Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast

Are 200 and 500 hour designations meaningful, or are they just gatekeeping? Andrew Tanner, CEO of American Yoga Council, is uniquely qualified to speak on the topic; his past includes owning multiple studios, leading Kripalu School of Yoga and Ayurveda, a stint as a Yoga Alliance board member, and later leading its Standards Review project. Andrew describes founding the American Yoga Council as a public benefit corporation to improve yoga education and help professionals earn a living through transparent, competency-based school standards with accountability, member benefits like insurance and continuing education, revenue sharing back to teachers and schools, and consumer tools to match people with the right yoga for their needs. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:43 Andrew’s Yoga Journey 04:39 Kripalu Lessons and Trust 09:53 How (& why) Yoga Alliance isn’t living up to its potential 13:57 Why AYC Exists 14:47 Competency Standards and Accountability 20:33 Specialist Badges and Niching 26:47 Marketing Yoga to the Public 31:17 How to Learn More &  Final Thoughts EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: American Yoga Council (use code MADO30 for 30% off membership) LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Planning your first yoga retreat? Let’s make sure the math actually works! In this episode, you’ll hear a real-life retreat planning conversation about pricing, minimum enrollment, deposits, cancellation policies, and how to make sure you’re paying yourself for all the work that goes into creating a retreat. We also talk about how to communicate the value you bring when the retreat center already offers yoga, Ayurveda, food, and other experiences. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:54 Is it OK to Run a Retreat Over the Holidays? 02:48 Cancellation Terms with a Short Timeline 04:19 What’s the optimal length for a retreat? 05:13 Sustainable Approaches to Pricing 11:25 The reality of minimum numbers 16:40 How to communicate urgency without being salesy 20:46 Deposits and Refunds 25:38 Defining Your Value 29:51 Curating Guest Experts 34:19 Vetting Retreat Centers 38:24 Wrap Up and Next Steps EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Retreat Roadmap Get on the priority registration list for Mado's Yoga + Hiking in the French Alps October 2027 (Registration opens September 2026) Monisha's Website Monisha's Instagram   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Dreaming of leading your first yoga retreat? Save yourself time and potential headaches by following this two-step retreat center vetting process that covers everything from communication red flags to the fine print on cancellations. In this episode, you’ll hear exactly how I narrow down my options for retreat venues, compare apples to apples, and read between the lines to find the best venue for your first yoga retreat. If you aren’t sure exactly what questions you need to ask a retreat center before booking with them, tune in for practical advice for choosing the venue for your first or next yoga retreat. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 Why retreat leaders get stuck at step one 01:06 Start with the geographic region, but don’t get attached 02:30 Dedicated retreat centers vs hotels vs vacation rentals 06:07 Phase One: The non-negotiables 07:36 How to compare prices 08:59 Communication red flag 10:15 Phase Two: The fine print and extras 16:26 What to do when the choice isn’t clear 18:14 Contracts, deposits, & next steps EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Retreat Roadmap LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Many yoga retreat leaders have never attended a retreat as a guest. In this episode, I share 12 reasons why retreat leaders should prioritize experiencing a retreat from the other side. Some of these reasons are personal, such as forcing you to take a break, while others are more practical, like discovering your operational blind spots. Since finances are often a major hurdle, I also share three ways that retreat leaders can get discounts on other people’s retreats. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 Why Leaders Skip Retreats 01:07 Leader vs Guest Reality 03:46 Reason 1: Self-Care Reset 04:08 Reason 2: Spot Blind Spots 05:20 Reason 3: Reinvigorate Your Practice 06:04 Reason 4: The Food 06:56 Reason 5: Stop Overstuffing Your Retreat Schedule 08:11 Reason 6: Retreat Yoga is Different From Home Yoga 09:09 Reason 7: Retreat Social Dynamics 10:02 Reason 8: Build Confidence & Calm 10:43 Reason 9: Market Research 12:45 Reason 10: Venue Research 13:06 Reason 11: Reduce Taxable Income 13:36 Reason 12: Force Yourself to Rest 14:42 Money Objections and Values 16:27 3 Ways to Get Discounted Retreats 21:09 Why Retreats Support a Sustainable Yoga Business EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Retreat Roadmap LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Mado shares her top 5 tips for sequencing a 20 minute demo class to audition for a teaching position.   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Why yoga studios ask for a 20 minute audition. How to do research for the teaching job you are hoping to get.  What to focus on when you don’t have enough time to sequence a full class experience.  Teaching techniques you can use in your demo and beyond. How to have a plan for if you start running out of time and can’t teach everything you prepared. How to show up as your best self - even when you’re nervous.   EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Get a free downloadable cheat sheet based on this episode when you sign up for my email list.   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe