Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast

Suffering and our True Nature with Michelle Cassandra Johnson

Michelle Cassandra Johnson explores the kleshas—the five afflictions that cause suffering—within the framework of modern challenges ranging from racial injustice to climate change. Through personal stories, insights on yoga philosophy, and practical advice, Michelle offers a roadmap for understanding and addressing the root causes of suffering both individually and collectively. This conversation will inspire yoga practitioners and activists alike to engage deeply with their practice and strive for personal and social transformation.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
00:00 Introduction to the kleshas
2:10 Levity as sustenance for deep work
04:45 Why Michelle chose to write about the kleshas
06:55 A primer on the kleshas
14:36 How the kleshas confront our assumptions
16:32 Pain and the kleshas
24:35 The kleshas and social change
42:14 Teaching the kleshas in yoga
 
 
EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Michelle Cassandra Johnson
Book: Illuminating Our True Nature
Illuminating Our True Nature Book Club
Illuminating Our True Nature Course: The Five Afflictions
Illuminating Our True Nature Gathering and Practice
Follow Michelle on Instagram @skillinaction
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

Yoga Teacher Q&A: Common Teaching Challenges

In this Q&A style episode, I answer listener questions sent via social media and my website. Topics include managing expectations as a substitute instructor, creating body awareness in beginners, discomfort in studying anatomy, and building a sustainable business with corporate and private clients. Listen in to hear my thoughts on how much to explain your teaching style when you substitute teach, the best ways to help beginners, and how to build a clientele from the ground up. 
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
00:00 Introduction to the Q&A format
01:20 What to do when you substitute for classes that are very different from how you teach.
04:53 The best way to support new students who have been mostly sedentary
10:09 How to handle physical reactions to studying anatomy
14:54 How to build a clientele of private and corporate clients
23:57 How to encourage clients to commit to weekly or bi-weekly sessions
28:31 Conclusion and call for more questions
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

Inside Anatomy Bites with Dr. Libby Hinsley

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

Yoga Therapy and the Power of Community with Marsha Banks-Harold

Marsha Banks-Harold is a yoga therapist who specializes in working with people impacted by trauma and/or living with special needs. In this inspiring conversation, she describes her journey from overworked engineer to yoga teacher and eventually a yoga therapist, studio owner, and founder of a non-profit. We dive into the differences between yoga teacher and yoga therapist, the importance of family and community, and her advice for yoga teachers with big dreams who are holding themselves back with self-doubt.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
03:06 Marsha Banks-Harold: engineer, yoga therapist, studio owner, and non-profit founder
04:21 How Marsha discovered yoga & decided to become a teacher
08:48 First teaching experience: adapting to students' needs
12:15 Differences between yoga teaching and yoga therapy
20:06 Building a vision: studio, school, and nonprofit
27:10 Obstacles in her path & how yoga helped
29:56 Family and community as a superpower
34:15 Why it’s important to share your vision
38:36 Marsha’s advice for yoga teachers struggling with doubt
EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
PIES Fitness Yoga Studio
Follow Marsha Banks-Harold on Instagram @marshadbanksharold
Contact Marsha: piesfitness@gmail.com or 703-887-9574 
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

The Seat of the Teacher with Shawna Emerick [On-Air Coaching Call]

What does it mean to take the seat of the teacher? Shawna Emerick is an experienced yoga teacher who finds herself feeling like a beginner again as she takes on a new mindfulness meditation certification program. In this relatable discussion, we talk about the very real discomfort that comes with teaching yoga - and how the fact that it never fully goes away is a good thing. Other topics explored include; intuitive and deliberate modes of thinking, the relationship between renunciation and boundaries, and the differences between being a teacher and being a mentor.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
02:10 The Role of a Teacher
03:57 Intuition vs. Deliberation
07:06 Why we need to slow down to speed up
14:22 Does teaching involve renunciation
22:03 How people pleasing harms both teachers and students
25:43 The difference between teaching and mentorship
31:02 The relationship between mentorship and therapy
34:47 Why discomfort as a teacher is not the problem
EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Shawna Emerick
Follow Shawna on Instagram @shawnashakti
Listen to Shawna’s previous episode: How to Overcome Fear & Doubt
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

Yoga Alliance Standards with Kathy Humphrys

Yoga Alliance standards have changed again! In this episode, Kathy Humphrys describes the evolution and impact of Yoga Alliance standards, particularly the recent changes in training requirements. She also provides practical advice for yoga teachers aiming to become registered trainers with Yoga Alliance and shares strategies for successfully creating and delivering high-quality yoga training programs.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
01:10 Kathy’s journey from teacher to teacher trainer
04:08 Why Kathy decided to license Standards
08:08 Yoga Alliance classroom hours - what they mean and how they impact teacher trainings
12:54 Lead trainer requirements
15:38 What it takes to register a school with Yoga Alliance
18:00 Do these new standards help improve the quality of YTTs?
26:08 Immersions vs teacher trainings
29:19 The future of yoga teacher trainings
36:42 The Yoga Alliance Core Competencies
EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Ambassador Yoga
Follow Ambassador Yoga on Instagram @yogatrainer.fasttrack
Yoga Alliance
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

Tips for Teaching Anatomy (For Yoga Teachers and Trainers) with Dr. Libby Hinsley

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

Yoga Anatomy Made Easy with Dr. Libby Hinsley

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 wanna-be 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 SpeakP

Retreat Roadmap Behind the Scenes

This bonus episode is a peek behind the curtain of 'Retreat Roadmap'. Listen to hear about each course module, plus a description of the time-saving resources that are included. I'll also explain your options for getting additional live group and one-to-one support. If you've been eyeing Retreat Roadmap and want an inside scoop on what to expect inside the program, this episode is for you.Episode highlights include:
 
00:39 The experience that inspired us to create the Retreat Roadmap
03:46 Course Overview and Structure
05:21 Module 1: Big Picture Planning
08:43 Module 2: Admin and Planning
09:47 Module 3: Marketing Your Retreat
11:06 Module 4: Planning Your Curriculum
11:55 Module 5: Sustainable Retreat Leadership
13:22 Special Offer and Pricing Details
14:45 Mentorship Program Details
20:41 Conclusion and Contact Information
 
Join Retreat Roadmap

Four Reasons to Plan Retreats A Year in Advance with Lily Dwyer Begg

Advance planning can make the difference between filling all rooms and canceling due to a lack of enrollment. In this episode, I chat with my Retreat Roadmap Collaborator, Lily Dwyer Begg, about all the benefits of giving yourself (and your students) plenty of lead time when planning a retreat. 
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
01:02 What changed when Lily increased her retreat timeline from 6 months to 12+ months
05:20 How to make your retreat more financially inclusive
07:31 How to help your students feel more relaxed during your retreat
09:09 Why a longer timeline allows your students to enjoy the retreat BEFORE it even starts
10:07 How a longer timeline gives you more options for where to offer retreats
15:11 Why a longer timeline will help you attract more participants (and earn more money)
16:39 How a compressed timeline skews your ability to judge the potential success of a retreat
22:00 How to stay in integrity when you preach self-care
24:42 Time objections and the best/worst times to lead & launch retreats
EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:
Quiz: What kind of retreat is best for you?
Retreat Timing Guide
Lily Dwyer Begg Yoga
Follow Lily on Instagram @lilydwyerbegg
Retreat Roadmap Online Course
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