The start of a new year can feel exciting and overwhelming for yoga teachers. New students, new expectations, new pressure. In this episode of Yogaland, Jason shares six foundational anchors to help you ground your teaching, reconnect with your students, and create classes that are sustainable—for you and for them.

Rather than chasing trends or social media metrics, this conversation focuses on what actually builds strong classes and long-term teaching careers: consistency, kindness, real connection, movement quality, stillness and regeneration, and empowering students to make informed choices in their practice.

Whether you’re teaching full classes, building a schedule in the new year, or simply wanting to feel more rooted and confident as a teacher, this episode offers practical perspective you can apply immediately—without adding more to your plate.

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Highlights

00:00 – Why teachers feel overwhelmed at the start of the year

01:29 – Anchor #1: Consistency in tone, sequencing & expectations

04:40 – Anchor #2: Kindness, presence & being a good host

08:20 – Anchor #3: Real connection vs social media distraction

14:49 – Anchor #4: Quality of movement over range of motion

21:26 – Anchor #5: Stillness, pranayama & regeneration

25:19 – Anchor #6: Empowering students to make educated choices

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Train to become a yoga teacher with Jason! Our next cohort begins next week, January 13th. Get all the details here: jasonyoga.com/200

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The holidays can be joyful… and also a lot—especially if you’re introverted, neurodivergent, parenting a neurodivergent kid, or trying to manage family expectations without burning out.

In this episode, we share the holiday traditions that actually work for their family—and the boundaries that make those traditions possible. We talk about front-loading expectations, time boundaries, demand avoidance, and why it’s okay to let other people have their feelings when you don’t meet their expectations. You’ll also hear practical strategies for navigating social events (without forcing yourself or your child to “perform”), plus a few favorite holiday rituals—from cookie baking to Christmas Eve dinner to a Christmas Day zoo trip.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by holiday gatherings, unsure how to set boundaries with family, or stuck between “being flexible” and “protecting your nervous system,” this conversation will help.

In this episode:

• Holiday boundaries for introverts and neurodivergent families

• Why time limits reduce anxiety (and increase participation)

• Setting expectations with relatives ahead of gatherings

• Demand avoidance, sensory overwhelm, and holiday rituals

• How to navigate parties with roles, structure, and exit plans

• Letting people be disappointed (without taking it on)

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As the year winds down, we’re reflecting on the real gifts yoga has given us—beyond poses and flexibility. In this conversation, we talk about pranayama and nervous-system regulation (including HRV), learning acceptance as our bodies age, how yoga builds discernment around recovery, and what we’re grateful for (including health, community, and the unexpected growth that comes from changing course as parents and professionals).

If you’re navigating stress, pain, aging, burnout, or a shifting relationship with practice, this episode is an honest look at what yoga can offer for the long haul—and what we’re ready to let go of as we head into a new year.

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Long before Jason was an anatomy nerd, a sequencing, and a technique nerd, he was a philosophy nerd. In fact, his undergraduate degree is in Philosophy. On this episode, he breaks down Patanjali’s 8-limbed path through a modern, practical model that finally makes sense -- not as a ladder to climb, but as concentric circles of self-regulation that move from the external to the deeply internal.

We’ll explore how yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi work together as a system for grounding, clarity, and inner steadiness — and why this perspective is easier to apply in real life than the traditional “8 steps” approach.

If this brings more clarity to the 8 limbs, please share it with your students or fellow teachers!

***A reminder: Jason's 200-Hour Online Yoga Teacher Training is now open for enrollment. The early bird pricing expires Dec. 21st, so enroll before then to lock in your $300 discount. Learn more at jasonyoga.com/200

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In this episode, we’re catching up on… us. Jason is out of retirement, teaching live classes at an exclusive spot in Carlsbad, Andrea shares how strength training and high-protein eating (like, super high-protein) has helped her get out of chronic knee and foot pain in post-menopause. We also talk shoulder rehab, why teachers don’t need to “do it all” in class, and what’s currently entertaining us (books, TV, and yes—Dancing With the Stars).

>> Jason announced a few live teaching events in 2026. To get the announcements, join our newsletter: jasonyoga.com/newsletter

>> Learn about Jason’s 200-Hour Online Yoga Teacher Training (early-bird registration through December 21st):

learn.jasonyoga.com/200

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What does it really feel like to teach yoga for the first time? In this episode of The Making of a Yoga Teacher, Jason takes you inside that nerve-wracking but transformative moment every new teacher faces: stepping to the front of the room.

Laurel, Raquel, and Erin talk about what it was like to teach for the first time during the training. Through their stories, you’ll see that every yoga teacher starts here — nervous, vulnerable, and discovering that courage grows with each breath and each class.

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We're having a Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale this week! Save 20% on all of our Continuing Education courses when you enter code BREATHE25 at checkout. Enjoy!

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Want to improve your shoulder health? Listen to this episode. It's a two-parter and it focuses on 1) an important functional movement of the shoulders that is often overlooked in yoga and 2) essential mobility drills for the shoulders that yogis can incorporate into their practice.

I've got shoulders on my mind because I am about to begin teaching my Shoulders, Upper Back, and Neck Module of my 300-Hour YTT. We begin this Wednesday and I'd love to see you there. It's open to students who'd like to deepen their practice and teachers who would like to feel more confident and knowledgeable. You can learn more and register at jasonyoga.com/300

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What does it really feel like to teach yoga for the first time? In this episode of The Making of a Yoga Teacher, Jason takes you inside that nerve-wracking but transformative moment every new teacher faces: stepping to the front of the room.

Laurel, Raquel, and Erin talk about what it was like to teach for the first time during the training. Through their stories, you’ll see that every yoga teacher starts here — nervous, vulnerable, and discovering that courage grows with each breath and each class.

👉 Learn more about Jason's 200-Hour Training here: jasonyoga.com/200

👉 Jason has a 300-Hour Module coming up in one week! Learn about it here: jasonyoga.com/300

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to do a yoga teacher training—or if you’re looking for insight, motivation, and honesty about the process—this episode shows how transformation begins: one decision, one class, one breath at a time. You'll meet Laurel, Raquel, and Erin and find out what made them say yes to their journey toward becoming yoga teachers.

🎥 Episodes in this series:

1️⃣ How It All Begins — Starting Yoga Teacher Training

2️⃣ Finding Your Voice — The First Time Teaching

3️⃣ Becoming Yourself — Confidence, Connection & Growth

4️⃣ The First Class — Teaching in the Real World

🧘‍♂️ Learn about Jason Crandell’s Online 200-Hour Training → learn.jasonyoga.com/200

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This week -- a solocast from Jason, fresh from his trip teaching a weeklong "Sequencing 2.0" training in London. On this episode, he breaks down a practical framework for scaling a single 60-minute sequence into:

(1) shorter online formats

(2) longer workshops

(3) four-week series with clear objectives

He also explains why real creativity comes from solving for a goal—not from random choreography—and how to communicate a simple plan so students feel part of something bigger.

Psst! Don't miss next week's episode where we launch a four-part “Transformation Series,” that follows three of Jason's trainees through their teacher training journey.

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