What does it mean to live your yoga? In this episode, I share my journey from being primarily focused on asana to my current integrated approach to practice. 
 
Episode Highlights:
 
How and why I first started practicing yoga
How teaching yoga contributed to my changing relationship with my personal practice
What happened when the lineage I was studying exploded in scandal
3 ways of knowing from yoga philosophy & how that relates to your practice
Two complementary approaches to living your yoga
Three tips to make a living yoga practice more helpful
 
Links & Resources:
 
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How to Live Your Yoga

Information, support, and inspiration for yoga teachers. Topics include the business of yoga, teaching skills, philosophy, ethical and legal considerations, and more.

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Yoga retreats allow you to share yoga free from the distractions of daily life - while often earning far more than your usual weekly classes. There are four basic types of retreats to consider: day, camping, local, and international. In this episode, we cover the pros and cons of each to help you decide which is right for you. Packed with personal insights and practical tips, this dialogue aims to inspire yoga teachers to organize retreats, explaining the win/win dynamic for both student and teacher.
 
 
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
00:00 Why we love retreats and four types of retreats to consider leading
01:34 Retreat opportunities for students and teachers
13:24 Day Retreats: A low-risk way to dip your toes into leading retreats
19:33 Camping Retreats: An affordable option for nature lovers
27:03 Local Retreats: Gateway to a deeper practice
33:47 International Retreats: The easiest retreat to fill up and earn a profit
40:07 Conclusion: Choosing the right retreat for you

EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Quiz: What kind of retreat is best for you?
Retreat Timing Guide
Episode 226: Yoga Retreat Fundamentals
Episode 233: How to Thrive as a Retreat Leader
Lily Dwyer Begg Yoga
Follow Lily on Instagram @lilydwyerbegg
The Ultimate Retreat Roadmap Online Course

LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource 
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Four types of retreats (and how to choose the one that's best for you) with Lily Dwyer Begg

Teaching large groups can be intimidating! But it’s also fantastic for improving your teaching skills and boosting your confidence. This episode focuses on the unique challenges and opportunities involved in teaching large yoga groups. Learn to embrace the challenges of large-group instruction and develop your ability to offer high-quality instruction to groups of any size.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
00:00 The benefits of teaching larger groups
05:15 Why teaching large groups is so nerve-wracking
07:02 Why it’s important to keep your class plan simple in a larger group
09:33 How to encourage focus and engagement in a larger group
10:12 How to balance different personality types when it comes to student participation
12:04 How to manage student questions to avoid getting thrown off track
15:06 How to provide an intimate experience in a large group
17:14 Thoughts on physical touch in a large group
19:17 How to bring attention back to you after small group or partner work
21:06 The role of visual aids in a larger group
22:51 How to utilize assistants when teaching a larger group
24:54 How to learn your student’s names (even if you’re usually terrible with names)
26:52 How to facilitate connection between students in a larger group

LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource 
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Leave a review on iTunes
Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

12 Tips for Teaching Large(r) Groups

Over the past decade, there has been a welcome push towards a more inclusive approach to yoga. But what does that look like on a practical level? Jivana Heyman has been at the center of the accessible yoga movement as the founder of the Accessible Yoga Project and the author of The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga, Best Practices for Sharing Yoga with Every Body. In this episode, Jivana shares an anti-perfectionist approach to accessible yoga that centers the relationship between teacher and student. The conversation delves into insecurities and imposter syndrome, the interplay between teaching and personal growth, and the importance of ethics in guiding both personal and teaching practices.
 
 
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
00:00 The philosophy of accessible yoga
01:48 Jivana’s early experiences with yoga
03:30 How yoga helps with emotional regulation
05:59 The impact of social media and information overload
08:43 How to deal with impostor syndrome
13:22 Teaching as a relationship
21:04 Inquiry on the ethics of teaching
27:50 The importance of meeting your students where they are and respecting their preferences
33:41 Perfectionism and people-pleasing
38:30 Kindness as a guiding principle for accessible yoga
42:15 Helping and fixing vs serving 

EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Accessible Yoga School
Access all of Jivana’s books here
Follow Jivana on Instagram @jivanaheyman

LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource 
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An Anti-Perfectionist Approach to Accessible Yoga with Jivana Heyman

Series classes deepen your relationship with your students, helps them commit to their practice, and provides financial stability for you as the teacher. Nyk Danu, a certified yoga therapist and business mentor, shares her insights on creating a sustainable yoga teaching business through a registered series. Listen in to hear practical advice on setting up your series, handling logistics like space rental and insurance, and filling your series classes. Nyk also touches on considerations for yoga studio owners thinking about transitioning to a registered series. If you value teacher-student connections, consistency in practice, and control over your teaching environment, this episode is for you!
 
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
00:52 Meet Nyk Danu: Yoga Misfit and Mentor
06:09 Why yoga classes shifted away from the registered series model
09:59 How to Start Your Own Registered Yoga Series
20:11 Finding the Perfect Space for Yoga Classes
22:04 Essential Tools for Running Yoga Series: Registration and Communication
24:40 Essential Policies for your Registered Series
28:21 Priority Registration for Existing Students
29:20 Starting Small with Class Registrations
30:15 Engaging Older Students with Simpler Technology
31:18 Handling Minimums and Cancellations
31:47 Leveraging Workshops to Fill Series
33:30 Setting Minimum Attendance Numbers
36:16 Choosing the Right Duration for Your Series
37:40 Make-up Classes and Free Sessions
40:09 Finding Your First Group of Students
46:02 Utilizing Email Lists for Growth
48:58 Transitioning Studios to Registered Series
50:14 The Benefits of Running Pre-registered Series
55:43 Concluding Thoughts and Resources

EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Nyk Danu Yoga
Follow Nyk on Instagram @nykdanuyoga

LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource 
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How to Run a Registered Yoga Series with Nyk Danu

Yoga is for everyone, but when people of varied physical abilities show up in the same class it can be difficult to meet all their needs at the same time. In this episode, Mado and Libby offer a framework for understanding why your students might struggle with a particular asana and how to offer variations that provide a similar experience to people with different physical abilities.
 
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
00:00 Why teaching mixed ability yoga classes is harder than it needs to be
02:49 How to plan for an all levels class
03:35 Understanding progression and regression
04:46 Four reasons a pose might be challenging for a student
05:39 How to simplify yoga postures
07:14 Essential biomechanical principles for yoga
11:35 How gravity can impact asana
16:27 Why teaching simpler poses will help your students progress
21:50 How teaching one one-on-one will help you teach better group classes
23:16 A breakdown of Warrior 3 Pose
28:51 Moving vs static yoga postures
30:39 The role of creativity in yoga teaching
32:14 A breakdown of Triangle Pose
38:53 Why anatomy is a key skill for asana teachers
 
EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Libby Hinsley
Anatomy Bites
Follow Libby on Instagram @libbyhinsleypt
 
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource 
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group
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Leave a review on iTunes
Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

How to Live Your Yoga

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