Beyond Yoga Teacher Training

Welcome to Episode 178: Holding Space Isn't Passive: The Invisible Labor of Teaching In this episode, Host Sandy Raper explores the profound concept of holding space in yoga teaching, emphasizing its active nature, responsibilities, and the importance of boundaries and discernment. She shares personal insights and practical guidance for teachers and practitioners to lead with presence, integri...

Welcome to Episode 177: Teaching Yoga in a Social Media World: Presence Over Performance Host, Sandy Raper, explores the delicate balance between authentic yoga practice and the marketing pressures of social media. She emphasizes the importance of presence, embodiment, and safeguarding the sacred space of yoga amidst a culture driven by visibility and performance.

Welcome to Episode 176: Teaching Yoga as You Age: Mindset, Menopause, and Movement In this episode, Host Sandy Raper shares her personal journey through aging as a yoga teacher, exploring how physical and energetic changes influence teaching and practice. She offers practical strategies for adapting yoga teaching to embrace aging with grace, strength, and authenticity. Takeaways Aging and physical...

Welcome to episode 175: Preparing for Yoga Teacher Training: Releasing Expectations & Embracing the Unknown with Host Sandy Raper. Summary In this episode, reflects on her recent experiences in yoga teacher training and the importance of navigating expectations. She discusses the challenges and depth of the training process, emphasizing the need for personal practice, curiosity, and community...

Welcome to Episode 174: Why We Practice Yoga: Staying Grounded Through Life’s Changes with Sandy Raper After a six-month pause, Host Sandy Raper returns to the podcast with reflections on change, growth, and the deeper purpose behind why we practice yoga. In this episode, Sandy shares personal reflections on family milestones, professional growth, teaching again in the community, and what it means...

Welcome to Episode 173: "Not Everyone's Teacher — And That's More Than Okay" with Host Sandy Raper. Summary: In this episode, reflecting on life's turning points, Sandy encourages listeners to embrace change and trust the unfolding journey, emphasizing the potential in transitions. Sandy shares and discusses the importance of creating an authentic and human experience in teac...

Welcome to Episode 172: "Get it Together: This One’s for the Yoga Teachers Who Feel All Over the Place" with Host Sandy Raper. Summary: In this episode, Sandy discusses the multifaceted role of a yoga teacher, emphasizing the importance of self-care, preparation, and mindset. She shares three key strategies for yoga teachers to stay organized and grounded: preparation and planning, prior...

Welcome to Episode 171: Less is More: Let Go of Over-Cueing with Host Sandy Raper. Summary: In this episode, Sandy explores the transformative power of yoga teacher training, emphasizing the importance of fostering autonomy and self-trust in students. She discusses the pitfalls of over-queuing and rigid instruction, advocating for a teaching style that encourages exploration and personal connectio...

Welcome to Episode 170: "Anatomy in Action: 10 Strategies to Elevate Your Teaching" with Host Sandy Raper. Summary: In this episode, Sandy discusses the importance of integrating anatomical awareness into yoga teaching. She shares ten practical strategies for yoga teachers to enhance their classes, focusing on body awareness, functional movement, and effective communication. Episode Take...

Welcome to Episode 169: "Be THAT Teacher" with Host Sandy Raper Summary: In this episode of the Beyond Yoga Teacher Training Podcast, Sandy explores the essence of being a great yoga teacher, emphasizing the importance of teaching from personal experience, continuous growth, and focusing on what truly matters in yoga practice. Takeaways: - Being a great yoga teacher goes beyond mastering...

Welcome to Episode 168: "Connection Before Correction: Seeking First to Understand" with Host Sandy Raper. In this episode, Sandy discusses the significance of listening and understanding in communication. She emphasizes the importance of a 'Connection-First' approach, which prioritizes empathy and understanding before offering feedback. Sandy shares strategies for fostering conn...

Welcome to Episode 167: "Rooted in Purpose: Finding Your Why as a Yoga Teacher" with Host Sandy Raper Summary: In this episode, Sandy emphasizes the importance of understanding your 'why' in the context of yoga teaching. She discusses how knowing your purpose can enhance your teaching experience, foster resilience, and create meaningful connections with students. Sandy provides strategies and refl...

Welcome to Episode 166: "The Power to Pivot: 10 Steps to Embrace Change and Thrive" with Host Sandy Raper Summary: In this episode, Sandy shares her personal journey of loss and transformation, highlighting the importance of pivoting in life. She discusses the skills necessary for effective pivoting, including emotional resilience, decision-making, and self-awareness. Sandy emphasizes the need to...

Welcome to Episode 165: "Earning Trust: How Credibility Shapers Your Impact as a Yoga Teacher" with Host Sandy Raper. In this episode, Sandy explores the essential components of credibility and confidence for yoga teachers. She discusses how credibility is built through knowledge, professionalism, authenticity, and the ability to connect with students. Episode Highlights: 06:29 Building Credibilit...

Welcome to Episode 166: The Secret Sauce: Ingredients for an Exceptional Yoga Teacher Training" with Host Sandy Raper. In this episode, Sandy discusses the importance of choosing the right yoga teacher training program and the key ingredients that make a training exceptional. Sandy shares insights on the significance of choosing the right training format, researching the training staff, the teachi...

Welcome to Episode 164: Finding Joy in Life’s Big and Small Moments with Host Sandy Raper. In this episode, Sandy shares insight into the significance of celebrations in our lives. She emphasizes that celebrations are not just for extraordinary achievements but also for the small moments that contribute to our emotional well-being and social connections. Episode Highlights: 06:56 The Importance of...

Welcome to Episode 163: "Stop Trying So Hard to Be a Yoga Teacher" with Host Sandy Raper. In this episode, Sandy discusses the common pitfall of overthinking the concept of being a yoga teacher and the importance of embracing authenticity. HIGHLIGHTS & TAKEAWAYS: 07:45 Embracing Authenticity and Letting Go of Perfection 10:13 Simplifying and Trusting Your Training 12:54 Developing In...

Welcome to Episode 162: "Feeling Caught Up vs. Being Caught Up" with Host Sandy Raper. In this episode, Sandy reflects on the concept of feeling caught up versus being caught up. Sandy provides strategies for finding balance between the two states and emphasizes the importance of holistic well-being and the practice of yoga in managing responsibilities. Feeling caught up brings a sense o...

Welcome to Episode 161: 'Not All Yoga Teacher Trainings Are Created Equal" REWIND Episode. In this episode, Host Sandy Raper revisits, or rewinds the show to 2023, sharing Episode 122, one of the B.Y.T.T. Podcast's Top 10 Rankings. Episode Highlights: Investing in a yoga teacher training program requires time, financial resources, and energy. Research and educate yourself to make an i...

Welcome to Episode 160: Beware: The Allure of Chasing Credentials In this episode, Sandy discusses the allure of chasing credentials in the yoga teaching world. She highlights the downsides of constantly seeking certifications, such as financial strain and burnout. Takeaways: - Constantly seeking new certifications can lead to financial strain and burnout. - Practical experience and application ar...

Welcome to Episode 159: Heart & Soul: The Vital Role of Emotional Intelligence in Yoga In this episode, Host Sandy Raper discusses the importance of emotional intelligence (EI) and its connection to the practice of yoga. She breaks down the five components of EI: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. Sandy emphasizes the significance of actively listening and...

Welcome to Episode 158: "The Quiet Revolution: Gentle is the New Advanced" with Special Guest J. Brown and Host Sandy Raper. Highlights: - Concept of a quiet revolution in yoga practice and the challenges of teaching a more mindful approach. - The concept of 'gentle is the new advanced' challenges traditional notions of yoga practice. - The distinction between teaching an experie...

Welcome to Episode 157: "Closing Doors and Making Space for Thriving" with Special Guest and Mentee Austeen Heeney In this conversation, Sandy and Austeen discuss their journey as yoga teachers and the evolving nature of their 'why'. Their conversation explores the important balance between the roles of being a student and a yoga teacher, as well as the impact of mentorship in th...

Welcome to Episode 156: "Authenticity Building Community" with Special Guest Kat Harmon. As a part of a collection of special guest episodes to celebrate the recent debut of Host Sandy Raper's new book, ⁠ Teaching From the Heart: Lessons on Developing Character, Confidence, and Leadership as a Yoga Teacher ⁠ , Sandy welcomes guest, Kat Harmon, to the BYTT Podcast. Kat Harmon is the v...

Welcome to Episode 155: "Moving Away from Pose-Focused Teaching" with Special Guest Mary Richards As a part of a collection of special guest episodes to celebrate the recent debut of Host Sandy Raper's new book, Teaching From the Heart: Lessons on Developing Character, Confidence, and Leadership as a Yoga Teacher , Sandy welcomes guest, Mary Richards, back to the BYTT Podcast. Check...