Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast

Teaching large groups can be intimidating! But it’s also fantastic for improving your teaching skills and boosting your confidence. This episode focuses on the unique challenges and opportunities involved in teaching large yoga groups. Learn to embrace the challenges of large-group instruction and develop your ability to offer high-quality instruction to groups of any size. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 The benefits of teaching larger groups 05:15 Why teaching large groups is so nerve-wracking 07:02 Why it’s important to keep your class plan simple in a larger group 09:33 How to encourage focus and engagement in a larger group 10:12 How to balance different personality types when it comes to student participation 12:04 How to manage student questions to avoid getting thrown off track 15:06 How to provide an intimate experience in a large group 17:14 Thoughts on physical touch in a large group 19:17 How to bring attention back to you after small group or partner work 21:06 The role of visual aids in a larger group 22:51 How to utilize assistants when teaching a larger group 24:54 How to learn your student’s names (even if you’re usually terrible with names) 26:52 How to facilitate connection between students in a larger group LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Over the past decade, there has been a welcome push towards a more inclusive approach to yoga. But what does that look like on a practical level? Jivana Heyman has been at the center of the accessible yoga movement as the founder of the Accessible Yoga Project and the author of The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga, Best Practices for Sharing Yoga with Every Body. In this episode, Jivana shares an anti-perfectionist approach to accessible yoga that centers the relationship between teacher and student. The conversation delves into insecurities and imposter syndrome, the interplay between teaching and personal growth, and the importance of ethics in guiding both personal and teaching practices.     EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 The philosophy of accessible yoga 01:48 Jivana’s early experiences with yoga 03:30 How yoga helps with emotional regulation 05:59 The impact of social media and information overload 08:43 How to deal with impostor syndrome 13:22 Teaching as a relationship 21:04 Inquiry on the ethics of teaching 27:50 The importance of meeting your students where they are and respecting their preferences 33:41 Perfectionism and people-pleasing 38:30 Kindness as a guiding principle for accessible yoga 42:15 Helping and fixing vs serving  EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Accessible Yoga School Access all of Jivana’s books here Follow Jivana on Instagram @jivanaheyman LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Series classes deepen your relationship with your students, helps them commit to their practice, and provides financial stability for you as the teacher. Nyk Danu, a certified yoga therapist and business mentor, shares her insights on creating a sustainable yoga teaching business through a registered series. Listen in to hear practical advice on setting up your series, handling logistics like space rental and insurance, and filling your series classes. Nyk also touches on considerations for yoga studio owners thinking about transitioning to a registered series. If you value teacher-student connections, consistency in practice, and control over your teaching environment, this episode is for you!   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:52 Meet Nyk Danu: Yoga Misfit and Mentor 06:09 Why yoga classes shifted away from the registered series model 09:59 How to Start Your Own Registered Yoga Series 20:11 Finding the Perfect Space for Yoga Classes 22:04 Essential Tools for Running Yoga Series: Registration and Communication 24:40 Essential Policies for your Registered Series 28:21 Priority Registration for Existing Students 29:20 Starting Small with Class Registrations 30:15 Engaging Older Students with Simpler Technology 31:18 Handling Minimums and Cancellations 31:47 Leveraging Workshops to Fill Series 33:30 Setting Minimum Attendance Numbers 36:16 Choosing the Right Duration for Your Series 37:40 Make-up Classes and Free Sessions 40:09 Finding Your First Group of Students 46:02 Utilizing Email Lists for Growth 48:58 Transitioning Studios to Registered Series 50:14 The Benefits of Running Pre-registered Series 55:43 Concluding Thoughts and Resources EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Nyk Danu Yoga Follow Nyk on Instagram @nykdanuyoga LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Yoga is for everyone, but when people of varied physical abilities show up in the same class it can be difficult to meet all their needs at the same time. In this episode, Mado and Libby offer a framework for understanding why your students might struggle with a particular asana and how to offer variations that provide a similar experience to people with different physical abilities.   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 Why teaching mixed ability yoga classes is harder than it needs to be 02:49 How to plan for an all levels class 03:35 Understanding progression and regression 04:46 Four reasons a pose might be challenging for a student 05:39 How to simplify yoga postures 07:14 Essential biomechanical principles for yoga 11:35 How gravity can impact asana 16:27 Why teaching simpler poses will help your students progress 21:50 How teaching one one-on-one will help you teach better group classes 23:16 A breakdown of Warrior 3 Pose 28:51 Moving vs static yoga postures 30:39 The role of creativity in yoga teaching 32:14 A breakdown of Triangle Pose 38:53 Why anatomy is a key skill for asana teachers   EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Libby Hinsley Anatomy Bites Follow Libby on Instagram @libbyhinsleypt   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Laura reached out for help to increase enrollment in her online classes. Despite her success in drawing people to her global retreats, she struggles to fill her online series and workshops. In this conversation, we discuss strategies to improve sign-ups for online offerings. Some of the ideas we consider include positioning online classes as 'extensions' of the retreat experiences, frequency and timing of communication, incentives for retreat participants, and the importance of urgency in online sign-ups. We then created a plan to convert her current library membership into something that might appeal to retreat participants.   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 01:14 Laura's background and how she started leading retreats 03:40 How Laura’s retreat business survived the pandemic 05:23 Why & how to learn what motivates your students 12:19 The importance of urgency in marketing 13:59 Helping students bridge the gap between retreats and online classes 17:41 An idea to repurpose Laura’s membership to support retreat participants 18:42 How to create consistency with a constantly changing schedule 22:11 How to leverage moments of inspiration 22:42 Final Thoughts and Future Plans   EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Laura Lakshmi Follow Laura on Instagram @yogawithlauralakshmi   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Johanna is a new yoga teacher who struggles to lead her yoga class without physically practicing along with her students. Mado helps her unpack why she wants to develop this skill and provides simple strategies to build her ability to cue without practicing along with the class. Along the way, they explore internal vs external motivation and learning to trust your inner voice.   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 02:17 Johanna's journey to becoming a yoga teacher 06:25 Why Johanna struggles to teach without practicing along 07:42 The conflict between internal and external motivation 12:22 How people pleasing harms and holds us back as yoga teachers 22:11 The paradox of being a beginner teacher 22:51 Why it’s important to embrace slow and steady growth 23:36 The danger of comparing yourself to people who are further along the path 25:56 What your students really want from you as a teacher 27:56 Helping your students vs pleasing them 28:19 The benefits of cueing without demonstrating 36:28 Comparison between yoga and fitness classes 38:10 Meeting your students where they are 39:11 Baby steps to develop your ability to cue without practicing 41:00 How & why to let your students peek behind the curtain   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Transitioning from in-person classes to online can shake up every aspect of your teaching. When Lily Dwyer Begg dove headfirst into this process, she found greater clarity in her voice and a blossoming creative potential in her teaching. In this episode, Lily shares advice for the art of teaching yoga online including demonstration, verbal cues, class planning, and how to substitute direct touch. She also reveals some of the challenges and opportunities that arose when she stopped teaching at studios and started running her own platform.   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 Introduction 00:53 A comparison between teaching in person and online 08:35 The unexpected benefits of teaching online 10:29 The benefits of livestream classes (vs on-demand) 18:11 The business of teaching online 22:31 Things that don’t work well in online classes 29:37 Why it’s best to start with a single class vs a full schedule 31:24 The types of classes that tend to do well online 33:18 Different approaches to demonstrating in online classes 35:28 The art of verbal cueing and how to improve your cues 41:20 The role of touch in yoga and how to substitute touch online 49:15 Lily’s class planning process 54:35 Why the limits of teaching online are also the benefits   EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Lily Dwyer Begg Yoga Follow Lily on Instagram @lilydwyernbegg   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Learn the nuts and bolts of setting up an online yoga studio. Despite describing herself as a 'Luddite', Lily started teaching online when in-person classes shut down during COVID. She found that online teaching allowed her to teach fewer classes, increase her income, and boost her creativity. In this episode, she shares practical advice on optimizing audio and visual quality, choosing clothing for online classes, and using editing tools to refine recorded classes.   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 Introduction to online teaching 01:02 How Lily transitioned to teaching online during COVID 03:19 How to adapt your teaching style for online classes 08:30 The business side of teaching online 11:13 How to set up for high-quality online classes 21:23 Why clothing matters when teaching online 25:14 Interactive vs passive teaching platforms 25:23 Audio setup for live streaming 27:36 The benefits of a multi-camera setup 32:26 How to get quality video with your phone. 40:34 Why you should tag your videos and add thumbnails 41:23 How to keep your editing simple 45:38 Unexpected gifts from online teaching   EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Lily Dwyer Begg Yoga Follow Lily on Instagram @lilydwyernbegg Get a list of all the tech that Lily mentions in this episode   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Ever been told that hypermobile people shouldn’t practice yoga? Yoga is not bad for bendy people, but there are different considerations for people with hypermobile joints. Dr. Libby Hinsley, author of Yoga for Bendy People joins us to debunk some myths and talk about the ways that yoga is amazing for bendy people.   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:  Hypermobility basics - what does it actually mean to be bendy? Unique needs for bendy people in Asana practice Alternatives to passive stretching that work better for bendy people What yoga practice injuries are telling us Libby’s new book, Yoga for Bendy People   EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Libby Hinsley Anatomy Bites Follow Libby on Instagram @libbyhinsleypt   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Have you heard of “nocebic” language? Learn the way our brains react to expectations, why it’s important to notice fear based language and how to transform your words to empower your students.   Episode Highlights:  How to help your students feel confident and inspired to be in charge of their bodies The importance of looking for what’s right instead of what’s wrong Scope of practice and boundaries in the yoga class setting Psychological and physiological power of messaging in yoga What you can do to nip fear based language in the bud How learning anatomy helps yoga teachers evaluate their cues and language   EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Libby Hinsley Anatomy Bites Follow Libby on Instagram @libbyhinsleypt   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Learn how to incorporate self-massage into your own yoga practice and your yoga classes to build awareness, familiarize yourself with sensation and guide your nervous system toward relaxation.   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:  What you need to know before bringing self-massage into your classes Sequencing and how to teach a class or workshop with therapy balls  Risks, cautions and contraindications associated with self-massage The difference between intensity and pain Self-massage as a tool to learn anatomy   EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Libby Hinsley Anatomy Bites Follow Libby on Instagram @libbyhinsleypt   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Mado and Dr. Libby Hinsley, physical therapist and yoga therapist, address questions for yoga teachers who are curious about anatomy and biomechanics and how they apply to specific poses.   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:  The best approach for learning anatomy How to craft a class that is helpful for the variety of bodies that might show up The benefits and purposes of dynamic vs static poses Different perspectives on symmetry in sequencing. Should we always keep the shoulder blades squeezing in and down?  Some thoughts on where common yoga cues originated and why upgrading our cues might be an act of liberation.   EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Libby Hinsley Anatomy Bites Follow Libby on Instagram @libbyhinsleypt   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Collaborating with other yoga teachers can be inspiring and fun - but it can also be a big disaster. Get a behind-the-scenes look at what makes a collaboration successful, when you should partner with someone on a project, and how to choose the right person to collaborate with.   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:  A discussion of imposter syndrome, comparison, and motivations behind partnerships  When and why choosing to collaborate on a project is a good idea Finding the right person to collaborate with  How partnerships help facilitate productivity and growth in your business  What makes partnerships successful   Benefits of collaborating on digital/online projects specifically   EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Libby Hinsley Anatomy Bites Follow Libby on Instagram @libbyhinsleypt   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Dr. Libby Hinsley returns to the podcast to talk about joint hypermobility, how yoga affects bendy people differently from people with a more average range of motion, and how to best support those with hypermobile bodies in your yoga classes.   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Hallmarks of hypermobility  Patterns in injured yogis and yoga teachers  Things to pay attention to if you have a larger than normal range of motion at your joints How yoga can be useful to hypermobile people What interoception is and how it relates to hypermobility Elements of supportive yoga practice for hypermobility The game-changing benefits of self-massage  What yoga teachers need to know about hypermobility    EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Libby Hinsley Anatomy Bites Follow Libby on Instagram @libbyhinsleypt Downloadable cheat sheet for this episode   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Learn the significance of the psoas muscle and how yoga teachers can most effectively work with it in their classes.   EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: 5 Things You Should Know About The Psoas Major - Free Download Libby Hinsley Anatomy Bites Follow Libby on Instagram @libbyhinsleypt   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Investigate some of the common myths and misconceptions people have about anatomy and yoga.   Episode Highlights: The myth of alignment and what is actually normal or average  Benefits and limitations of alignment-based yoga Why doing a posture correctly according to formulas is not safe for everyone  The myth of safety and the fragility of the human body  How we can expect our practice to shift over the course of our lives Examining specific physical cues such as “bringing the shoulders back”   EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Libby Hinsley Anatomy Bites Follow Libby on Instagram @libbyhinsleypt   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

How do you bridge the gap between being qualified to teach yoga and teaching with confidence? Yoga teacher trainings are a deep dive into the practice and pedagogy of yoga, yet many graduates are thrown for a loop once they actually start teaching. In this episode, Sheri Fisher shares the five qualities that yoga teachers need to cultivate on their way to embodying leadership in the yoga classroom.   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Differences between group fitness training and yoga teacher training Why the transition from teacher training to confident teacher is so challenging The five pillars of powerful teaching and how they come together to create your signature approach Cueing statements vs coaching statements and why both are important in a yoga class How to cultivate commitment as a teacher - and how to encourage commitment from your students.   EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Root to Rise Yogis Standing Room Only: How to be THAT Yoga Teacher Follow Root to Rise Yogis on Instagram @roottoriseyogis   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Inversions inspire strong feelings. We love them, hate them, or we love/hate them - but how well do we understand them? While inversions are usually thought to be the domain of physically adept yoga practitioners, Kat Heagberg Rebar, author of Yoga Inversions, believes they can benefit anyone who wants a shift in perspective.   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Defining inversions: Kat’s take on this ‘controversial’ question How Kat went from ‘too young yoga teacher’ to Editor-in-Chief of Yoga International - and handstand aficionado Why inversions can be difficult to teach and learn within the context of a yoga class The dirty little secret of yoga inversion ‘influencers’ The role of body proportions in your inversion practice Inversions during menstruation and pregnancy Benefits of inversions: the myths and realities How cross-training in other modalities can help your inversion practice   EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Kat Heagberg Yoga Yoga Inversions: Your Guide to Going Upside Down Follow Kat Heagberg Rebar on Instagram @katheagberglar   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Yoga and business make strange bedfellows. Leaning into that paradox is exactly what’s needed to thrive as a yoga teacher and business owner. Join me for a conversation with Ava Taylor, founder of YAMA Talent and author of Your Yoga Business, on what it takes to build an ethical and sustainable yoga business.   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Why it’s important to keep things simple when building a yoga business How to build a yoga business that can withstand the test of time. Challenges and opportunities in the post-COVID yoga industry Why 100,000 followers do not equal 100,000 dollars How your yoga practice can (and should) influence your yoga business   EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: YAMA Talent Your Yoga Busines Follow Ava Taylor on Instagram @avantaylor Follow YAMA Talent on Instagram @yamatalent   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Becoming a parent is a rite of passage that will change your yoga practice forever. Sarah Ezrin was a dedicated yoga practitioner and long time teacher before having children blew her heart open, humbled her to the core, and turned her expectations about yoga practice upside down. This transition inspired her to write the book she wished she could read as a new parent: compassionate, irreverent, and steeped in the wisdom of yoga.   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: How becoming a parent can make your yoga practice more honest An exploration of Maitressence or the transition into motherhood How Sarah manages screen use as a parent and yoga practitioner How yoga can help you desensitize and resensitize your nervous system The art of asking the right questions to help our children develop their intuition The advice Sarah wishes she could give the earlier version of herself   EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Sarah Ezrin Yoga The Yoga of Parenting: 10 Yoga-Based Practices to Help You Stay Grounded, Connect with Your Kids, and Be Kind to Yourself Follow Sarah Ezrin on Instagram @sarahezrinyoga   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe