The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

390: Yoga for People with Limited Energy with Katie Blecker & Audrey

People with chronic illnesses, disabilities, or other health conditions may have limited energy. As yoga teachers, what are some things we should know when teaching people with limited energy? What are some things that are helpful, and what should we avoid? Katie Blecker and Audrey share their insights as yoga teachers with limited energy.

Katie Blecker is a yoga teacher, advocate, and visual artist. Her lived experience with complex chronic illness informs her worldview and inspires her passion for disability advocacy. In her work as a trauma-informed yoga facilitator both online and in-person, Katie focuses on supporting folks who live with chronic illness and pain, disability, and chronic stress using tools such as therapeutic asana, pranayama, and meditation.

Audrey also is a yoga teacher and advocate whose experience with complex chronic illnesses informs her way of practising and teaching. As a disabled and neurodivergent person, her philosophy is that the practice will adapt to the person, not the other way around. Audrey devotes herself to sharing the transformational tools of yoga with other people so they too can find a practice that serves them, where community, access, and joy are centred.

In this episode, Katie and Audrey share their personal journeys with chronic illness and how these experiences have shaped their inclusive teaching methodologies. They explain what "limited energy" means and how it differs from someone who is simply more tired than usual, and how their own conditions influence their work as yoga teachers. Katie and Audrey also highlight the importance of adapting yoga practices to individual needs, the role of community in fostering a supportive environment for those with chronic conditions, and how yoga teachers can best support people with limited energy.

[2:20] Shannon introduces her guests for this episode - Katie Blecker and Audrey.

[8:31] What work does Audrey do and who does she do it for?

[10:21] What does Katie do and who does she do it for?

[11:58] What are CFS and ME? Katie and Audrey share a little about these chronic conditions.

[15:02] What are some things that Audrey has found unhelpful in a yoga class because it does not work well for someone with limited energy?

[19:45] Having limited energy is not just about feeling more tired than usual. Katie explains the distinction.

[23:55] What do yoga teachers who are working with people with limited energy need to know?

[30:48] Shannon pops in to share a little about OfferingTree.

[33:13] Katie invites us to take a step back and reflect on why we might feel the need to "fix" or "help" someone through yoga.

[35:33] What are some of the benefits of yoga for people with limited energy?

[42:15] How do Katie and Audrey show up for their work as yoga teachers as people with limited energy?

[50:21] Find out more about Katie and Audrey's work via their websites and on Instagram.

[54:33] How do Katie and Audrey speak up for social justice when they have limited energy?

[63:13] Speaking up for social justice is not a sprint, it's a marathon, and it is important not to make it a competition.

[70:08] Shannon shares her takeaways from this conversation with Katie and Audrey.

[74:22] Shannon shares a quick personal update.

• Audrey

• Audrey on Instagram

• Katie Blecker

• Katie Blecker on Instagram

• Yoga for People with Limited Energy 5-week Series

• Cozy Yoga Winter Series

• Anti-Oppression, Inclusion and Accessibility in Yoga - Resources by The Connected Yoga Teacher

• Shannon Crow on Instagram

Gratitude to our Sponsor, OfferingTree

"Limited energy is like a profound absence of being able to create energy through the body. It's not being tired, it's a severe level of fatigue that can't really be recovered from on a day to day level. ... We start out with almost an impairment in energy on a daily basis." - Katie

"First and foremost, remembering that our students are the experts in their own bodies and their own experiences." - Katie

"Yoga will not heal or fix any anyone." - Audrey

"It's important to look at all of the wonderful practices of yoga and not always focus on Asana and movement." - Audrey

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

389: Cultivating Self-Acceptance with Donna Noble

Sometimes, we can be very hard on ourselves (or others). We may feel we need to change parts of ourselves, look or behave in certain ways, or have certain things in order to be better. How can we overcome this kind of thinking? Donna Noble shares her insights.

Donna Noble is a yoga teacher and advocate for inclusivity, accessibility, and diversity in yoga. In her work, she is focused on disrupting the yoga and wellbeing space to make it more inclusive and diverse and is on a mission to create welcoming spaces for everyone—regardless of body type, background, or ability. She aims to bring people who feel unwelcome in mainstream yoga spaces to explore yoga and enjoy its benefits. Donna is also an author and wellbeing coach.

In this episode, Donna shares her inspiring journey of using yoga to overcome personal challenges, including Bell’s palsy. She explains her philosophy on self-acceptance, the importance of gratitude in self-love, and the transformative power of mindfulness. Donna also offers some powerful insights about how we can go about addressing unconscious biases and fostering social justice in yoga. 

[0:20] Shannon reflects on some of the current crises we are experiencing.

[3:05] Shannon shares a personal anecdote wondering why we are all so hard on ourselves at times.

[4:49] This episode is sponsored by OfferingTree!

[5:28] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Donna Noble.

[6:37] What does Donna do and who does she do it for?

[7:55] What does Donna tell people who think they may be limited in some way so they can't do yoga?

[9:34] What are Donna's thoughts on the topic of self-love?

[11:19] What are some things that helped Donna in accepting her body and in her yoga practice?

[14:52] What practices does Donna suggest for a person who is comparing themselves to others and beating themselves up?

[20:29] Shannon pops in with a message about OfferingTree.

[21:47] Donna clarifies the difference between acknowledging the negative thoughts and working on changing them, and engaging in toxic positivity.

[26:54] Shannon and Donna discuss the internal work that we need to do of looking at our biases and also why it's important not to invalidate other people's experiences even if they are not the same as yours.

[31:59] Donna talks a little about her yoga journey and how and why she become body positive.

[35:33] How did Donna move towards body positivity and self-acceptance?

[38:49] Shannon pops in to share a note about the harm caused by Bikram (the person, not the yoga style).

[40:09] Donna shares how yoga has impacted her life.

[43:02] Shannon and Donna discuss how social justice is a part of yoga.

[45:50] Shannon and Donna reflect on the relationship between self-love and ahimsa.

[47:41] Check out Donna's book and her website to learn more about body positive yoga.

[50:02] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Donna.

• Donna Noble

• Donna Noble on Instagram 

• Teaching Body Positive Yoga by Donna Noble 

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 312: We Stand With Survivors with Rebecca Sebastian & Colin Hall

• Ecosia

• Anti-Oppression, Inclusion and Accessibility in Yoga - Resources by The Connected Yoga Teacher

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Team

• Shannon Crow on Instagram

Gratitude to our Sponsor, OfferingTree

"I see that so many people want to do yoga, but because of what the mainstream is saying, they don't think it's for them. So I try to debunk it as much as possible."

"If you're doing yoga and you have a body, you have a yoga body."

"If we can appreciate our bodies for all the things that it does for us without asking. We become accepting of ourselves and see that we are fine as we are."

"A lot of us are out there fighting the good fight and creating the change, and sometimes we don't even realize the impact or the changes that we're making."

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

388: Fertility Yoga with Sherry Longbottom

Global fertility rates have dropped significantly over the past few decades. Many factors influence people’s desire and ability to conceive and bear children, such as stress, lifestyle, and societal shifts. For those wanting to have children but facing challenges, fertility yoga can help in their conception and pregnancy journey. Sherry Longbottom shares her insights about fertility yoga and its benefits.

Sherry Longbottom is an author and yoga teacher specializing in fertility, prenatal, and baby and me yoga, with over 20 years of experience. Sherry offers online private and group classes as well as occasional studio pop-ups. She creates supportive spaces for individuals at every stage of their fertility and pregnancy journeys. In her classes, Sherry brings together fertility and prenatal yoga students in unique environment that allows all students to inspire and uplift one another, while supporting each other through the challenging times.

In this episode, Sherry shares some of her recommendations for yoga teachers offering support to students on a fertility journey, including recommended poses and poses to avoid. She also offers tips and insights for yoga teachers on class design, pose modifications, and the importance of mindfulness. This conversation is a heartfelt exploration of how yoga can provide both physical and emotional support for those navigating fertility and pregnancy.

[1:09] In this episode, Shannon and her guest will be talking about fertility and how yoga can help.

[3:34] Shannon gives a shout out to the sponsor, OfferingTree.

[3:56] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Sherry Longbottom.

[7:04] What is the work that Sherry does and who does she do it for?

[11:08] What are some main things that yoga teachers might need to consider when deciding to offer 1:1 support for someone in the fertility journey vs. adding certain elements to a group class that might benefit them?

[16:42] Does Sherry teach online or in person?

[17:30] Shannon and Sherry discuss the external pressure that people often face when they are trying to conceive.

[20:13] Sherry shares some tips on poses she recommends for people trying to conceive as well as some things to avoid.

[23:23] What are some of Sherry's students' favorite poses in her classes?

[25:51] When people have been on a fertility journey for a while, there can be a lot of fear that arises. How does Sherry support her students through that?

[30:19] How does Sherry navigate both ends of the spectrum in a group setting focused on yoga for fertility i.e. someone getting pregnant vs. someone dealing with loss?

[34:42] Shannon pops in to share a message about using OfferingTree to run your yoga business.

[36:33] Sherry shares a little about her book about fertility yoga and the courses she offers for yoga teachers wanting to teach fertility yoga.

[40:55] What are IVF and IUI?

[43:43] Sherry shares more about the kinds of people who might undergo each procedure (IVF and IUI) that she sees in her classes.

[46:16] How does Sherry facilitate community building in her yoga classes?

[54:17] Connect with Sherry and learn more from her via her website or on social media.

[56:00] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation.

[65:08] Shannon shares a podcast she recently listened to about the topic of fertility.

• Sherry Longbottom

• Sherry Longbottom on Facebook and Instagram 

• OfferingTree Facebook Group

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 284: Beyond Pronouns and Pride Month with Shannon Crow

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 265: Teach LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Yoga with Gabi Parkham

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 247: Being Wrong is Part of Learning with Shannon Crow

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 217: Yoga of Trans* Affirmation with Avery Kalapa & Maygen Nicholson

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 195: LGBTQ Awareness for Yoga Teachers with Tristan Katz

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 246: Anger, Forgiveness & Self-Care with Jacoby Ballard 

• The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens Podcast Episode 155: Jeremy Grantham: “The Baby Bust: How The Toxicity Crisis Could Cause the Next Economic Crash”

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Team

• Shannon Crow on Instagram

Gratitude to our Sponsor, OfferingTree

"Movement is great for your body."

"Just having that supportive group of women is key."

"There's a lot of things that are out of our control, but at least in this class, the women do feel like they're doing everything that they can do."

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

387: The Five Kleshas with Michelle Cassandra Johnson

What lies at the root of all human suffering? How can we relieve our suffering and that of others? According to the yoga sutras, our suffering comes from five root causes, the five kelshas, and there are practices we can do to alleviate suffering. Michelle Cassandra Johnson has studied this topic in-depth and shares her insights.

Michelle Cassandra Johnson is an author and activist. She has been a racial equity educator for 25 years and is also a yoga teacher, spiritual teacher, and practitioner. Michelle works with people 1:1 and in group settings to help them connect to their intuitive abilities and supports them within intuitive healing practices. Her latest book, Illuminating Our True Nature: Yogic Practices for Personal and Collective Healing, was released in July 2024 and focuses on the kleshas.

Michelle explains what the five kleshas are, and how we see them showing up in our lives with examples. She shares her reflections on our interconnectedness with each other, nature, and the earth as well as why we have become so disconnected. Michelle offers some practices to help us lessen suffering individually and collectively, and how we can avoid contributing to suffering through our actions.

[4:01] Shannon gives a shout-out to the sponsors, OfferingTree, and her own 20-hour Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training.

[4:01] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Michelle Cassandra Johnson.

[7:12] What does Michelle do and who does she do it for?

[10:54] How does Michelle define the kleshas?

[13:41] Michelle introduces the five different kleshas.

[18:11] Can all human suffering be distilled into the five kleshas?

[23:50] Shannon and Michelle discuss how interconnected we are, not just to each other but to nature and the earth as well.

[28:34] Shannon pops in to share about a workshop that Billie Smith is running, hosted by sponsor, OfferingTree.

[30:38] Is avoiding suffering contributing to suffering?

[37:52] Shannon and Michelle reflect on their connection to the earth and being in relationship with nature.

[44:26] Some people are unable to see the disconnect in between different areas of their lives. How can we navigate that?

[50:16] What are the ways that we can reduce or relieve suffering?

[56:19] Which of the kleshas is the most challenging to address and what is a practice that can help? 

[62:02] Learn more from Michelle via her website, where you can get access to her books, workshops, and other resources.

[64:52] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Michelle.

• Michelle Cassandra Johnson

• Illuminating Our True Nature, by Michelle Cassandra Johnson

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode BONUS: Anti-Racism & Yoga with Michelle Johnson

• OfferingTree Webinar: Queer Inclusive Teaching with Billie Smith and Shannon Crow

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 5 Koshas Series: Annamaya Kosha

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 073: 8 Limbs of Yoga [Part 1] with Shannon Crow

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 074: 8 Limbs of Yoga [Part 2] with Jennie Lee

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 385: When the Yoga Teacher Stumbles with Jivana Heyman

• Yoga for Pelvic Health  3-Hour On Demand Workshop with Shannon Crow

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Team

• Shannon Crow on Instagram

Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree, and Yoga for Pelvic Health 20-hr Online Training with Shannon Crow.

"This is illuminating our true nature which speaks to the fact that we are nature and that so many of us have been conditioned to be divorced from nature as if it doesn't exist within us." - Michelle

" This path calls us to study the root causes of suffering so that we suffer less. And ultimately,... become liberated, but it's not just about my liberation, it's about everyone's liberation." - Michelle

"Am I also contributing to suffering by thinking, I'll just avoid this." - Shannon

"If we're going to take action, we need to do it from a steady and a grounded place." - Michelle

"The path of yoga in so many ways is about us shedding our conditioning and at a minimum, interrogating our conditioning and then shedding what is not aligned with nature." - Michelle

"We have to understand why we suffer and how we suffer. ... It's an ongoing practice and study and it's a muscle to build."

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

386: Weaponization of Yoga with Sheena Sood

How can something like yoga, that is meant to be peaceful and focused on meditation and breath, be weaponized? How has it been co-opted by the far-right, colonizer projects, and Zionists? How does this show up in our yoga spaces and what can we do to address it? Dr. Sheena Sood shares her insights.

Dr. Sheena Sood (PhD) is a Philadelphia-based activist, educator, sociologist, and healing justice visionary of South Asian descent. She is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Delaware Valley University in Pennsylvania and has studied yoga at Kailash Tribal School of Yoga in India. Her current research project is about Omwashing Yoga: Weaponized Spirituality in India, Israel, and the US, where she investigates the growing incorporation of yoga and mindfulness by far-right law enforcement, military, and vigilante groups. Sheena is also curates “Decolonizing Yoga” workshops through frameworks that recognize yoga’s oppressive layers and liberatory potential and is the founder and creative director of Yoga Warrior Tales, an interactive adventure-based educational program that teaches children yoga and mindfulness through a social justice lens.

Sheena shares her perspective on the situation in Palestine and the reactions in the yoga world after October 7. She explains why this response of “om-washing” is not unexpected, and how we as yoga practitioners, teachers, and studios can counter harmful narratives to support Palestine. Sheena also has some words of encouragement and motivation for those of us doing the work and feeling exhausted, so be sure to tune in for some powerful insights.

[3:14] Shannon gives a shout out of thanks to sponsors, OfferingTree and her own 20-hour Yoga for Pelvic Health Training.

[4:26] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Sheena Sood.

[11:29] What does Sheena do and who does she do it for?

[14:13] How can something like yoga, that is meant to be relaxing and focuses on breath and meditation, be weaponized? What is om-washing?

[22:50] Sheena shares her experience of learning about the history of Palestine and how that influenced her interactions with IDF/IOF soldiers in her yoga teacher training.

[29:14] Sheena shares her reflections on the video that was circulating of people practicing yoga in support of Israel.

[34:42] How is om-washing showing up at a micro level? How does the weaponization of yoga show up in our yoga spaces and studios?

[45:22] Shannon pops in with a message about the sponsor, OfferingTree.

[49:11] Shannon and Sheena discuss how change can actually be created - it's not by trying to be nice.

[54:13] What is Sheena's advice for people who have been taking action but are feeling discouraged or unmotivated that their efforts are making a difference?

[62:37] Shannon and Sheena reflect on some of the images they have seen of Israeli soldiers practicing yoga after bombing homes in Gaza.

[66:45] Learn more from Sheena on social media or via her website.

[69:42] Sheena shares some closing thoughts.

[71:26] Shannon shares her reflections from this conversation with Sheena, as well as a personal update.

• Sheena Sood

• Sheena Sood on Instagram: @sheena_shining, @yogawarriortales

• Yogis For Palestine

• Sign the Yogis for Palestine Solidarity Statement

• Previous Podcast Episodes Related to the Topic

• 385: When the Yoga Teacher Stumbles with Jivana Heyman

• 382: Having Tough Conversations with Rebecca Sebastian

• 376: Collective Care Over Individualistic Self-Care with Muna Shakour

• 369: Struggling to Write Content is Normal with Billie Smith

• 362: Yoga in Times of War & Violence with Molly Nixon

• Yoga for Peace with Shannon Crow [BONUS EPISODE]

• 356: How Silence Feels for a Yoga Student with Suzanne Miller

• 359: Ahimsa in Times of Conflict with Rula Wardeh

• La La Lil Jidar

• Queer Inclusive Teaching with Billie Smith + Shannon Crow

• Yogis for Palestine Merchandise (T-shirts)

• Aniqa Anwar

• ABCD Yogi - Om-washing and Zionism on YouTube 

• Southampton Olive Oil Company

• Move with Billie - Inclusivity Workshops

• Yoga for Pelvic Health  3-Hour On Demand Workshop with Shannon Crow

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Team

• Shannon Crow on Instagram

Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree, and Yoga for Pelvic Health 20-hr Online Training with Shannon Crow.

"Om-washing is the term for how the global far right and these ethnostates and cultural institutions use yoga as propaganda to make themselves look peaceful or liberatory to the public. But in fact, it's disguising their violent agendas."

"If I'm doing yoga according to the ethics that I want to live up to, then yoga invites me to reckon with the violence my ancestors and my relatives might be participating in."

"One of the ways in which these yoga studios participate in om-washing is in these unfortunate ways in which they think they're trying to be well-intentioned and decolonial, but they actually are only just doing this diversity and inclusion approach that is not actually anti-colonial and that is not anti-imperial."

"No oppressed and formally colonized society has ever won a struggle against their oppressor simply through nonviolent, peaceful resistance."

"I just want to encourage folks to not numb yourself as we continue to see these images and think they can't get any worse. Continue to find ways to let your heart feel what it is that you're witnessing."

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

385: When the Yoga Teacher Stumbles with Jivana Heyman

Have you ever been deeply disappointed in a yoga teacher, mentor, or celebrity? You are not alone. It is a common experience that many yoga teachers and practitioners go through, but how should we react? In this episode, Jivana Heyman joins Shannon to discuss how they deal with their feelings of grief and disappointment caused by folks in the yoga world.

Jivana Heyman is a teacher, author, and advocate, well-known in the yoga community. He is the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, an international non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to yoga teachings for people of all abilities and backgrounds. He has authored multiple books and brings decades of experience as an advocate and teacher to this conversation.

Shannon and Jivana discuss the complex topic of navigating a path forward when yoga teachers or mentors disappoint us. Whether through actions that fall short of our expectations, problematic behavior, or situations where trust is broken, these experiences can be deeply personal and disheartening. Jivana draws on his years of experience in teaching and his commitment to fostering compassionate and ethical yoga communities to share some deep insights and thoughtful reflections on tackling these moments with grace, understanding, and authenticity.

This episode promises to inspire and empower yoga teachers and practitioners alike to approach disappointment with wisdom and resilience. 

[0:12] Have you ever been deeply disappointed in a yoga teacher, mentor, or celebrity? Shannon and Jivana are discussing their feelings of grief and disappointment in connection with folks in the yoga world.

[2:33] Shannon introduces herself and gives a shout-out of thanks to sponsors - OfferingTree and her 20-hour Yoga for Pelvic Health Training.

[5:51] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Jivana Heyman.

[10:05] What's the newest thing in Jivana's world right now with his work and personal life?

[15:12] It is common to be disappointed by yoga teachers or celebrities that we are learning from. Jivana and Shannon reflect on their experiences.

[19:40] Can we separate the teacher from the teachings? Is it possible to find a distinction between yoga and the people we learned from?

[21:26] Shannon shares an experience she had with a yoga teacher with a sizeable following just before the US elections.

[27:35] A second part of that interaction Shannon had is that they seemed to stop speaking up because of capitalism. Jivana shares his perspective on Shannon's reaction and disappointment.

[30:18] At what point do we call people out or call them in for the harm they are causing and how do we do that?

[32:26] Shannon pops in with a message about the sponsor, OfferingTree.

[36:00] Someone reached out to Shannon about wanting to call out a teacher they've been studying with who has said nothing about Palestine but has spoken up about other world events. What is the best way to navigate these situations?

[42:43] What is Jivana's advice to a yoga teacher who is observing that their teachers or yoga celebrities they follow are not speaking up about the issues that are important to them?

[47:46] It can feel like it takes a lot of energy to work in community. How should we approach this task of overcoming our differences to work towards a common goal?

[55:14] Yoga doesn't always feel good. It's not the goal of a yoga practice to leave us in a "blissed out" state.

[57:57] What would Jivana say to the yoga celebrity who is listening and having people ask them about not speaking up about social justice causes?

[59:24] What would Jivana tell yoga teachers who feel like they are not doing enough right now?

[65:48] What is Jivana's next book (his fourth) about?

[66:34] What are some practices Jivana is using now for grieving the destruction that is happening to the earth and around the world?

[71:51] Shannon shares some of the actions that she is taking to fight back against oppressive systems in the world.

[73:17] Connect with and learn from Jivana via his website or Instagram.

[74:26] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Jivana.

• Jivana Heyman

• Jivana Heyman on Instagram

• Previous Podcast Episodes with Jivana Heyman

• 365: How to Teach Accessible Yoga with Jivana Heyman

• 321: Accessible Yoga & Pelvic Health with Jivana Heyman

• 273: Yoga is a Revolution with Jivana Heyman

• 251: Reflect & Plan [Part 2] with Shannon Crow & Jivana Heyman

• 209: Online Yoga Teacher Training with Jivana Heyman

• 138: Accessible Yoga Beyond Asana with Jivana Heyman

• Inclusive Yoga: Creating Community Through Accessibility (OfferingTree)

• Zel Amanzi on Instagram

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• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Team

• Shannon Crow on Instagram

Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree, and Yoga for Pelvic Health 20-hr Online Training with Shannon Crow.

"You know, we're all human, we're all trying our best." - Jivana

"Where we always get stuck in life is the expectations. .... the expectation is what causes our suffering." - Jivana

"Non-attachment is just freedom, that's what this is. Freedom from desire, freedom from being focused on the outcome." - Jivana

"When you're giving someone feedback or criticism, try to be as nice as you can about it because we're mostly really insecure people." - Jivana

"Direct communication is more effective with people." - Jivana

"Don't let your emotions decide your life for you. Don't let emotions make the decision." - Jivana

"We all have a lot of power in small ways that we don't recognize." - Jivana

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

384: Yoga for Election Grief with Shannon Crow

Many people have shared that they are feeling numb, sad, scared, shocked, and powerless in light of the recent US election results. Shannon Crow has experienced similar feelings and shares her experience in the aftermath of the election results. 

Shannon relates an interaction she had with a yoga teacher that prompted her to turn inward and reflect and invites us to do the same. She also invites listeners who support Trump to reach out to have a conversation – in these divisive times, Shannon highlights the importance of remaining open to alternative perspectives, finding common ground, and still showing up to do the work we are here to do. 

If you are feeling grief, helplessness, despair, or fear, Shannon shares some inspiring and uplifting words from her community, as well as her strategies for continuing to move forward through this time.

Regardless of where you live, where you are in the election cycle, or who is/has been elected to office, this episode can help you ground into the important things.

[0:48] This episode was inspired by some powerful messages from friends and colleagues who were feeling so many emotions after the results of the US elections were announced.

[3:15] Shannon introduces herself and gives a shout-out of thanks to the sponsors, OfferingTree and Shannon's 20-hour Yoga for Pelvic Health Training.

[7:15] Shannon shares how she felt in the aftermath of the elections in the United States.

[12:02] Shannon shares an anecdote of an interaction with a yoga teacher related to the elections in the US.

[16:08] Shannon understands and empathizes with people who have fears about living in a country and a world where Trump is the President of the US. She seeks to hear from people who voted for him about their perspectives.

[19:00] Shannon explains why the US elections are so relevant to her as a Canadian (and all of us) -- and why we should care about cultures and events in other countries outside our own.

[24:49] Having someone like Trump voted in makes Shannon look inward and reflect on what part of her she needs to work on.

[26:45] Shannon shares a bit about OfferingTree.

[28:26] Some things have helped Shannon in the moment of despair she was feeling when she learned the news that Trump had been elected.

[35:07] Next week on the podcast, Shannon will be holding some people accountable for their (in)action.

• Some Related Connected Yoga Teacher Podcasts

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Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree, and Yoga for Pelvic Health 20-hr Online Training with Shannon Crow.

"This episode was inspired by some powerful messages from friends and colleagues who were feeling so many emotions."

"We talk yoga on this podcast and we talk politics because politics is part of yoga."

"Education is the foundational strength of a country."

"We need to ask what's underneath this if we really want to build safer communities for everyone."

"Having someone like Trump elected in the US definitely does make me ask a lot more questions, but it also makes me look inward."

"Do the work that you are here to do."

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

383: Gift Certificate Policies & Questions with Shannon Crow

What are the policies in your yoga business around gift certificates? If you don’t have them in place, this episode is the perfect starting point to get started thinking about creating some policies about gift certificates and more in your yoga business.

Shannon shares a question that was asked in the Connected Yoga Teacher Group on Facebook about gift certificates. A member asked about whether they should honor an expired gift certificate given out during a silent auction or offer an alternative that shows compassion for the buyer’s circumstances. Shannon shares the feedback on the post and what the original poster decided to do. She also invites us to consider the policies we have in place in our yoga business, not just about gift certificates but in other areas as well.

Shannon then shares a response she received on speaking up for social justice causes and other injustices. What can we do when it feels like our actions can’t make a difference? Tune in to be inspired by Shannon’s response.

[0:10] This episode touches on two topics - the importance of community and support, and gift certificate policies.

[3:46]  Shannon gives a shout-out of thanks to sponsors, OfferingTree and two of Shannon's trainings focused on yoga for pelvic health.

[6:17] Have you joined the Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook group yet? It is a wonderful and supportive community of over 12,000 members and yoga teachers from around the world!

[7:13] Recently, a yoga teacher asked a question about policies around gift certificates and vouchers - holding a boundary around an expired voucher vs. offering a more compassionate alternative that benefits both parties.

[11:24] Did you know that you can create gift cards and discount codes through OfferingTree?

[13:23] It would be a great idea to review your policies about gift certificates before giving them out at a silent auction. Shannon shares what the original poster decided to do based on feedback from the community.

[15:35] Some countries may have laws about expiration dates on gift certificates. It can be a good idea to consider some of the policies you have in place in your yoga business regarding gift certificates, as well as other areas.

[18:15] Shannon shares a little about a response and a question that she received from a yoga teacher in a small rural community in the US about speaking up on social justice issues.

[25:38] Keen to work with Shannon? Sign up for her email list to stay in the loop about her latest coaching offerings.

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group

• Gift Certificate for Silent Auction Facebook Post

• Question About Non-expiring Gift Certificates Facebook Group

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 254: Must-Have Legal Agreements with Erika Kullberg

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 382: Having Tough Conversations with Rebecca Sebastian

• Anti-Oppression, Inclusion and Accessibility in Yoga (Podcasts & Articles) Resource 

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Team

• Shannon Crow on Instagram

Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree, and Yoga for Pelvic Health 20-hr Online Training with Shannon Crow.

"It would be so great to really review policies about gift certificates before giving them out."

"We can't think of every policy that we'll have for everything in our business, but we might want to consider some of the policies."

"What is the work that you're doing and is it helping the community in some way?"

"As a collective, just like the aster flowers, we can make a tremendous difference together."

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

382: Having Tough Conversations with Rebecca Sebastian

Many yoga teachers are trying to navigate having tough conversations with their colleagues, friends, and families about many issues going on in the world today - from the genocide in Palestine to racism, from misogyny to cultural appropriation, and much more. These conversations are difficult but so important. Rebecca Sebastian joins Shannon Crow in this episode to discuss having tough conversations.

Rebecca Sebastian is a long-time yoga teacher and 11-year yoga therapist. She owns an accessible and inclusivity-focused yoga studio and apothecary in Davenport, Iowa, called Sunlight Yoga + Apothecary, and is the host of the Working In Yoga Podcast. Rebecca is a passionate writer on yoga topics and she participates and loves all things yoga and the yoga industry. She believes that through writing and communication, we can all lift each other up and share what lights us up with the world. 

This episode came about because of a hard conversation between Rebecca and Shannon as friends when they realized that they were on the same journey but not on the same page about some things. They decided to share what it’s like to have difficult conversations with people you care about and are in relationship with, and how they have been navigating these chats. If you have been struggling with having tough conversations with people around you, you are not alone.

[3:00] Shannon gives a shout out to the sponsors - OfferingTree and Shannon's 20-hour Yoga for Pelvic Health Training.

[4:56] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Rebecca Sebastian. This episode is more of a conversation between friends talking about what it's like to have hard conversations with each other than a typical podcast episode.

[16:25] Rebecca invites us to give ourselves (and our former selves) and each other grace when having difficult conversations.

[18:29] There are many different issues that yoga teachers could be having tough conversations about these days. Does this belong in yoga?

[25:53] What are Rebecca's thoughts on yoga teachers who don't want to talk about "politics" in their classes? Shannon and Rebecca discuss the importance of consent in having hard conversations.

[30:19] How should/can yoga teachers respond when yoga students bring tough conversations into yoga spaces?

[36:38] Rebecca and Shannon discuss holding space for tough conversations and how they react when there are differences in fundamental beliefs or their moral compasses.

[40:20] Shannon reflects on how she is reacting to witnessing the genocide in Palestine, which can feel like "too much" for some people. Rebecca shares her perspective.

[46:08] It can be difficult to know how to respond when people who care about you give you unhelpful "advice".

[48:58] Shannon pops in to share a message about OfferingTree.

[51:27] Shannon and Rebecca diverge in their opinions about how they show up for the issues that matter on social media.

[56:20] What has Shannon's experience on social media been like since October 7th?

[61:20] Rebecca and Shannon discuss the shaming and "infighting" that tends to occur in social justice spaces.

[64:53] What are some actions that are effective in supporting the causes we care about, like Palestine?

[68:26] Rebecca talks about protesting as a strategy to effect change.

[72:13 - 72:17] "I feel like we can struggle and care at the same time."

[74:06] Shannon and Rebecca talk about the fact that many people are simply unaware of what is happening in Gaza and Palestine, but also that some people choose not to see it.

[77:15] When it comes to difficult conversations, there are a lot of things to consider. What is Rebecca's advice to people who want to do the hard work but don't know where to start?

[83:24] Shannon reflects on her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Rebecca.

• Rebecca Sebastian

• Rebecca Sebastian on Instagram

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 312: We Stand with Survivors with Rebecca Sebastian & Colin Hall

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 304: How Are We Still here? with Rebecca Sebastian

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 297: Yoga Philosophy & Business with Rebecca Sebastian

• The Future Of Yoga Therapy on Facebook (Facebook Post)

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 356: How Silence Feels for a Yoga Student with Suzanne Miller

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 375: Why Marketing is Different Now with Tristan Katz & Brooke Monaghan

• Values as Luxury Goods and Political Polarization

• Do Politics Belong in Yoga? by Naomi Gottlieb-Miller on Substack

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 361: Connect to Nature & Your Roots with Tracee Stanley 

• Eyes of Gaza by Plestia Alaqad (Pre-Order)

• Anti-Oppression, Inclusion and Accessibility in Yoga (Podcasts & Articles) Resource 

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Team

• Shannon Crow on Instagram

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group

Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree, and Yoga for Pelvic Health 20-hr Online Training with Shannon Crow.

"I think we learn a lot from private conversations through friends about tough things." - Shannon

"After those [tough] conversations you're like, wow, our friendship is way stronger, but on the flip side of it, when it starts to go sideways, it also can mean the end of a friendship." - Shannon

"One of the best things about being able to have hard conversations with friends is that if you truly have respect [and a] friendship connection, the stakes feel a little bit lower because you ... can practice having hard conversations with people who are gonna be still in relationship with you at the end of those hard conversations." - Rebecca

"To have conversations that are difficult, all parties should consent to that conversation." - Rebecca

"How do we hold space for difficult conversations if we don't want to be in them?" - Rebecca

"Every change is a long game. It is always a long game." - Rebecca

"I also know that I show up for the work in my own community and that's my priority." - Rebecca

"I can't care about everything, I can't. Otherwise I'm not gonna show up for the things that matter to me." - Rebecca

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

381: Making Yoga More Inclusive with Billie Smith

How can we make yoga more inclusive? How do we make movement more accessible by adopting a different approach to yoga poses instead of a one-size-fits-all approach? What does it mean to teach in an anti-diet, queer-affirming way? Billie Smith shares their insights.

Billie is a queer yoga/movement teacher, trauma/abuse/ED survivor who is disrupting the norm and going against the grain. They are dedicated to eliminating diet-culture, spiritual-bypassing and other excluding narratives from the yoga spaces they create, and helping their students learn to check in with how they feel instead of how they look. Through group classes, one-on-one sessions, and workshops, Billie leads with an open heart and strives to hold safe, inclusive space for folks seeking to move their bodies for emotional health, increase mobility and strength, and feel good in their body for longer.

In this episode, Billie shares how they ended up doing work to combat diet culture messages and how they help people start checking in and listening to their bodies. They also share deep insights about letting go of control as teachers and how we can better empower our students to make the decisions that are best for them and their bodies in the moment. Billie also shares some tips on how we can create more inclusive yoga spaces and reflects on how social justice ties in with yoga. 

[0:07] Shannon briefly shares why she is so excited about this podcast!

[3:53] Shannon gives a shout-out to the sponsors, OfferingTree and Shannon's 20-hour Yoga for Pelvic Health Training.

[6:02] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Billie Smith.

[12:59] What does Billie do and who do they do it for?

[16:27] What led Billie to start on this journey of making sure their yoga spaces are inclusive and against diet culture?

[21:33] Shannon and Billie discuss the common perception in yoga classes that the teacher knows the student's body better than they do.

[24:12] One thing we can do as teachers is really reflect on what is the goal of each pose, and consider how else we can achieve the same benefits without the pose having to look a certain way.

[26:49] Why is it such a gift when a student approaches a teacher thinking that the teacher knows more, but the teacher uses the opportunity to invite the student into a moment of self-inquiry?

[30:49] Sometimes, we may have trouble letting go of control of what our students should be doing in our classes. What is Billie's advice to the teacher who may feel upset that a student is not following their lead?

[36:58] Shannon pops in with a message of thanks for OfferingTree.

[39:14] How can we make our classes more inclusive and accessible even if we don't have the lived experience?

[46:48] What are Billie's thoughts that anything to do with social justice is out of our scope of practice as yoga teachers?

[51:19] Get in touch with Billie via their website or check out their podcast, Rebel Movement Podcast.

[54:13] Shannon shares her key takeaways from this episode.

[56:48] What's next on the podcast?

• Billie Smith, Move with Billie

• Rebel Movement Podcast with Billie Smith

• Billie Smith on Instagram

• Move with Billie - Anti-diet Workshop

• Instagram Post by Billie Smith: 4 Diet culture messages in yoga and movement, and how to reframe them

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 265: Teach LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Yoga with Gabi Parkham

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 199: Creating Inclusive Yoga Spaces Erin Ajayi

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 108: Inclusive Language for Prenatal Yoga with Shannon Crow

• Anti-Oppression, Inclusion and Accessibility in Yoga (Podcasts & Articles) Resource 

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 369: Struggling to Write Content is Normal with Billie Smith

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 307: Taking Diet-Culture Out of Ayurveda with Diane Finlayson 

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 292: Taking Diet Culture out of Yoga with Jessica Grosman & Elyssa Toomey

• Rainbow Registered (Canada)

• Aubrey Gordon - Maintenance PHase

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 284: Beyond Pronouns and Pride Month with Shannon Crow - The Connected Yoga Teacher

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 219: Yoga for Abundant Bodies with Dianne Bondy

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Team

• Shannon Crow on Instagram

• The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group

Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree, and Yoga for Pelvic Health 20-hr Online Training with Shannon Crow.

"The more I learned, the more I didn't want to go back to teaching in ways that I learned were not feeling very inclusive."

"There are so many ways of adjusting how we approach postures that are not blaming the body for things that the body didn't do wrong."

"If you think of it more of as an experiment, it's giving the student the power to make the choices about what feels best. It's sending the message that there's nothing wrong with their body. And it's also not a big deal if the posture is not fitting."

"The thing that's gonna make the most impact is the actions rather than the words."