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 modeling the self-management we teach.
This episode completes our three-part series on medical situations in class:
- E34: Medical Emergencies in Class, Part 1 — Class-Stopping Issues
- E40: Medical Emergencies in Class, Part 2 — Handling Minor Issues without Stopping Class
- E52: Part 3 — When the Emergency Is Yours (this episode)
Listen in for:
- A grounding reminder: it’s just yoga
- Quick triage questions to guide your next move
- Language to be transparent without oversharing
- Simple ways to keep students safe while you stabilize
- Why if/then planning helps you stay calm and professional
Emergencies are never easy, but with preparation and perspective, we can meet them with grace and keep our community safe.
Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!
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And come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at ...
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