Full-Time Yoga Teacher

In this first episode of our mini-series on  Intelligent Sequencing , Reika sits down with Karen to explore what it really means to design a thoughtful yoga class. They unpack the concept of sequencing as the “why” behind each pose, and how teachers can intentionally prepare and unravel the body throughout a practice. From the role of vinyasa krama in building toward peak poses to the importance o...

In this episode of the  Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast , Reika sits down with  Danielle Neathery , yoga studio owner, recovery yoga teacher, and ultra trail runner, to explore her unique journey from engineering to full-time yoga. Danielle shares how she stepped into studio ownership through an unexpected opportunity, the lessons she’s learned teaching in recovery centers, and how the pandemic has...

In this episode of the  Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast , Reika sits down with  Karol De Souza , a yoga teacher, entrepreneur, and mother whose journey has taken her from a childhood shaped by meditation and mindfulness to building a thriving six-figure hybrid yoga business. Karol shares how her bold decision to leave the corporate world and embrace a nomadic lifestyle. From traveling and teaching...

In this episode, I sit down with  AJ White-Graff, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, E-RYT 500 , a physical therapist, experienced yoga teacher, and anatomy educator based in Long Beach, California. With over a decade of experience in yoga and fitness, AJ brings a unique perspective on bridging yoga and physical therapy. AJ shares their journey from being a multi-sport athlete and dancer to discovering yoga thro...

In this episode of the  Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast , Reika sits down with  Jordan Norman , founder of Ivy Wild Wellness, to explore her journey from the corporate tech world to a nomadic lifestyle as a full-time yoga teacher and wellness entrepreneur. Jordan shares how yoga first entered her life through movement and discipline, and how it later became a foundation for personal growth, teachin...

In this episode of the  Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast , Reika sits down with Steve Szakal, an ultra runner, full-time yoga teacher, to explore the powerful intersection of yoga and endurance running. Steve shares how he went from feeling unhealthy and burnt out from years of manual labor to transforming his life through running and hot yoga. What started with a two-mile run grew into a passion fo...

In this episode of the  Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast , Reika sits down with  Lily Dwyer Begg , a seasoned yoga teacher with over two decades of practice and full-time teaching since 2006. Lily shares her unique journey from professional dancer to yoga teacher, navigating multiple relocations, motherhood, and the ever-changing landscape of the yoga industry. From shifting online during the pandem...

In this week’s episode of the  Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast , I sit down with returning guest  Diana May , who has grown her Instagram following from 2,000 to over 75,000 in about one year. Diana opens up about the intentional steps she took to grow her online presence, what worked (and what didn’t), and the personal stories around money she had to overcome to consistently put herself out there....

In this episode, I reconnect with Sarah Taylor, a fellow yoga teacher I worked with while leading 200-hour Yoga Teacher Trainings in the Peruvian jungle. Now she is based in Lima, Sarah shares what it’s like to teach yoga full time in Peru’s bustling capital. We talk about her transition from the serene jungle to a growing urban yoga scene, how she’s taught 10 teacher trainings since moving to Per...

In this week's episode of the  Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast , I sit down with Josh Blatter, a yoga and meditation teacher, mindfulness educator, and Peace on Purpose facilitator with 16+ years of experience. From his early days as a chef to becoming a respected voice in the San Diego yoga community, Josh shares his unconventional path to full-time teaching, and the lessons he's learned a...

In this final episode of the  Debunking the Myths  mini-series on the  Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast , Reika unpacks one of the most overlooked but deeply felt misconceptions in the yoga world, the belief that yoga teachers must wear  all the hats : therapist, doctor, best friend, spiritual, entertainer, and more. With compassion and clarity, she explores the unrealistic expectations yoga teacher...

In the third episode of her four-part mini-series, Reika Shucart tackles one of the most pervasive myths in the yoga world: that to be a yoga teacher, you must be young, thin, flexible, or fit. Reika shares her own journey of not fitting the "yoga teacher mold" and the insecurities that came with it, and how she's learned to show up confidently as she is. This episode is a heartfelt...

In the second episode of this four-part mini-series, Reika Shucart debunks the myth that teaching yoga is “not a real job.” She dives into the realities of full-time yoga teaching, what it actually looks like to sustain a livelihood from your practice and service. Reika shares her personal journey, including explaining the unseen behind-the-scenes labor, continued learning, and business responsibi...

In this solo episode, Reika kicks off a special 4-part mini-series busting common myths about being a full-time yoga teacher. First up? The myth that teaching yoga is a calm, peaceful, stress-free career, where you're always zen, balanced, and relaxed. Spoiler alert: It’s not that simple. Reika opens up about the emotional and energetic demands of teaching, the unrealistic expectations placed on y...

In this episode of the Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast, Reika sits down with veteran teacher and podcast host  J. Brown to explore his decades-long journey in the yoga world. From his early days with Jivamukti to founding his own studio in New York, J shares what it means to teach from lived experience, how pain reshaped his approach to teaching yoga, and why  slow is the new advanced . The convers...

In this episode of the  Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast , I’m joined by meditation teacher Cayce Howe, whose path has taken him from a curious seeker reading  Siddhartha  as a teen to a seasoned practitioner within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. With over 25 years of meditation experience, Cayce shares the deep insights he gained from living in retreat centers, including a full year in silent retr...

In this episode of the  Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast , I’m joined by Amanda Martinez, a mindful movement facilitator, yoga teacher, somatics educator, and community builder. Amanda shares her unique path from working as a professional makeup artist in LA and becoming a yoga and mindfulness facilitator deeply rooted in accessibility and social justice. We dive into how Amanda balances her many id...

In this episode of  The Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast , Reika sits down with Giana Gambino and Bradshaw Wish, co-founders of  CAYA Yoga School   and hosts of  The Funny Thing About Yoga  podcast . Based in Chicago and San Francisco, this dynamic duo has crafted a full-time teaching career that blends humor, joy, structure, self-inquiry, and self-care. They dive deep into what it  actually  takes...

In the final episode of this 4-part series, Reika and Allie G. explore the variety of hands-on assist techniques used in yoga, from tactile and verbal cues to the often-overlooked power of self-assists. They discuss how to empower students by fostering body awareness and how a skillful blend of touch and language can deepen the practice. Whether you’re a new teacher or a seasoned educator, this ep...

In this third episode of our series on hands-on assists, Allie and I dive into how adjustments in yoga have evolved, especially in the wake of the pandemic. We reflect on the shifting norms around touch, the influence of different yoga lineages, and the increasing awareness of the teacher-student power dynamic. From love and care to boundaries and consent, we explore how teachers can approach hand...

In this second episode of our 4-part series on yoga adjustments, Reika sits down with fellow teacher Allie G. to explore what hands-on assists mean in today’s yoga world. We discuss our positive and negative expriences with hands-on-assist and the role of consent, and how their own teaching experiences have shaped their approach. Whether you’re a yoga teacher rethinking your use of touch or a curi...

In this first episode of our 4-part series on yoga adjustments, Reika sits down with fellow teacher Allie G. to explore what hands-on assists mean in today’s yoga world. They discuss the evolving language around “adjustments,” the role of consent, and how their own teaching experiences have shaped their approach. Whether you’re a yoga teacher rethinking your use of touch or a curious student, this...

In this solo episode, I’m sharing the  three foundational pillars  that I believe every impactful yoga teacher builds their career on — and they might not be what you think. Whether you're just starting out or years into your teaching journey, this episode is here to help you reflect, refocus, and recommit to your path. I talk about: Why  teaching a lot  (quantity) matters more than being “ready”...

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by  Karen Fabian —yoga teacher, podcast host, author, and founder of  Bare Bones Yoga . Karen shares her inspiring journey from a career in the corporate world to teaching yoga full-time. We talk about the evolution of teacher training in the early 2000s, the realities of building a sustainable yoga business, and how Karen’s background in anatomy and rehabilitati...

In this week’s episode, Reika sits down with Jenny Link—yoga therapist, educator, and founding member of the Integrative Collective—for an inspiring conversation about bridging yoga with healthcare and mental wellness. Jenny shares her journey from working as an athletic trainer to stepping fully into the world of yoga therapy, and how her background continues to shape the way she teaches and supp...