This is a VERY special podcast episode! To celebrate Episode #50 I decided to turn the microphone around and let someone interview ME. And it’s not just any “someone”. Almost by coincidence two of my very best friends from college, Alece Demeray and Nikki Hay, became yoga teachers many years after I did. We are Yoga Friends now but we still are Regular (Best) Friends first. I knew if I asked them to interview me  you folks would get a glimpse at the real, unfiltered version of Francesca! In this episode you’ll hear:  about the most influential trainings and teachers in my life my current teaching schedule dream trainings I would love to take how I maintain the initial spark of being a student, even though I’ve been a teacher for a long time the systems I’ve built to make sure I maintain my self care practices the parts of my teaching I am most proud of what the next phase of my career might look like some of my worst qualities (!) my favorite TV shows, podcasts and apps   

50: Very Special Episode: Interview With My Two Best Friends!

This podcast is for yoga teachers and explores the craft of teaching yoga, as its own practice. We love asking questions about why we teach something the way we do, how we could be more expansive and inclusive in our teaching, and how we can continue to grow and evolve in our teaching practice. Occasionally we veer into other topics that affect the yoga teaching profession more broadly like marketing, unionizing and vaccines.

We believe the depth that arises in teaching comes from inquiry and relationship. We want the yoga world to have higher standards for quality teaching AND better support networks for teachers, and we want this podcast to be at the forefront of those discussions.

We are here to offer you nourishing support to help you feel more confident in your teaching and realistic strategy to help you find more clarity on your career path.

Francesca Cervero (she/her)  is a full-time yoga teacher and yoga teacher's mentor. She has been teaching yoga in New York City and Washington, DC since 2005 and the foundation of her teaching practice comes from OM Yoga Center’s style of alignment-based vinyasa. Her teaching is also inspired by the years she spent in physical therapy, a constant curiosity about anatomy and biomechanics, and her love of Buddhist teachings.

Francesca maintains a thriving business teaching 15 private yoga clients a week, offers group classes as her virtual yoga studio Stillness + Movement and hosts the adjoining community to this podcast, The Mentor Sessions Sangha. Connect with Francesca at 15sequences.com

Alternative Health

Health

Fitness

Health & Fitness

The brain and the nervous system play a HUGE role in how we integrate sensory information, experience pain and create movement patterns but this topic is not often covered in foundational yoga teacher trainings. That is why I’m so excited to introduce you to Missy Bunch (she/her), a multi-certified movement therapist who has been educating and coaching for over 14 years. As a young professional dancer, she battled many injuries over her career and one day she found someone who studied neurology (the study of the brain and nervous system). After one session with this person, her 4-year knee pain was completely gone. She knew she wanted to teach this approach to the world. The importance of brain function and using the nervous system to rapidly “debug” movement patterns, decrease pain and increase performance, has led her to teach and create lightning-fast improvements with people from all walks of life. Her specialties include injury prevention, injury rehabilitation, joint mobility and decreasing pain, holistically.  In this episode you’ll hear:   a deep dive into assessments including how to cue them and what are we looking for when we reassess   what it mean to move into a shape “reflexively”   how can we work with the brain to decrease pain   the role of the nervous system in integrating inputs and creating motor output   all about the opposing joint theory and how to use it with 1x1 students   an overview of cranial nerves and how and why to stimulate them   Resources Mentioned:   Missy’s website   Missy on Instagram   The Science of the Private Lesson   The Mentor Sessions Sangha  

128: Neurology Is The Missing Link In Movement Education with Missy Bunch

Today I will answer a bunch of questions that you all have sent in about teaching private lessons! In this episode you’ll hear:   suggestions for helping a student establish a neutral pelvis in daily life   advice and guidance for hands-on work in private lessons   tips for finding private clients outside of the studio   tips for when you need to make some money fast   support in lightening up a teaching schedule   how (and why!) to raise your rates   help for a  private student who wants to learn to meditate, but always seems agitated when practicing    Resources Mentioned:    37: Q + A About Private Lessons with Francesca    62: Q + A About Private Lessons with Francesca #2    92: Planning And Progress In Private Lessons (Q+A!)    Teachprivateyoga.com   The Mentor Sessions Sangha    

127: Q+A Private Lesson: Body Stuff, Business Stuff And Dharma Teaching #4

Well, this is an unusual episode!! Since I released a podcast episode last year about my group class planning process I’ve been getting more and more questions about my unique teaching style.  It’s been described as Buddha Dharma Meets Corrective Exercise With A Little Vinyasa In The Middle For Some Fun. It’s a specific style that has been cultivated over almost 20 years of very full time teaching, and I especially love the way it lands online and in an audio format.  So this episode is a short explanation, and then a full length practice! You might find it interesting to listen to even if you can’t or don’t want to do the physical part of the practice. Resources Mentioned:   The Mentor Sessions Sangha   The Science of The Private Lesson Training   115: The Case For Teaching Leveled Classes   116: Integrating Buddha Dharma and Asana with Meredith Witte – Live Mentoring Session   118: My Group Class Planning Process  

126: Loving Kindness + Active Backbends (Practice with Francesca!)

I’m sure you’ve noticed that many stock images and illustrations of yoga practitioners show a very narrow representation of bodies and abilities. Harmony Willow Hansen is a freelance illustrator, graphic designer and yoga practitioner who creates beautiful images that represent the true diversity in the student body of yoga practitioners worldwide. She created a beautiful book called  You Are Strong And Worthy that showcases these images. Willow also has lots of resources available for yoga teachers and studios who want their images and branding to reflect the beautiful multifariousness of their students. In this episode you’ll hear:   what Willow saw in the bodies around her in class that inspired her to start making art   what she hopes people take away from seeing the images she created   all about the custom art and images she has created for yoga studios and teachers   Learn More From Harmony:  Website Instagram  You Are Strong and Worthy (Book)   

BONUS:  Inclusive Yoga Illustrations with Harmony Willow Hansen

Teaching teachers how to teach yoga is a massive responsibility. (How many times am I going to write the word “teach” in this intro???)  Many people who listen to this podcast either already are, or are hoping to be a teacher of teachers. I get asked all the time for advice on creating and leading a teacher training. I have created a very successful speciality training, The Science of the Private Lesson, and a big part of my business is mentoring yoga teachers. I have supported teachers in writing their own 200 hour teacher training, but I have never actually created or led my own foundational 200 hour teacher training. So to have this conversation I asked my Yoga Mama, and the ultimate Teacher of Teachers Cyndi Lee, to join me and walk us through how to create and lead a teacher training.  In this episode you’ll hear:   how to decide what to cover in a teacher training since yoga is so vast and expansive   what is most important to consider when you first start to write the manual or syllabus for your teacher training   how to teach sequencing and class planning to future yoga teachers   what Cyndi thinks about marketing a teacher training as a way to "deepen your practice" without an intention to teach   how teacher trainers can stimulate creativity and confidence in their learners   Learn More From Cyndi:   Website   SUBSTACK: Drip, Drip, Drip   Instagram   Facebook    

50: Very Special Episode: Interview With My Two Best Friends!

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