Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast

Marsha Banks-Harold is a yoga therapist who specializes in working with people impacted by trauma and/or living with special needs. In this inspiring conversation, she describes her journey from overworked engineer to yoga teacher and eventually a yoga therapist, studio owner, and founder of a non-profit. We dive into the differences between yoga teacher and yoga therapist, the importance of famil...

What does it mean to take the seat of the teacher? Shawna Emerick is an experienced yoga teacher who finds herself feeling like a beginner again as she takes on a new mindfulness meditation certification program. In this relatable discussion, we talk about the very real discomfort that comes with teaching yoga - and how the fact that it never fully goes away is a good thing. Other topics explored...

Yoga Alliance standards have changed again! In this episode, Kathy Humphrys describes the evolution and impact of Yoga Alliance standards, particularly the recent changes in training requirements. She also provides practical advice for yoga teachers aiming to become registered trainers with Yoga Alliance and shares strategies for successfully creating and delivering high-quality yoga training prog...

If you’re an anatomy nerd eager to share your enthusiasm for the human body with your students, you’ll love the insider tips and best practices we share in this conversation. Listen in to hear about the balance between clarity and accuracy, the importance of knowing your audience, and the potential pros and cons of incorporating anatomical concepts into asana classes. We also cover special conside...

Why is learning anatomy so hard for yoga teachers? In this episode, we discuss the importance of becoming fluent in basic anatomy to accurately speak about the body in your yoga classes. We know anatomy can feel like a foreign language - that’s because it is! But fear not, we have the secret sauce to make it all stick. From our own adventures with anatomy to tips that'll make studying a breeze, th...

This bonus episode is a peek behind the curtain of 'Retreat Roadmap'. Listen to hear about each course module, plus a description of the time-saving resources that are included. I'll also explain your options for getting additional live group and one-to-one support. If you've been eyeing Retreat Roadmap and want an inside scoop on what to expect inside the program, this episode is for you. Episode...

Advance planning can make the difference between filling all rooms and canceling due to a lack of enrollment. In this episode, I chat with my Retreat Roadmap Collaborator, Lily Dwyer Begg, about all the benefits of giving yourself (and your students) plenty of lead time when planning a retreat.  EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 01:02 What changed when Lily increased her retreat timeline from 6 months to 12+ mo...

Yoga retreats allow you to share yoga free from the distractions of daily life - while often earning far more than your usual weekly classes. There are four basic types of retreats to consider: day, camping, local, and international. In this episode, we cover the pros and cons of each to help you decide which is right for you. Packed with personal insights and practical tips, this dialogue aims to...

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:...

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 a...

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 spac...

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 HIG...

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 t...

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...

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....

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 fo...

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 bend...

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 boundarie...

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 associate...

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 persp...

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 c...

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 ra...

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...

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 o...

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...