In this episode of the Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast, Reika sits down with Steve Szakal, an ultra runner, full-time yoga teacher, to explore the powerful intersection of yoga and endurance running.

Steve shares how he went from feeling unhealthy and burnt out from years of manual labor to transforming his life through running and hot yoga. What started with a two-mile run grew into a passion for marathons, ultras, and a dedicated yoga practice. Along the way, Steve discovered how yoga philosophy, and mindfulness deeply inform his running, and vice versa.

Together, they discuss the physical and mental challenges of ultra running, and the intersection of ultra running and yoga history and philosophy. Steve also reflects on his transition to full-time yoga teaching, the role of Ghosh Yoga and his teachers in shaping his path, and how living simply allows him to pursue both passions with joy and clarity.

Whether you’re a yoga teacher, a runner, or someone curious about how two seemingly different disciplines complement one another, this conversation is filled with wisdom and inspiration.

Connect with Steve:

Patreon

Instagram: @run2805project

Email: [email protected]

Podcasts that Steve was a guest on:

1. Running Times: "The Example"
2. J.Brown: "Becoming the Best Version of Yourself"

Reika's Resources:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mentorship for Yoga Teacher Application⁠⁠⁠⁠

  ⁠⁠Women's Hiking & Yoga Retreat Interest List⁠⁠⁠

  ⁠⁠Subscribe to Reika's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's website: ⁠⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠

In this episode of the Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast, Reika sits down with Lily Dwyer Begg, a seasoned yoga teacher with over two decades of practice and full-time teaching since 2006. Lily shares her unique journey from professional dancer to yoga teacher, navigating multiple relocations, motherhood, and the ever-changing landscape of the yoga industry.

From shifting online during the pandemic to running transformative retreats, Lily emphasizes the importance of community, diversification, and defining success on your own terms. She opens up about the challenges of starting fresh in new cities, balancing personal growth with financial sustainability, and setting clear boundaries in teaching spaces.

This honest and inspiring conversation offers valuable insight for yoga teachers seeking longevity, fulfillment, and resilience in their careers.

Connect with Lily:

Website: https://www.lilydwyerbeggyoga.com/

Instagram: @lilydwyerbegg

Retreat Roadmap

Reika's Resources:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mentorship for Yoga Teacher Application⁠⁠⁠

  ⁠Women's Hiking & Yoga Retreat Interest List⁠⁠

  ⁠Subscribe to Reika's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's website: ⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠

  
  

In this week’s episode of the Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast, I sit down with returning guest Diana May, who has grown her Instagram following from 2,000 to over 75,000 in about one year. Diana opens up about the intentional steps she took to grow her online presence, what worked (and what didn’t), and the personal stories around money she had to overcome to consistently put herself out there.

We talk about the transition from teaching yoga in-person to building a thriving online community, the role of trauma and nervous system work in her teaching, and the importance of setting healthy boundaries with social media. Diana also shares how investing in professional guidance helped accelerate her growth, and she offers grounded, practical advice for yoga teachers who feel hesitant about stepping into the online space.

If you’ve been curious about content creation, community building, or growing your yoga business online, this conversation is full of insights, inspiration, and encouragement.

Listen to:

Diana's first podcast interview: Episode 19

Connect with Diana:

Website: ⁠www.dianamay.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠@dianamayyoga

12-day Neuro Somatic Workbook

Reika's Resources:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mentorship for Yoga Teacher Application⁠⁠

  Women's Hikeing & Yoga Retreat Interest List⁠

  Subscribe to Reika's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's website: www.reikayoga.com⁠

In this episode, I reconnect with Sarah Taylor, a fellow yoga teacher I worked with while leading 200-hour Yoga Teacher Trainings in the Peruvian jungle. Now she is based in Lima, Sarah shares what it’s like to teach yoga full time in Peru’s bustling capital.

We talk about her transition from the serene jungle to a growing urban yoga scene, how she’s taught 10 teacher trainings since moving to Peru, and why diversifying income streams is essential for long-term success as a yoga teacher. Sarah opens up about the evolving yoga culture in Lima, and the role continuing education plays in both her career and the wider community.

If you’ve ever dreamed of teaching yoga abroad, running retreats, or building a sustainable yoga career, Sarah’s story is full of practical advice and inspiration, plus a reminder that sometimes the best opportunities come when you’re brave enough to ask.

Keywords: yoga, teaching, Lima, Peru, yoga community, continuing education, retreats, yoga teacher training, yoga culture, yoga styles

Connect with Sarah:

@⁠themiamiyogini⁠

https://www.themiamiyogini.com

First interview with Sarah:

Episode 36: From Miami to Peru: Sarah’s Journey of Finding Authenticity as a Yoga Teacher

Reika's Resources:

• • ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Reika's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠
  • Reika's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠⁠⁠
  • ⁠⁠⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠

In this week's episode of the Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast, I sit down with Josh Blatter, a yoga and meditation teacher, mindfulness educator, and Peace on Purpose facilitator with 16+ years of experience. From his early days as a chef to becoming a respected voice in the San Diego yoga community, Josh shares his unconventional path to full-time teaching, and the lessons he's learned along the way.

We dive deep into the evolution of the yoga industry, the difference between Eastern and Western perspectives on yoga therapy, and how introverted teachers can stay authentic without burning out. Josh also speaks about his time studying in India at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, his experience with the UN Foundation, and why staying authentic is more important now than ever before.

Whether you're a new teacher or seasoned practitioner, this conversation is full of grounded insights on how to create a sustainable teaching path while honoring your personal practice and values.

Connect with Josh:

website: http://www.joshblatter.com

email: [email protected]

Reika's Resources:

• ⁠⁠⁠Mentorship Application

  Accessible Yoga Training at Ra Yoga⁠⁠⁠ – August 10 & 17, 2025

• • ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Reika's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠
  • Reika's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠⁠
  • ⁠⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠

In this final episode of the Debunking the Myths mini-series on the Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast, Reika unpacks one of the most overlooked but deeply felt misconceptions in the yoga world, the belief that yoga teachers must wear all the hats: therapist, doctor, best friend, spiritual, entertainer, and more. With compassion and clarity, she explores the unrealistic expectations yoga teachers often face, and how those pressures can lead to burnout, depletion, and blurred boundaries.

This episode is an invitation to redefine your role as a yoga teacher. Reika shares tools and insights for setting ethical boundaries, managing expectations, and protecting your energy, so you can stay grounded, show up authentically, and avoid taking on responsibilities that aren’t yours. Whether you’re new to teaching or a seasoned full-time instructor, this conversation is a must-listen for creating sustainable, empowered teaching relationships in your yoga career.

✨ Mentioned in the episode:

• Upcoming workshop: ⁠⁠Yoga Meets Physical Therapy: Teaching Yoga for Healthy Aging with AJ⁠⁠ – July 26, 2025

• ⁠⁠Accessible Yoga Training at Ra Yoga⁠⁠ – August 10 & 17, 2025

• • ⁠⁠Subscribe to Reika's Newsletter⁠⁠
  • Reika's Instagram: ⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠
  • ⁠www.reikayoga.com

In the third episode of her four-part mini-series, Reika Shucart tackles one of the most pervasive myths in the yoga world: that to be a yoga teacher, you must be young, thin, flexible, or fit. Reika shares her own journey of not fitting the "yoga teacher mold" and the insecurities that came with it, and how she's learned to show up confidently as she is. This episode is a heartfelt reminder that yoga teachers come in all shapes, sizes, ages, backgrounds, and levels of ability, and that showing up as your authentic self is powerful. Whether you're an aspiring teacher or a seasoned one, this episode will remind you why your voice and presence in the yoga world matter.

✨ Mentioned in the episode:

• Upcoming workshop: ⁠Yoga Meets Physical Therapy: Teaching Yoga for Healthy Aging with AJ⁠ – July 26, 2025

• ⁠Accessible Yoga Training at Ra Yoga⁠ – August 10 & 17, 2025

• • ⁠Subscribe to Reika's Newsletter⁠
  • Reika's Instagram: ⁠@reikayoga
  • www.reikayoga.com

In the second episode of this four-part mini-series, Reika Shucart debunks the myth that teaching yoga is “not a real job.” She dives into the realities of full-time yoga teaching, what it actually looks like to sustain a livelihood from your practice and service. Reika shares her personal journey, including explaining the unseen behind-the-scenes labor, continued learning, and business responsibilities that make yoga teaching a deeply fulfilling, professional, and challenging career path.

✨ Mentioned in the episode:

• Upcoming workshop: ⁠Yoga Meets Physical Therapy: Teaching Yoga for Healthy Aging with AJ⁠ – July 26, 2025

• ⁠Accessible Yoga Training at Ra Yoga⁠ – August 10 & 17, 2025

• • ⁠Subscribe to Reika's Newsletter⁠
  • Reika's Instagram: ⁠@reikayoga

In this solo episode, Reika kicks off a special 4-part mini-series busting common myths about being a full-time yoga teacher. First up? The myth that teaching yoga is a calm, peaceful, stress-free career, where you're always zen, balanced, and relaxed.

Spoiler alert: It’s not that simple.

Reika opens up about the emotional and energetic demands of teaching, the unrealistic expectations placed on yoga teachers, and how burnout is more common than you think. She shares personal stories, insights from past guests, and practical tips to maintain boundaries, prevent burnout, and build sustainability in your teaching career.

If you've ever felt pressure to be the “perfect” yoga teacher or wondered why you're exhausted after a full teaching day, this one’s for you.

🌱 In this episode:

• The myth of the always-Zen yoga teacher

• What makes yoga teaching stressful and emotionally demanding

• Signs of burnout and how to avoid it

• The importance of boundaries, rest, and hobbies outside of yoga

• Reika’s self-care rituals and how she rekindles inspiration

✨ Mentioned in the episode:

• Upcoming workshop: Yoga Meets Physical Therapy: Teaching Yoga for Healthy Aging with AJ – July 26, 2025

• Accessible Yoga Training at Ra Yoga – August 10 & 17, 2025

In this episode of the Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast, Reika sits down with veteran teacher and podcast host J. Brown to explore his decades-long journey in the yoga world. From his early days with Jivamukti to founding his own studio in New York, J shares what it means to teach from lived experience, how pain reshaped his approach to teaching yoga, and why slow is the new advanced.

The conversation dives into the changing face of yoga, from the studio boom to the pivot to online teaching, the role of community, and the evolving standards around Yoga Alliance and teacher training. J also reflects on the therapeutic value of podcasting, teaching in juvenile detention centers, and how staying true to your voice can serve as a radical act in modern yoga culture.

Reika's interview on J.Brown Yoga Talks

• https://www.jbrownyoga.com/yoga-talks-podcast/2025/6/reika-shucart

Connect with J.Brown

• Website: jbrownyoga.com
• Podcast: J.Brown Yoga Talks

Connect with Reika:

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Nicaragua Yoga Retreat: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.reikayoga.com/pages/retreat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Yoga Meets Physical Therapy: Teaching Yoga for Healthy Aging with AJSAT JUL 26, 2 - 4 PM
• ⁠⁠⁠Accessible Yoga Training⁠⁠⁠: August 10 & 17