Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast

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

Yoga teachers often begin their teaching journey expecting a flexible, meaningful, and low-stress career, but quickly find themselves overwhelmed by the realities of running a business. In this episode, we break down why the modern yoga teacher role feels so hard, from the pressures of social media to the many hats you’re required to wear when self-employed. This conversation unpacks the gap between the “dream” and the day-to-day, and what it actually takes to build a sustainable path as a yoga teacher today.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
01:41 Yoga teacher fantasy vs reality
02:57 How social media changed the game
07:21 Why it’s harder than ever to be a new yoga teacher
11:56 How to embody the multiple roles of the yoga teacher
12:53 Things that will help: Big Picture Routines
14:08 Things that will help: Task Management Habits
15:10 Things that will help: Coworking & Collaboration
16:00 Things that will help: Connection to Purpose, Joy, and your Personal Practice
 
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

Peek behind the curtain of Anatomy Bites - the easiest and most enjoyable way for yoga teachers to learn anatomy. In this unusual episode, you’ll hear the audio portion of a live Q&A session led by Dr. Libby Hinsley, physical therapist and yoga teacher. Anatomy Bites is a 36-module program designed to give yoga teachers a solid foundation in anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics. You’ll also hear the story of how Anatomy Bites came to be and learn about what it’s like to be a member.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
00:00 The birth of Anatomy Bites
04:16 Dynamic vs. static movements for strengthening
06:41 The relationship between the low back and glutes in backbends
11:50 Foot and knee alignment in backbends
22:24 Foot placement in wide leg forward fold
30:20 Does it matter which side you roll towards in savasana?
33:41 Concentric vs eccentric movement
38:11 Torn labrum & chronic pain
52:11 Noise in neck movement
53:11 Spinal issues in yoga classes
01:06:14 Rounding the spine for older adults
01:10:51 Nerve sensations in Yin Yoga
01:13:27 Understanding fascia and its impact on movement
01:15:48 What to do with the shoulder blades in forearm plank
01:19:16 What it’s like inside Anatomy Bites
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

What are some ways to help a student with a hip labral tear? In this episode, Dr. Libby Hinsley explains how a labral tear can affect yoga asana practice and how to support students who have them while staying in your scope of practice.
 
Episode Highlights:
What are labral tears and what are the symptoms?
How labral tears are diagnosed - and why a true diagnosis can be problematic
Treatment options for hip labral tears
Connections between asana practice, hypermobility syndromes, and hip labral tear prevalence.
How yoga asana can exacerbate the risk of hip labral tears.
How yoga asana can support the healing of hip labral tears.
Tips for teaching standing balance postures in a way that will benefit all your students, including those with labral tears.
 
Episode Links & Resources:
Visit Anatomy Bites
Libby Hinsley
Follow Libby Hinsley on Instagram @libbyhinsleypt
Follow Libby Hinsley on Facebook
 
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
Ask a question for the podcast