The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

382: Having Tough Conversations with Rebecca Sebastian

Description:

Many yoga teachers are trying to navigate having tough conversations with their colleagues, friends, and families about many issues going on in the world today - from the genocide in Palestine to racism, from misogyny to cultural appropriation, and much more. These conversations are difficult but so important. Rebecca Sebastian joins Shannon Crow in this episode to discuss having tough conversations.

Rebecca Sebastian is a long-time yoga teacher and 11-year yoga therapist. She owns an accessible and inclusivity-focused yoga studio and apothecary in Davenport, Iowa, called Sunlight Yoga + Apothecary, and is the host of the Working In Yoga Podcast. Rebecca is a passionate writer on yoga topics and she participates and loves all things yoga and the yoga industry. She believes that through writing and communication, we can all lift each other up and share what lights us up with the world. 

This episode came about because of a hard conversation between Rebecca and Shannon as friends when they realized that they were on the same journey but not on the same page about some things. They decided to share what it's like to have difficult conversations with people you care about and are in relationship with, and how they have been navigating these chats. If you have been struggling with having tough conversations with people around you, you are not alone.

Key Takeaways:

[3:00 ] Shannon gives a shout out to the sponsors - OfferingTree and Shannon's 20-hour Yoga for Pelvic Health Training.

[4:56 ] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Rebecca Sebastian. This episode is more of a conversation between friends talking about what it's like to have hard conversations with each other than a typical podcast episode.

[16:25 ] Rebecca invites us to give ourselves (and our former selves) and each other grace when having difficult conversations.

[18:29 ] There are many different issues that yoga teachers could be having tough conversations about these days. Does this belong in yoga?

[25:53 ] What are Rebecca's thoughts on yoga teachers who don't want to talk about "politics" in their classes? Shannon and Rebecca discuss the importance of consent in having hard conversations.

[30:19 ] How should/can yoga teachers respond when yoga students bring tough conversations into yoga spaces?

[36:38 ] Rebecca and Shannon discuss holding space for tough conversations and how they react when there are differences in fundamental beliefs or their moral compasses.

[40:20 ] Shannon reflects on how she is reacting to witnessing the genocide in Palestine, which can feel like "too much" for some people. Rebecca shares her perspective.

[46:08 ] It can be difficult to know how to respond when people who care about you give you unhelpful "advice".

[48:58 ] Shannon pops in to share a message about OfferingTree.

[51:27 ] Shannon and Rebecca diverge in their opinions about how they show up for the issues that matter on social media.

[56:20 ] What has Shannon's experience on social media been like since October 7th?

[61:20 ] Rebecca and Shannon discuss the shaming and "infighting" that tends to occur in social justice spaces.

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