Leadership and Yoga

Today I sat down with Lisa Braun, also known as “lessonsbylisa” in the online world. Lisa is a wellness expert and yoga coach. Before yoga, she was a successful journalist for esteemed platforms like CBS News, BBC, Thomson Reuters and an entertainment TV Host on YouTube. Join us for a conversation on authenticity, creativity, teaching yoga, the importance of music and dance, mental health and an overall behind the scenes look into Lisa's life. IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE WITH LISA, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE & DROP ME A RATING. Thank you!! Find Lisa on instagram: @lessonsbylisa Find me on instagram: @shawnakru Join the Podcast Launchpad: https://www.shawnakru.com/the-podcast-launchpad  Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 03:30 Unhinged sparkle 05:40 Lisa’s background: journalism, news, car accident & changing direction. 07:00 The start of posting motivational dance reels on instagram. 10:00 Committing to 30 days of cold showers for anxiety relief. 13:00 Lisa’s yoga teaching philosophy.  14:30 Advice for being able to do difficult things & tap into your energy. 17:15 Lisa’s creative process, music, lighting… 19:30 Music takes us on a journey!! 26:00 Being a YouTuber for Health Magazine and Hollywood Life. 28:30 What Lisa wanted to be when “she grew up” 30:00 Rituals for mental health. 34:00 Lisa’s sources of inspiration & thoughts on leadership.

Join me, Shawna Krueger, for a solo episode on what to do when anxiety holds you back. I share my only story with anxiety, and tangible tips that feel actionable. I’m not here to treat or cure anxiety but rather to talk about the effect of when it holds you back and hijacks what you want and even your personality. This episode is not just about our ability to go outwards or put yourself out there. It’s also about your ability to go inward. It’s beyond stage fright or imposter syndrome.  On the agenda for today is addressing anxiety about self (also your message and your creations, sharing), anxiety about progress (starting and also feeling stuck), and anxiety about distractions (other people and things holding you back, other directions you could be going and feeling like you wish you were in another life or reality.)  It’s my hope that you leave today with a sense of renewed hope about what is possible for you, and a deeper desire to love yourself.  Join the Leadership and Yoga Fam email list to stay up to date on giveaways and L&S news. Plus, get immediate access to the free week-long 6am Club training: Join the fam. Find me on instagram: @shawnakru Purchase a copy of my guided journal. https://www.ritualofwritingjournal.com/  Upcoming Retreats: https://shawnakru.com/retreats/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 04:00 When our anxious nature blocks our ability to show up. 07:00 Agenda and NEW RETREAT: Evolve with Inversions. 11:00 Anxiety about self. 14:00 It’s become commonplace to say “this is anxiety-inducing”  17:00 Getting sucked into competition and fear of “mediocrity.”  18:30 Even as a state champion, anxiety wears us down. 20:00 Only thinking about meeting the mark, not who I wanted to be. 22:10 Feeling is healing.   23:15 Imitation when authenticity is cut off.  24:30 Social anxiety. Being a rebel is still a reaction.  26:00 Our anxious nature shapes our personality without us realizing it.  27:20 What I’ve learned about moving beyond our anxious nature so that our true nature can show.  28:30 Buffalo walk towards the storm.  30:50 The diamond sutra. 32:00 Shake like a gazelle and feel lighter.  33:00 You are the seer of your thoughts, you are not your thoughts.  35:00 Baby photo 37:30 Do one thing that works. 38:00 The tangible: breath retentions, apnea training: correlation between anxiety and asthma.  41:30 What to do with your body when you have stage fright.  44:00 Anxiety about progress. 47:30 The whole weight of inertia. 52:15 Anxiety about distractions. 55:00 Take more accountability than anyone else.  57:00 Broken promises, especially to yourself, cause anxiety. 59:00 Give yourself grace.  1:00:00 Discussion of a relevant reel from Victoria Hutchins - The Daily Victorian on instagram.  1:01:00 If the perception doesn’t change, changing things you can control will ultimately change nothing.  1:03:00 Offering of final advice I wish I had 10 years ago.

On today's solo episode, we talk about devotion. What is the difference between devotion and worship. Do we all have things that we are truly devoted to? Is devotion always good? Today I tell you how to inspire yourself through devotion, and how it can help you find success and lead to powerful downloads. Plus, I share the story of the first and only time I passed out during a breath hold, and how all of my ideas for my upcoming retreat downloaded into my mind while taking time off in Madeira. Timestamps: 02:34 The dangers of giving your creativity energy to instagram. 04:51 Why I feel like I've just spent an hour with a friend after listening to a podcast. 07:39 Agenda. 10:08 On the joy of working hard. Yoga retreat prep, writing and printing a book, etc. 11:00 Announcement! Our new guided journal releases. 14:49 The difference between devotion and worship: Unity, oneness vs. Separateness. 17:00 What is devotion? 21:28 Devotion and Ashtanga Yoga, experiencing Mysore in Rome and Germany. 25:43 What feels restrictive to our soul and what feels like a routine or a ritual that pushes us to grow or helps us understand life better? 31:05 The 100 foot wave in Nazare, Portugal and the devotion of surfers, an extreme example. 34:18 Almost passing out from a breath hold. 40:12 Devotion brings success. 43:00 Devotion brings (idea) downloads. 47:37 A letter of devotion to my dreams that I wrote in my journal this week. (Personal share.) My favorite quotable moments from this episode: "When you express and you act with that devotion, which getting back to the definition, is acting with loyalty, love and also enthusiasm… When you feel that way about something, someone, some idea, truly, even if you are having the sense that it's not working or you're not making progress, even if you don't consciously move it along, something will move it along for you." "And that is something that I did not experience back like in college, for example, earlier on before I understood that sometimes five minutes of clarity, of truly like getting yourself in a different state of mind, can be worth more than 50 minutes, sometimes more than five hours of having a bad attitude trying to work on something." "Whenever you are feeling unsuccessful, it's not that you're not smart enough, it's not that you're not strong enough or not creative enough, it's that you're not focused enough." "Being devoted is a promise to be faithful to it, to be one with it, not a separate form trying to come in and force it, but an ability to contemplate it, to know it so well that it becomes second nature to you." Message me on instagram: @shawnakru My website:  https://shawnakru.com/

In today’s episode I share a story of rejection in Portugal and the reason why it’s okay that our best is not always good enough. In addition, I talk about the pressure of timelines, what happens when our expectations are broken, and how the wildest synchronicities can be born from those moments if we are able to focus even in the face of disappointment.  Warning: I still need to learn how to use the very nice microphone. AI background cleaning is the distortion you hear. Stay tuned for better audio quality next week. (Yay!) Message me on instagram: @shawnakru My website:  https://shawnakru.com/

Join me, Shawna Krueger, for an episode that will motivate you and prepare you to follow your dreams. I’m here to tell you that what you dream of, is for people like you. Not someone wiser, younger, older, prettier, more popular or richer. No. We’re talking about everything from life and business to health, happiness, and the impact you’re here to make. When I first started, I didn’t have that friend to hype me up in the way I needed, so I’m here to be that person for you. We’ll dive into mindset shifts, how to get real about your goals, and why you have to trust the process, even when it doesn’t look like you imagined. Plus, I’ve got practical tips on how to take tangible steps towards your dreams—today, not tomorrow. From managing limiting beliefs to connecting with people who lift you up, I’ll share some key insights to help you stay on track and find clarity. And I’ll even encourage you to celebrate your wins and set some new, slightly scary goals that feel just within reach. This episode is all about leaning into the magic. Join cohort 2 of the Podcast Launchpad: https://www.shawnakru.com/the-podcast-launchpad Find me on instagram: @shawnakru Leadership and Yoga IRL info: https://www.shawnakru.com/leadership-and-yoga-irl  Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 03:10 Hands asleep alarm story.  05:05 What's on the menu? Today’s agenda.  10:25 Finding inspiration and the continuous choice to come back to your dreams. 11:30 What does the moment before a quantum leap feel like? 15:30 Don’t feel selfish for wanting to follow your dreams because it will be of greater service to humanity than anything else you do.  19:20 Tough mindset shift. Rule one.  22:30 What you are looking for, you will find.  25:00 Finding your people and changing what you are “steeping” in.  30:00 Tell NO ONE.  32:00 Evaluate the things you do that you think are normal.  34:00 Let something fully blossom rather than spreading yourself too thin?  35:30 Questions for clarity.  38:40 Cooking pancakes on the table in high school during lunch. 40:30 Reinvent yourself like Martha Stewart. 42:15 Intermission and dog poop. I am actually a crazy person. 43:15 If not now, then when? 46:30 If not me, then who? 49:00 What part of me wants this?  51:48 I secretly wanted to be popular growing up but didn’t think it was for girls like me.  53:30 Are you in control? Or is the dream? 57:13 Two actionable steps. Your homework.

Lana Wedmore tells us that yoga and nature are more alike than we realize. She has hosted presidents of Costa Rica in her lodge, and fights for systemic change, but she also teaches yoga and helps heal individuals. She speaks to the animals and teaches us how to see the subtle realms of nature we may be missing, and what happens when we are reconnected with them. “The longest journey you will ever take is the six inches: from your head to your heart.” This episode is a powerful reminder that when you do the thing you’re called to do, you don’t just change your own life, you help change the world.Lana’s Whitehawk Foundation:https://www.whitehawkfoundation.org/ Visit Luna Lodgehttps://lunalodge.com/ Join Lana and Tommy’s retreat: https://www.wetravel.com/trips/we-are-rising-lana-and-tommy-7812198380 Find Lana on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lana_wedmore/ Find Shawna on instagram: ⁠@shawnakru ⁠⁠Shawna’s website⁠GIVEAWAY: 1 YEAR OF OFFERINGTREE. Enter here by March 5th. Try OfferingTree for free⁠ ⁠with my link here⁠⁠ (My sponsor) ⁠Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND ⁠(My sponsor) ⁠Yoga Teacher Roundtable free community events & mailing list⁠Time stamps:00:00 tour of Lana’s house01:34 my sponsors, check them out! 04:18 who is Lana?09:13 cacao toast11:15 yoga & nature have in common15:00 fear of spiders: universe doesn’t understand “no”18:00 46 years earlier… Costa Rica story23:00 responsibility is freedom25:40 ashtanga yoga, yoga saved Lana28:40 do the thing, and you will have the power31:15 how to breathe34:30 mother earth wants to give you something37:50 triumph is try with umph43:00 gratitude and feeling enough - really. 44:30 everything is reaching for the light47:00 plant meditation 49:40 humans, what are we really?51:30 the world is changing, consciousness is changing 53:00 shaking hands with presidents59:20 president of costa rica coming to luna lodge, Lana’s lodge1:06:00 political leaders - getting through to them1:08:00 leaders: look people in the eye1:10:00 feel good in your body1:13:50 “buy this land” whitehawk foundation1:16:00 are you sure? yes I am. 1:18:00 a Lana in every town?1:19:00 billboard message: ongest journey is 6 inches from your head to your heart

“Yoga doesn’t need governance, it needs leadership.” American Yoga Council is like LinkedIn for Yoga and Ancestry.com for lineage, an alternative to Yoga Alliance. We talk the whole yoga ecosystem: power, money, education, technology, ethics, and impact. Can we step away from 200 hour teacher trainings?? A yoga retirement plan? What does the future of yoga and teaching yoga look like? Find Shawna on instagram: ⁠@shawnakru ⁠⁠Shawna’s website⁠Try OfferingTree for free⁠ ⁠with my link here⁠⁠ (My sponsor) ⁠Yoga Teacher Roundtable free community events & mailing list⁠Join American Yoga Council FREE or Code “SHAWNA” for 15% off first year of premium & pro membership  https://ayc.yoga/shawnakru Andrew’s Berkshire yoga festival:https://www.berkshireyogafestival.com/AYC on instagram: @americanyogacouncilAndrew on instagram: @andrewtanneryoga time stamps:00:00 intro01:20 OfferingTree04:45 yoga ecosystem: power, money, education, technology, ethics, and impact05:45 yoga teachers’ future is bright despite ai09:15 the future of leadership is inner power, yoga in leadership11:45 what is American Yoga Council13:15 like LinkedIn for Yoga and Ancestry.com for lineage17:45 why are so many teachers i know part of AYC?19:15 wonderful people FIRST, first who, then what thing/money.20:45 Andrew’s journey working at Yoga Alliance26:45 no more 200 hour trainings?29:35 Andrew’s story of power dynamics and experiencing a cult30:35 how to know if you’re in a cult39:15 putting out candles from across the room43:15 leadership roles48:45 money and greed in yoga52:15 retirement fund for yoga teachers?56:45 why can you tell me what i can and can’t teach?1:02:45 how does AYC avoid falling in the same trap1:06:15 anti yoga: instagram. yoga is attention.1:09:15 a leader must have a mission1:14:30 billboard message

My typical Friday bedside chat episode has a special guest today: Maria Mir! Maria is a long-time listener of the Leadership and Yoga podcast who joined my last retreat in Costa Rica. I was thrilled to discover her work, the Pensando Nada podcast many months ago, and to meet her in person. Maria teaches us about Reality Creation and is from Argentina. Today we talk about what is ACTUALLY possible for us, beyond what we may allow ourselves to believe. We talk imagination, manifestation, law of attraction, levels of energy, consciousness, creating our realities and bts of our time together in Costa Rica. Find Maria on instagram - @pensando.nadaMaria's podcast - Pensando NadaMaria’s website: https://30-dias.com/terapiaderedes Find Shawna on instagram: ⁠@shawnakru ⁠⁠Shawna’s website⁠GIVEAWAY: 1 YEAR OF OFFERINGTREE. Enter here by March 5th. Try OfferingTree for free⁠ ⁠with my link here⁠⁠ (My sponsor) ⁠Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND ⁠(My sponsor) ⁠Yoga Teacher Roundtable free community events & mailing list⁠00:00 intro01:24 free year giveaway!! OfferingTree03:05 my trusted guide: TEND04:30 animation 07:00 your podcast was a reflection of what was possible for me10:00 Maria’s story14:45 dopamine & creative consistency16:30 Maria’s creative process17:45 creating content for social media growth journey20:30 how to step into new realities of ourselves & manifestation25:00 finding your true mission27:30 stability is an illusion29:45 jealousy and worry from friends when you step into a new version of yourself33:00 imagination 38:30 exceptional leader40:00 billboard message: you are so powerful that if you think you’re not, you’re not

So you want to host a yoga retreat. Behind every beautiful retreat is a human like you. A yoga teacher navigating money, nerves, imposter syndrome, leadership decisions, and pivots... so I have some yoga retreat planning tips for ya.In this episode, I’m sharing the real story of hosting my last retreat, the shaky anxiety before it began, the moments where the experience didn’t match my expectations, the double-booked shala, the breakfast pivot, the unexpected abundance, and the leadership lessons that no one talks about.This is more than “how to host a yoga retreat.” This is about the energetics of hosting, and some stories that will keep you company. :)Find Shawna on instagram: ⁠@shawnakru ⁠⁠Shawna’s website⁠GIVEAWAY: 1 YEAR OF OFFERINGTREE. Enter here by March 5th. Try OfferingTree for free⁠ ⁠with my link here⁠⁠ (My sponsor) ⁠Join Yoga Teacher Roundtable free community events & mailing list⁠Time stamps00:00 intro03:00 bold! year of the firehorse 04:30 7 steps to getting ready to host your retreat08:30 backstory 13:50 giveaway!! 1 year free of offeringtree15:50 number 1 nothing to hide, nothing to prove20:55 taxi driver wisdom, don’t fixate on pain24:30 number 2 carving from edge to edge31:00 100 points allocation theory 33:00 number 3 leading is recognizing talent in others36:40 number 4 abundance and budgeting38:50 money as appreciation 43:40 number 5 see the people45:30 notes advice48:20 scholarship programs50:00 number 6 how to be decisive 51:00 my first time driving in latin america54:50 number 7 on the other side of that dream57:00 regret & the magic gardener

In this episode, Carling Harps shares her journey through 15 years of teaching yoga and how her practice has evolved over time. She reflects on cueing, identity, accessibility, and learning to trust the different seasons of practice. Carling speaks to the importance of yoga community, joy and play in a movement practice, and why there is no self-liberation without collective liberation. Carling’s Instagram: ⁠@carlingnicole⁠⁠Carling’s Website⁠Find Shawna on instagram: ⁠@shawnakru ⁠⁠Shawna’s website⁠GIVEAWAY: 1 YEAR OF OFFERINGTREE. Enter here by March 5th. Try OfferingTree for free⁠ ⁠with my link here⁠⁠ (My sponsor) ⁠Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND ⁠(My sponsor) ⁠Yoga Teacher Roundtable free community events & mailing list⁠Time Stamps:00:00 intro01:10 offering tree 04:02 when you think about yoga, what do you see?06:25 consistency in yoga practice 08:00 trusting the different seasons of your practice11:00 identity in yoga12:25 the misconception that yoga will heal you14:41 hyper-individualism in yoga16:51 self-realization vs self-obsession18:00 “there is no self-liberation without collective-liberation”20:14 fostering yoga community 26:00 walking alongside your students28:55 cueing, alignment, & injuries 36:38 diversifying your movement practice 40:36 weightlifting & energy46:23 play & joy in movement as an adult48:37 as yoga teachers, what is our responsibility to address what’s going on in the world?52:27 do you think yoga can change the world?56:10 both systemic change and individual change01:00:00 yoga is political01:02:22 expand your yoga worldview01:08:00 billboard question

It’s here!! The 2 hour special with Victoria Hutchins, aka the daily victorian, to ask her everything about life, creating, writing, poetry, fears, breakthroughs and her new book. Victoria is a handstanding poet. She is the woman behind the iconic poetry and yoga flow that feels like a dose of big sister reassurance mixed with a level of depth that reminds us what it means to be human. She brings us a sincere reminder to have hope. Her words are raw, moving, ironic at times, and hard to feel the same after hearing. Victoria is the author of Make Believe, host of the Soul Gum podcast, a yoga instructor, and a corporate lawyer turned content creator.If you enjoyed this episode with Victoria, please drop me a rating and subscribe. THANK YOU. :) Join YOGA TEACHER ROUNDTABLE free community podcast recording event: https://www.shawnakru.com/yoga-teacher-roundtable Get a copy of MAKE BELIEVEhttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/755776/make-believe-by-victoria-hutchins/ Find Victoria on instagram:@thedailyvictorian Find Shawna on instagram:@shawnakruVictoria’s podcast, Soul GumTry OfferingTree for free with my link ⁠here⁠ (My sponsor) Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND ⁠https://www.tend.eco/collections/consultations⁠ Time stamps00:00 Intro06:00 Victoria’s process of believing any of this was possible.14:00 Roots of childhood creation.15:30 Writing poetry.20:15 Understanding her own personality.23:49 Pressure to know who we are and how things turn out is exhausting.28:50 Thinking about your audience first as a creator. Rick Rubin?32:10 Starting route to Taco Bell!!37:30 Being able to process before creating.41:00 Victoria’s routine vs. being fully consumed by one thing.43:00 Feeling like you’re on an island can be a good thing.47:50 Where does confidence come from?53:00 How Victoria finds her words. A courtship.56:30 (Creative) Fire just needs room to breathe.1:00:00 How to follow a massive success.1:06:00 Abundance mindset.1:10:00 Jealousy: the people you are most jealous of show you it’s possible for you. 1:12:00 God, spirituality, death, heaven, Trust.1:19:00 Questions to ponder with friends that you can’t answer. 1:21:00 Make Believe and after life.1:24:00 Being taught that parts of us are “bad”1:29:30 After you take the purity ring off. 1:36:00 Vulnerable, holy shit moments.1:40:39 Let me let you go.1:42:12 The process of writing a book. 1:43:30 Publishing a book1:49:20 Victoria’s hope for all who read. 1:55:00 Weekday morning routine and structure.1:57:45 An exceptional leader. 2:00:00 Victoria’s Billboard Message

In this episode of Leadership and Yoga, I sit down with Rey Cardenas, Austin-based yoga teacher, and co-studio owner of Practice Yoga Austin, to explore what it means to teach yoga in rhythm with the seasons. We talk astrology in the yoga class, the relationship between the sun and our bodies,consciousness, Ayurveda and seasonal practice, burnout and sustainability for yoga teachers, and how presence, sound, and language shape a truly transformational yoga experience. Rey also shares insights from Rudolf Steiner, yoga therapy, and his philosophy on teaching yoga as a co-created experience rather than a performance.Practice with Rey at Practice Yoga Austin:​​https://practiceyogaaustin.com/ Yoga Therapy program: https://practiceyogaaustin.com/yoga-teacher-training/practice-yoga-therapy-training/ Rey’s instagram: @reys.awarenesshttps://www.instagram.com/reys.awareness/ Rey on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@reysawareness Find Shawna on instagram: @shawnakru - https://www.instagram.com/shawnakru Try OfferingTree for free with my link here (My sponsor) Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND https://www.tend.eco/collections/consultations Yoga Teacher Roundtable free community events & mailing list:https://www.shawnakru.com/fam Time stamps:00:00 Intro03:53 Welcome back & why Rey’s teaching stands out05:38 When astrology entered Rey’s yoga teaching07:23 Scientific materialism, burnout, and losing rhythm08:38 Rudolf Steiner, cultural ages, and the zodiac10:38 Western vs Vedic astrology: personality vs karma13:08 Why astrology belongs in a yoga class14:48 Capricorn season, liminal time, and seasonal support17:23 Teaching with the seasons instead of against them19:58 Forward bends, backbends, and seasonal consciousness21:58 Fall energy, overthinking, and teaching to what students feel23:08 Introducing new ideas without alienating students24:13 Going against trends and trusting your teaching path26:58 Living and teaching yoga in rhythm at Practice Yoga Austin27:59 Ayurveda and seasonal yoga practices29:00 Summer vs winter yoga: heat, yin, and balance30:08 The three gunas: tamas, rajas, and sattva31:43 Cycles of life, injury, aging, and sustainable practice34:38 Karma, grace, and trusting the unfolding path36:28 Making mistakes before and after 3539:28 Ascension, service, and responsibility on the spiritual path43:18 What makes an exceptional yoga class45:28 Presence, attention, and co-creating experience48:33 Advanced cueing and anchoring awareness beyond the body51:38 Sound, mantra, and the meaning behind language54:28 Poetry, tone, and shaping the mood of a class56:13 Mantra yoga, Sanskrit, and sound consciousness58:13 Yoga therapy as “grad school for yoga”1:00:13 Science, yoga therapy, and medical integration1:03:13 Billboard question & Rey’s message to the world

"The only thing that matters with dreams is that you keep them alive." -Londrelle Today, I take you on a journey of what it feels like to be seen as you chase your dreams, I show you all of my bad angles and "reasons" why I thought I wasn't good enough for my dreams, and why I was wrong. Today's episode is fire: a fire of inspiration and a bit of a fire under your ass to go after those big, lofty ideas. But I also throw you a lifeline of tangible tips for staying organized like a to-do list HACK. Find Shawna on instagram: @shawnakru - https://www.instagram.com/shawnakru Try OfferingTree for free with my link here (My sponsor) Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND - https://www.tend.eco/collections/consultations Yoga Teacher Roundtable free community events & mailing list:https://www.shawnakru.com/fam Own a copy of the guided journal I created, code POD for $33.https://www.ritualofwritingjournal.com/ Contributors: @iamcleer and @spiritualshores Time stamps: 00:00 intro01:20 let me show u all my bad angles07:00 heartbreak of following dreams10:50 know ur stories & OfferingTree trial13:15 Londrelle on dreams17:30 no good vibes only meditation 19:00 how to problem solve better20:30 to-do list HACK24:00 Ayurveda with TEND  25:450 magic vs logic28:00 the mind of light - Richard Rudd32:00 someone who makes things feel easy34:00 David Swenson on energy to keep going

In this episode, Naoise Ni Bhroin shares her journey into yoga and how teaching through the Irish language has become a way to connect people both to the practice of yoga and to cultural belonging. She reflects on the evolution of yoga in Ireland and growing confidence as a yoga teacher and leader. Naoise also discusses facilitating large yoga events, including Techno Yoga, the importance of ritual and community, and what it means to teach with authenticity and integrity.Follow Naoise on Instagram: @yogalenaoise Naoise’s Website: https://www.yogalenaoise.com/Find Shawna on instagram: @shawnakru Shawna’s website: ⁠https://www.shawnakru.com/⁠ Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year ⁠with my link here⁠: ⁠https://www.offeringtree.com/shawnakru?utm_source=leadership-and-yoga&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=partner-discount⁠  (My sponsor) Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND - ⁠https://www.tend.eco/collections/consultations⁠ Time Stamps:00:00 intro01:13 offering tree and TEND07:06 how did you find yoga?09:25 naoise’s first yoga teacher10:53 the yoga scene in Ireland 12:00 the Irish language 17:19 teaching yoga in Irish19:46 how did it feel to teach your first yoga class?23:13 how has your perspective on teaching yoga evolved over time?24:26 public speaking & confidence as a yoga teacher27:40 hosting yoga events and techno yoga31:53: how do you bring your dreams to life?35:03 finding aligned community38:21 grounding rituals before teaching a yoga class/event40:00 teaching on off days 46:10 connecting people with the Irish language 48:47 yoga is a practice of self-awareness and interconnection50:12 what makes an exceptional yoga teacher?51:47 billboard question

In this roundtable episode, yoga teachers from around the country gather to reflect on how yoga has shaped their lives and how yoga can shape the world. Through honest stories of grief, connection, and presence, they share insights on how the practice of yoga can help us connect with ourselves, our communities, and create a ripple effect that extends into our lives and the lives of our students.Thank you to the participating yoga teachers:Ally Braxton @allybraxtonAlly Braxton on FacebookDenisse Aimar @denisse.aimarlinktr.ee/denisseaimarHannah Winokur @hannypackJen Armistead@yogaendeavouryogaendeavour.comDr. Meredith Calvert@meriyogasfmeriyoga.comwildcalmretreats.comDr. Meredith's Podcast "Calm With Me"Victoria Luciana @__victorialucianaDo you want to join the next Yoga Teacher Roundtable episode? Join the waitlist here: https://www.shawnakru.com/yoga-teacher-roundtableFind Shawna on instagram: @shawnakru - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/shawnakru⁠⁠Shawna’s website: ⁠https://www.shawnakru.com/⁠ Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year ⁠with my link here⁠: ⁠https://www.offeringtree.com/shawnakru?utm_source=leadership-and-yoga&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=partner-discount⁠  (My sponsor) Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND - ⁠https://www.tend.eco/collections/consultations⁠ Time Stamps:00:00 intro02:09 how did yoga change your life?06:32 “yoga allowed me to save myself”08:47 yoga practice during grief13:00 how can yoga change the world? 15:54 presence and movement over fear20:25 sharing the wisdom of yoga creates a ripple effect25:10 “yoga enables you to be your own home”27:57 developing a lens of compassion and kindness30:40 start by being honest with yourself on the mat32:16 billboard messages40:13 closing 

Today’s episode is with Paris-based yoga teacher and writer Ty Watson. We dive into teaching yoga, creativity, and the art of observation, exploring how attention and discernment shape the way we lead and guide our students. Ty also shares his thoughts on the magic of language and how the words we choose can transform a class. This episode is for yoga teachers and creators interested in language, creativity, and how mindful attention shapes the way we teach, learn, and lead.Ty Watson’s website: https://www.tywatsonyoga.com Ty’s Instagram: @tywtsn - https://www.instagram.com/tywtsn/?hl=en Find Shawna on instagram: @shawnakru - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/shawnakru⁠⁠Shawna’s website: ⁠https://www.shawnakru.com/⁠ Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year ⁠with my link here⁠: ⁠https://www.offeringtree.com/shawnakru?utm_source=leadership-and-yoga&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=partner-discount⁠  (My sponsor) Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND - ⁠https://www.tend.eco/collections/consultations⁠ Time Stamps:00:00 intro03:29 moving from new york to paris06:13 how did you find yoga?10:31 the magic of language: words as spells12:21 paying attention to detail13:44 the practice of being observant as a yoga teacher17:57 discernment & the creative process 20:33 your body is the container for your psychology24:44 what matters is the story you’re telling yourself26:37 time, technique, & repetition29:41 how do you choose what information deserves your attention?33:23 what makes an exceptional yoga class for you?39:53 there’s always a way to change your angle42:44 morning routine 50:37 yoga is really about the mind51:47 your practice should keep you in reverence for what is happening around you52:56 billboard question

A 3-part episode: my 10k story on instagram, what works vs. what doesn’t, and case studies from yoga teachers with over 10k followers. This is the deep, real-talk coffee chat on social media I wish I could have had with myself 3 years ago. Tune in for case studies from my own story of growing as a small creator on instagram to 10k followers, along with case studies from 4 of my yoga teacher & creator friends.Find Shawna on instagram:  @shawnakru Enter for free social media mentorship with Kimi’s Soulcials program! Try OfferingTree for free with my link here (My sponsor) Yoga Teacher Roundtable free community events & mailing list:https://www.shawnakru.com/fam Own a copy of the guided journal I created, code POD for $33.https://www.ritualofwritingjournal.com/ My friends that I mention: @kimiahajian @benkalra @marlasyoga @brandonberg_Time stamps:00:00 intro 01:30 social media series04:45 the beauty of my slow growth is that i could document it for you06:15 the size of the platform matches your mission08:30 3 part episode agenda11:30 my 10k social media story12:40 the 2nd puberty online19:30 the year i hit my goals & how24:30 the real thing you need to learn25:35 what worked 27:58 what Victoria Hutchins taught me about being an artist29:00 audience matching35:00 mission & moral ambition 37:58 build something cool38:40 what doesn’t work45:50 10k+ teachers case studies: Kimi47:45 message from Kimi - Soulcials mentorship56:00 how long did it take for you to blow up? case studies.

Today, I sat down with consciousness researcher and author Frederick Dodson to explore the idea that changed how I see everything: levels of energy. From what energy actually is and how it shows up in us, our relationships, places, and even world events, to why we get stuck, why anger can sometimes be useful, and why manifestation is often misunderstood, we unpack the full spectrum, from the lowest states of blame and victimhood to higher levels of love, humor and bliss. We talk about like attracting like, parallel universes of self, healing, belief, and what it really means to raise consciousness. Fred shares stories from his childhood, pieces of the mission he is on here on earth, his views on infinity, leadership, and humanity’s future. Listen to feel empowered, and at the same time, to take life a little less seriously.Fred’s website & Higher Realms live seminar August 2026, Italyhttps://www.realitycreation.org/ Find Shawna on instagram: @shawnakru - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/shawnakru⁠Shawna’s website:https://www.shawnakru.com/ Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here: https://www.offeringtree.com/shawnakru?utm_source=leadership-and-yoga&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=partner-discount  (My sponsor) Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND - https://www.tend.eco/collections/consultations Time stamps:00:00 intro01:00 L&Y fam04:40 levels of energy08:59 what is energy really12:30 the scale & categories of consciousness15:30 anger can be good: relativity18:40 writing a highly offensive book20:30 stuck? Why?23:30 like attracts like, broken window energy field25:14 every step on the scale requires a new kind of energy26:30 sincerity & devotion will get you there27:35 manifestation is watered down28:45 highest energies to lowest energies34:30 freeing yourself38:40 relationships and influence44:30 infinity: context to take life less seriously47:40 meaning of life: training49:00 Fred’s childhood of otherworldly experiences59:30 Mission 1:00:00 beings of other worlds and levels1:06:00 spillover effect, parallel universes of self1:11:00 how to really believe something new1:16:30 entering parallel universes1:18:00 healing: invented pain vs manifested pain1:21:00 leadership: the making of an exceptional leader1:23:00 rapid fire & billboard

Part two of an episode on how things mysteriously fall into place. From insane to mundane synchronicities… This is for anyone who wants to feel connected to the heartbeat of life. Inspired from a moment in an interview I did with Sri Dharma Mittra, I sat down to contemplate my life over coffee as I do most mornings. But on this particular morning, everything I’ve learned from Richard Rudd of the Gene Keys, Frederick Dodson of Levels of Energy and Parallel Universes of self, and even some Dr. Joe Dispenza organized itself in my head in a new way. The result is the “thought experience” I prepared for you in part one of this episode, and today’s spontaneous explanation of “how” to live connected to the magic of it all. Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here. (My sponsor) Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND - https://www.tend.eco/collections/consultations Follow me on instagram:@shawnkruOwn a copy of the guided journal I created, code POD for $33.Ritual of Writing Journal 

Today on the Leadership and Yoga podcast, Jonah Kest!! Let's talk leadership, creativity, and modern yoga with one of the most well-known and influential yoga teachers of our time. We talk building community in yoga, what it’s really like to meditate, and how life feels when we surrender. I also ask him to give his thoughts on the evolution of yoga, and how real transformation happens in our lives. Jonah shares wisdom on teaching yoga, and behind the scenes stories from his creative process and morning rituals.Join my retreat! 1 spot opened up. Jan 25-29.Try OfferingTree for free with my link here. (My sponsor)Find me on instagram: @shawnkruMy monthly newsletter:  leadership and yoga fam, for yoga teacher meet-ups & joining roundtable episodesJonah’s instagram:  @kestyogaJonah’s website & trainings:  https://www.jonahkestyoga.com/Time stamps: 00:00 intro1:23 leadership and yoga6:10 yoga from childhood to now7:30 what Jonah wanted to be when he grew up9:40 manifestation?11:60 pressure and legacy 14:40 qualities Jonah looks for in teachers16:40 devotion18:55 pain: we are part of nature22:30 Jonah’s favorite type of yoga class25:25 weaving stories into class & experiencing transcendence26:55 what to do with ideas28:55 how Jonah energetically prepares to lead33:40 Jonah’s ideal morning routine35:20 prana37:20 creativity is tuned into39:20 dropping fear and creating from love43:35 how do we change? actually?45:50 music & rhythm49:25 evolution in yoga51:40 rejection & feedback54:40 continue to grow as teachers56:40 Nike signing story1:00:00 it’s not mind-body connection1:03:40 doors1:07:21 yoga impacting the world1:09:30 fate or free will1:11:30 losing control1:17:20 the real yoga is coming back to the fire1:21:17 meditation is like fasting for the mind.1:23:25 community & being surrounded by high-energy people1:29:10 rapid fire1:31:10 billboard message