Yin Yoga Podcast

Season 9 | Ep. 6

Lessons in Meditation with Gabrielle Harris

Gabrielle Harris is back, and we're diving into her latest book, Lessons in Meditation, the final installment of her trilogy. Grab your copy if you have it, I'm referencing specific pages throughout.

Adult podcast, adult language. Headphones if you've got little ones around.

In this episode:

• What meditation actually is and why it's so hard to define
• The myths that keep people off the cushion, including "my mind is too busy"
• Why Yin Yoga might be the best gateway to meditation
• How to bring meditation into your classes without feeling underqualified
• Gabrielle's meditation journey from age nine to now
• Why your own practice has to come before you teach it
• Building a ritual that makes you actually want to show up
• The difference between a sankalpa and a resolution
• The mantra Aham Prema and why I'm obsessed with it

We also read Breath of Trees and Rooms of the Heart live from the book. That second one got me a little emotional.

About Gabrielle: Award-winning author of The Language of Yin, The Inspired Yoga Teacher, and Lessons in Meditation. Based in New Zealand, leading trainings and workshops worldwide. Lessons in Meditation recently won a Gold Nautilus Book Award for Wellness.

Giveaway: Check both of our Instagrams the same week this episode drops for details.

Links:

• Gabrielle's website
• Gabrielle's Instagram
• Lessons in Meditation is available on all Amazon's

Also mentioned in this episode:

The Language of Yin 

Yin Yoga Is The Gateway Drug 

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Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley

Hang Drum Music by Fred Westra 

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Season 9 | Ep. 4

In this episode, I'm talking about what it really means to "drop Yin-side" moving past the physical stretch into an actual inner journey.

We cover why Yin is mentally and emotionally harder than most people expect, the 7-layer awareness approach I use at the start of every class, how to guide students from distracted to present, what to do as a teacher while your students are holding shapes, and some quotes you're welcome to borrow for your own classes.

Whether you're a practitioner wanting a richer personal practice or a teacher wanting to guide attention (not just anatomy), there's something here for you.

Also mentioned in this episode:

Constructive Rest

Should You Use Music

Dear Yin Yoga Teacher Please Shut Up

Loving Kindness and Yin (Metta)

Care Bears Video

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Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley

Hang Drum Music by Fred Westra 

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Season 9 | Ep.4

Teaching Swan Pose? Help Is on the Way!

In this episode, I'm diving into one of the most requested topics from the Yin Yoga community: Swan Pose (also known as Sleeping Swan, or if you speak Hatha, Pigeon Pose). If you're a Yin Yoga teacher who's ever panicked when a student can't do this pose, this one's for you.

What I cover:

• The difference between Swan and Sleeping Swan (and why we don't call it Pigeon in Yin Yoga)
• Why teaching functionally is everything — if you know why you put a pose in your sequence, you'll never be caught off guard when someone can't do it
• The myth of the 90-degree front leg — spoiler: it's about bone structure, not flexibility
• The number one issue in Sleeping Swan (the front knee) and what to actually do about it
• What to do when it's the back knee that's the problem (yes, this happens!)
• A buffet of modifications and alternatives: adjusting the foot and knee angle, using props like blocks, bolsters, straps, blankets, towels, chairs, and walls
• Why flipping someone onto their back for a figure four (aka Keyhole, Reclined Pigeon, Eye of the Needle — so many names!) is often the quickest and most effective solution
• Why that reclined version is actually deeper for some people (hi, it's me)
• Reclined Shoelace as another great option for folks who need less external rotation
• Seated options like Shoelace, Square Pose, and Deer Pose
• The "butt in the air" problem and how to handle it gracefully
• Why I love Paul Grilley's Anatomy for Yoga and why it's required watching in my teacher training
• A companion PDF on Tummee with tons of visual variations (living, breathing document, I'll keep adding to it!)

Want to make a request? DM me on Instagram or leave a comment on the blog. Frog and Cattail are on the way, I promise.

Until next time, bye for now!

Mentioned In this Episode:

Tummee PDF Link 

How To Make Yin Yoga Accessible

 The Yin Yoga Way: Function VS Form

Teaching Saddle Pose Help Is On The Way

Yin Yoga and Hip Pain: What Teachers Should Know 

Knee Pain and Yin Yoga: What Teachers Need to Know

Tummee 

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Yoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the Page

To Join my Yin Yoga Classes on Zoom

To subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:

Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley

Hang Drum Music by Fred Westra 

Find me on Instagram 

@nykdanuyoga

@YinYogaPodcast

Season 9 | Ep. 3

Myo Yin with Nikki Hajitoma

In this episode, I sit down with Nikki Hajitoma, founder of Yintelligence, to talk all things Myo Yin. If you've ever wondered what happens when you combine myofascial release balls with Yin Yoga, this one's for you.

About Nikki

Nikki is a highly esteemed teacher within the international Yin Yoga community, a vastly experienced studio teacher, and founder of Yintelligence, a school of Yin and functional Yoga. She's known for her tenure as resident lead in the Yin Yoga teacher training at Pure Yoga (Asia's largest studio group). She is considered one of the key teachers to popularize Yin Yoga in Asia.

She has trained extensively with Paul Grilley, Sarah Powers, Bernie Clark, and Jo Phee, and spent nearly a decade as a personal apprentice to Jo Phee

Based in London, Nikki teaches online and travels internationally to deliver specialized teacher trainings in Yin Yoga, functional anatomy, and compassionate self-inquiry.

What We Talk About

We kick things off with Nikki's Yoga origin story, and it's a good one. She shares openly about her struggles with addiction, the moment Yoga cracked her open during treatment at 26, and how she went from the last person anyone would expect to become a Yoga teacher to one of the most respected Yin teachers in the world.

From there, we get into:

• What Myo Yin actually is (spoiler: it's not just a ball in a Yin pose)
• The different ways to practice and teach it, from dynamic rolling before a pose, to static ball placement during a Yin hold
• Why the combination amplifies the physical benefits, and how it can also become a powerful mindfulness practice
• The importance of intelligent sequencing so it doesn't just become a gimmick
• How Nikki uses Myo Yin with more yang-focused students to ease them into stillness

We also talk about functional anatomy, the one-size-fits-all cuing problem in Yoga, alignment culture, trauma-informed teaching, and why Nikki believes you can teach functionally without being trauma-informed, but you can't be trauma-informed without teaching functionally. That one hit home for me.

Nikki's Upcoming Trainings

• 60-hour Myo Yin Teacher Training in London at Mission: December 7 to 13, 2026
• Myo Yin Teacher Training in Hong Kong: January 16 to 24, 2027
• Online workshops coming in fall 2026
• Online teacher training: late 2027

The best way to stay in the loop is to sign up for the newsletter on her website.

Nicky's website: yintelligence.com and Instagram

If you loved this episode, please leave a review or comment. It helps other Yin Yoga lovers find the podcast. And if you've already left one, a screenshot shared in your Instagram stories means the world.

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Yoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the Page

To Join my Yin Yoga Classes on Zoom

To subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:

Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley

Hang Drum Music by Fred Westra 

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@nykdanuyoga

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Season 9 | Ep. 2

The Courage to Say "I Don't Know"

In this episode, I'm talking about something that I think every Yoga teacher needs to hear: it's okay to not have all the answers.

I share a real moment from my own teaching that got me thinking about how we relate to not knowing, and why saying "I don't know" is actually one of the most courageous and mature things a teacher can do.

We get into the Dunning-Kruger effect and how it shows up in Yoga teacher training, my own experience of thinking I knew way more than I did as a new teacher (including some very confident and very wrong alignment cues), and how discovering Paul Grilley's work on skeletal variation completely cracked my world open.

I also talk about the difference between clarity and certainty, why the wellness world's obsession with having all the answers can actually do more harm than good, and what Daoism has to say about the wisdom of not knowing.

Whether you're a brand new teacher or you've been at this for years, I think this one will resonate.

In this episode:

• The Dunning-Kruger effect and how it shows up in Yoga teaching
• Why "I don't know" reflects maturity, not inadequacy
• Skeletal variation and how it changed everything for me
• The difference between certainty and clarity
• Why curiosity is lighter to carry than the pressure of having all the answers

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Yoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the Page

To Join my Yin Yoga Classes on Zoom

To subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:

Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley

Hang Drum Music by Fred Westra 

Find me on Instagram 

@nykdanuyoga

@YinYogaPodcast

Season 9 | Ep.1

7 Things I Wish I'd Known When I Started Teaching Yin Yoga

In this episode, I'm sharing seven things I wish someone had told me earlier in my teaching journey. These aren't lessons you have to wait decades to earn. Think of them more like signposts to keep an eye on as your teaching unfolds, whether you're brand new or you've been at this for years.

What we get into:

1. The nervous system always has the first and last say

2. Timing matters more than technique

3. Your presence matters more than your plan

4. Variability isn't the problem; it's the practice

5. I stopped teaching poses and started teaching people

6. Experience doesn't give you all the answers

7. Go teach, then come back and study again

 Also mentioned in this episode:

My #1 Pose for Every Yin Yoga Class (constructive rest)

Dear Yin Yoga Teacher- Please Shut Up

How To Teach Exceptional Yin Yoga Classes 

Mentorship matters

Let's connect:I'd love to hear what pearls of wisdom you've picked up on your own teaching journey. What did I miss? Drop a comment on YouTube or Spotify, I genuinely want to know.

And if you love this podcast, a rating or review goes a long way in helping other Yin Yoga lovers find it. You can also take a screenshot of your favourite episode and share it in your Instagram stories. Tag me so I can share the love!

Thanks for being here. Until we meet again, bye for now.

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See all episodes at a glance

Yoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the Page

To Join my Yin Yoga Classes on Zoom

To subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:

Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley

Hang Drum Music by Fred Westra 

Find me on Instagram 

@nykdanuyoga

@YinYogaPodcast

Season 8 | Ep. 12

Episode Title: Protecting the Sovereign: The Wisdom of the Pericardium

This is the last episode of the season, and we're going out on one of my favourite topics: the heart and the pericardium in Chinese medicine.

The heart is the sovereign, the seat of our Shen (spirit/mind). The pericardium is its protector. But what happens when that protection goes too far, and the fence becomes a wall? Or when there's not enough, and we're giving it all away?

We also get into how Yin Yoga creates the conditions for the Shen to settle, and I leave you with some journal questions to take this deeper.

In this episode: the Shen and why it matters, signs of scattered or disturbed Shen, the pericardium as heart protector, boundaries versus walls, emotional armour, and how stillness reveals what we didn't know we were carrying.

Quote: "Wide open, gentle heart. Big fucking fence." Danielle LaPorte

Taking a summer break, back in September 2026. See you then.

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Yoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the Page

To Join my Yin Yoga Classes on Zoom

To subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:

Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley

Hang Drum Music by Fred Westra 

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Season 8 | Episode 11

A comment in a Yin Yoga network group stopped me in my tracks.

Someone said they were "already certified to teach Yin," and I couldn't get that out of my head.

So this episode is all about what certification actually means, whether it equals qualification, and what only time and humility can teach you that no training ever could.

In this episode:

• Why a certificate marks the beginning of teaching, not the completion of learning
• The problem with weekend intensives and fast-track certification culture
• The shadow side of collecting certifications without integrating the material
• Why the deeper you go into Yin Yoga, the less certain you become
• Humility as a Yin quality and why staying teachable matters more than arriving

If this episode resonated, please rate and review on Apple, leave a five-star on Spotify, or drop a comment on YouTube. I read them all.My 100 Hour Therapeutic Yin Course. Full details and sign up here.https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-teacher-training/Also mentioned in this episode:

What is Therapeutic Yin Yoga: https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-podcast/what-is-therapeutic-yin-yoga/

Why Yin Yoga Teachers Need a Home Practice: https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-podcast/yin-yoga-teachers-home-practice

Unearthing Trauma - Yin Yoga for Release and Resilience with Janis Isaman: https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-podcast/unearthing-trauma-yin-yoga-for-release-and-resilience-with-janis-isaman/What is Yin Yang: https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-podcast/yin-yoga-podcast-what-is-yinyang/Want to support my work? Leave me a tip. https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/78PEVR5WF3ZSASee all episodes at a glance:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NOyRZM7cKC-h9kOMT-rIIeuatJgOf1CKT63LjAHk2LU/edit?usp=sharingYoga Teachers Get on the Waitlist:

https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-teacher-training/ at the bottom and top of the PageTo Join my Yin Yoga Classes on Zoom https://nykdanu.com/students/yoga/online-yoga/To subscribe to my https://nykdanu.com/students/yoga/video-library/Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley : https://pranamaya.com/courses/anatomy-for-yoga/?ref=20 (affiliate link)Find me on Instagram Nyk Danu Yoga: https://www.instagram.com/nykdanuyoga/Yin Yoga Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/yinyogapodcast/

Season 8 | Ep. 10

Knee Pain and Yin Yoga: Modifications, Surgeries, and What Your Teachers Need to Know

Hey Yinies! Welcome back to the Yin Yoga Podcast. This one is near and dear to my heart because, honestly, I've been living this topic in real time. Between the X-rays, physio appointments, knee braces, and, yes, the electric scooter I bought to get myself to the studio, knee pain has been my main concern lately.

So, I brought back Beth Coyne Lewis, a physiotherapist and Yoga teacher, to help me (and all of you) make sense of it all.

If you missed our last episode with Beth on hip pain, go back and listen to that one first. But if your knees are what's on your mind right now, you're in exactly the right place.

In this episode we cover:

• A breakdown of the main structures of the knee: bones, cartilage, meniscus, ligaments, the IT band, and why all of it matters for Yin teachers and students
• The difference between acute injuries (ACL tears, falls, sports injuries) and gradual wear-and-tear issues like arthritis and meniscal degeneration
• Tracking issues and what they actually mean, including my own 20-plus-year journey with them
• Hypermobility and connective tissue disorders like Ehlers-Danlos, and how to safely support those students in your classes
• Common knee surgeries, including meniscal repair, partial and full knee replacements, and what recovery actually looks like today (way better than you might think)
• Beth's own experience of having a knee replacement 12 years ago and returning to teaching Yin
• Pose-by-pose modifications and alternatives for students with knee pain, including saddle, sleeping swan, child's pose, sitting cross-legged, seiza, squatting, and kneeling
• Why figure four on your back is not just a modification, it is a variation that works better for a lot of bodies (including mine)
• How to talk to students about their medical history without overstepping your scope as a Yoga teacher
• Why Yin is so much more than the physical shapes, and how that matters especially for students in recovery

Links and resources mentioned:

Also mentioned in this episode:

Hyper mobility and Yin Yoga

Teaching Saddle pose Help In On The Way

Deepening Yin - The Power of Props

Blog post for this episode with an anatomy image on my website

If this episode was helpful to you, please leave me a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

And Spotify or a comment on Spotify. You can also find a blog post with more details and images on my website, and there's a comment section there too. And if you want to suggest a topic or send me a note, Instagram DMs are always open.

See you in the next one, Yinnies

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Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley

Hang Drum Music by Fred Westra 

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@YinYogaPodcast

Season 8 | Ep. 9

I am excited to share this conversation with you.

In this episode, I sat down with Beth Coyne Lewis, a recently retired physiotherapist, Yin Yoga teacher, and someone who has personally navigated a knee replacement and a hip labral repair.

Beth also completed my 100-hour Yin training, so we already knew each other going in, which made for a really easy, honest conversation.

This episode came about because of a question that popped up in the Yin Yoga Network Facebook group (not my group, just one I help admin!) about knees or hips, and I thought, most Yoga teachers, especially those with just a 200-hour, have not been given the tools to support students dealing with hip issues. Beth was the obvious person to call.

What We Talk About:

The difference between true hip joint pain and outer hip pain, what to actually do when a student tells you they have had a hip replacement, and why the type of surgery matters so much when it comes to movement restrictions. We also talk about props, asymmetry, scope of practice, and the shadow side of certain Yoga traditions when it comes to pushing through hip pain.

And we spend some time on something I feel really strongly about: Yin Yoga is not just a physical practice, and sometimes the breath and mindfulness aspects are exactly what a student needs most.

A Little More About Beth:

Beth is currently teaching Yin, Vinyasa, Nidra, chair, aqua, and Yoga for grief. She teaches at a studio and at the Jewish Community Centre through a grant program for people over 60. She is also an advanced clinical aromatherapist and a level one and two Reiki practitioner. When she is not doing all of that, she is probably baking sourdough and spoiling her cats, McCartney and Harrison.

Part two is coming, and we are tackling knees, which feels very timely for me personally right now. Stay tuned.

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See all episodes at a glance

Yoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the Page

To Join my Yin Yoga Classes on Zoom

To subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:

Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley

Hang Drum Music by Fred Westra 

Find me on Instagram 

@nykdanuyoga

@YinYogaPodcast