Yoga Teacher Chats

In today's episode, Ashley chats with Keri Kugler, leadership mentor and strategist, and host of The Aligned Woman Podcast for a conversation about the lifelong process of becoming. Keri shares how she found yoga after not even enjoying her first classes, why her 200-hour teacher training changed the course of her life, and how the practice continues to shape her work as a leadership and business coach.

Together, they explore self-s...

In today's episode, Ashley chats with one of her longtime teachers Sam Rice for a conversation about lineage, curiosity, and what it means to keep evolving in practice. Sam reflects on the teachers and experiences that shaped her, the importance of learning the "scales" before finding your own voice, and the humility of recognizing that there are many ways to approach the practice.

Together, they explore the tension between certaint...

In todays episode, Ashley sits down with longtime teacher, educator, and mentor Candace Glass for a heartfelt conversation about finding yoga through life's hardest moments, the courage it takes to truly know ourselves, and the communities we create through kindness.

Together, they explore the practice beyond the poses, touching on mindfulness, the Bhagavad Gita, teaching children, creating spaces where everyone belongs, and the qui...

In today's bonus episode, Ashley shares reflections from her ongoing teacher training journey and the unexpected lessons emerging along the way. From studying yoga philosophy for the third time to wrestling with questions of purpose, lineage, and what it means to truly practice, this conversation explores the deeper layers of yoga beyond the postures.

Ashley also opens up about a recent realization: that hOMe Yoga may be the very wo...

What does it mean to devote yourself to a practice—not for a season, but for a lifetime?

In today's episode, Ashley sits down with longtime practitioner, teacher, writer, and homesteader Meg Newlin for a conversation about studentship, mentorship, and the transformative power of showing up again and again.

Meg shares stories from her early days studying with Christina Sell, Darren Rhodes, and other influential teachers, the evo...

In today's episode, Ashley chats with Annie Geile, owner of South River Yoga in South County, MO to talk about the winding path that led her from corporate America and chronic illness into the world of yoga, restorative practice, and studio ownership. Annie shares how a life-changing diagnosis shifted her relationship to movement, introduced her to restorative yoga, and ultimately transformed the way she moves through the world.

Th...

In today's episode, Ashley chats with the endlessly creative and deeply heartfelt Emma Crackel. Emma shares her journey from growing up drawn to yoga, to navigating early motherhood, her son Jude’s leukemia diagnosis, and ultimately finding healing, community, and purpose through the practice and teaching of yoga.

They talk about resilience, artistry, philosophy, family yoga, learning to embrace uncertainty, and what it means ...

In today's episode of Yoga Teacher Chats, Ashley chats with her teacher, mentor, and friend, Darren Rhodes, owner of Yoga Oasis in Tucson, AZ and mastermind behind the teaching technologies of yogahour®. Together, they explore the roots of practice, the power of community, and the experiences that leave an indelible mark on a life. Darren shares stories from his early introduction to yoga, the evolution of yogahour, building YO, an...

In Today's episode of Yoga Teacher Chats, Ashley chats with Raveen Johnson, yoga teacher, writer, singer, and journaling facilitator based in Houston, Texas. Raveen shares her journey into yoga through community, heartbreak, faith, intuition, and the transformative power of being witnessed. They talk about the studio that shaped her, the impact of immersive community practice, navigating teacher training during a pandemic, and lear...

In today's bonus episode, Ashley shares a vulnerable reflection on stepping back into the role of student after beginning a new 500-hour training with a different lineage. From identity shifts and ego to growth, discomfort, and becoming a beginner again, this episode is an honest conversation about what it means to keep learning.

Ashley also shares everything happening this month at hOMe Yoga, including workshops, Yoga Nidra, sound ...

In today's episode, Ashley (Simonis) chats with Ashley Ribaudo of St. Louis Ashtanga Yoga (SLAY) and Expansion Therapy. Ashley shares her unconventional path from advertising school to flight attendant to physical therapy assistant to yoga teacher, mentor, and community leader.

We talk about how Ashtanga first hooked her, why Mysore-style practice can be one of the most individualized and supportive ways to learn, and how injuries a...

In this episode, Ashley chats with Dr. Carolyn Meister, physical therapist and founder of Expansion Therapy for a conversation that completely redefines what healing can look like.

Dr. Carolyn’s work blends fascia release, breathwork, movement analysis, and energetic awareness to help people understand the deeper stories their body is holding. This isn’t just physical therapy, it’s a practice of learning how to see...

In this episode, Ashley chats with one of her teachers, Patty Gorder, owner of Namaste Massage & Yoga Studio in Grafton, North Dakota.

Patty shares her journey of discovering yoga as a teenager in Tucson, AZ to building a thriving yoga and wellness space in a small, rural community, one that didn’t even know it needed yoga until it arrived. They talk about what it means to follow the path when it doesn’t look the way...

In this episode, Ashley chats with Shawna Krueger, host of the Leadership in Yoga Podcast, for a real, honest conversation about what it actually looks like to grow into your voice as a yoga teacher.

Shawna shares her unconventional path into teaching, from failing her first audition to navigating imposter syndrome, injury, and the pressure to “get it right.” Together, they explore the idea that your voice is something y...

In today's bonus episode, Ashley chats with Emily Hogan for a real, unfiltered conversation about what it actually looks like to build a career as a yoga teacher.

From pay structures and class rates to the reality of being a 1099 contractor, this episode pulls back the curtain on the “yoga teacher hustle” and the gap between teacher training and real life.

This conversation isn’t here to discourage, it’s here ...

In this episode, Ashley chats with Stephani Jungmeyer, owner of Trailside Yoga and Beyond in Fayetteville, Arkansas, to explore her journey of building and rebuilding a yoga studio rooted in community, resilience, and trust.

Stephanie shares the behind-the-scenes reality of opening her studio without loans, relying on friends, family, and a whole lot of DIY spirit to bring her vision to life. What started as a grassroots effort beca...

In today's episode, Ashley sits down with Jamie for an honest and expansive conversation on what it really means to grow as a yoga teacher.

They explore the evolution of practice beyond the mat, from navigating imposter syndrome and stepping away from teaching, to returning with deeper clarity, confidence, and self-trust. Jamie shares how life experiences shaped her understanding of yoga, especially the practice of letting go, and h...

In today's episode, Ashley sits down with longtime friend and teacher Lindsay Mooney to talk about the many seasons of a yoga teacher.

From the early days of teacher training and studio teaching, to building her own brand, navigating motherhood, and experiencing the profound grief of losing her father, Lindsay shares how her relationship with yoga has evolved through it all.

Together they explore the realities of the yoga teacher hus...

In today's episode, Ashley chats with teacher Bek Lokey to talk about the journey from dedicated student to teacher.

Bek shares how her background in dance eventually led her to yoga, beginning with YouTube practices at home and eventually finding her way into a studio community that changed everything. What started as a personal practice to manage anxiety and reconnect with movement slowly evolved into teacher training, stepping in...