David Swenson is a man who needs no introduction in the yoga world. If you practice Ashtanga yoga, you’ve likely studied his Ashtanga Yoga practice manual, and he recently wrote another book called Only Dead Fish Go with the Flow. 

This is his second appearance on the leadership and yoga podcast and his stories are like none other. They will leave you in shock, and sometimes with a laugh, but always with a sense of remembering that anything is possible. 

This episode is a reminder of what happens when we follow our dreams and when we persevere. It is the purest form of inspiration for us fellow yoga teachers, and a beautiful reminder that we find life‘s purpose in all the little moments that are always moving like a wave beneath us, propelling us forward, sometimes as if by magic. 

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time stamps: 

00:00 intro

05:19 stories are the most powerful tool we have as humans

07:19 why create in addition to teaching yoga

09:19 samskaras and expectations

12:49 confidence built through yoga

14:49 the tipping point of confidence in teaching yoga

20:19 David’s first classes teaching at 14 years old

21:34 getting fired from teaching yoga

23:19 self-pity and depression turning point

26:49 scraps of paper by his bed

30:19 memorization and details

33:49 creative process of the famous Ashtanga Yoga Practice Manual

36:49 energy for problem solving and figuring things out

40:49 confirm our own journey

43:49 yoga means trying hard and detaching

48:49 can yoga change the world?

50:34 yoga can be a selfish endeavor

53:49 peacefulness does not mean an absence of difficulty

56:19 this energy is a gift, it’s not for me to hoard

58:19 what is enlightenment?

59:49 David wore a wig for 3 years

01:02:49 jesus has long hair. are you a communist?

01:08:49 selfless action

01:12:49 a yogi is someone who leaves the place nicer

01:17:49 ashtanga yoga doesn’t have to evolve

01:21:49 landed back on his mat

01:26:49 rapid fire

Poetic, deep inspiration for yoga teachers & those new to yoga. I read a collection of poems about why I fell in love with yoga, how practice becomes a ritual, and why teachers have the power to change the world. I share pieces about presence, impact, acceptance & growth, and finish with three poems that inspired me this month — including “Start Close In,” by David Whyte, and “The Invitation,” by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. Whether you teach or simply show up to your mat, this episode is an invitation to stay, with it all.

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Own a copy of the guided journal I created. Buy one, get one free, or get a copy for the whole family, 5 for $75. 

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time stamps:

00:00 intro - yoga can change the world

07:30 giveaways! signed book & ayurveda self-care set

11:40 part 1: love poems for yoga

20:40 part 2: poems about yoga as a ritual

27:00 part 3: poems about yoga changing the world

36:00 part 4: acceptance & growth poems about yoga

46:00 part 5: poems that inspire me

Inspired from a moment in an interview I did with Sri Dharma Mittra, I sat down to contemplate my life over coffee as I do most mornings. But on this particular morning, everything I’ve learned from Richard Rudd of the Gene Keys, Frederick Dodson of Levels of Energy and Parallel Universes of Self, and even some Dr. Joe Dispenza organized itself in my head in a new way. The result is the “thought experience” I have prepared for you today.

Here’s a divine fractal theory I enjoy thinking about when I wonder why consciousness split itself to experience being human, and why life feels limiting—and what it really means about your power and purpose.

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Ritual of Writing Journal 

Time stamps:

00:00 Intro

01:00 Sri Dharma Mittra on mysteries

03:50 my story of mystery

07:30 mysterious money arriving just in time

10:50 how to solve problems

13:10 giveaway! TEND yourself & a friend

15:00 sit back, relax, but also lean in

17:00 staying in the energy

19:20 THOUGHT EXPERIENCE START

33:00 my downfall & recovery & surprise

In this episode, poet Meghan Bay reveals how writing poetry is a way to practice presence. She shares how creativity can be seen as a gift from the Creator and how to create space to invite in more creative ideas. Meghan also shares the importance of honoring every version of yourself as you grow and evolve, allowing your journey of transformation to be uniquely your own.

Follow Meghan on Instagram: @meghan.bay

And find her writing: Meghan’s Substack

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Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:

https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat 

Time Stamps:

00:00 intro

03:42 “the fool’s hunt” - poem by Meghan Bay

05:24 How do you know when you’ve written something that’s really true?

07:00 morning pages & digital journaling  

08:53 Meghan's story: growing up Christian, moving to Australia, getting into writing

16:04 letting yourself be seen: sharing on social media

19:56 the process of writing a book: capturing poems when they arrive

22:11 creativity as a gift from the Creator to help shape this world

25:41 are you actually giving yourself what you need?

27:31 morning routine & a meditation practice

31:58 the discipline of a writing practice 

33:06 creating space to invite creativity to land

34:06 Meghan's mission: creating a space for people to expand into themselves

36:10 let yourself move slowly, one small step at a time

39:04: how can we shift from a focus on the outcome to a focus on presence?

40:38 reality creation: fate or free will?

42:46 sending love to past or future versions of yourself 

43:53 why are we here?

47:37 the path to transformation & liberation will be uniquely yours

52:42 appreciating the contrast of emotions & experiences 

54:46 qualities of an exceptional leader

57:08 the billboard question

In this episode, I break down the four steps every yoga teacher needs to grow a business with moral ambition. Let's talk about why your mission is your most valuable business asset, why your systems determine your sustainability, how to face numbers, pricing, and fees without shrinking, and how “minimum viable structure” can change your whole life. I walk you through the ONE symbolic action you can take today—something you might look back on years from now as the exact moment everything began to change.

If you’ve ever felt behind, overwhelmed, or “not business-minded enough,” this is for you. Your dream isn’t meant for someone richer, older, more experienced, or more confident. It’s meant for you—and the world needs what you're building. This episode includes a tour of OfferingTree, my sponsor. 

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Ritual of Writing Journal 

One spot left. Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:

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YouTube social media video I mentioned:

https://youtu.be/h_yQswsXwhY?si=SXLofxnBfWuwziIO

Time stamps:

00:00 setting the mood

07:50 animation

10:00 luck is when opportunity meets preparation

11:40 agenda for today & offeringtree

15:47 part 1: how to make actual progress

20:00 David Swenson example

23:30 part 2: creating offers

29:00 gene key 26 & divine pride

31:00 part 3: money

33:40 rates teaching yoga

34:00 social media income

38:00 courses and yoga retreats

40:00 part 4: systems & offeringtree

45:00 cost of systems & software 

54:00 personal use & podcasting software

55:00 take notes on students

56:00 homework

57:00 inspirational send off :)

This conversation with yoga teacher Eva Vriens explores embodiment, discerning gut feelings, teaching yoga in other languages, why there is no such thing as going backward, and much more!

Find Eva on Instagram @eva.vri 

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Follow me on instagram:

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Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:

https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat 

Time Stamps:

00:00 intro

03:53 moving to Italy

07:19 teaching yoga in other languages

12:23 it’s exactly what makes you nervous that will bring the change you desire

16:28 interpreting gut feelings: trusting what your body is telling you

20:49 what did you want to be when you grew up?

25:06 the magic of yoga as a return to self & to presence

26:54 how was teaching your first yoga class?

31:18 breakthroughs in teaching yoga

34:29 retracing our steps can actually help us move forward

35:59 how do you prepare yourself to teach?

37:58 morning routine

42:16 creating our realities

43:53 how can we start to believe something different is possible for us?

45:59 book recommendations?

51:16 qualities of an exceptional leader?

53:14 if you could chat with anyone over coffee or tea, who would you invite?

57:16 the billboard question

In this episode, I talk about what it means to live addicted to the hormones of stress—constantly rushing, pushing, and chasing success instead of allowing life to unfold. I share how I learned to slow down, cultivate patience, destress, and trust the process of following my dreams without burning out. If you’ve ever struggled to find calm, balance, and faith while chasing your purpose, this conversation will help you remember that slowing down is how you truly speed up.

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Enter the TEND yourself & a friend self-care giveaway.

artoftending.kit.com/shawna

Follow me on instagram:

@shawnkru

Own a copy of the guided journal I created, code POD for $33.

Ritual of Writing Journal 

Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:

https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat 

00:00 intro

01:00 music

04:00 synchronicities

08:40 one: jeju island mistake

14:00 the meditation of patience

17:30 gabriel garcia marquez and magical realism

22:00 open gifts after dinner

23:30 Mr. Beast’s first $10k

25:00 two: patience protects you from your mind

27:00 walk towards the storm

29:24 don’t go fast

32:30 true trust

35:38 TEND 

39:00 space for the unknown

42:00 time is a construct 

Amy Newmark, publisher and editor-in-chief of Chicken Soup for the Soul, shares how stories can inspire, heal, and transform our lives. We talk about forgiveness, gratitude, synchronicities, and the kinds of stories the world needs most right now.

The Chicken Soup For The Soul Website

The Chicken Soup For The Soul Podcast

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Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat

Time Stamps:

00:00:00 intro

00:02:06 the power of stories

00:04:32 where does your interest in human stories come from?

00:06:35 finding chicken soup for the soul

00:10:54 how did working on wall street shape your path?

00:13:03 entering the publishing world

00:14:57 change your habits, change your life

00:15:58 the editing process

00:18:31 the best stories will make you feel something

00:19:59 you have a to-do list, but do you have a to-enjoy list?

00:22:01 do you ever feel self-help overwhelm or advice-overwhelm?

00:23:02 a gratitude practice can change your life

00:24:22 the power of forgiveness

00:25:37 if you’re convinced you have a good story: keep submitting

00:28:11 what kinds of stories do you think the world needs the most right now?

00:32:07 “pre-forgiveness”

00:33:36 the freedom of letting go of resentment

00:35:25 what do you think is happening when we read a story that sets us free?

00:37:20 the chicken soup for the soul podcast

00:39:55 consistency in creative work

00:42:17 have you included any of your own stories in the books?

00:44:21 a flat tire and the power of positive thinking 

00:46:00 a synchronicity story: the family reunion 

00:49:21 what makes an exceptional leader?

00:51:54 what’s your greatest joy?

00:52:58 billboard question

Join Shawna Krueger, Ben Kalra, Kimia Hajian, Marla Tortorice and Brand Bergado for a behind the scenes look into our self-created yoga teacher mastermind and friendship group. There are some absolute keys for finding authentic friendship in the yoga world, along with some good laughs.

This episode explores what it means to grow in community as a yoga teacher and creative. Let’s talk finding aligned friendships, choosing collaboration over competition, and building accountability and honesty within relationships. We touch on the balance between playfulness and focus, and the importance of becoming the kind of person you’d want to be friends with. And, what happens when friendship doesn’t come easily — and how openness, trust, and consistency can transform that over time.

Ben Kalra - @benkalra

Kimia Hajian - @kimihajian

Marla Tortorice - @marlasyoga

Brandon Bergado - @brandonberg_

Shawna Krueger - @shawnkru 

Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here. (My sponsor)

Own a copy of the guided journal I created, code POD for $33.

Ritual of Writing Journal 

Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:
https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat

time stamps: 

00:00 intro

01:00 trust me, don’t skip the intro

03:45 real friends are found on the mountain

05:10 shawna’s letter to cactus club

08:15 brandon’s cactus club origin story

10:00 community as a yoga teacher

15:45 brandon on where to find aligned friends 

20:00 ben on collaboration over competition 

25:40 marla on accountability in friendships

30:00 kimi on honest feedback in friendships

35:25 ben on balance between silliness & focus

40:00 becoming the kind of person you’d want to be friends with

45:50 kimi on when friendship doesn’t come easily at first

This roundtable episode brings together yoga teachers from across the country! Tune in to hear what’s inspiring their classes right now, unexpected teaching moments, personal stories, practical insights, and lessons learned on their teaching journeys.

Do you want to be part of the next Yoga Teacher Roundtable? Sign up here!

Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here. (My sponsor)

Download your free SEO Checklist for yoga instructors & entrepreneurs

Follow me on instagram:

@shawnkru

Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:

https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat 

Thank you to the contributing yoga teachers! 

Camilla Fay (@camillawfay)

Carli Tornetta (@catcowcar)

Cassie Chechile (@theselfwithcassie)

Bex Nghi (@wildbexs)

Wren Heft (@flow_with_wren)

Lisa Osorio (@lisaosodel)

Bianca Cadiz (@biancavyoga)

Time Stamps:

00:00:00 intro

00:02:29 wren’s story: double savasana 

00:05:05 bianca’s story: the sequencing notebook 

00:08:27 camilla’s story: teaching yoga is an expression of the love language of quality time 

00:10:38 bex’s story: an unexpected visitor 

00:12:48 lisa’s story: the serious student 

00:15:52 cassie’s story: on people pleasing 

00:17:47 carli’s story: the cat cafe

00:20:38 shawna’s story: the foot incident

22:30 about the yoga teachers  

29:43 billboard messages

36:50 what's been inspiring your classes lately?

43:30 closing