Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast

Yoga for People in Pain with Shelly Prosko

Explore tangible and practical ways yoga teachers can think about pain in order to improve their teaching and support people in pain.    Part two in a three-part series on yoga and pain is a conversation about specific yogic practices for people in pain. Guest Shelly Prosko is a physiotherapist, yoga therapist, educator and pioneer of PhysioYoga with over 20 years of experience integrating yoga into rehabilitation. Shelly is also one of the editors of the book, Yoga and Science in Pain Care. Stay tuned to the very end of the episode for a chance to win a copy of the book. All entries need to be submitted by midnight on Tuesday December 17th, 2019.   Episode highlights:  Why it’s helpful for yoga teachers to understand pain.  How yogic frameworks - the philosophy and other practices - can be applied to helping people with pain.  This difference between awareness and mindfulness and why we need to know the distinction.   The role of self compassion in pain and exploring the definition, different expressions, and stages of compassion.   The koshas and how they relate to the experience of pain including one example of a practice for each of the 5 koshas.    Join us again next week for part three of the series all about yoga philosophy and pain with Marlysa Sullivan.    Links & Resources Purchase the book, Yoga and Science in Pain Care Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Sign up for the email list and get 100 yoga class themes 

Pain Science Basics with Neil Pearson

This week’s episode kicks off a series of conversations about yoga and pain science with the editors of the book, Yoga and Science in Pain Care. The guest for part one in this three part series is Neil Pearson. Neil is a physiotherapist, yoga therapist, and Clinical Assistant Professor at University of British Columbia. Neil and Mado discuss the basics of pain science, the different ways we experience pain, how the yoga tradition views pain, and how this can be appealing to health care professionals.    Listen to the very end of the episode for a chance to win a copy of Yoga and Science in Pain Care. All entries need to be submitted by midnight on Tuesday December 17th, 2019.   Episode highlights: Defining pain and the ways we can begin to talk about such a multidimensional experience. The role of pain as protective mechanism from a pain science perspective.  How yoga teachers can open a dialogue with health care professionals. What science says about being a part of a community and the effect it has on pain. Guidelines for yoga teachers who teach group classes to support and respond to students communicating some level of pain.  Different relationships to pain as it related to wanting to achieve the more difficult/extreme asanas.  How to learn more about pain science if you are interested in bringing it into your yoga teaching.   Join me again next week for part two of the series where I talk to Shelly Prosko about the specific practices we can use to help people in pain who show up at our yoga classes.    Links & Resources Neil’s website Pain Care U  Lifemark First Five Steps  Purchase the book, Yoga and Science in Pain Care Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Sign up for the email list and get 100 yoga class themes

Paths to traveling the world as a yoga teacher [On air coaching call]

Jill Phoenix wants to make the leap into teaching yoga full time but doesn’t want it to feel too much like work and wants to preserve her passion for yoga. She also dreams of traveling more. In this on-air coaching call, Mado helps Jill zoom out a bit and offers some different perspectives on teaching remotely and how she can realize her goal of teaching yoga as a career and traveling the world.  Episode highlights:   The value of a transition phase, what it is and how to use it to plan graduated, sustainable steps in the direction of your long term goal.  How to market your brand new classes at new studios or locations.  Different paths for how to make a living teaching yoga while traveling What it means to build your audience and create a platform for your offerings online.  Tips for working in the yoga and wellness fields that go beyond teaching classes and workshops/retreats.   Links & Resources Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Sign up for the email list and get 100 yoga class themes 

Win/win relationships between teachers and studios

Mado explores the sensitive relationship between yoga teachers and yoga studio owners and managers and how we can navigate these relationships with integrity.  Episode highlights: The causes and the effects of placing restrictive policies around what yoga teachers can share with their students in class. Real stories and experiences of the yoga teacher and yoga studio dynamic.  Considerations about boundaries, agreements, and contracts between teachers and studios. What it would actually look like for studios and teachers to have win/win relationships.   Links & Resources Episode 23: Teacher centered yoga studio business model with Kaya Mindlin Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Sign up for the email list and get 100 yoga class themes 

Who should I trust online (about yoga)

Mado shares how yoga teachers can discern who and what to believe when there are so many opposing perspectives being proclaimed with equal confidence online. If you’re wondering where to turn for reliable information and how to parse through the different perspectives to figure out what is right, tune in for this week’s episode.    Episode highlights:   The challenge of sifting through all of the confident and conflicting voices online. The importance of examining our own relationship to social media. Why content designed for social media is so compelling from a neuroscience perspective.  How we can apply yoga philosophy to hold space for multiple conflicting truths. Links & Resources   Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Sign up for the email list and get 100 yoga class themes 

Why new students don’t return to your classes

Mado shares reasons new students might not be coming back to your classes and solutions to help you attract the people who truly want what you are offering. This information in this episode will help yoga teachers build their class attendance faster and find their authentic voice as a yoga teacher.    Episode highlights:   Reasons people don’t come back that have nothing to do with you as a teacher  The most common ways that yoga teachers make their students feel uncomfortable without realizing it and the quick fixes for this problem  How to make sure that the advertising for your class is as accurate as possible The importance of naming your classes and considerations for choosing a class name  How to talk to your regular students to get feedback on what they enjoy and get out of your classes Links & Resources   Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Sign up for the email list and get 100 yoga class themes 

Are you making these yoga niche mistakes?

Honing in on your niche is a powerful tool for reaching more people and making a bigger impact with your yoga teaching. However, many yoga teachers don’t truly understand why and how to choose their niche. In this episode, Mado explores this topic and the common mistakes that might be undermining your best intentions in choosing your specialty as a yoga teacher.    Episode highlights:   The benefits of specialization as a yoga teacher today Five common mistakes and misunderstandings about choosing a niche  Being too broad vs. too narrow with your niche  What to do when you want your classes to be inclusive but also target a specific group of people Tips for choosing a niche organically, how to listen for clues, and what questions to ask yourself   Links & Resources   Episode 58: Lessons on burnout and spiritual bypassing from The Bhagavad Gita Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Sign up for the email list and get 100 yoga class themes 

Is my niche too narrow? [on air coaching call]

Kate Lynch is a long time yoga practitioner, yoga teacher, and mother of a special needs child. While she has a lot of clarity about exactly who she wants to work with, she also has concerns that her niche is too specific and that it could make things difficult in terms of growing her yoga business. Listen to this on-air coaching call to find out what advice Mado offers about Kate’s niche, how to make more money as a yoga teacher, and getting over the fear of taking big steps.    Episode highlights:   How having a more narrow niche usually plays out in a fledgling business  Dealing with fear and anxiety as it relates to business and making big decisions  Overcoming the obstacle of asking for money for services in markets that are resistant or uninformed as to the value you offer The pros and cons of in-person or online options pros and cons  Strategizing and prioritizing larger projects like writing a book, blogging, podcasting, and planning retreats.  Links & Resources   Schedule a Strategy Session with Mado Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Sign up for the email list and get 100 yoga class themes 

How to balance being real vs. being positive

Yoga teachers experience difficulties in life like anyone else but how much of our personal challenges should we bring into our classes? In this episode, Mado shares how we can find a balance between giving our students the positive experience they seek while also being honest about our personal struggles.    Episode highlights:   Using a dharma talk or introducing a topic or deeper teaching at the beginning of your classes  The difference between oversharing and acknowledging challenges in your own life Three techniques you can use to discuss challenging topics in a yoga class so that it feels authentic without being self indulgent or burdening your students  Specific examples of how to implement these three techniques  Questions you can ask yourself when your feeling conflicted about whether or not to share an idea or challenge with your students    Links & Resources   Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Sign up for the email list and get 100 yoga class themes 

The Art and Business of Teaching Yoga with Amy Ippoliti

Teacher’s teacher, Amy Ippoliti joins Mado for a conversation about the gifts and challenges of teaching yoga as a career. They discuss and dissect the many layers of what makes an effective yoga teacher and a successful yoga business.    Episode highlights:   How to cultivate a sustainable and fulfilling yoga teaching career for yourself  Amy’s personal rituals and strategies for staying in a place of passion and inspiration and avoiding burnout Specific ways to help make sure you succeed in your business and balance all of the many priorities a yoga teacher might have How learning about business can help you serve your students better  How to support new teachers and elevate the entire yoga community including the veteran teachers and yoga studios   Links & Resources   Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Email List 90monkeys.com  Buy the Book: The Art and Business of Teaching Yoga