Yoga Teacher Confidential: Secrets of Becoming a Great Yoga Teacher

Emergencies happen in yoga class—and sometimes the emergency is mine. In this third installment of the series, I share practical steps for handling sudden illness, a coughing fit or lost voice, migraines, or a panic spike while I’m teaching. You’ll hear real stories, what I say to students in the moment, and how I decide whether to simplify, deputize help, or end early. The goal: care for myself so I can care for others, while mode...

Leading a yoga retreat isn’t just a vacation with yoga—it’s a business, a service, and a deep commitment to your students. In this episode of Yoga Teacher Confidential, I talk with retreat leader Amy Boerner about what really goes into hosting successful retreats. From requiring deposits that “hurt to lose” to learning the hard way why you should never cook for your participants, Amy shares both the challenges and rewards of creati...

Five years into teaching, I realized I was sounding just like one of my mentors—same words, same tone, same everything. It made me wonder: who am I as a teacher when I’m not imitating someone else?

In this episode, we’re diving into Phase Two of the Yoga Teacher Success Timeline: the Identity Formation Zone. This is where you’ve moved past the overwhelm of Phase One and into regular teaching—but still feel like an imposter.

We’ll unp...

Teaching yoga in a big space with dozens of students can be daunting—how do you connect with everyone and keep the class flowing? In this episode, I share practical strategies for managing large rooms so every student feels included. You’ll learn how to set up your space, move with intention, project your voice, and adapt to challenges without losing your connection to the whole group. These tips will help you feel confident in any...

If you’ve ever found yourself spending hours on Sunday night scrolling Instagram for yoga class ideas, this episode is for you. I share the real struggle teachers face with planning: the overwhelm, the blank-page anxiety, or the temptation to just wing it.

After 20+ years of teaching, I’ve discovered that the most successful teachers aren’t the most creative or the most flexible. They’re the ones who reliably deliver balanced classe...

Teaching private yoga lessons can be one of the most rewarding parts of your teaching career—both financially and in the depth of connection you create. But finding clients who truly value your teaching can be a challenge.

In this episode, I share exactly how I’ve built a roster of private clients who commit to regular sessions, respect my expertise, and pay my full rate without constant negotiation. You’ll learn how to identify you...

What makes students keep coming back to your classes? It’s not just your cueing or sequencing—it’s the sense of connection you cultivate.

In this episode, I break down the art of building community in your yoga classes—not in a forced, overly social way, but in a grounded, intentional way that supports all types of students. You’ll learn what to do before, during, and after class to foster belonging, how to navigate common challenge...

You finished your 200-hour training, certificate in hand . . . but your class plan is blank and your brain is fried. Sound familiar?

In this episode, I walk you through Phase 1 of the Yoga Teacher Success Timeline: what I call post-training overwhelm. It’s that panicky season where you feel like you should be ready, but instead, you’re second-guessing every pose, bouncing between over-planning and winging it, and constantly reinvent...

“I’ve been teaching for years and I still feel like I’m faking it.”

If that sounds familiar, I'm here to reassure you: you’re not alone, and you’re not behind.

In this episode, I share the Yoga Teacher Success Timeline, a five-phase framework that helps you name where you are in your growth as a yoga teacher—and understand what’s coming next.

Whether you’re fresh out of teacher training or you’ve been leading classes for years, t...

What if the secret to confidence wasn’t doing something new—but doing the same thing, over and over again?

In this episode, I talk with Nyisha Rylander, who teaches yoga in three very different contexts on the island of Kauai: at a local gym with regular students, at resorts with one-time guests, and online as part of her health coaching business. You’ll hear how she used one master sequence—what she calls her “resort yoga”—as a tem...

Whether you love crafting playlists or prefer teaching in silence, this episode helps you make thoughtful, legally sound, and energetically aware choices about music in yoga classes. I walk you through:

• the legal requirements most teachers overlook
• nuts-and-bolts tech tips to avoid disruption
• and the nuanced ways sound shapes student experience.

You’ll also get guiding principles and practical options for building your confide...

Corporate yoga might just be the hidden gem of your teaching business. In this episode, I share everything you need to know to succeed in this unique environment—from landing gigs to crafting office-friendly sequences.

You’ll learn how to approach HR and wellness directors, price your sessions with confidence, and teach diverse groups who may never have stepped foot in a studio. I break down exactly how to adapt your teaching whethe...

As yoga teachers, we’re often prepared for the flow—but what about the unexpected? From nosebleeds and nausea to cramps and emotional releases, minor medical situations happen more often than we expect. In this episode, I share practical, professional ways to respond to these common classroom incidents without derailing your teaching or unsettling your students.

You’ll learn how to recognize early signs of trouble, maintain class mo...

NB: I fixed the audio glitch—thanks for listening to this better version!

Tight rooms, big challenges—and even bigger opportunities!

In this episode, I share lessons from years of teaching yoga in spaces that may have seemed too small on paper but that turned out to be perfectly intimate in practice.

You’ll hear my go-to strategies for mat arrangements, movement economy, managing props, and creating a powerful group energy, even when ...

My second-ever yoga class as a teacher is one I showed up to take but wound up subbing unexpectedly. I learned a lesson I’ve carried ever since: you don’t have to be the regular teacher, you just have to be you.

In this episode of Yoga Teacher Confidential, I’ll walk you through how to:

• navigate the challenges of subbing someone else’s class
• communicate effectively
• set the right tone
• honor class culture
• balance familiarity with your ...

In Episode 37, I dive deep into the essential yet often uncomfortable topic of boundaries in yoga teaching. I share insights from over two decades of experience, covering:

• the teacher-student dynamic
• ethical considerations
• the tricky terrain of transference and projection

You’ll learn practical tips on maintaining professional and personal limits, communicating clearly, and recognizing when your boundaries are slipping. Most i...

The most transformative yoga moments I’ve had didn’t come in packed studios—they happened one-on-one. In this episode, we dive deep into how to craft meaningful, student-centered private yoga sessions. I walk you through welcoming students, providing tailored feedback, managing pacing and flow, adapting on the fly, and creating a safe, empowering space.

We’ll cover how to read subtle cues, when to pivot your plan, and how to conclud...

If you feel overwhelmed or intimidated by the idea of teaching a private yoga lesson, you’re not alone. In this episode, I walk you through the exact steps to prepare for a private session that’s safe, professional, and deeply personalized—whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth.

We cover how to create an effective intake process, use the 6-4-2 sequencing framework to build a tailored plan, and how to add meaningful value befo...

The longer you teach, the more likely you’ll face a medical emergency in class. In this episode, we explore how to recognize and respond to serious situations like diabetic shock, cardiac events, and seizures—those rare but real class-stopping issues.

You’ll hear real-life stories from teachers who stayed calm, trusted their instincts, and took the right action at the right time. I’ll walk you through a practical checklist to prepar...