardly, on helping your students? 80%? 60% The percentage here reflects how much time you’re actually spending worrying about things that have nothing to do with them.. fears about how you look or how you’re coming across or other things that you perceive are getting in the way of their experience. What would be possible for you if you could drop that entire internal dialogue and really show up 100% for them? This is what we’ll discuss today. This is a powerful discussion and one that might require you drop a few things you thoughts about yourself that just aren’t true. Ready?

So many of us are teaching virtually right now and even though I covered some of this in an earlier episode, a special listener request came in (Thank you, Linda!) so I thought it would make for a great part 2 of this topic! Also, here’s the registration page for the workshop I talk about at the start of this episode: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/free-workshop/

Test your knowledge in this week’s episode with a 20 question multiple choice quiz! Answers provided in the show so be ready to listen to the question, stop the recording, write down your answer and then hit “PLAY” to hear the answer. Get more 17 or more correct and you’ll get a special gift! Tune in for details.

Today’s episode is in part anatomy and in part a personal development lesson. The anatomy piece covers a discussion about the sacrum and cues to the sacrum in poses. We then take a turn and go into a discussion about how to create momentum in your life and especially towards your goals as a yoga teacher. As always reach out to me via DMs on Instagram or emailing me with your comments or feedback about the episode.

This week’s episode is a blend of personal teacher development and anatomy lessons. I cover some anatomy themes about the roles muscles play and then offer you a number of inquiry questions that can lead to growth as a teacher. DM me on Instagram or email me at [email protected] to set up a call to discuss any questions you have.

As a yoga teacher, do you think of your voice as a tool? It’s a powerful way you can connect with your students but you might not be using it to its full potential. On today’s show, meet Voice and Dialect Coach, Katherine Beck, who walks us through how to not only speak clearly but uncover the source of our vocal quality and move past some of what might be holding us back from sharing in an authentic and confident way. Katherine has an interesting personal story and a passion for helping people communicate and reach people in a way only they can. You can find out more about Katherine by visiting her website, katherinebeck.com and also join her Masterclass on 4/25/22 and 4/26/22 using this link: https://www.katherinebeck.com/masterclass

What does transformation look like for a yoga teacher when confidence starts to build? Well, for Mindy Horgan, you’ll hear in her own words what that looks like. Mindy is an experienced and dedicated nurse and is also a yoga teacher. Her background as a nurse in the medical field gives her a solid basis for her understanding of the body and she wanted to learn how to leverage what she knew in a way that would help her be more confident in her teaching. When she enrolled in my program, The Yoga Anatomy Blueprint Learning Program, we began by having her go through the online course part of the program and then after 3 weeks, met for our first coaching call. This is part of each teacher’s experience in the program and on that first call, teachers have a chance to ask questions and bring all the pieces of what they’re learning together. Mindy’s call was filled with so many “light bulb moments” that I wanted to share it as an example of what’s possible for teachers when they take some time to build a foundation of anatomy knowledge. Once you listen, if you would like the video that goes with this episode, just email me at [email protected].

In today’s episode, I’ll introduce you to the easy process you can take to transform your teaching. To help you learn, I’ll be doing a free series on both Tik Tok and Instragram. All the details are in this episode and the content is evergreen, meaning it doesn’t matter when you listen; you can still take advantage of the learning and be on your way to transforming as a teacher. To follow me on IG and TT, just follow @barebonesyoga

Join in and listen to some of the questions I got this week during coaching calls with teachers. The questions ranged from anatomy based to cue techniques to sequencing. Maybe you’ll hear one of the questions you’ve had and this can give you some guidance.

The process of building good habits as a yoga teacher can start with small things. In this episode, I review five things you can do to test your knowledge, get out there teaching (or more teaching) and build your knowledge. In one of the steps. I mention my download on sequence building. Here’s that download: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-build-a-yoga-sequence-lead-page/ And remember, if you’re feeling stuck, just DM me on Instagram or email me to book a call.

Rachele Pojednic, Ph.D., Ed.M is an assistant professor and program director of exercise science in Norwich University’s Health and Human Performance Department and a research associate at the Institute of Lifestyle Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Rachele’s work examines nutrition and physical activity education for health care and fitness professionals as well as overall diet, supplementation and physical activity interventions on muscle physiology, chronic disease and healthy aging. She received her doctorate from the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy in Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. She also holds a Master of Education in Physical Education from Boston University and a Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary and Exercise Science from Northeastern University. Her research at Tufts was completed in the Nutrition, Exercise Physiology and Sarcopenia laboratory at the U.S. Department of Argiculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, where she received the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. In 2022, she received a ($24,939) Vermont Biomedical Research Network Pilot Award for her project “The Perceived Effect versus Biomarkers of Cannabidiol on Muscle Recovery in Active Adult Women.” Rachele has a passion for science communication and has been a consultant and writer for several organizations. Her work has appeared in Time, Popular Science, Self, Shape, Women's Health, Forbes, Runner’s World and Boston magazines. You can find her on Instagram at @rachelepojednic and register for her course on nutrition using this link: https://strong-process.teachable.com/p/nutrition-for-health-coaches-and-fitness-professionals

Are you in charge of your money and do you have a strategy to make money from your yoga studio business, be that a studio, online offer or as an independent teacher? Join me today to hear how you can get control of your money and finances by meeting Katelyn Webb. Katelyn is a former corporate finance manager who has left the corporate world to offer yoga teachers and specifically studio owners a way to create a profitable money strategy. You can find Katelyn on Instagram at [email protected] and email her at [email protected]

Do you ever find yourself letting fear get in the way of starting to teach? This can be something that prevents a newer teacher from getting started or can get in the way of a more experienced teacher taking on more classes. The fear of being seen is a common one and when we are worried about others looking at us, maybe we feel “less than” or “like an imposter,” it can be a barrier to starting teaching or taking on new challenges. I cover this topic in today’s episode and give you tips for how you can move past it.

Going back to school and taking on a huge topic is something only a fearless teacher would do and that’s what yoga teacher, Amy Sullivan did! Join me as I find out more about what Amy’s been up to, her significant experience as a yoga teacher and why she went back to graduate school to study psychology. It’s a fascinating conversation that I hope you’ll enjoy!

What does mechanical engineering, pilates, entrepreneurship and mindful movement have in common? Well, you’re going to have to listen to this episode to find out! You’ll meet the inspiring Kaleen Canevari, Founder and CEO of Flexia Pilates, www.flexiapilates.com and she will share her story with you. What’s in her story? It’s the path of a mechanical engineer who found pilates and wanted to help others benefit from it the way she did. It’s about starting a business, taking risks and all that comes in between. I know you’re going to love finding out more about her and I hope you find inspiration to do what YOU want to do as a result of listening!

In her second appearance on the podcast, my friend and colleague Allison Chamberlain Jones returns to share her own personal story and journey of late as well as shares more about her work with wellness entrepreneurs helping them move past limiting beliefs around money. These limiting beliefs can hold us back from not only success but joy and she perfectly helps us break it down into digestible pieces of a process as well as shares more about her group coaching program. Find out more about Allison on her IG at allison.chamberlain.jones and her website, allisonchamberlainjones.com where she shares the details of her program.

In today’s episode, we meet Jaeden Schafer, the founder of SelfPause, an app that’s designed to help people shift their mindset by having them listen to positive affirmations. There’s quite a bit of neuroscience around the positive effects of hearing positive, motivating thoughts and through the app the thoughts are either generated by the app or can be recorded by the listener. Our conversation is a wonderful exploration of the power of positive thinking, but not in a “Pollyanna” way but more in the way that this method can shift how you see the world. You can download the app in Apple’s app store and read more about it on selfpause.com

Where does confidence come from as a yoga teacher? Check out this week’s episode for a discussion several areas that you can focus on to build your confidence.

After a quick discussion around goal setting, we get into a review of 3 studies that take a look at the effect of the technique of myofascial release on range of motion, time to recover and performance. The three studies covered are linked up below: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6931154/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25968853/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26618062/

In today’s episode we meet yoga teacher and life coach, Angela Wagner. Angela has years of experience in both teaching and training teachers and an extensive background as a life coach. We discuss her journey as a teacher, educator and coach and also cover a number of topics related to personal growth. You can find out more about her programs at www.angelawagner.com

As yoga teachers, we certainly appreciate the importance of having a solid foundation in the yoga poses. When we look more closely at the feet, there’s so much more than just the anatomy to consider, although that’s part of it. In this episode, meet Dr. Emily Splichal, a functional podiatrist, Human Movement Specialist, Global Educator at @ebfa_barefooteducation and the CEO and Founder of @naboso_technology. Dr. Splichal takes us through both the anatomy and functional application of many parts of considering the importance of the feet in both yoga practice, yoga teaching and life. We also end this episode with a few tips you can do daily to keep your feet healthy. To find out more about Dr. Splichal’s programs, including her certification program, visit her website at https://www.dremilysplichal.com/

In today’s episode, you’ll meet an amazing yoga teacher who is also a martial arts instructor, Laurien Zurhake. Laurien lives in Germany and along with her husband, runs a studio that offers both martial arts and yoga. Their focus is trauma informed teaching and the way she trains her instructors as well as teaches her students is with a trauma informed approach. We discuss the definition of trauma, the neuroscience at work when someone has experienced trauma and techniques that you can use as a yoga teacher to have a greater awareness for your students who might have experienced trauma. I think you’ll find this episode fascinating and covering a very important subject. To find out more and follow Laurien on social media, use the links below: www.off-the-zone.com @off_the_zone

Follow along as we review some of the topics and lessons shared in 2021 on the podcast.

Have you ever thought about teaching yoga in a pool? Maybe you love the pool or live in a warm climate and thought, “It’d be great to practice in the pool!” Well, even if that thought hasn’t crossed your mind, today’s episode is going to blow your mind. You’ll meet Christa Fairbrother, an international water yoga coach and trainer, helping women practice self-care with aqua yoga. Our conversation starts out talking about her work with horses, moves on to her work as a teacher and how she transitioned into focusing primarily on teaching students in the pool and why. Her personal story is inspiring, her way of being is inspiring and I think you’ll be super inspired listening to this one. To connect with her on Instagram, see @aquacontentyogi and her website is christafairbrother.com

Teachers, in this episode, you’ll learn all about how to set up an online business as part of what you offer your students. This is an amazing episode in that Susanne demystifies the steps it will take to get you going with an online offer. We cover lots of ideas from setting up online classes to building an online course. You can connect with Susanne on Instagram @susannerieker and you can also check out her website at https://www.susannerieker.com/ Also, see the additional resources below that she refers to in this episode. Online course starter kit: https://www.susannerieker.com/starterkit/ Podcast episode with 15 ideas for yoga related online courses: https://www.susannerieker.com/15-ideas-yoga-online-courses/

As yoga teachers, we mainly deal with the major muscles of movement but we also need to know about the pelvic floor muscles. In this episode, I interview Physical Therapist, Ashley Hocutt, who specializes in pelvic health. We cover her area of focus in her practice as well as discuss the muscles involved in the pelvic area. We discuss implications for yoga teachers, especially as it relates to seeing students who are pregnant or postpartum and also discuss general things to be aware of when it comes to pelvic health. Ashley is a great resource and you can contact her via her website: https://www.bluedoorpt.com/ You can also find her on Instagram at @ashleyhocutt

In today’s episode, I review the function of the gluteus maximus and how you can sequence your classes to strengthen this important hip muscle. I refer to a commentary from the science literature for details and mentioned that I’d share the link to the commentary here. You can find it below: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6670060/ Join me in class! Sign up here: https://barebonesyoga.com/virtual-classes/ Join me at my end of the year event, designed JUST for yoga teachers. Expert speakers, yoga class, guided meditation and more. Get the details and join me on 12/11. Click the link below: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/bare-bones-yoga-teacher-virtual-meet-up/

In this episode, I cover two main topics: how to create a system and a process for completing an online learning program and two concepts in exercise science. While these topics might not seem related, once you listen you’ll see how they connect. Please send me a DM on Instagram and let me know what you think!

Are you looking for new sequencing ideas? Join me for a discussion of different themes you can use for your classes. Also, download my sequence building template to help you format it all! Use the link here: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-build-a-yoga-sequence-lead-page/

Have you ever thought about including meditation or guided imagery in your teaching? Maybe you’ve wanted to do it but you’re not sure how to include or what you’d say. Well, this week, tune in for yoga teacher Kelly Smith’s conversation with me because we take a deep dive into how to integrate this into your classes. Kelly tells her origin story as a yoga teacher and shares her journey of building her own yoga teacher training program and yoga business. Here’s a bit of background on Kelly: Kelly Smith is a globally renowned yoga and meditation teacher, E-RYT 500 /YACEP, founder of Yoga For You, and host of the chart-topping Mindful in Minutes podcast and its spin-off, Meditation Mama. With over 6 million downloads across 181 countries, Kelly’s wildly successful show and accessible but powerful approach to mindfulness have solidified her as a rising star in the world of yoga and meditation. Kelly was first drawn to yoga as a teenager, when she saw the therapeutic mental and physical benefits the practice had on her mom during her battle with breast cancer. Several years and over 8,000 hours of teaching later, what began as a modest studio in the rural Midwest has evolved into Yoga for You, a location independent yoga and meditation school that has served thousands of students located all through the US, Canada, and the UK. Kelly specializes in the non physical limbs of yoga and is best known for her master trainings and workshops in meditation, restorative yoga, and yoga nidra, as well as her international yoga and mindfulness retreats. Kelly’s teaching philosophy is grounded in her belief that yoga and meditation is not one-size-fits-all; she encourages her students and listeners to find their own personal practice, listen to their bodies, and find inner joy by accessing their most authentic selves and owning their power. You can connect with Kelly on Instagram at @yogaforyouonline.

In today’s episode, I’m thrilled to introduce you to a dear friend, Patty Ivey, fellow yoga teacher whom I have known for almost 20 years. Patty and I go into how we met in the episode and she talks about her journey to finding yoga and owning a highly successful group of yoga studios in Washington, DC, called Down Dog Yoga. Patty’s work today, while it still includes working with the studios and training teachers, focuses primarily on coaching leaders. She helps people find their power and most effective and authentic way of being, using coaching techniques she honed while working for many years to develop the teaching staff as well as in her work running several other businesses prior to Down Dog Yoga. Patty and I get into a conversation about what holds people back from being their best self, what kinds of fears get in the way of all of us being happy and doing what we love and shares different techniques that we all can use to improve our lives and grow our impact. You can find out more about Patty on her website at www.pattyivey.com

There’s no denying that the past 18 months has greatly affected the yoga industry. While it can be easy to fall into the story of how hard it’s been, there are also new opportunities and ways you can move forward with positivity and a strategy and plan. Molly Casto, the owner of The Practice Power Yoga in Bozeman Montana is a great example of a teacher who has come out of this time stronger. Molly shares her personal story of how she started practicing here in this episode along with how she transitioned to teaching, to owning a studio and to leading her studio through the pandemic. You can find out more about Molly and her studio and take classes with her using this link: https://thepracticepoweryoga.com/

In today’s episode, I have the opportunity to interview Jules Mitchell, MS, CMT, ERYT500, about her new book, “Yoga Biomechanics: Stretching Redefined.” In this conversation, you’ll hear as we cover some of what the book is about along with a touching on some of the concepts and definitions presented within it. For more information about Jules, how to order the book and how to sign up for her book club experience, visit www.julesmitchell.com.

Join me for a wonderful look into the latest book by author Rebecca Pacheco, as she explores themes of meditation and mindfulness in her latest book, Still Life. Rebecca is the author of “Do Your Om Thing” (Harper Collins, 2015) and skillfully presents the reader with an instruction guide to learning this time-tested tradition, while weaving personal stories into the narrative. Rebecca’s writing style feels like the friend you need right now to listen and guide you through stressful times and also at the same time, through showing her own vulnerability, encourages you to be bold in showing your’s as well. You can get Rebecca’s book anywhere books are sold and find her on Instagram @omgal. Rebecca Pacheco is the author of two books: Still Life: The Myths and Magic of Mindful Living, published by HarperCollins in August 2021 and Do Your Om Thing (2015), which was named one of the “top ten yoga and meditation books every yogi needs” by Yoga Journal and is used in teacher training programs across the United States. She has more than 20 years of experience practicing and teaching yoga and meditation and has appeared on NPR and The CBC and been featured in Forbes, The Huffington Post, Reuters, and more. She frequently contributes to the Boston Globe on a range of mind-body topics and is a graduate of the University of Richmond, where she studied English Literature and Women’s Studies. She lives in Boston with her family.