Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast

By Mado HesselinkBusiness

Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast episodes

January 01 Pricing and Financial Sustainability with Lorine Bamberg [On Air Coaching Call]
Can you honor the roots of yoga and still pay the bills? Join me for an on-air coaching call with yoga teacher Lorine Bamberg as we explore the intersection of spirituality and commerce. Lorine is committed to embodying yoga’s ethics but faces the very real challenge of protecting her own financial health. Together, we look at the evolving responsibilities of the modern teacher, from navigating fair pricing to balancing service with self-preservation. We also explore the complex role of social justice in practice: determining when to speak up and how to hold space for global issues with integrity.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
01:13 Lorine’s story: From gym rat to yoga mat
04:35 What it really takes to teach yoga full-time
07:04 Navigating the ethics of pricing and the tension between service and profit
21:40 Balancing leadership with humility as a teacher
24:23 When and how to address social issues in class
35:29 Yoga as a practice to reclaim agency

EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Swaying Tree Yoga
Follow Lorine on Instagram @swayingtreeyoga
Follow Lorine on Facebook

LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group
Learn more about the Impact Club
Leave a review on iTunes
Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe
38 min
December 18, 2025 Advanced Asana Part 2: Aesthetics, Access, and the Algorithm with Lily Dwyer Begg
What happens when algorithms influence the public perception of yoga? Social media algorithms distort the public view of yoga and exacerbate a disconnect between yoga teachers and the people we aim to serve. In this candid discussion, Lily and I explore the challenges of teaching and practicing in the digital age. We question the viability of the "all levels" class and discuss the profound missed opportunities when yoga is 'sanitized' and divorced from the messy reality of life. Tune in for our perspective on how to use asana as a tool for cultivating deep self-understanding and agency.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
01:45 How social media platforms prioritize and amplify sexualized content
05:05 Why this type of content might be contributing to a decline in yoga class attendance
09:14 How the complex reality of a yoga practice is more beneficial than the sanitized version presented in the media and online
10:24 An honest look at whether a single group class can truly serve “all levels”
14:14 Options and free space as tools for accessibility
22:51 Why home practice is a crucial space for genuine learning and self-acceptance
26:13 How over-accommodating students based on assumptions can undermine their agency and stunt their growth
31:03 Yoga class as an immersive experience vs a structured place to learn
33:22 Advanced asana practice as a self-aware relationship with your body

EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Lily Dwyer Begg Yoga
Follow Lily on Instagram @lilydwyerbegg
Follow Lily Dwyer Begg Yoga on Facebook

LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group
Learn more about the Impact Club
Leave a review on iTunes
Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe
36 min
December 04, 2025 Advanced Asana Part 1: What's the Point? with Lily Dwyer Begg
Most people view "advanced asana" as a flashy, performance-based practice driven by natural talent and aesthetics. This common misconception can lead people to dismiss asana as just preparation for real yoga or treat it as a casual activity that everyone can do equally. In this episode, we explore what it means to advance as an asana practitioner and the benefits of a consistent and systematic approach.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
02:15 Defining Advanced Asana
08:33 Challenge vs. Intensity in Practice
16:22 The Role of Asana in a Sedentary Culture
19:50 Why Basic Postures can be Harder than Advanced Postures
26:27 Do Mirrors and Cameras Have a Place in Asana Practice?
32:11 The Role of Home Practice and Opportunities Online

EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Lily Dwyer Begg Yoga
Follow Lily on Instagram @lilydwyerbegg
Follow Lily Dwyer Begg Yoga on Facebook

LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group
Learn more about the Impact Club
Leave a review on iTunes
Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe
36 min
November 20, 2025 Teaching and Demonstrating with Physical Limitations with Holly Williams [On Air Coaching Call]
Holly is a yoga teacher with physical limitations who has concerns about balancing her physical abilities with the needs of her students. Many of her students rely heavily on visual cues and she wonders whether she’s doing them a disservice by not being able to demonstrate everything she teaches. In this candid conversation, we explore the role of demonstration in yoga, the value of teaching with limitations, and the unspoken power dynamics between teachers and students.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
01:01 Holly's story of finding yoga and becoming a teacher
03:49 Specific physical limitations and how they impact students.
05:20 The balance of giving student students what they want vs what they need
08:44 Student agency - who chooses whom?
12:22 Vulnerability as a superpower
16:11 Students who refuse to modify or use props
21:08 Navigating studio expectations
30:03 Final thoughts and the need for representation in yoga classes

EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Holly Williams

LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group
Learn more about the Impact Club
Leave a review on iTunes
Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe
33 min
November 06, 2025 Peek behind the scenes of my yearly planning ritual
This bonus mini-episode is for anyone who feels like they're always failing at planning & goal-setting.

00:00 Why I recorded this episode
00:54 Key principles of healthy goal setting
02:42 Benefits and Drawbacks of Goal Setting - and what most people get wrong
05:51 Daily Breakdown of Map Your Year
10:10 Conclusion and Invitation to map your year imperfectly
11 min
October 23, 2025 Build a Resilient Business with Big Picture Thinking
Yoga teachers tend to find their way to teaching through passion - and that’s a beautiful thing. But passion can only take you so far: without strategy, the work you love can quickly become a hamster wheel that spins faster every year. In this episode, learn how to harness rituals and routines to bring more strategy to your business. We'll explore simple planning rituals to help you align your day-to-day actions with your values and goals.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
00:38 Why Big Picture Thinking is Not Intuitive
06:24 Daily Big Picture Thinking Rituals
07:57 Weekly Big Picture Thinking Rituals
14:44 Quarterly Big Picture Thinking Rituals
17:48 Yearly Big Picture Thinking Rituals
20:55 How The Rituals Overlap & Inform Each Other

LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group
Learn more about the Impact Club
Leave a review on iTunes
Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe
23 min
October 09, 2025 Boundaries, Perfectionism, and Burnout with Shar'ron Boren [On Air Coaching Call]
Teaching yoga is a high-stress career that most people think is a cakewalk. Shar’ron is an experienced yoga teacher who moved from Santa Cruz, California to Waco, Texas during the pandemic. Since then, she’s been managing professional isolation, perfectionism, and people pleasing—and it’s led to major burnout. Our conversation delves into themes around boundaries, over-identification with your healing journey, and making your own support network as we explore what it takes to find balance and sustainability on this path.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
01:59 Starting Over as a Seasoned Teacher
03:55 Burnout and Perimenopause
04:42 Challenges of Running a Micro Studio
07:43 Dealing with Difficult People
09:01 People Pleasing and Boundaries
22:24 Feeling Alone in Leadership
23:35 The Importance of Collaboration
24:49 Creating a Supportive Community
30:56 Addressing Burnout and Boundaries
31:36 Can you over-identify with your Healing Journey?
39:03 Control, surrender, and teaching yoga as a path of growth

EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Follow Shar'ron on Instagram @myfunctionalyoga
Follow My Functional Yoga on Facebook

LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group
Learn more about the Impact Club
Leave a review on iTunes
Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe
44 min
September 25, 2025 Why We No Longer Call Ourselves Yoga Therapists with Libby Hinsley
Libby and I had a shared identity crisis at the IAYT conference in 2023. In this episode, we explore the difference between yoga therapy and yoga teaching, our journey through the 'grandfathering' certification process, and why we decided to step away from calling ourselves yoga therapists.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
01:05 Yoga Therapy: Definitions and Misunderstandings
03:45 Yoga therapy trainings and certification
05:47 The Promise of Yoga Therapy
09:29 Are Yoga Therapy Programs worth the Investment?
15:01 Magical thinking and victim blaming
22:19 Community and inclusion
25:30 Misinformation and quality control
29:24 Recommended Yoga Therapy Programs
36:16 Concluding Thoughts on Yoga and Credentials

EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Libby Hinsely
Follow Libby on Instagram @libbyhinsleypt
Follow Libby on Facebook

LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group
Learn more about the Impact Club
Leave a review on iTunes
Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe
38 min
September 11, 2025 Build a Community by Word of Mouth with Suzanne Carver [On-Air Coaching Call]
Despite the buzz around AI and social media, word of mouth is still the most powerful tool for building a community. In this episode, Suzanne Carver, a massage therapist, yoga teacher, and pelvic health educator, shares her journey of establishing a successful practice through grassroots and word-of-mouth methods. Suzanne discusses her experiences transitioning her practice from Fort Collins, Colorado, to Nashville, Tennessee, and the changing dynamics of client attention spans. Our conversation explores effective offline strategies, the importance of personal connections, and integrating technology like text messaging to stay top of mind with clients. Suzanne also shares insights on maintaining authenticity in client communications and the challenges of building a practice in a new city.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
04:47 Moving to a New Location as An Established Teacher
07:01 Why Social Media Isn’t Always the Answer
14:41 Personal Touch as SuperPower
16:08 Email vs. Text Messaging
24:07 Boundaries and Booking Strategies
28:03 The Power of Genuine Passion and Authentic Care
33:09 Visibility and Professional Photos
37:24 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Suzanne Carver
Follow Suzanne on Instagram @suzannecarver
Follow Suzanne on Facebook

LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group
Learn more about the Impact Club
Leave a review on iTunes
Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe
39 min
May 27, 2025 Retreat Roadmap Behind the Scenes
Learn more about my online course Retreat Roadmap, including: how it came to be, who I made it for, and what's inside.
This episode is part of a special one time per year promotion on Retreat Roadmap: until June 11th, you can purchase the course for 40% off the normal price.
Learn more & sign up for Retreat Roadmap.
14 min

About Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast

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Information, support, and inspiration for yoga teachers. Topics include the business of yoga, teaching skills, philosophy, ethical and legal considerations, and more.