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Why Discipline Saves You When Life Falls Apart - with Yogi Keri Kugler
In this episode of The Unqualified Yogi Podcast, hosts Gary Martin and Roxanne Quinn sit down with yoga teacher and women's coach Keri Kugler for an honest conversation about transformation, control, and what it actually means to find yourself through yoga practice—without the wellness industry bullshit.
FROM ONE CLASS TO TEACHER TRAINING
Keri shares her unconventional entry into yoga: she took one hot yoga class at Yoga Source with Terry Sobin, got her ass completely kicked, walked into the lobby, saw a flyer for 200-hour teacher training, and signed up that same week. What happened next? Her entire life fell apart. Job loss, ending a 10-year relationship, roommate moving out—everything collapsed within a few months of starting her yoga teacher training. But something inside her knew this was exactly what she needed.
THE MOST CONFRONTING MOMENT: YOU'RE NOT THE VICTIM
Keri describes her first teacher training as a "huge red stoplight" that showed her something uncomfortable: she actually had control over her life. Not control over external events, but control over her habits, behaviors, responses, and internal discipline. For someone who had zero structure, no boundaries, and no sense of self, this realization wasn't beautiful and light—it was confronting as hell. The practice of yoga became what saved her, offering discipline when everything else was chaos.
WHAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY CONTROL (AND WHAT YOU CAN'T)
The conversation digs into the difference between pain and suffering, internal versus external control, and why people grip harder when they feel out of control inside. Roxanne shares her own experience with grief after putting her dog Buddha to sleep, discussing how meditation practice and disciplined structure hold you through devastating moments. The hosts explore how yoga practice builds the internal stability that allows you to respond rather than react—even when life is falling apart around you.
EMBODIED TEACHING VS. YOGA VOICE
Keri talks about teaching from her bones rather than performing a "yoga voice" or teaching persona. She discusses the journey of finding your authentic voice as a teacher, dealing with criticism from more seasoned instructors, and learning to own your choices even when they don't fit traditional yoga molds. Roxanne reflects on teaching athletic, westernized classes and having to say "this is what feels right for me, this is what I like in my practice." Both teachers emphasize that embodied teaching—when you actually live the practice outside the studio—creates a different kind of journey for students.
OPENING A STUDIO RIGHT AFTER TRAINING
In a bold move, Keri opened a yoga studio immediately after completing her 200-hour teacher training. She shares the challenges of being a brand-new teacher facing criticism from established studio owners and seasoned teachers questioning "what are these new kids on the block doing?" The studio did really well but closed after barely a year—a learning experience that shaped her path forward.
MEDITATION, DISCIPLINE & THE BODY AS VEHICLE
Roxanne discusses her current meditation teacher training, sitting for two hours daily (30 minutes seated, 10 minutes walking meditation, repeat), and how disciplined practice creates the foundation to handle life's challenges. The conversation explores how many people start yoga for superficial reasons—cute pants, wanting to look hot, achieving impressive poses—and how the body becomes a vehicle that eventually brings you to yourself. Keri reflects on no longer caring about doing full splits or impressive asana, emphasizing how priorities shift when yoga becomes an internal journey rather than external performance.
🌐 theunqualifiedyogi.com
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By The Unqualified YogiIn this episode of The Unqualified Yogi Podcast, hosts Gary Martin and Roxanne Quinn sit down with yoga teacher and women's coach Keri Kugler for an honest conversation about transformation, control, and what it actually means to find yourself through yoga practice—without the wellness industry bullshit.
FROM ONE CLASS TO TEACHER TRAINING
Keri shares her unconventional entry into yoga: she took one hot yoga class at Yoga Source with Terry Sobin, got her ass completely kicked, walked into the lobby, saw a flyer for 200-hour teacher training, and signed up that same week. What happened next? Her entire life fell apart. Job loss, ending a 10-year relationship, roommate moving out—everything collapsed within a few months of starting her yoga teacher training. But something inside her knew this was exactly what she needed.
THE MOST CONFRONTING MOMENT: YOU'RE NOT THE VICTIM
Keri describes her first teacher training as a "huge red stoplight" that showed her something uncomfortable: she actually had control over her life. Not control over external events, but control over her habits, behaviors, responses, and internal discipline. For someone who had zero structure, no boundaries, and no sense of self, this realization wasn't beautiful and light—it was confronting as hell. The practice of yoga became what saved her, offering discipline when everything else was chaos.
WHAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY CONTROL (AND WHAT YOU CAN'T)
The conversation digs into the difference between pain and suffering, internal versus external control, and why people grip harder when they feel out of control inside. Roxanne shares her own experience with grief after putting her dog Buddha to sleep, discussing how meditation practice and disciplined structure hold you through devastating moments. The hosts explore how yoga practice builds the internal stability that allows you to respond rather than react—even when life is falling apart around you.
EMBODIED TEACHING VS. YOGA VOICE
Keri talks about teaching from her bones rather than performing a "yoga voice" or teaching persona. She discusses the journey of finding your authentic voice as a teacher, dealing with criticism from more seasoned instructors, and learning to own your choices even when they don't fit traditional yoga molds. Roxanne reflects on teaching athletic, westernized classes and having to say "this is what feels right for me, this is what I like in my practice." Both teachers emphasize that embodied teaching—when you actually live the practice outside the studio—creates a different kind of journey for students.
OPENING A STUDIO RIGHT AFTER TRAINING
In a bold move, Keri opened a yoga studio immediately after completing her 200-hour teacher training. She shares the challenges of being a brand-new teacher facing criticism from established studio owners and seasoned teachers questioning "what are these new kids on the block doing?" The studio did really well but closed after barely a year—a learning experience that shaped her path forward.
MEDITATION, DISCIPLINE & THE BODY AS VEHICLE
Roxanne discusses her current meditation teacher training, sitting for two hours daily (30 minutes seated, 10 minutes walking meditation, repeat), and how disciplined practice creates the foundation to handle life's challenges. The conversation explores how many people start yoga for superficial reasons—cute pants, wanting to look hot, achieving impressive poses—and how the body becomes a vehicle that eventually brings you to yourself. Keri reflects on no longer caring about doing full splits or impressive asana, emphasizing how priorities shift when yoga becomes an internal journey rather than external performance.
🌐 theunqualifiedyogi.com