Essential Conversations for Yoga Teachers

Plow Pose is a standard part of many yoga classes, and many teachers were trained to include it without much question. But in a group class setting, the demands on the cervical spine in this pose, combined with the reality of teaching multiple students at once, create a level of risk that is worth taking seriously. In this episode,  I'll make a direct case for why plow pose does not belong in a group yoga class, what the anato...

Chaturanga is one of the most repeated movements in vinyasa yoga, and one of the most commonly practiced by students without having the foundational capacity to support it. For yoga teachers, understanding what chaturanga actually demands of the wrists and shoulder joint, and recognizing when students are not ready to practice it in a way that supports their bodies, is essential knowledge for teaching safe, effective vinyasa classe...

Many yoga teachers think of yin yoga as a universally gentle practice, but for students with hip labral tears, the deep hip flexion and sustained holds that define the yoga practice can be genuinely problematic. Understanding the difference between yin yoga and restorative yoga, why the hip labrum is vulnerable to certain kinds of loading, and what alternatives you can offer your students is the kind of practical anatomy knowledge ...

As yoga teachers, we were initially trained to think of restorative yoga as the gentle, accessible option, the class option to send students who are struggling. But for students managing anxiety or chronic pain, traditional restorative practice can be challenging, and sometimes counterproductive. Understanding why certain nervous systems resist stillness, and what to offer when they do, is one of the most practical skills you can d...

Teaching body awareness in yoga is one of the most underused skills a teacher can develop, and one of the most impactful things you can offer your students. This episode makes the case for why this skill deserves a central place in how you teach, and gives you concrete tools to bring it into your classes, starting with your very next class.

This episode includes:

• Why Saying "Listen to Your Body" Isn't Enough
•  Why Teaching Bod...

If you think you need to have creative sequences that are wildly different every week to retain students, or that the creative demonstrates a teaching skill, then this episode is for you! In this episode, I will directly challenge this belief. If you have ever felt anxious about being too repetitive or wondered whether your regular students are getting bored, this conversation is going to give you a different way to think about wha...

Many yoga teachers can feel uncertain about how to serve older students effectively. Students in their sixties, seventies, and eighties have different considerations than younger students (i.e. reduced range of motion, changing balance, concerns about bone density, addressing multiple chronic conditions, and slower recovery times). But aging is not decline, and older adults aren't necessarily fragile. They're people who are capable...

Saying you're not a physical therapist is one of the most limiting beliefs among yoga teachers, and it keeps you from working with students who have injuries. Believing this creates an environment where you're unnecessarily apologizing and using disclaimers, and diminishes the incredible value you offer. It's true, you're not a physical therapist, and that's exactly why your students need you. Physical therapy and yoga teaching are...

Ever had a student tell you they have a herniated disc? They sound serious and can make you feel fearful that you might do something to "make it worse." But students with disc issues can practice yoga safely when you understand what herniated discs actually are, which movements require your thoughtful consideration, and how different styles of yoga can help to support healing. This episode breaks down how to teach students with her...

The continuing education landscape for yoga teachers can be overwhelming. There are countless trainings promising to teach you about a subject that you're interested in. However, the problem isn't that you haven't taken enough of them, it's that most continuing education focuses on giving you more information instead of helping you apply what you already know and what you're learning in the training. Information accumulation doesn'...

Hip pain is one of the most common complaints yoga teachers hear from students, but knowing how to modify thoughtfully for students experiencing hip discomfort can feel overwhelming. Certain poses like Pigeon, low lunges, Warriors, wide-legged forward folds, deep squats, and seated cross-legged positions frequently trigger hip sensitivity. Learn to understand why hips can be so reactive in yoga practice, which specific movements te...

The moment a student asks, "Will this hurt my injury?" can be one of the most anxiety-inducing experiences for yoga teachers. The fear of saying the wrong thing, of not knowing enough about their specific condition, of accidentally making something worse keeps many teachers trapped in silence or vague responses like "just listen to your body." But confident communication with injured students doesn't require knowing everything abou...

Bursitis, inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction in the shoulder, can make overhead movements and weight-bearing poses uncomfortable. But understanding how to work with students who have bursitis doesn't require a degree in physical therapy. It requires foundational knowledge of modern pain science, intelligent modification strategies, and language that reduces nervous system threat. This episode breaks down wha...

Do yoga teachers need to know anatomy? Yes, but probably not as much as you think, and in a different way than you think. If you've been caught in the cycle of taking endless anatomy courses, still feeling like you don't know enough to work with students who have pain, this episode breaks down what you actually need to know versus what you think you need to know.

Learn the essential anatomy knowledge every teacher should have, what'...

Yoga modifications for wrist pain are essential skills for any teacher leading vinyasa or flow-based classes, yet most teacher trainings barely cover them. If you've ever noticed a student skip plank, chaturangas, or even table top pose, this episode will help you understand why and offer strategies you can incorporate into your very next class. 

Learn multiple practical modifications for Down Dog, Plank, Chaturanga, and Table ...

Yoga teacher impostor syndrome keeps qualified teachers from working with students who have pain and injuries. If you've ever avoided a student with an injury because you thought "I'm not a physical therapist" or "I don't know enough anatomy," this episode addresses the real barrier: not your scope of practice, but the belief that you're not enough. Learn why the thoughts keeping you stuck are impostor syndrome, not the truth. Disc...

Students with lower back pain is one of the most common complaints that yoga teachers encounter, yet most teachers feel completely unprepared to help students with back injuries. If you've ever felt like you're not sure how to respond when a student asks, "Will this pose hurt my back?" this episode is for you. 

Learn the essential conversation framework for talking with students about lower back pain, the core principles that w...

Creating a new yoga sequence can feel overwhelming, especially when you are trying to account for student needs, your own teaching goals, and the realities of the world outside the studio. In this episode, we explore the key considerations to have when planning a sequence so the process feels intentional.

You will hear how anchoring a class around a simple concept or intention can bring clarity, and why familiarity, pacing, and repe...

Did you learn to sequence by linking individual poses together, focusing on flow, creativity, or what your sequence will look like visually? While this is movement, it doesn't always create clarity with you or your students. In this episode, we explore why thinking in pose families instead of isolated postures can completely change how you approach sequencing.

You will learn how grouping poses into families, such as backbends, hip o...