Yogaland Podcast

Learn 5 simple, commonly-overlooked ways to help your students create greater comfort, depth, and space in their Wheel Pose. Hint: you DON'T need to make your students keep their feet hip-width apart. And, yes, you can even let your students turn their feet out slightly. Learn about these options and more. For video visit: https://youtu.be/MqIZvwOSVRY Support this show http://supporter.acast....

When life gets busy and demanding, it's easy to fall into the trap of feeling like you've got to work harder to "get it all done." But what if you simply made the decision not to get it all done? Can you let go of something on your to-do list and give yourself some time to slow down right now? This episode is all about why it's important to slow down as yoga teachers, students, and content creator...

When the holiday mania hits, it's all too easy for your yoga practice to fall by the wayside. This week Jason and I challenge you to do the opposite -- prioritize your practice so that you've got the energy and attention you need to truly enjoy this season! If it were easy, we wouldn't have to have this conversation, so we offer our time-tested strategies for keeping your yoga practice a continuou...

Tis the season!  It's the official start of the holiday season in the United States this week. And while there is much to love about the holidays, there’s no denying that this time of year can also be really difficult for many people.  In this episode, we’re talking about how yoga and mindfulness can help you handle the toughest holiday situations--from challenging family dynamics and lo...

In this episode, which we first published earlier this year, Jason and I tackle yoga injuries. There may not be a way to completely prevent all injuries, but we’re sharing some best practices that teachers and students can practice to minimize the risk. We cover a lot of ground, but here are a few top-level points: * Why there’s no one “right” way to approach any pose in order to prevent injury. *...

According to the CDC, lower back pain causes more global disability than any other condition. In one study, 25% of U.S. adults reported back pain in the previous 3 months. Given these harrowing stats, yoga teachers are bound to have students with back pain come to class seeking relief. On this episode, Jason succinctly shares the two most important principles for yoga teachers to know when trying...

Today, my guest is Marcia Mercier, a fellow breast cancer survivor and yoga teacher in the U.K. More than two decades ago, Marcia found that the methodical approach of an Iyengar Yoga class was incredibly grounding in the aftermath of breast cancer treatment. Studies corroborate Marcia's experience: Yoga offers a broad array of benefits for breast cancer survivors, from reducing cancer-relate...

This week, we continue our conversation about the big picture WHY -- that is, why we practice yoga. We muse over the magic of consistency, the power of agency, and how we all need community even if the way that we show up looks different from each other. -->> Go check out our freshly redesigned website complete with podcast collections for easier binging! www.jasonyoga.com Also, to join the...

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...