Yogaland Podcast

Today’s guest is writer, illustrator, and yoga teacher Kristen Booker. For the past decade, Kristen has built a successful career as a freelance writer in New York -- her work has appeared in Elle, Marie Claire, Refinery 29, Well+Good, and more. A year ago -- just after finishing her yoga teacher training -- Kristen returned to her hometown of Charleston, West Virginia to care for her aging mother...

It's safe to say that we need all the help we can get right now to stay grounded. You might remember Jaimal from episode 61 where we talked about his memoir, All Our Waves Our Water . This time around we focus on Jaimal's newest book for kids -- Mop Rides the Waves of Life . This book is so sweet and clear and meaningful with beautiful visuals by artist Matthew Allen. It gives kids a relatable way...

On today's episode, I speak to author and religious studies professor Andrea Jain about her book, Selling Yoga: From Counterculture to Pop Culture . Her book is one of the best I've read in terms of tracing the globalization of yoga without oversimplifying it or vilifying modern yoga's evolution. We cover a lot of ground in this interview. Here are some highlights: Is it true that yoga is of Hindu...

My guest today is Jennifer Hutton, a pediatric physical therapist from Nashville. As a physical therapist, Jennifer is passionate about teaching others to use rock tape (more on that in the episode!). But she’s also become a leader in talking about anti-racism, and what it means to be an ally of the movement. She recently gave a webinar on the topic to 600 viewers and raised more than $10,000 for...

On this episode, I’m joined by Washington, DC yoga studio owner and world-traveling yoga teacher Faith Hunter. You may remember Faith from episode 37 where she shared her story of coping with the loss of her brother. I wanted to check in with Faith to find out how she's doing, to ask her about her new projects, and to get her take on how the white yoga community can be more actively anti-racist an...

This week, you get to hear Jason and I interviewed by Bridget Riepl of New Jersey Yoga Collective. It was part of a fundraiser for Goats of Anarchy -- those goats needed a new barn and we were happy to support. Bridget asked us about a whole host of topics -- from the history and intention behind this podcast, to the advice we have for yoga teachers and students grappling with the hardships of the...

There's no doubt that Covid-19 has changed the current landscape of how we practice and teach yoga. On this special episode (recorded live via Zoom with Jason's recent online teacher trainees), Jason and I talk through about the important conversations that will need to happen between studio owners and yoga teachers as things open up. We also talk about how this time of uncertainty calls creates s...

If you’re a yoga teacher who teaches online, you might wonder if there are extra steps you should take to protect yourself. The short answer is, “Yes!” But it isn’t as difficult or confusing as you might think. This week, I ask Sarah Waldbuesser, an attorney for coaches and online business owners, to explain, in simple terms, the legal documents and liability releases for online businesses we need...

Although they are largely ignored when mainstream media covers yoga, seniors age 65 and older are the fastest growing segment in the United States. Today's guest, Carol Krucoff, has been teaching seniors (and training yoga teachers) for nearly two decades at Duke Integrative Medicine. She's also co-author of the book, Relax into Yoga for Seniors: A Six-Week Program for Strength, Balance, Flexibili...

Wondering what to practice when you're short on time? We've got you covered! Jason shares simple sequence ideas for days when you only have 10, 20, or 30-minutes. Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode193 SHOUT-OUT TO OUR SPONSORS Storyworth makes it easy and fun for loved ones to tell their stories. Simply purchase a subscription for someone you love--like your mom for Mother's Day-...

Jason and I share what we are practicing in our own home practice right now. Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode192 SHOUT-OUT TO OUR SPONSORS Storyworth makes it easy and fun for loved ones to tell their stories. Simply purchase a subscription for someone you love--like your mom for Mother's Day--and each week Storyworth will send them a question about their life. After a year, st...

Thanks for being here! We are a husband and wife team -- we've spent our lives and careers immersed in the principles of yoga and meditation so that we can live in the most embodied way. Jason travels the world leading teacher trainings. Andrea is host of Yogaland podcast, which has garnered 3.4 million downloads. Our aim is to support you wherever you are on your path through weekly podcasts, onl...

Have you ever gotten on your mat to do a home yoga practice and your mind goes completely blank? Or perhaps you're tired of practicing the only set sequence that you have memorized. Jason shares three simple approaches to help you come up with your very own satisfying, efficient sequences. Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode190 SHOUT-OUT TO OUR SPONSORS Storyworth makes it easy an...

On this episode, Jason busts 5 commonly held myths we have about home practice. Don't let your beliefs about how things "should" be keep you from doing the practice that you love! Show notes: jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode189 SHOUT-OUT TO OUR SPONSORS Storyworth makes it easy and fun for loved ones to tell their stories. Simply purchase a subscription for someone you love–like your mom for Mother’s...

On this episode, we talk through five potential options for offering yoga content beyond daily livestream classes. SHOUT-OUT TO OUR SPONSORS Storyworth makes it easy and fun for loved ones to tell their stories. Simply purchase a subscription for someone you love--like your mom for Mother's Day--and each week Storyworth will send them a question about their life. After a year, stories are bound in...

You might be feeling lonely or lost. You might be feeling like other teachers have got this online thing figured out. You might be putting pressure on yourself because, as a yoga teacher (or student), you should have your emotions fully managed so that you can continue to hold space for others who need you. We’re here to give you a reality check. Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episod...

Should you charge for your online classes? If so, how much? Does providing free classes de-value yoga? We delve these questions about payment and more on this episode. SHOUT-OUT TO OUR SPONSORS Storyworth makes it easy and fun for loved ones to tell their stories. Simply purchase a subscription for someone you love--like your mom for Mother's Day--and each week Storyworth will send them a question...

Should you practice with your students or try to gauge the room by peering at the little boxes on your screen? Which postures and themes are most important for your students right now? How quickly should you get students moving and how long do you offer Savasana? Find out on this episode! SHOUT-OUT TO OUR SPONSORS Storyworth makes it easy and fun for loved ones to tell their stories. Simply purcha...

Learning to teach yoga online is vital right now. But if you're used to teaching yoga in person, it can feel really daunting! On this episode, we break down what you can do to feel more comfortable and truly connect with your yoga students -- even through a Zoom room. SHOUT OUT TO OUR SPONSORS Get your virtual yoga studio in a flow with Acuity Scheduling, the all-in-one scheduling tool for virtual...

As people across the country are home bound amid the COVID-19 outbreak, in-person yoga classes and teacher trainings have come to an abrupt halt. The entire yoga community has been scrambling as we try to figure out how to best serve our students. For this bonus episode, Jason and I talk to Shannon Roche and Catherine Marquette from Yoga Alliance to get some clarity on their recommendations for fi...

Soon after deciding to teach yoga to first responders, yoga teacher Olivia Mead decided to go through fire and police academy. She wanted to develop authentic yoga classes that would resonate with -- not alienate -- first responders. She also wanted to develop yoga classes that would give first responders tools to use on the job. She wanted her classes to be directly relevant and applicable, not e...

Yoga teacher trainings have changed a lot over the years. When I did my 200-hour training years ago, I jumped in without knowing what to expect. I loved my training, but it was more of an immersion than a teacher training. In this episode, Jason and two of his long-time teaching assistants, Adam Hocke and Adam Husler, join me to talk about their approach to yoga, and what they will bring to the Au...

Jason and I recorded this episode live at LoveStoryYoga in San Francisco at the Module 1 Advanced Studies training. Since the students are currently focusing on the hips and legs, we thought we'd take a look at backbending techniques. Jason unpacks some of the conventional wisdom about the alignment of this category of poses and then offers some unconventional options for those who don't fit the b...

Most of us struggle with body image on some level. Depending on a lot of factors yoga can be instrumental in helping us learn to love and accept our bodies--or trigger us. Today’s guest, Nicole Bell, has experienced both sides first hand.  Nicole's spiral into Anorexia coincided with her intense love of Bikram yoga. As she tells it, the classes were more like punishment than a refuge for her....

You may have noticed a pendulum swing when it comes to yoga poses that require extreme amounts of flexiblity. Just as we glorified the idea of throwing both legs behind our head in Yoganidrasana, many of us are now worried that we've been doing too far, exploiting our "hypermobility" and potentially causing soft tissue injuries or arthritis down the line. But what exactly is hypermobility? Is it t...