In this episode, Reika sits down with Amanda Kingsmith: 500-hour RYT, yoga business coach, podcast host, author, world traveler, and mom of two, for an honest conversation about building a sustainable yoga career while living a nontraditional life. Amanda shares her journey from leaving a corporate job to teaching yoga full-time, launching Mastering the Business of Yoga, and eventually embracing online teaching and remote work as a way to support both her family and her creativity.

Together, they explore the realities of the business of yoga, podcasting as a long-term project, and how motherhood reshapes priorities, energy, and ambition. Amanda also reflects on life in Mexico as an expat family, the evolution of online and hybrid yoga offerings, and why taking intentional breaks is sometimes essential for longevity.

Connect with Amanda:

Website
Podcast
Instagram

Ethical Yoga Retreat with Reika:

Early-Bird Discount: Use code EARLYBIRD100

Reika's Mentorship for Yoga Teachers:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mentorship 2026 Application⁠

Connect with Reika:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the online yoga studio for $20 for two weeks!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Reika's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reikay⁠oga.com⁠

In this episode, Reika interviews Francesca Cervero, a yoga teacher and mentor with over 20 years of experience teaching yoga and working one-on-one with students. Francesca shares her journey from dancer to full-time yoga teacher.

Together, they explore the art and sustainability of yoga teaching, the role of mentorship and continuing education, and what it really takes to build a long-term yoga career. Francesca reflects on transitioning online, creating a mentorship community, balancing motherhood with teaching, and why private yoga offers a powerful, co-creative space for both teacher and student. This conversation is a grounded, honest look at teaching yoga as a craft, one that evolves with experience, curiosity, and care.

Connect with Francesca:

Website: https://www.francescacervero.com/

Instagram: @francescacervero

Reika's Mentorship:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mentorship 2026 Application⁠

Connect with Reika:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the online yoga studio for $20 for two weeks!⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Reika's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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  Reika's Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reikay⁠oga.com

In this special 100th episode of the Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast, Reika reflects on the journey of creating the podcast over the past two years and the many lessons learned from interviewing over 65 yoga teachers from around the world. She shares an honest behind-the-scenes look at the realities of podcasting, including slow growth, unpaid labor, and what it truly takes to stay committed to a long-term project driven by passion rather than immediate results.

Reika also weaves together the biggest themes that emerged across 100 episodes: what it really means to build a sustainable career as a yoga teacher, why group classes alone are rarely enough, the inevitability of burnout, and the importance of diversifying income streams. She speaks on how the yoga industry is evolving, the rise of hybrid offerings, and the necessity for teachers to adapt while staying rooted in their values.

This solo episode is both a celebration and an honest check-in for anyone navigating the full-time yoga path.

Resources:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Mentorship 2026 Application

Connect with Reika:

⁠⁠⁠Join the online yoga studio for $20 for two weeks!⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Reika's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reikay⁠oga.com

In the final episode of this anatomy mini-series, Reika and Olga dive into the importance of understanding movement patterns and what they reveal about how the body truly functions. They explore why there is no one “correct” alignment for every body, how anatomical differences shape the way we move, and how yoga cues can either support or limit healthy movement if we’re not careful.

This conversation also expands beyond the yoga mat to address an important question: Is yoga asana alone enough for a well-rounded movement life? Together, they discuss the role of strength training, cross-training, and varied movement in maintaining long-term physical and mental health. They touch on how yoga fits into a broader “movement diet,” the importance of community, and why continuing education is essential for yoga teachers who want to serve their students responsibly.

Resources:

• ⁠Mentorship 2026 Application
• ⁠Workshop: Busting Yoga Alignment Myths with Thomas. December 8th, Saturday 2-4pm pst.⁠

Connect with Olga:

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_olgamoves⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.olgakay.yoga⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Reika:

⁠⁠Join the online yoga studio for $20 for two weeks!⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Reika's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reikay⁠oga.com

In this second of the anatomy mini-series, Reika and Olga dive into one of the most important and most overlooked topics in yoga education: anatomical variation. They explore how differences in bone structure, joint shape, and movement capacity influence every student’s experience on the mat.

This conversation breaks down why flexibility isn’t just about stretching more, why some poses feel accessible for one person and impossible for another, and how understanding variation can completely shift the way yoga teachers approach sequencing. Reika and Olga discuss how anatomy-informed teaching leads to more inclusive, compassionate, and effective classes and how empowering students to explore their own bodies can deepen their practice in meaningful ways.

Whether you're a yoga teacher or a curious practitioner, this episode will help you rethink the way you see bodies, movement, and the purpose of yoga itself.

Resources:

• Paul Grilly's Website with Bones
• Busting Yoga Alignment Myths with Thomas. December 8th, Saturday 2-4pm pst.

Connect with Olga:

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@_olgamoves⁠⁠⁠
• Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.olgakay.yoga⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Reika:

⁠Join the online yoga studio for $20 for two weeks!⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Reika's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reikay⁠oga.com

In this first episode of our three-part mini-series on anatomy for yoga teachers, Reika and Olga dive into their personal journeys of learning anatomy, starting from their early experiences in 200-hour trainings to the continuing education programs that helped everything finally “click.” They reflect on what was missing in their initial anatomy education, what sparked their fascination with functional movement, and how ongoing study has transformed the way they teach.

This conversation highlights why anatomy matters for yoga teachers, how outdated cues and concepts can create confusion, and why understanding real human variation is essential for teaching safer, more empowering classes. Reika and Olga also share the trainings, courses, and teachers they recommend for anyone wanting to deepen their knowledge and stay current with evolving research in movement and anatomy.

Previous podcast episodes with Olga:

Episode 12: Interview with Olga

4-Part Series on Creative Sequencing (Episode 53-56)

Connect with Olga:

• Instagram: ⁠⁠@_olgamoves⁠⁠
• Website: ⁠⁠https://www.olgakay.yoga⁠⁠

Connect with Reika:

Join the online yoga studio for $20 for two weeks!

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Reika's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's Website: ⁠⁠⁠www.reikay⁠oga.com

In this episode, Reika sits down with Jo of Organic Adaptive to reflect on their shared experience organizing and leading the Ethical Yoga Retreat in Nicaragua. Together, they revisit the planning process, from developing a clear theme to balancing structure with free time, and share what it truly takes to bring a meaningful retreat to life.

Reika and Jo discuss the value of collaboration, communication, and organization behind the scenes, as well as the importance of ethics and community in retreat work. This conversation offers a transparent look at the joys, lessons, and challenges of leading yoga retreats that are rooted in purpose, integrity, and connection.

Whether you’re a yoga teacher dreaming of hosting your own retreat or someone curious about what goes into creating an intentional group experience, this episode provides grounded insight and heartfelt reflection on the art of retreat facilitation.

Connect with Jo:

Email: [email protected]

Get on the Waitlist for:

Ethical Yoga Retreat: Align with Purpose in Nicaragua 2026

Connect with Reika:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Reika's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's Website: ⁠⁠www.reikay

In this episode, Reika sits down with Mado Hesselink, yoga teacher, mentor, and host of The Yoga Teacher Resource podcast, to explore what it truly means to build a sustainable and fulfilling yoga career. Mado shares her journey from teaching group classes to mentoring yoga teachers worldwide through her online courses and community. Together, they discuss the realities of the yoga industry, balancing passion with business and creating meaningful relationships with students. This conversation is a grounded and inspiring reminder that sustainability in teaching comes from both heart and strategy.

Connect with Mado:

Website: https://teachingyoga.net/

Instagram: @yoga.teacher.resource

Podcast: Yoga Teacher Resource

Map Your Year 5-Day Strategy Sessions

Upcoming Workshop:

⁠Yoga Meets Physical Therapy: Strength, Stability, and Safety for the Hypermobile Body ⁠

• November 8th, Saturday,4 pm 2-4pm PST.
• Sliding-scale $10-60

Connect with Reika:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Reika's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's Website: ⁠www.reikay

In this episode, Reika sits down with Debbie Livingston, yoga teacher, ultra runner, coach, mother, and lifelong advocate for mindful movement. Debbie shares how she discovered yoga and trail running during college and how both practices have remained beautifully intertwined throughout her life.

With over two decades of experience in fitness, yoga, and coaching, Debbie reflects on the importance of listening to the body, cross-training for longevity, and finding balance between family, work, and passion.

✨ Topics we explore:

• The intersection of yoga and trail running

• Balancing career, motherhood, and athletic pursuits

• Mindful movement and longevity in sport

• Coaching philosophy and community connection

In Part Three of the Intelligent Sequencing for Vinyasa Yoga mini-series, Reika and Karen explore the power of consistency in yoga sequencing and how it supports both teachers and students. They discuss why predictability can actually create a deeper sense of safety, embodiment, and connection, rather than stifling creativity.

This conversation dives into how a consistent framework allows teachers to layer in creative variations with clarity and intention. Reika and Karen also touch on how sequencing can help “wake students up” to their own bodies, rather than lead them to check out of their experience.

Upcoming Workshop:

⁠Intelligent Sequencing for Yoga Teachers⁠

October 25th, Saturday 2-4 pm PST

In-person @Long Beach & Livestreamed

Connect with Karen:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@sodiumsoul⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Reika:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Reika's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  Reika's