Yogaland Podcast

We know that change is a part of life -- it's also a part of the constantly evolving practice of yoga. As religious studies scholar Andrea Jain says in her book,  Selling Yoga: From Counterculture to Pop Culture , “I emphasize premodern yoga’s context-sensitivity, heterogeneity, and malleability, rather than any central quality or essence presumed by some to be present across all systems...

These are the five most essential sequencing concepts for teaching yoga classes for beginners. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason recently did a webinar on how to structure your classes for beginners and there were tons of requests from folks who wanted to be able to re-watch it even after the replay period. So, ta-dah! we are making it available to everyone as a two-part series! Part I focuses on the 5-part class structure that I’ve been using with my beginners for over a decade. Part II will be coming next week! You...

We've noticed the pendulum swinging toward strength in recent years (not a bad thing), and we wanted to offer context for the counterpoint: Stretching. (BTW, This is a great companion to episode 288, 'How much strength does yoga really build?') We take a big, contextual step back and look at: What is stretching? What are the types of stretching? What are some of the contraindications Are there sti...

Many of us have an attraction/repulsion thing when it comes to learning yoga anatomy. Why is that? Anatomy reminds us that embodiment is amazing, but it can also be overwhelming and frustrating to feel like we'll never "get it all." Never fear! On this episode, Jason talks about why it's so important to learn anatomy and how to approach it so that you feel empowered and inspired. We've got lots mo...

So excited to share this week's episode with you: Jill Miller joins me for her fifth Yogaland podcast to talk about her new book, Body by Breath: The Science and Practice of Physical and Emotional Resilience . This is a book that I recommend every yogi have in their library. It gives you the full "behind-the-scenes" tour of complex relationship between the nervous system, brain, gut, fascia, and b...

Jumping back into Chaturanga more gracefully isn’t about raw strength—although, a healthy amount of strength is certainly helpful. It’s about using leverage and motion to your advantage. The key to the process is simple: you need to counter the motion of jumping back with greater motion moving forward. This video teaches you 3 essential drills for learning to jump back into Chaturanga more gracefu...

Does yoga build strength? The short answer is yes. But does it build enough strength? Jason and Andrea dive into this topic and answer questions such as: What are the three different types of strength and which type does yoga build most efficiently? Which regions of the body are more challenging to strengthen in yoga? Do you need to supplement your strength with something other than yoga? What abo...

Learn how to teach your new yoga students the four most essential sun salutations. This episode includes the benefits, most essential cues, and key focal points to teach your students. It even shows you how to troubleshoot the most common challenges. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yoga philosophy is so vast, it can be overwhelming to think about how to convey it to beginners (or even in your mixed level classes!) It's one of the reasons yoga teachers lean so heavily on Patanjali's eight limbs -- Look! A list! Everyone loves a good list! And while there's nothing wrong with sharing the eight limbs, Patanjali's worldview is different than, say, the Tantric worldview. This wee...

It's January, which means, in all likelihood, more beginners are coming to your classes! On this episode, Jason helps you prioritize 10 essential concepts to convey to beginners when you're teaching asana. This foundational episode will help you take a step back and review how you're teaching your students and it will likely spark your own inner priorities, too! We're launching Jason's brand new o...

Jason is a passionate advocate for creating a simple 4-week series for beginning yoga students. January is a great time of year to do it (obvs), so we thought we'd talk through why a beginners' series is so vital, how to pitch it to your studio, how to price it, and how to create a curriculum that is thorough without being overwhelming. If you'd like more guidance on how to teach beginners, get on...

One of the upsides of long-term practice is that you develop skills that help you in your day-to-day life. On this episode, Andrea and Jason share the skills that they've gleaned through yoga and mindfulness practices that have helped them in their relationships -- both with each other and with their loved ones. Things like -- seeing our reactivity and learning to pause and respond, developing a m...

Oh the irony. The sweet, sweet irony of going to yoga class to "find balance" or "inner peace" only to find ourselves rushing through Sun Salutations or consistently choosing the "hardest" variation of a pose even if we are way out of our depth. We've all been there. Slowing down is hard. It doesn't sound sexy or ambitious or entertaining. And yet, if we profess the desire to better manage our str...

I think it's safe to say that if you teach vinyasa yoga in any modern setting you've felt pressured -- either overtly by your boss or subconsciously by an antsy student -- to make your classes "harder." Today we unpack this phenomenon and attempt to get to the heart of it. We talk through what we are responsible for as yoga educators, and what we can let go of. Jason also offers helpful ideas for...

You deserve more than just another Chaturanga and Upward Dog--and, so do your students. Here's a tutorial on spicing up your Sun Salutations and adding creativity--while maintaining balance and effectiveness. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason has recently been answering lots of questions about yoga sequencing lately -- on his recent webinar and Instagram lives -- so we today Jason is answering the five most common sequencing questions that have cropped up recently. Included in this discussion: Is it better to do backbends before or after inversions in a sequence? Where should hip openers go in a sequence? How many postures can yo...

This is your Ultimate Guide to Sequencing for Backbends. It's a master class that teaches you the anatomical rationale behind intelligent, sustainable sequencing that will help your students do deeper, more comfortable backbends. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When it comes to sequencing, there are a few things that trip us up time and time again. Jason’s back on the podcast today to talk about several of the mistakes he’s made himself through the years and how he’s shifted his approach to sequencing to overcome these challenges. Jason will be running his online course, Mastering the Art of Yoga Sequencing , again in November. If you'd like to get a pre...

The details of transitioning into Half Lotus and Full Lotus are rarely discussed. Transitioning incorrectly significantly increases the likelihood of injuring the knee in these poses. This yoga teacher's breakdown discusses the anatomy and mechanics of transitioning into lotus with the greatest efficiency and safety--a must for all teachers and practitioners that work with these postures Support t...

Today's guest, Sarah Kucera, is a yoga teacher, Ayurvedic practitioner, and chiropractor based in Kansas City, Missouri. In this chat, we talk about Sarah's new book, The Seven Ways of Ayurveda, which helps you hone in on your dominant dosha and how it influences your communication style, your stress behaviors, and your relationships. It is so helpful! Tune in and you will gain insight into how yo...

Learn to prepare yourself and your students for Lotus (Padmasana). There are countless postures that will help prepare your body for lotus, but these are my 7 favorite! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts joins me on the podcast today. You may know Chelsea from her current post as a Peloton yoga teacher, or from her numerous Yoga Journal covers, or as co-founder of Red Clay Yoga, or even from her weekly meditations with her buddy Jennifer Garner.  Accolades and achievements aside, Chelsea is incredibly open, down-to-earth, and self-aware. She shares what it's like t...

The lovely and wise Naomi Annand joins me on this episode to talk about her new book, Yoga for Motherhood . This book is one of my absolute favorites -- filled with reassuring words that envelope you like a warm hug, well-curated essays that resonate deeply, and practical yoga sequences to keep you balanced through the stages of mothering. It's the book Naomi wish she'd had when she first became a...

These are my five favorite (slightly less conventional) preparations for splits (Hanumanasana). In addition to opening up your body, each of these postures helps teach a technical element of the splits. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.