Essential Conversations for Yoga Teachers

We discussed safety in the last episode because I believe we all come from that standpoint. Thinking safety begs the question, “Is our understanding of 'correct alignment' safe for all students?” That took me down a deep rabbit hole and was an inspiration for these episodes on what we teach students about alignment.

Ask yourself if, since your initial Yoga Teacher Training, have your beliefs around alignment in yoga evolve...

Traditionally, alignment was taught as a set of fixed, universal principles—certain cues, angles, and posture requirements that were considered "correct" for all bodies. However, modern discussions, influenced by movement science, biomechanics, and inclusivity, now emphasize functional movement, individual variation, and nervous system safety over rigid alignment rules.

Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, today we’re ...

Understanding anatomy is super important as a movement teacher. You may have noticed that I weave this sentiment in many of my episodes. I've received a few questions from teachers who listen to the podcast about their challenges with teaching anatomy in their classes, and I thought I’d answer their questions in this episode because I wonder if you have these same questions as well!

I'm excited for you to listen because th...

One of the biggest concerns you might have as a yoga teacher is whether or not you’re stepping outside of your scope of practice. We are not doctors & we cannot diagnose an injury, however, we can AND SHOULD learn about them because we are teaching movement to people who probably are currently injured, have a past injury, or might injure themselves in the future. 

If you’ve ever been afraid of stepping outside of your scope of p...

I wholeheartedly believe every yoga teacher must have a working knowledge of anatomy, it is the responsible thing to do because you're teaching movement and working with bodies. Your students trust you, therefore you should be well-educated. 

It doesn’t matter if you teach vinyasa, or yin; meditation or pranayama… understanding why a student might be uncomfortable in a seated cross leg position is important.

• Why does that hu...

Your shoulder is one of the most mobile—and vulnerable—joints in your body, and the rotator cuff muscles play a crucial role in its stability. When a student is dealing with a rotator cuff injury, it can be challenging to know how to sequence a class that supports their healing while still offering a meaningful practice.

If you desire to understand and effectively address rotator cuff injuries, then a solid understanding of shoulder...

I’m a couple of weeks back from hosting another yoga international yoga retreat. While I was away, I had a few yoga teachers ask me about how to start hosting retreats. I’ve also coached teachers on planning and organizing their own retreats, as they were interested in diversifying their offerings to include retreats.

So today we’re diving into a topic that’s both exciting and might feel a little intimidating: planning your first yo...

You want to create a safe and inclusive space for everyone who walks into your classes. But when a student is dealing with an injury, it can feel overwhelming to know how to support them. Do you resort to telling them, “Do what feels right for you”? This is a valid suggestion to offer, but have you ever yearned to actually help them or address their needs in your class?

Questions like:

• How do I assess their needs? 
• What questions ...

In this guided meditation, I want to take you on a journey… a different journey than the guided meditation in Episode 56, in which I guided you through an awareness of your body and breath. 

In this meditation, I’m going to take you on a visual experience and  also help you to calm and regulate your nervous system. Guided meditation, also called Yoga Nidra, and is a powerful tool for rest and rejuvenation. It allows you to connect w...

You either love Half Pigeon pose or you hate it!! Which is it for you or your students? It can be a powerful hip opener, but it’s also a pose that begs respect for the body’s limits. Understanding the pose on a deeper level (more than anatomy and general alignment) and adding in the biomechanics of the pose, helps us practice and teach it in a way that honors our students’ unique bodies and needs. 

As teachers, we must understand th...

Have you ever considered teaching chair yoga? It’s a versatile and accessible style of yoga that opens the doors of the yoga practice to students of all ages, abilities, and levels of mobility. If you’re thinking of offering chair yoga classes, remember it’s not only an opportunity to diversify your offerings but also a chance to serve a wider community of students who may feel excluded from traditional mat-based yoga practices, an...

Meditation is a practice of focusing the mind to regulate your nervous system by reaching for a state of mental clarity, emotional calm, and overall awareness. 

However, the thought of starting a meditation practice can feel out of reach. Whether you think “I can’t possibly sit still for 15 or more minutes” or “It’s impossible to quiet my mind” you too CAN meditate, and you can encourage your students to try it as well… so let’s tal...

Is it winter where you live right now? While the cycle of the seasons is more apparent in certain parts of the world, winter brings its own unique challenges: shorter days, colder temperatures, and a natural tendency for your body & mind to slow down. 

In Ayurveda, winter is a season dominated by Vata (cold, dry, and light) and Kapha (heavy, slow, and damp). As yoga teachers, now is the time for you to create classes that honor ...

Welcome to meditation! Today is the perfect day to explore how your breath can help calm and regulate your nervous system. Guided meditation, also called Yoga Nidra, is a powerful tool for rest and renewal. It allows you to connect with your body, calm your mind, and support the natural healing & regulating processes of your nervous system.

In this episode, I invite you to get cozy and listen along while I guide you through a sh...

 Teaching beginner classes sounds easy, but when you have a room full of students who have never practiced yoga or have preconceived notions of what yoga should be or what it looks like because of the images they've been fed. Well, teaching becomes a little bit more challenging. 

So let's get into some different ways to welcome students, calm their nerves, and teach beginner-friendly classes. 

In this episode, I'll hel...

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This year, I have loved covering different topics from yoga’s roots and history to tips on building your business. As well as anatomy info to episodes mapping out your nervous system & injury information. And it feels like I’ve just touched on the tip of the iceberg! A few of my favorite episodes have been answering YOUR questions, because honestly where do we go to get answers? There aren’t a lot of places, and I have loved re...

Welcome to week 3 of quick self-care episodes! I’ve enjoyed talking about the many different ways for you to care for yourself. So far, I’ve talked about mental, emotional, and physical ways to embrace self-care. In this episode let’s talk about how to care for yourself professionally… I’ll share a few of the tips that I concentrate on and I hope they’ll be helpful for you too.

But first, are you really taking care of yourself? This...

As we continue this month of quick episodes that are tailored to your health, I realize the holidays can be a lot to manage. Are you busy preparing for the holidays with friends and family? Are you planning special holiday classes or workshops? Well, while you're doing all of that, are you also taking care of yourself?

This is an easy time of year to burn yourself out, however taking care of yourself helps you become more prese...