In this warm and honest conversation, Izzy talks with yoga teacher and creator Charlotte Muller (@breathe_strength) about teaching with heart, humor, and truly good sequencing. Charlotte shares how her early health journey and the loss of her mom shaped her path, how she found her teaching voice, and why humor and creativity matter in yoga. They also dive into foreshadowing, sustainable teaching, and building real community with other teachers.

Timestamps:0:00–14:21 — Background14:21–21:35 — Creative Sequencing21:35–30:15 — Humor, Voice & Presence30:15–37:00 — Memorizing Sequences37:00–41:00 — Foreshadowing41:00–46:00 — Creative Process46:00–53:00 — Collaboration & Friendship53:00–End — Balance & Closing Thoughts

What I Read in Yoga This Month is an offering for my paid subscribers. Today I’ve provided three readings and reflections that you might consider sharing with your yoga class as we enter a new calendar year.

But, this approach strays from the typical “resolution” creation and dives into what it means to really create sankalpa or intention in the yogic path. Spoiler alert: It’s different than the western approach.

I hope this helps you reflect on your own approach to intention setting and how you might share these ideas with your students!

As always, if you like what you hear, or it sparks something for you, I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

In this warm and honest conversation, Izzy talks with yoga teacher and creator Charlotte Muller (@breathe_strength) about teaching with heart, humor, and truly good sequencing. Charlotte shares how her early health journey and the loss of her mom shaped her path, how she found her teaching voice, and why humor and creativity matter in yoga. They also dive into foreshadowing, sustainable teaching, and building real community with other teachers.

Timestamps:0:00–14:21 — Background14:21–21:35 — Creative Sequencing21:35–30:15 — Humor, Voice & Presence30:15–37:00 — Memorizing Sequences37:00–41:00 — Foreshadowing41:00–46:00 — Creative Process46:00–53:00 — Collaboration & Friendship53:00–End — Balance & Closing Thoughts

Poet James A. Pearson joins me for a deeply human conversation about courage, creativity, and the art of paying attention. We talk about the seasons of life—how autumn asks us to let go, how the “mud season” teaches patience, and how trust and faith carry us through our own winters.

Find James at https://jamesapearson.com/ and be sure to buy his beautiful book The Wilderness That Bears Your Name

Dear Humans,

I’ve been teaching this sequence over the past week and I’m absolutely loving it!

I wanted to share it with you in this live format, so that you could practice with me.

This is a 30 minute class, where we focus on fluid and flowing movements, exploring circles and cycles. It’s juicy, it’s powerful, and it’s a perfect reminder to let go.

I wi…

In this episode of Dear Humans, Izzy is joined by guest, friend, and fellow yoga teacher Sydney McCowan (formerly Sydney Clemens!).

Listen in for a deeply insightful conversation that moves from the internal world of intuition to the transformative power of community. They begin by exploring the practice of listening to that inner voice—how loud it can be, and why it’s essential to trust our gut feelings.

The discussion naturally flows into the magic of yoga retreats, highlighting their upcoming Portugal retreat as a powerful container for this kind of inner work. They delve into the nuances of being a modern yoga student and teacher, covering everything from balancing a personal practice with teaching, the discipline of home practice, and the profound importance of inclusive language and permission-giving in class, highlighting Sydney’s upcoming workshop: Cueing with Confidence. Izzy and Sydney share their philosophies on creating classes where students feel empowered, seen, and able to explore movement in a way that feels authentic to them.

This episode is a must-listen for any yoga student or teacher looking to deepen their practice, trust themselves more fully, and understand how a retreat can be a catalyst for profound change. A special reminder: the tiered pricing with a 20% discount for the Portugal retreat ends on October 10th!

Meet your guest

“I’m Sydney (she/her), a yoga teacher based in Washburn, Wisconsin. I’m passionate about creating inclusive and nourishing spaces for people to connect with themselves. I teach in local studios, work with middle and high school students, and lead international retreats. Ultimately my goal as your yoga teacher is to guide you back to the sensations in your own body.

My teaching blends vinyasa, intuitive movement, and somatic practices with the intention of helping students tune into their own experience and move in a way that feels true to them.

In addition to yoga, I study and share practices rooted in menstrual health and cyclical wisdom. I studied with and have a deep appreciation for my Menstruality Training with the Red School based in London in 2023.

I love offering tools that support people in reconnecting with the deep intelligence of their bodies. I live along the south shore of Lake Superior, where I recharge through cold swims, forest hikes, and foraging mushrooms. I’d love to connect with you. In person or online.”

Join us in Portugal

Move. Breathe. Return to you.

This retreat is for anyone craving a shift. Not just rest—but reconnection. Reconnection to body, mind, and spirit, but also to community. Through daily yoga, guided meditation, intuitive movement, and deep conversation, we’ll explore what it means to come home to your body, your purpose, and your own inner rhythm.

✨ A pristine escape in Northern Portugal

✨ Movement practices in the sun-drenched studio

✨ Daily meditation and communal silence

✨ Rituals and ceremonies to help us deepen our connections

✨ Spacious rooms. Good food. Good humans.

QUESTIONS? Check our FAQ page or send us an email at [email protected]—remember we are offering 20% off at the Root Pricing level with the code “Root” until October 10th!

Dear Humans,

I wasn’t able to schedule a live class with you this July, but here’s a 30 minute recorded class that I hope you’ll take when the time is right!

I was called to move slowly today, finding juicy movements that worked us into the inner and outer hips, hamstrings, and shoulders. Think one-part slow vinyasa class and one-part restorative class.

…

In this episode of Dear Humans, Izzy and Nico dive into the creative heart of teaching yoga. What begins as a story of online connection—two yoga teachers meeting through Substack—unfolds into a rich conversation about the practices, inspirations, and inner work that shape their teaching.

They reflect on:

* How creativity shows up in their sequencing, language, and presence

* Why writing, like movement, is a tool for clarity and connection

* The pressures of originality in yoga—and why it's okay (and necessary) to borrow, adapt, and be influenced

* The impact of dance, personal practice, and embodied experimentation in their approach to teaching

* How creative ruts and self-doubt can be openings for deeper authenticity

* Building a Substack page as a form of devotion to the craft and community

At its core, this episode is a love letter to creative process: imperfect, evolving, and rooted in the body. Whether you’re a yoga teacher, writer, or someone seeking inspiration, Izzy and Nico offer a tender, candid exploration of what it means to live your practice out loud.

Meet your hosts

Nico Hurley is a yoga instructor based in Bozeman, Montana, whose work is rooted in mindful movement, creativity, and the power of presence. Her teaching invites people to connect—within themselves, with others, and with the natural world through breath, stillness, and intentional movement. Nico is currently deepening her exploration of breathwork and meditation, and she’s passionate about creating spaces where both solitude and community are honored. A lover of the outdoors and a believer in the healing power of connection, Nico brings warmth, curiosity, and grounded insight to everything she shares.

Izzy Martens is a senior yoga teacher and the creator of Yoga Humans, an online community and home to her bestselling Substack, What I Taught in Yoga This Week—a resource dedicated to supporting and inspiring new yoga teachers. A Colorado native and graduate of Colorado State University, Izzy previously worked in leadership development and is a certified executive facilitator through Georgetown University’s Institute for Transformational Leadership. She is the co-author of Holding Space: A Guide to Mindful Facilitation. Izzy is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing at CSU. Known for her athletic, creative, and empowering classes, Izzy blends the dynamic traditions of Vinyasa, Rocket, and Power yoga with mindfulness, storytelling, and an unwavering reverence for the practice. Her sequences are imaginative and ever-evolving—designed to honor where students are while gently testing the strength of the body and mind.

Dear Humans,

Thank you for practicing with me live tonight! That was so much fun!

Here is the recording of our 45 minute vinyasa class, which focused on hips, powerful standing postures, and balance.

As you can see at the end of the video, I accidentally muted myself and so you couldn’t hear my goodbye 😂. But I told you that I really, truly appreciate y…

Dear Humans,

Thank you for practicing with me this morning! That was so fun!

If you missed the live session, here is a recording of the class. This is a 30 minute all levels vinyasa class. We start with a slow centering moment, a guiding poem, and some gentle opening movements. We then move into a warm-up flow and a main flow. The class ends with child’s…