Yogaland Podcast

It’s hard to believe that Jason and I have been practicing yoga for about 25 years—that’s a quarter of a century! You’d think that in that amount of time we would have gotten what we need from our practice—and you’d be right.  But yoga isn’t the type of practice where you learn what you need and move on. It continues to meet your needs as your circumstances shift and change. That’s what we’re...

“There’s more than one right.” This is something that Jason says often during his trainings. It applies to many different types of yoga postures (and many life circumstances, too!).  For today’s episode, we’re talking about how it applies to backbending. Do you really have to keep your feet hip distance apart and parallel to each other? And what’s the risk of playing with different types of a...

Jason has recorded hundreds (if not thousands!) of hours of asana and lecture videos in the last few years. And yet, it might surprise you to learn that he’s still a little self conscious about how he looks on video. Everyone has insecurities—even yoga teachers who have been getting in front of students for decades. So, on today's episode we're talking about some of our insecurities. We hope the c...

On last week's episode Jason shared why consistency is key when it comes to class planning and sequencing. This week he shares how to actual implement a consistent class curriculum with four different approaches or templates to crafting great yoga classes that keep your students coming back. Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode238 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogala...

When it comes to sequencing, there are a few things that trip yoga teachers 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. Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode237 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland . Ho...

Ninety minutes is a really long time to stand in front of a group and talk, no matter how much you know about the topic! That's why having a clear plan is key for yoga teachers. (Because, as Jason points out, if you don't have some sort of plan, you'll either go off on random tangents or run out of things to say.)  Today, Jason shares how he plans his yoga class sequences so his students are...

What do you hope to teach your students when you teach yoga? Is it to make shapes with their bodies? How about your teacher trainees -- is it to memorize and repeat your sequences and study only with you? This week, Jason shares the foundational values that inform his educational style, namely helping students become clear, critical, and independent thinkers that value context and understand diffe...

Today, we return to Patanjali's Yoga Sutra and Jason shares three models for applying the eight-limb path to life -- The Step-by-Step Model, The Integrated Model, and The Single Limb Model. Plus, stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear 5th anniversary messages from listeners! Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode234 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland . Hos...

Can you believe we've been podcasting about yoga for 5 years!? For this special anniversary episode of Yogaland, Jason and I reflect on lessons we’ve learned through the years and the things that have surprised us most about our podcasting. Thanks for being a part of the journey. Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode233 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland . Hosted...

I'm so happy to have Sarah Kadel on the podcast today. Sarah is an Austin-based yoga teacher who is serving as a mentor teacher in Jason’s online advanced teacher training this year. I wanted to share her story with you because I think the world needs to hear her message about how yoga can be so helpful for those who have suffered with trauma in their lives.  Sarah shares: * How yoga helped h...

Today Jason and I are talking with Archna Mohan and Deepak Mohan, the hosts of the wonderful yoga podcast, Yoga, Chai, and a Dog, We touch on some of the things we have in common: podcasting, yoga, and what it's like to work with your spouse. We also ask a lot of questions about some areas where we differ. They share how yoga isn't something they "learned" growing up in India--it was just a part o...

Last week Jason shared the foundational concepts of purusha and prakriti. Go back and listen if you haven't yet! This week, we continue to talk through foundational concepts that Patanjali presents in The Yoga Sutra -- citta, vrittis, and the gunas. Jason defines terms and paints a picture of how they all fit together. And we also talk about how much we personally believe that Patanjali applies to...

Today is the first in a series of episodes where Jason shares the underpinnings of Patanjali. Most yoga students have heard their teachers reference Patanjali and the text that he is known for, The Yoga Sutra. But rarely do teachers have time to unpack this seminal text. For this episode, Jason shares the foundational concepts of purusha and prakriti and the samkya philosophy that informs Patanjal...

Today, Jason shares his approach to the six cores in yoga -- the philosophical core, the traditional hatha yoga core, the respiratory core, the skeletal core, and the two muscular cores.  Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode228 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I think of today’s guest, Tracee Stanley, as the queen of Yoga Nidra. n this episode, Tracee shares about this the practice of deep rest and why it is so healing. She also offers some suggestions for how to experience those benefits more fully--like taking your practice outdoors and getting in touch with nature. We talk about everything from how to drop into Yoga Nidra if you’re prone to anxiety t...

Amber Karnes -- the founder of Body Positive Yoga and the co-creator of the Accessible Yoga Training -- is my guest this week! Amber shares her story of how yoga has helped her change her relationship to her body, from one that was punitive to one that's more accepting and present. Amber offers so much insight and guidance in this conversation including: - How body positivity is not a linear path...

Today’s guest is Erin Jorich, a yoga teacher from Minnesota who is also serving as a mentor teacher in Jason’s 300-hour teacher training this year. I really enjoyed learning more about her path from an MTV-taught dancer in her college years to becoming the talented yoga teacher she is today. I also found her perspective on the positive aspects of teaching yoga online refreshing. We agree that ther...

This week, my guest is U.K. based teacher, Adam Hocke. Adam -- like Jack Workman in episode 221 -- is serving as a mentor in Jason's current online teacher training program. Adam is such a talented teacher in his own right -- balancing thoughtful and precise vinyasa yoga with his unique brand of warmth and humor. Adam and I spoke about many things but the common thread was one of my very favorite...

This week, I’m talking to Tara Stiles, co-founder (with her husband Michael Taylor) of Strala Yoga in NYC. We cover a lot in this interview -- from how she started sharing yoga on YouTube 12(!) years ago to Strala's humble beginnings in Michael's apartment, to how it has grown and evolved into a practice that integrates Tai Chi, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Qigong. Equal parts artist and entre...

This week, Jason and I are talking about something I think every modern yoga teacher needs to embrace: The art of repurposing content!  It can feel like a grind to create new content for every yoga class, every social media post, and every email. Luckily, you don't have to! I'll let you in on a little secret--no one will mind if you use the same concept or theme in several different ways acro...

Happy New Year! I’m so excited to be back after a long holiday break! Today’s guest is Jack Workman. Jack took Jason’s advanced teacher training when he was just 15 years old, and now he’s a full-time teacher living in San Francisco. He talks about how he came to be interested in the practice at such a young age, why he decided to teach, and how this has shaped his life. We also talk about ho...

Today, I have an inspiring story to share with you that I think many of you will relate to. Erin Landsee is a yoga teacher and mom of three who had finally found a work-life balance that worked for her family--teaching yoga at a local college. Like so many, she found herself starting over when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. With little kids at home 24/7, it wasn't all smooth sailing. But with a little...

Today, Jason and I dive into the topic of leadership in the yoga community. People love their yoga teachers--so much! And while there’s a lot of good that comes from that, it can also set up an unbalanced power dynamic. We talk about the student-teacher power differential and some of the circumstances that put yoga teachers at risk of (knowingly or unknowingly) abusing their power. Then, we get in...

As the world edges ever close to the one year mark of being in the midst of a pandemic, many of us are feeling weary. This week, Jason and I talk about resilience -- how it's been tested and how we tap into it using the tools from our yoga practice both on and off the mat. Hope it helps you tap into your own resilience during these challenging times. Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/ep...

After podcasting for four years, I want to feature YOUR voices--people who study with us. Today, I'm sharing a story from listener Elisabeth Brower, a yoga teacher from Oregon. I love how creative she has been with her teaching during this challenging time. I'd also love to hear from you! Do you have a story about how this pandemic has shaped your teaching? Email me at Andrea@jasonyoga.com . Suppo...