Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast

Planning your first yoga retreat? Let’s make sure the math actually works! In this episode, you’ll hear a real-life retreat planning conversation about pricing, minimum enrollment, deposits, cancellation policies, and how to make sure you’re paying yourself for all the work that goes into creating a retreat. We also talk about how to communicate the value you bring when the retreat center already offers yoga, Ayurveda, food, and other experiences.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
00:54 Is it OK to Run a Retreat Over the Holidays?02:48 Cancellation Terms with a Short Timeline04:19 What’s the optimal length for a retreat?05:13 Sustainable Approaches to Pricing11:25 The reality of minimum numbers16:40 How to communicate urgency without being salesy20:46 Deposits and Refunds25:38 Defining Your Value29:51 Curating Guest Experts34:19 Vetting Retreat Centers38:24 Wrap Up and Next Steps
EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Retreat Roadmap
Get on the priority registration list for Mado's Yoga + Hiking in the French Alps October 2027 (Registration opens September 2026)
 
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource 
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group
Leave a review on iTunes
Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Dreaming of leading your first yoga retreat? Save yourself time and potential headaches by following this two-step retreat center vetting process that covers everything from communication red flags to the fine print on cancellations. In this episode, you’ll hear exactly how I narrow down my options for retreat venues, compare apples to apples, and read between the lines to find the best venue for your first yoga retreat. If you aren’t sure exactly what questions you need to ask a retreat center before booking with them, tune in for practical advice for choosing the venue for your first or next yoga retreat.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:00:00 Why retreat leaders get stuck at step one01:06 Start with the geographic region, but don’t get attached02:30 Dedicated retreat centers vs hotels vs vacation rentals06:07 Phase One: The non-negotiables07:36 How to compare prices08:59 Communication red flag10:15 Phase Two: The fine print and extras16:26 What to do when the choice isn’t clear18:14 Contracts, deposits, & next steps
EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Retreat Roadmap
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource 
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group
Leave a review on iTunes
Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Many yoga retreat leaders have never attended a retreat as a guest. In this episode, I share 12 reasons why retreat leaders should prioritize experiencing a retreat from the other side. Some of these reasons are personal, such as forcing you to take a break, while others are more practical, like discovering your operational blind spots. Since finances are often a major hurdle, I also share three ways that retreat leaders can get discounts on other people’s retreats.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:00:00 Why Leaders Skip Retreats01:07 Leader vs Guest Reality03:46 Reason 1: Self-Care Reset04:08 Reason 2: Spot Blind Spots05:20 Reason 3: Reinvigorate Your Practice06:04 Reason 4: The Food06:56 Reason 5: Stop Overstuffing Your Retreat Schedule08:11 Reason 6: Retreat Yoga is Different From Home Yoga09:09 Reason 7: Retreat Social Dynamics10:02 Reason 8: Build Confidence & Calm10:43 Reason 9: Market Research12:45 Reason 10: Venue Research13:06 Reason 11: Reduce Taxable Income13:36 Reason 12: Force Yourself to Rest14:42 Money Objections and Values16:27 3 Ways to Get Discounted Retreats21:09 Why Retreats Support a Sustainable Yoga Business
EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Retreat Roadmap
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource 
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group
Leave a review on iTunes
Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Mado shares her top 5 tips for sequencing a 20 minute demo class to audition for a teaching position.
 
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
Why yoga studios ask for a 20 minute audition.
How to do research for the teaching job you are hoping to get. 
What to focus on when you don’t have enough time to sequence a full class experience. 
Teaching techniques you can use in your demo and beyond.
How to have a plan for if you start running out of time and can’t teach everything you prepared.
How to show up as your best self - even when you’re nervous.
 
EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Get a free downloadable cheat sheet based on this episode when you sign up for my email list.
 
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource 
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group
Leave a review on iTunes
Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Dr. Crystal Frazee unpacks common myths and misconceptions about the breath that are frequently shared in yoga classes. In this episode, she shares the basics of breathing physiology that every yoga teacher should know - and how to apply that knowledge in a yoga setting. She advises teachers to drop the cue “deep breath,” prioritize quiet, effortless nasal breathing with lower rib expansion, emphasize the full breath cycle and pauses, offer opt-outs in group classes, and use gentle strategies such as slowed exhalations and brief breath holds to support CO2 tolerance and student self-observation. Listen to this episode to understand why these are best practices for teaching and cueing the breath in a yoga setting.
 
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
00:46 Meet Dr Crystal Frazee
08:27 The difference between breathing and respiration
12:25 What most people get wrong about oxygen and CO2
18:22 What we can learn from watching a baby breathe
23:58 Nose vs Mouth Breathing
31:35 Hyperventilation & Why it Matters
34:13 Pranayama and Dysregulation
37:26 Breathing deeply: The biggest breathing myth in yoga
49:31 Breathing and Yoga Therapeutics
56:41 How to teach breathing in general public classes
01:07:51 Key Takeaways & Recap
 
EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Crystal Frazee Website
Follow Dr. Crystal Frazee on Instagram @drcrystalfrazee
Follow Dr. Crystal Frazee on Facebook
Graduate School of Behavioral Health Sciences (where Crystal studied breathing mechanics)
Breathing assessment worksheet
* Note: This worksheet is laid out as a diagnostic tool; however, yoga teachers are not qualified to make diagnoses. If you download this worksheet, you agree to use it for your own education and as a tool to evaluate whether to refer a client or student to a clinician for diagnosis.
 
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

If you’re an anatomy nerd eager to share your enthusiasm for the human body with your students, you’ll love the insider tips and best practices we share in this conversation. Listen in to hear about the balance between clarity and accuracy, the importance of knowing your audience, and the potential pros and cons of incorporating anatomical concepts into asana classes. We also cover special considerations for teaching anatomy in yoga teacher training programs.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
02:51 Pros of including anatomy in yoga classes
04:36 Cons of including anatomy in yoga classes
05:47 Balancing anatomy in general classes
18:13 Considerations for teaching anatomy in teacher training
21:24 What it takes to be an excellent anatomy teacher
26:34 How to handle diagnostic questions
28:47 The most important aspects of anatomy for yoga teacher trainings
32:28 Dr. Libby Hinsley's anatomy training programs
EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Libby Hinsley
Anatomy Bites
Anatomy Bites - Embodied Anatomy
Follow Libby on Instagram @libbyhinsleypt
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

Why is learning anatomy so hard for yoga teachers? In this episode, we discuss the importance of becoming fluent in basic anatomy to accurately speak about the body in your yoga classes. We know anatomy can feel like a foreign language - that’s because it is! But fear not, we have the secret sauce to make it all stick. From our own adventures with anatomy to tips that'll make studying a breeze, this episode is the ultimate cheat sheet for all wannabe anatomy enthusiasts. Get ready to unleash your inner nerd and build a rock-solid anatomical foundation.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
01:09 Why yoga teachers need basic anatomy knowledge
02:02 Challenges and misconceptions in learning anatomy
03:32 The role of anatomy in your yoga classes
09:13 Our personal journeys in anatomy learning
13:10 Tips for yoga teachers to learn anatomy
18:36 The basics: bones, joints, and muscles
23:24 The importance of context and relevance
28:14 Advanced tips and continuous learning
35:52 Recommended anatomy education programs
EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Libby Hinsley
Anatomy Bites
Anatomy Bites - Embodied Anatomy
Follow Libby on Instagram @libbyhinsleypt
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

Learn to correct common misunderstandings about yoga. As teachers, we have an important role to play in improving the public perception of yoga. In this episode, you will learn the most common misconceptions that prevent people from trying yoga, why yoga is misunderstood in the wider culture, and what you can do about it as a yoga teacher.
 
Episode Highlights: 
4 misunderstandings that make (some) people resistant to yoga
Tips for sharing what yoga is really about
How incorrect public perceptions of yoga spread and solidify
Why hearing an objection about yoga is an opportunity and a gift
Mini scripts to help you speak clearly about yoga
 
Episode Links & Resources
Thinking Fast & Slow - By Daniel Kahneman
 
Links & 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

What does it actually take to run a yoga teacher training? In this episode with Angela Hammond, founder of Main Street Yoga, we talk about the real behind-the-scenes of leading a 200-hour yoga teacher training. From curriculum design and Yoga Alliance requirements to navigating group dynamics and burnout, Angela shares what she’s learned over years of trial and error. Teacher trainings are a lot of work, yes—but also the most rewarding format for teaching.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:00:00 Angela’s story03:09 Opening a studio in a small town05:15 Why start a teacher training10:07 Building the curriculum12:01 Refining through feedback15:24 Schedule and teaching load16:33 Anatomy teaching breakthrough22:39 Online vs. In-Person24:30 Advice for new trainers28:36 How to know if you are ready31:55 Final tips
EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Main Street Yoga
Follow Main Street Yoga on Instagram @mainstreetyogafmt
Follow Main Street Yoga on Facebook
Follow Angela Hammond Yoga on YouTube @angelahammondyoga
Embodied Anatomy
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource 
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group
Leave a review on iTunes
Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Physical demonstration is an important tool for teaching - so what do you do when an injury prevents you from being able to demonstrate? In this on-air coaching call with Juzbi Walia, we explore what it means to teach yoga with an injury, from rethinking asana beyond set sequences to developing more subtle, specific approaches to movement and instruction. What at first feels like a limitation can actually boost creativity, expand accessibility, and highlight the role of structure and community in long-term growth. 
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
01:10 Meet Juzbi: A yoga teacher returning to her hometown and grappling with an injury
09:26 Why teaching with limitations feels so hard - but can be a catalyst for growth
12:27 Reimagining Asana Practice
14:42 How to Build Community Through Access
18:06 Cultivating a Growth Mindset with Discernment
23:18 How to Challenge without Compromising Safety
27:44 The benefits of a One-on-One Teacher
31:14 Wrap-Up and Next Steps
EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Follow Juzbi on Instagram @juzbiyoga
Follow Yoga With Juzbi on FacebookLINKS 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