Conversations for Yoga Teachers

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.

Listen in while we break down some not-so-commonly taught poses into their anatomy and cues you can use. I also refer to a cues download I have which you can get here: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/yoga-cues-evaluation/

In today’s world, we hear about data a lot when it comes to the climate and the pandemic. But in the yoga world, we often speak from experience and tradition. Is there a place for data in yoga teaching? I share some thoughts on this along with a quick review of an anatomy concept and a conversation about teaching skills.

Over the past week and a half, I hosted 3 workshops on teaching skills. In today’s episode, I review the highlights of those workshops which covered effective cueing techniques, building yoga sequences and how to confidently answer student questions. Because all of these skills depend on your knowledge of anatomy, I offer you a chance to enroll in my Blueprint Learning Program at the end of the episode. I only open enrollment a few times a year and as a follow up to this free training, I am opening enrollment to help you round out your anatomy knowledge so that you can be confident in applying these skills. For the link to register for the training, which has the 3 workshops, you can click the link below. Even though the workshops are done, the replays will be available until 9/25: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/the-bare-bones-yoga-facebook-live-workshops/ For the invitation to review my offer to you to enroll in the Blueprint Learning Program, click here: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/blueprint-learning-program

Let’s do a quick review of shoulder movements, muscles and then translate it into cues you can use when you teach. I also mention my free training happening this week. To register, click here: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/the-bare-bones-yoga-facebook-live-workshops/

Do you feel like you’re a cork in the ocean, floating around teaching and not really sure how things are going? You might have some strong feelings either way about your teaching or maybe you’re clear on goals you have. In either case, this episode will help you get really clear. Here I review a set of self-evaluation questions you can ask yourself to help you start to measure how you’re doing. Let’s face it; we can’t poll everyone that comes to our classes and that might not even be a great barometer anyway. So, take a listen and see if what I share here is helpful. As always, I welcome your feedback via DM’ing me on IG at @barebonesyoga.

As teachers, we refer to pelvic movement a lot in our classes. Several poses require the pelvis tip forward, and some require the pelvis to tip back or to the side. In this episode, I review the movements the pelvis makes and how you can understand the anatomy and be skilled at cueing to it when you teach. I also mention my free training that starts on 9/9 and runs on 9/9, 9/14 and 9/16, all at 2 pm ET. You can join these trainings by joining my special Facebook group called, “The Bare Bones Yoga Facebook Live Workshop Series.” Starting on 9/1, I’ll be sending everyone on my mailing list and via my social media all the details with links to join. In this series of 3 workshops, I’ll be covering the critical skills teachers are looking to build: How to cue, how to build sequences and how to answer student questions with confidence. Hope to see you there!

Are you looking for cue ideas for fundamental poses? The poses you teach all the time? Well, I figured you were. But I wasn’t sure which poses yoga teachers were wondering about so I asked You Tube! I know you all are on You Tube daily, putting in your questions about teaching. I asked You Tube and got search results for 5 of the most popular poses teachers search. The result is this podcast. I hope you enjoy it!

Are you out there in the free content world trying to learn anatomy? Let me help you by giving you a guide to what to study. Listen in and I’ll walk you through an organized process.

Do you feel like you’re a cork in the ocean, floating around teaching and not really sure how things are going? You might have some strong feelings either way about your teaching or maybe you’re clear on goals you have. In either case, this episode will help you get really clear. Here I review a set of self-evaluation questions you can ask yourself to help you start to measure how you’re doing. Let’s face it; we can’t poll everyone that comes to our classes and that might not even be a great barometer anyway. So, take a listen and see if what I share here is helpful. As always, I welcome your feedback via DM’ing me on IG at @barebonesyoga.com.

Sometimes on the podcast, I love doing interviews with people outside the yoga industry. Today you’ll meet Jonathan Levitt, endurance athlete and sales manager at Inside Tracker, a wellness platform designed to help you track critical biometrics to not only improve performance but also longevity and overall health in your life. We cover his love of running, pushing himself to do more and how this all translates to so much in life. We also get into Inside Tracker itself so you can learn more about how it works and how you can benefit from signing up.

Looking for ideas for anatomy based sequencing? Look no further than this quick episode. I reviewed 3 different themes, give you pose examples as well as the muscles involved. Don’t forget to download my sequence building template here: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-build-a-yoga-sequence-lead-page/

Imagine you were going on a trip and at the start of the trip, you knew you wanted to learn anatomy but you weren’t sure how. But you knew that if you just followed the map, you’d know it at the end of your trip and you’d be able to use it in your cues, sequences and conversations with your students. Well, this is what I’m going to walk you through today. So, get your journal because you’re going to want to take notes for this one!

We all face challenges in our lives and are trying to juggle both personal and work commitments. But are there ways to do this better, so that we’re able to also find our true purpose and take steps to realize it? These are some of the things that you’ll hear discussed on this episode, my interview with international yoga teacher, Amber Hagberg. Amber leads teacher trainings as well as her own mentorship program and is a wealth of knowledge about not only yoga but personal development. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed interviewing her. The best way to find out more about Amber is to connect with her on Instagram at @amberhagberg.

Do you feel like you have integrity as a teacher? Listen in as we explore the areas of integrity that affect us as teachers. This is an important topic not only for us as teachers but for our growth individually. See what comes up for you as you listen and leave a comment on my IG page, Bare Bones Yoga.

Ever wonder how to do arm balances and inversions? Well, you’re going to find out in today’s episode when you meet the amazing founder of Yogi Flight School! Nathania Stambouii is an E-RYT 500 and she started a program to teach arm balances and inversions and along the way, found that it really taught people so much more about themselves. Listen in as she shares her personal story of finding yoga, her initial journey as a teacher and studio owner and what inspired her to create this unique program. You can find out more about her program at yogiflightschool.com

Are you unsure of what steps to take now that the yoga studios are open? There is no denying that the pandemic took its toll on the yoga industry. Much of what we knew as teachers has changed and rather than just jump back into what we used to do, we each have a chance to look at what we want to do. Listen in as I share ideas about how you can craft a new vision for your teaching that’s in tune with how you want to teach and highlights your unique abilities. Don’t forget to check out the Practice Portal here: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/bare-bones-yoga-practice-portal/

Have you started seeing students privately for yoga since the pandemic ended? Listen in as I share a number of scenarios of students you might see in one on one sessions and suggesting for what you can offer. In this episode, I start out by sharing the offer for my Practice Portal. You can find out about that here: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/bare-bones-yoga-practice-portal/

Ever wonder about all those terms that refer to muscles as well as how you can use this information when you teach? I’ve got you covered here with today’s episode! I refer also to my workshop on Wednesday at 6 pm EST on the topic of Effective Cues. To sign up click here: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/free-workshop/

Find out more about the WHY behind 5 cues you’ve most likely heard or might even be using! Once you find out the WHY behind the cue, it allows you to teach with confidence because you know the full story! In this episode, I invite you to my free workshop on cues happening on 6/9/21 at 6 pm ET. To sign up, visit: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/free-workshop/

Is your teaching being driven by how YOU want to show up for others or by outside influences or assumptions you’re making about how you’re SUPPOSED to show up? Listen to today’s episode for a discussion about how you can tap into what makes you truly unique as a teacher and how you can use these questions to uncover your true genius as a teacher. As I mention in the episode, DM me on Instagram for the full list.

Did you ever feel exhausted when you’re done teaching? Or start to hate the sound of your own voice saying the same thing over and over? We’ve all been there in one way or another and today’s episode will give you some actionable things you can do to positively shift your teaching! After that discussion on teaching skills, I move into topic 2, which is a discussion about prime movers, muscles that are responsible for creating joint action. I review several poses and talk about what muscle is the prime mover and how you could refer to it in an anatomy cue. Listen closely at the top for some neat announcements, especially my Anatomy Summer School opportunity.

Strange title, isn’t it? However, once you listen it will make sense. In this episode, I review a few poses and their anatomy and how to share it in your cues. I also review some self-limiting beliefs teachers have shared with me and how to move past them. Leave a comment wherever you are listening!

One of the main ways we share what we know and we help our students grow is via the sequences we offer. In this episode, I share thoughts on sequencing along with a step by step process you can follow to build your sequences. To download the tool I refer to in this episode, use this link: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-build-a-yoga-sequence-lead-page/

Have you ever wondered about the practices of Ayurveda and how you can use this ancient, time tested approach to health to improve and expand your wellness? Well, wonder no more because this week’s episode will break it all down for you! Here is the background of my guest: SUSAN WEIS-BOHLEN is an author and Ayurvedic consultant. Pre-COVID, she taught cooking, meditation, and led sacred site tours, mostly in India. In 2008 Susan received her first certification in Ayurveda from the Chopra Center in California. In subsequent years she studied with Dr. Vasant Lad in New Mexico and India, and Ayurvedic cookbook author and teacher, Amadea Morningstar, in New Mexico. Susan's first book is the best-seller, Ayurveda Beginner’s Guide: Essential Ayurvedic Principles & Practices to Balance and Heal Naturally, (February 2018, Althea Press). It has sold over 30,000 copies and has been translated into 4 languages. Her new book is, Seasonal Self-Care Rituals: Eat, Breathe Move and Sleep Better According to Your Dosha, (December 2020, Simon & Schuster/Tiller Press) You can subscribe to Susan’s newsletter and read her blog at www.breatheayurveda.com. Breathe Ayurveda on FB; and Instagram @susanweisbohlen Susan lives with her husband Larry and their three dogs, Ella, Shadow and Joonie (a rescue from Pune, India), in the woods in Reisterstown, Maryland just outside of Baltimore City. I hope you enjoy this episode!

There’s no denying that understanding even the most basic aspects of hand and wrist anatomy is super important for yoga teachers. Joining me today on the podcast is a very special guest, Dr. Peter Kim, of New England Baptist Hospital in Boston. Dr. Kim brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the conversation about not only anatomy but functional movement as well as injury prevention and treatment. It was a pleasure and an honor to have him on the show and I’m excited for you all to listen to the episode. If you live in the Boston area and are in need of an excellent physician who specializes in hand and wrist, contact Dr. Kim.

Rick has worked in the fitness industry since 2002 as a trainer, licensed massage therapist, college and university adjunct professor, NASM faculty instructor, author, subject matter expert and talent for fitness industry educational videos, textbooks, and web-based content. He has presented at numerous fitness conferences within the US and internationally. As an entrepreneur, he is the owner of Independent Training Spot, NYC-based personal training gyms for independent trainers to rent space and run their own businesses. He also developed a continuing education company for personal trainers called HMS Resources. Rick hosts the NASM CPT Podcast and holds a master’s degree in exercise science and a doctorate in health science. On the podcast today, we go into his origin story, his philosophy towards health, training and teaching and he also answers some specific questions I pose about different scenarios we see in yoga teaching. You can follow him on Instagram at dr.rickrichey.

Have you ever had a dream you were unwilling to let go of and you kept it in the front of your mind and in your heart for years? That’s the theme of today’s episode as I interview my dear friend, Margaret Furtado. Margaret is a Registered Dietician, author, speaker and wellness expert and while she had an established career in nutrition, she always wanted to be a physician. She recently graduated from medical school and matched at Roger Williams Medical Center for her residency. Listen in as she talks about her own journey as you will find themes that help you connect to your dream and the path to get there as well.

If you’re trying to learn anatomy on your own, it can be hard to know where to start. In this episode, I share a step by step process for learning anatomy that will take some of the overwhelm out of it. To get the free download that goes with this episode, click below: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/ten-steps-to-learning-anatomy/

Even though I’ve covered this before, each time I do, I always share a little more and share in a different way. So, if you caught this topic the first time, listen in for new information. If this is your first time, welcome and listen in to this topic. I discuss red flags to look for in teaching and the anatomy rationale behind them. Download your guide that goes with this episode here: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/five-alignment-red-flags/

Ever wonder what muscles make up the “glutes” or the “rotator cuff?” Well, I’ve got you covered in this episode where I share a breakdown of different groups of muscles that people refer to all the time. It’s important as a teacher you be able to break down these groups into the individual muscles and know what each of them does. I also share a bit at the start of this episode on sequence building and mention a free sequence building template you can download which is here: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-build-a-yoga-sequence-lead-page/

Studying the muscles is a core part of understanding anatomy. However, it’s also where teachers can feel the most frustrated because of the amount of information out there. In this episode I share a format for studying muscles that will make the process more manageable. However, there’s only so much you can do on your own; to learn muscles in a structured way, in the context of a program, get on the wait list for my signature program on anatomy, The Blueprint Learning Program. You can get on the wait list here: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/blueprint-course-coaching-program-waitlist/ I also shared a comment at the end about a recent workshop I did on cues. To watch that, you can click here: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/free-webinar-on-yoga-cues/

We’ll start out this episode with an overview of some general movement principles and then launch into a conversation about key bones and joints. I also share an opportunity for you to enroll in my monthly membership, The Bare Bones Yoga Practice Portal. For those of you who enroll this week for only $10.99, you’ll get a free myofacial release set which you can use for some of the practices on the Portal. To find out more, use this link: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/bare-bones-yoga-practice-portal/

How has your teaching changed since the start of the pandemic? Listen here as one of the teachers in my program, The Blueprint Learning Program, shares how her teaching has shifted and how she has created opportunities to reach people, even at a time when people might be holding off. I start out the episode covering a few questions I hear from teachers time and time again. It’s so important we start applying what we know about anatomy to many of the things that teachers tend to do all the time and question whether they make sense. You’ll hear more about that in this episode. I also offer you a chance to watch my free workshop that I held this weekend on how to to give effective cues. You can catch that workshop here: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/Jq2U6k1Qlw4ZKLCACcFOLWAJg3RBibqdyg9duwU8mH1wiDQ24rJJtCVvxy-arj7D.fNwWZSI3ss5a-DDJ?startTime=1614546246000

Do you ever wonder why you fall short of reaching your goals? Ever find that fear or resistance gets in the way? Ever feel like you know what you need to do but you just can’t seem to be motivated to get it done? Well, join me for today’s episode where I interview mental performance coach, Dr. Pete Kadushin, PhD, CMPC. Dr. Pete Kadushin is a Mental Performance Coach and educator. Pete brings with him a passion for helping people grow and over a decade of performance psychology and mental training experience. In addition having taught at both Western Colorado University and Boston University, Pete's had the privilege of working with a wide array of athletes, coaches, first responders, and businesses with the goal of helping them to perform closer to their physical and mental best more consistently. There’s a lot we discuss in this one hour interview and we make a great deal of it applicable to yoga teachers. Once you’ve listened, please email me with any specific questions you have so we can bring him on for a future episode.

As I mentioned in Episode 114, I believe that right now is the perfect time to craft an offer for your students, friends and family for private yoga. People are most likely tired of practicing alone but may not be ready to practice in classes given their concerns around COVID. So, offering private sessions is a great bridge to a time in the future when the studios are thriving again. However, regardless of that aspect, working with students privately will always be a valuable offer because it’s a chance for them to get a totally customized experience. However, if you’re hesitant to offer it because you’re worried about seeing someone with an injury, don’t worry! This episode will have you covered. I reference a download you can get that goes along with the episode. Here it is: DOWNLOAD. I also referenced my offer for the One Day Mentorship Intensive. You can check out that offer here but it’s only good until Friday, 2/19/21: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/one-day-mentorship-intensive/ Also, remember at the end of this episode I encourage to text me with your questions and I’ll answer them on the next episode. Listen to the end for that number and more on that.

What would be possible for you if you were to devote one day to your growth as a teacher? What topics would you cover? Would you read an anatomy book? Would you watch videos on building a business? Would you meditate on your vision? I’ll bet all of those things would be covered and more. But further, what would be possible if you had an experienced mentor guiding you through each topic? I’ll bet you could grow even more. In this episode, I take you through an 8 step framework that you can use on your own or with me in my one day mentorship intensive. You’ll have to listen to the episode to find out the details but in the episode, I share the link to find out more. You can check that out right here: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/one-day-mentorship-intensive/

There’s no denying the brain’s role in human movement. However, did you ever think about (no pun intended) how the brain’s ability to store bits of information about your past patterns might be holding you back? In this episode I share a bit of what I’ve learned about neuroscience and then transition into a conversation about a related field, Neurolinguistic Programming, or NLP. This is an excerpt from a presentation I did this weekend at my wellness event and people loved it! References for the information presented are as follows: “7 1/2 Lessons about the Brain,” Lisa Feldman Barrett, “NLP: The Essential Guide,” Tom Hoobyar and “The Huberman Lab Podcast.”

I firmly believe the future, at least for the short time, is for people to attend yoga sessions privately due to safety concerns about meeting in groups in studios. So, for today’s episode, I cove all that’s involved in seeing clients privately, both from a business perspective and an anatomy/practice perspective. At the end of the episode, I share with you how I can help you build out a strategy so listen until the end.

Have you ever heard a cue and you’re not sure what the anatomy rationale is for the cue? In this episode, I share a system with you so you can evaluate cues on your own, based on the anatomy knowledge you have. This is one of my most popular topics and I’m always asked questions about evaluating cues so I thought it would be helpful to go over it again.

Listen for an easy to implement approach to building sequences. Get the download that goes with this episode here: https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-build-a-yoga-sequence-lead-page/

Join me for a frank and honest discussion about what’s involved in setting goals and reaching them. This is not just your “same old” discussion about goal setting. I talk about a lot of the things that hold people back from setting and reaching their goals. I also give you a model for creating goals for 2021 but first, a way to review how your 2020 went. This is an important place to start. Once you go through the process I describe, you’ll be empowered to take on all that 2021 can be for you!

In the second of my recent set of episodes where I interview yoga teachers, I continue with this one, my interview with long time colleague, Allison Chamberlain Jones. Allison is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher and also a Reiki practitioner, an astrologist and a manifestation coach. She and I talk about her journey as a teacher, her path to opening a studio with a friend and how that journey shifted as she realized her true passion for helping others was around helping guide them to be the best version of themselves by releasing self-limiting beliefs around money and what’s possible for them in business. Find out more about Allison at her Instagram page, allison.chamberlain.jones.

Do you feel like yourself when you teach? Listen in for a discussion around what it means to teach authentically and how you can get closer to that “way of being” that allows your teaching to feel effortless.

The journey of a yoga teacher and fitness instructor in these pandemic times is one of many challenges. Meet Erin Madore, one of my colleagues here in the Boston area and an experienced Yoga Teacher as well as Fitness Professional and Reiki Master. Erin’s story of opening a studio a year ago, her inspiration to do so and how she and her business were effected by the COVID pandemic is a story you won’t want to miss. Erin takes you through the business background, how she developed and executed on the vision for the business as well as how she pivoted as things were shifting in the area due to COVID safety regulations. You’ll learn so much from her story and at the same time, connect to how authentically she shares. Enjoy this one with a hot cup of tea and relax and enjoy!