The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

Helping yoga teachers to stay connected to information, entrepreneur advice and a community of supportive yoga teachers and professionals.

370: Is Email Marketing Dead? with Meg Sangimino 04/15/2024

370: Is Email Marketing Dead? with Meg Sangimino The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 370: Is Email Marketing Dead? with Meg Sangimino Description: Many of us are struggling with overflowing email inboxes and receive ever more emails daily. In this context, is email marketing still a relevant tool that can help your yoga business? How can yoga teachers use email marketing effectively? Meg Sangimino some insights. Meg Sangimino is a yoga teacher and business expert. Her expertise is in helping wellness professionals implement sustainable business strategies. With a background in project engineering and a passion for wellness, Meg is your go-to for implementing essential (and efficient) systems that underlie a business that nourishes, supports, and fulfills the lifestyle that you want without spinning your wheels on social media or having constant technology headaches. If you don’t already have an email list, you may be wondering where to start. Meg shares tips for effective lead magnets and freebies, and explains why email marketing doesn’t have to be cringe-inducing. She also gives some ideas about what to email your list, suggestions on how often to email them, and trends when it comes to effective email marketing for yoga teachers. Key Takeaways: [3:16] This episode is sponsored by OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals. [5:10] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Meg Sangimino. [9:39] What does Meg do and who does she do it for? [10:18] Why do people cringe when they think about email marketing? [11:20] There is a lot of value in the content yoga teachers create to market themselves, and sometimes they may not realize that. [13:25] People go to social media for a different purpose than their email inboxes. [15:55] How can yoga teachers get started with email marketing? [19:23] If you have a freebie or lead magnet and nobody is signing up for your list, you could have two problems: 1) nobody is seeing it, 2) nobody wants it. [23:11] Do not be discouraged if you put something out and it doesn't get the response you hope for! [24:47] Shannon reflects on the freebies she has in her own business. [25:15] You may get people who unsubscribe from your list, and that's okay! [26:25] What is Meg's advice to yoga teachers who feel like they wouldn't like to receive multiple emails about an offer, so feel uncomfortable sending emails to their list? [28:11] What kinds of freebies are working in the yoga space and what are some trends that Meg has observed in email marketing? [32:17] What should yoga teachers write in their emails? [34:35] How often does Meg recommend including a call to action in you emails? [35:42] How often should yoga teachers email their list? [37:11] It's important to continue supporting your list even when you are not selling anything! [38:08] What is something Meg wishes she would have known when starting email marketing? [40:50] Shannon pops in to share about OfferingTree, a great all-in-one software option especially for email marketing! [45:07] Shannon and Meg discuss the popular options for email marketing platforms. [49:01] Shannon reflects on her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Meg. [50:47] Shannon shares some of the upcoming guest calls inside Pelvic Health Professionals. [53:32] Shannon gives a special shout out to yoga teachers who have been and continue to speak out for humanity and Palestine. Links: Previous Episodes on Email Marketing Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "For listeners who are feeling drained and a little bit bogged down by social media, email marketing is a really, really solid alternative." "Those of us in the wellness industry tend to be very averse to marketing ourselves." "The fact that people are picky with who they give their email to is why email marketing is so effective." "The more time we invest in growing that list, the more warm leads we have, the more we can promote when we actually have something to promote." "We first have to be the consumer that we want to attract." "The trend that I'm seeing is shorter and simpler are getting more downloads or more subscribers." "Your tool for bringing people onto your email list, whether that's a freebie or something different, should be aligned with what you're going to offer them." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/30790523

369: Struggling to Write Content is Normal with Billie Smith 04/01/2024

369: Struggling to Write Content is Normal with Billie Smith The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 369: Struggling to Write Content is Normal with Billie Smith Description: If you have ever sat staring at your blinking cursor and wondered how to write an email, social media caption, or blog post for your yoga business when more important things are happening in your personal life or the world – you are not alone. Billie Smith recently faced this same struggle and decided to share their honest thoughts instead of their usual messaging. Billie Smith is a queer advocate, trauma, abuse, and eating disorder survivor, who is shaking up the status quo and challenging conventional narratives in the wellness industry. They believe in discarding harmful ideologies like diet culture and spiritual bypassing, and are dedicated to creating spaces where individuals can authentically connect with themselves, free from judgment and expectation. Billie's approach to movement is all about empowerment, helping students tune into how they feel rather than how they look. With over 600 hours of training and a commitment to inclusivity, Billie's classes, workshops, and one-on-one sessions provide a safe space for those seeking to reclaim their bodies and their narratives. In this episode, originally shared as an email to Billie’s subscribers and then as an audio on their podcast, the Rebel Movement Podcast, Billie shares openly about their experience struggling to write an email about topics related to their yoga business while also grappling with other challenges. They talk about how difficult it can feel to hold multiple truths, balance self care and social justice work, and reflect on showing up authentically. Writing content can be hard when we are faced with balancing work, personal life, and tragedies in the world - if you are struggling because of this, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways: [3:07] This episode is sponsored by Pelvic Health Professionals. [4:14] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Billie Smith. [7:30] Billie shares a little about a newsletter that they sent out on 14 February and their process of writing it. [14:40] Shannon pops in to talk about a recent call with Mary Reddinger inside Pelvic Health Professionals. [16:17] Listen to a short snippet from Mary Reddinger about how she gets the bulk of her private yoga students. Get access to the full interview by joining the Pelvic Health Professionals membership. [18:13] Billy highlights that it can feel difficult for us to hold all the things that are happening in the world and in our personal lives - what we are experiencing is not normal. [21:12] We are all struggling to find balance lately. [24:47] If you are using your platform to talk about Gaza or Palestine, unfortunately it is a risk. [27:53] Billie talks about the importance of standing up for your values and staying true to them even in difficult times. [31:02] It is important to take care of yourself even as you do social justice work. [32:28] Shannon reflects on her own personal experience of speaking up about the harm taking place in Gaza right now. [36:01] There are so many people who say they want peace and freedom for all people but are afraid to speak up. But we can make a huge difference if we all speak up. [39:29] Do leave a review for the podcast and come hang out in real time with Shannon in the Pelvic Health Professionals membership! Links: Billie Smith on , , , , and Gratitude to our Sponsor, . Quotes from this episode: "Invalidating your own struggles is not gonna give you any more energy to help change the world." "It's ok if you don't feel rage every single second of the day because like how are you supposed to do all your stuff if you do?" "There's a struggle to find balance lately." "[If] you've been having that feeling of doubting yourself or doubting, what is even the point of doing this anymore? I would just encourage you to check in with it and not take it as a sign that you're doing anything wrong in your life." "I don't want my business to negate its values to make money. I don't want to sacrifice my values for profit." "Find the balance between taking care of yourself and then doing social justice work." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/30604643

368: Moving to a New City & Marketing with Jennie MacGoy 03/25/2024

368: Moving to a New City & Marketing with Jennie MacGoy The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 368: Moving to a New City & Marketing with Jennie MacGoy Description: Have you recently moved or are you struggling to grow your yoga business? Have you been posting on social media and not seeing that time convert to students? Have you been thinking about switching your niche or taking a break? Jennie MacGoy has navigated a cross-country move and shares how she found success marketing her yoga business in a new city. Jennie MacGoy opened her first yoga studio in Virginia in 2017 but moved to Southern California in 2021. Since making the move, Jennie has continued to teach gentle and chair yoga and movement to seniors in retirement communities, skilled nursing facilities, and memory care communities while also working 1:1 with older adults. Jennie strongly believes that older adults can live their best lives through physical activity, stress reduction, cognitive exercise, and social engagement and incorporates all of these into her yoga classes. In this episode, Jennie shares her challenging journey of rebuilding her yoga business from scratch in a new city and neighborhood. She openly talks about the struggles she faced, how she overcame them, and what really worked for her in terms of marketing her yoga business. Learn about pivoting in your yoga business and alternative options for marketing in this inspiring conversation with Jennie. Key Takeaways: [2:41] This episode is sponsored by OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals. [4:55] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Jennie MacGoy. [8:37] What is the work that Jennie does and who does she do it for? [10:24] What was it like when Jennie moved? What did she learn immediately and what advice does she have for other yoga teachers who may be navigating a move? [13:02] What worked and what didn't work for Jennie when she moved? [17:31] Jennie had to decide if she still wanted to teach yoga when things weren't working out for her. [18:42] Jennie was not marketing on Instagram or Facebook. She explains how she marketed her services to her target audience. [21:38] What kind of offerings is Jennie focusing on in her business? [26:49] What are some things Jennie has learned from working with the population of older adults and/or people with dementia? [30:36] Jennie reflects on what she gets out of teaching a mixed class of people with different abilities. [34:09] Shannon gives a shout out of thanks to sponsor, OfferingTree. [37:45] What is the population that Jennie works with in private sessions? [39:05] Jennie had to make a big shift to continue her yoga business when she moved to a new city. [41:11] Jennie volunteered with some organizations as a way of expanding her local network after she moved. [45:27] What is something Jennie wishes she would have known sooner when she moved to her new location? [48:17] We all struggle with different things at different moments in our business. [52:26] Connect with Jennie via her website. [53:50] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Jennie. [58:36] Shannon shares a personal update about how it has been to stand up for things she believes in. Links: Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "One of the most important lessons that I learned was to be willing to pivot, ... be flexible." "Words are so important and something that I have always been passionate about, but it comes really into play in these classes where you have people of differing abilities." "It was a total mind shift in how it was all word of mouth." "Don't underestimate the value of reaching out." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/30512763

367: Money Matters & Budgeting with Jenifer Parker 03/18/2024

367: Money Matters & Budgeting with Jenifer Parker The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 367: Money Matters & Budgeting with Jenifer Parker Description: How do you feel about budgeting and money as a yoga teacher? What is your system for tracking income and expenses – is it working? How can you decrease your expenses and/or increase your income? These are some questions Jennifer Parker answers in this insightful money conversation. Jenifer Parker has been a yoga teacher for more than 21 years and is a qualified instructor in 4 lineages: Kripalu, Sivananda, Krishnamacharya, and Thai Yoga. She meets students where they are, teaching a traditional, integrated approach. In general she teaches within the Krishnamacharya lineage, but offers a unique insight into the similarities and differences in practice across lineages. Currently, she offers private lessons, corporate and private group classes, and a few public community classes in Te-Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa (Wellington, New Zealand). In this episode, Shannon and Jennifer dive deeper into money matters and budgeting for yoga teachers. Jennifer explains how to get consistent with our budgeting, how to adapt it to our needs and our yoga business, and why it’s so important for yoga teachers. She also shares some ideas on how to make more money as a yoga teacher and tackles some big mindset blocks yoga teachers may face when it comes to money issues. Key Takeaways: [0:28] Shannon takes a moment to recognize the harm that is taking place in Palestine right now. [4:13] Shannon briefly talks about her topic and guest for the episode. [5:15] Shannon introduces herself and gives a shout out to the sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals. [8:47] Kathleen Pratt shares a little about the ongoing online yoga series, Nourish Your Nervous System. [10:13] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Jennifer Parker. [15:49] What does Jennifer do and who does she do it for? [18:36] Jennifer shares a little about where she is located. [19:44] Why is Jennifer so passionate about talking about money in relation to teaching yoga and being a yoga teacher? [25:47] What are Jennifer's thoughts on budgets? [32:04] What kind of tools does Jennifer use when it comes to creating a budget? [34:08] What actions does Jennifer take when she's looking at her budget every week? [37:26] Jennifer shares some tips that can help with the mindset part of creating and following a budget. [40:34] What are some ideas for yoga teachers to make more money? [46:49] Having a clear goal in mind will help you move in the right direction. [48:23] Shannon pops in to give a shout out of thanks to sponsor, OfferingTree. [51:21] What are some other ideas for making money within yoga? [58:17] Jennifer recommends talking to your landlord about subdividing the physical space you are using for yoga classes if the rent has gone up. [62:23] We have to get comfortable talking about money! [0:00] undefined [63:18] Jennifer's advice is to tap into your networks. [74:37] Shannon shares some reflection questions you can journal on. [75:37 - 75:50] Questions: [78:42] Shannon shares an audio message from a podcast listener. [81:11] Support the podcast by making a donation or signing up for one of the offerings! Links: Previous Podcast Episodes on Money Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Reflection & Journaling Questions: How can we navigate the often unpredictable landscape of income and expenses while staying true to the practice of yoga and the purpose of our work? How do you personally approach budgeting as a yoga teacher? Have you found success in tracking your income before your expenses, and if so, how has it impacted your financial stability? What methods have you used to increase your income beyond teaching classes? Do you prefer using budgeting apps or spreadsheets, and why? How often do you check your bank statements, and what insights have you gained from this practice? In what ways do you see parallels between budgeting and yoga, particularly in terms of consistency and adaptability? Have you been able to build a buffer of savings, and if so, what strategies have helped you achieve this? When do you think it's appropriate for yoga teachers to consider taking on part-time work, and how can one navigate the potential stigma associated with it? Have you ever negotiated rent for your teaching space, or explored alternative venues? What advice would you offer to others in similar situations? Lastly, how do you harness the power of your network and student referrals to grow your yoga community and increase your teaching opportunities? Quotes from this episode: "It's OK to make income teaching yoga.' "It's really helpful if people can actually sit down and look at the numbers and then make for themselves a clear decision. Is this something that I want to do full time all the time or is it something that I just wanna do sometimes?" "Let's talk about different ways of approaching the financials of this business that are based in living our values rather than just ‘I made a beautiful abundance collage and the universe will take care of me’." "The first step of budgeting is: what are my costs?" "The budget will work for you if it works the way you work." "If you're in a place where you can say I'm not gonna be too proud, all of a sudden now there's infinite opportunity." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/30400798

366: Get Okay with Making Money with Chioma Njoku 03/11/2024

366: Get Okay with Making Money with Chioma Njoku The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 366: Get Okay with Making Money with Chioma Njoku Description: Is making money yoga-like? How is making money aligned with the principles of yoga? How do you balance making money as a yoga teacher with keeping your offerings financially accessible to people? Chioma Njoku shares her insights on these questions and more. Chioma is the owner and Chief Mindful Operator at the Mindful Bookkeeper, and host of the Cheers to Your Prosperity podcast. By integrating the lessons she has learned from her own financial struggles and her professional experience as an Accountant of 18 years and Financial Coach, Chioma helps entrepreneurs and small business owners keep more of their hard-earned money in the bank without sacrificing the things that make life enjoyable. In this episode, Chioma dives into the nitty gritty details of the money and finances aspect of running a yoga business. She talks about how bookkeeping software can help us with our finances, how to track payment fees, how to check your financial reports with intention, and why creating money practices is like practicing yoga. Tune in for Chioma’s tips on how to be consistent with money and shift your money mindset. Key Takeaways: [2:23] This episode is powered by OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals. [3:58] Kathleen Pratt shares a little about the upcoming yoga series: Nourish Your Nervous System. [5:12] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Chioma Njoku. [9:49] What does Chioma do and who does she do it for? [10:42] What does it look like when Chioma works with someone? [12:47] Chioma addresses the idea that making money is yoga. It's okay to make money. [15:24] How can yoga teachers balance the need to get paid with keeping their yoga classes accessible to people with limited funds? [17:54] Chioma shares a little about the saviorism she encountered in 2020, when people invited her to attend their yoga classes for free because she is Black. [21:09] Chioma talks about bookkeeping and what that means for yoga businesses. [22:11] How often should we be looking at our money? [24:34] What's a good starting point for yoga teachers who are not tracking their income or their expenses? [29:06] Shannon pops in to share a great article that Sinead from the Connected Yoga Teacher Team wrote for OfferingTree. [31:02] Shannon and Chioma chat about different software that is available for bookkeeping and tracking income and expenses. [33:25] How does Chioma recommend yoga teachers look at their reports? [35:18] What are some things yoga teachers can do to cut their expenses or increase their income? [39:34] What are some other roadblocks yoga teachers often run into around mindset? [42:57] How can yoga teachers work on their money mindset and get comfortable with money? [46:33] Chioma shares some final thoughts for yoga teachers around money and running their own yoga business. [47:56] Check out Chioma's podcast to learn more, and visit her website to connect. [49:19] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Chioma. Links: Previous Podcast Episodes on Money Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "What we can do is offer our service and give them the opportunity to rise, to come to us, to take a class. Believe me, when someone gets something out of something, ... we will invest, we'll figure it out." - Chioma "It's not our job to save them. We can present our service. It's up to them to say yes or no." - Chioma "You are in business. Doing your bookkeeping is important to your business." - Chioma "It's more of just getting into the habit of looking at that report and what it is to me, it's setting expectations for your business." - Chioma "It's good to have conversations and questions about your money because there are little ways that you can save money." - Shannon "Let's try not to discount a service. We're teaching people to not value yoga." - Chioma /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/30296333

365: How to Teach Accessible Yoga with Jivana Heyman 03/04/2024

365: How to Teach Accessible Yoga with Jivana Heyman The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 365: How to Teach Accessible Yoga with Jivana Heyman Description: How can we make yoga more accessible? From financial accessibility to the language we use in teaching, from offering modifications to supporting students who don’t follow our lesson plans, making yoga accessible encompasses many different things. Jivana Heyman shares his insights. Making yoga accessible is at the core of the work Jivana does. He is the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, an international non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings for people of all abilities and backgrounds. He is also an author, and his latest book, The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga, was recently released (listen in to find out how you can enter to win a copy!). In this episode, Jivana shares how we communicate yoga has evolved over the years, although yoga philosophy remains unchanged, and how accessibility is a part of that. He also talks about figuring things out as new teachers, overcoming imposter syndrome and why maybe a little bit of imposter syndrome is not a bad thing, and many other aspects of making yoga accessible, including how to maintain a yoga practice even when we don’t have time! Key Takeaways: [3:52] This episode is powered by OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals. [4:52] Kathleen Pratt shares a little about the upcoming yoga series: Nourish Your Nervous System. [5:58] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Jivana Heyman. [10:05] What is the work that Jivana does and who does he do it for? [11:15] How can yoga teachers find that balance between being paid for their work enough to make a living and making sure people can access their classes financially? [13:56] Pay-what-you-can models and tiered pricing models are some options to increase financial accessibility. [15:36] What are some other main things Jivana covers in his new book? [18:43] Shannon and Jivana discuss the idea that there is one best/correct way of doing a pose in yoga. This is not true! [20:13] The general public has a very different idea of what yoga is than how it can actually be practiced. [24:30] What are some new things Jivana has learned recently about making yoga more accessible? [27:31] How does Jivana address situations in his classes where a student gives another student a hands-on assist? [30:20] Jivana is giving away two of his books! Leave a comment in the show notes to stand a chance to win a copy! [30:40] Are you signed up for the OfferingTree newsletter? They offer a free workshop or webinar every month for teachers! [31:53] It can sometimes feel that as we learn more about making yoga accessible, there is always yet more to learn. [34:36] Yoga has remained the same for millennia but how we interpret, communicate, and share it with people has changed and evolved over time. [38:40] How yoga is taught has evolved over time but the yoga philosophy has not. [42:13] It can be tempting to want our yoga practice to be perfect, like we experience at a yoga retreat, but how can we apply yoga to our real day-to-day? [46:38] What are some tools we can use to bring yoga into our lives? [50:28] Shannon and Jivana discuss other ways we can bring yoga into our busy lives. [53:50] We can hold opposing things as true at the same time. [56:05] Jivana shares the ABCs of yoga: Agency, Boundaries, Collaboration. [62:27] How does Jivana handle situations where students don't do what everyone else is doing? [68:08] Many yoga teachers deal with imposter syndrome. Jivana addresses this. [74:08] Join the giveaway for Jivana's books by leaving a comment and find out more about his work and the books at his website and on Instagram. [75:43] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this episode. [79:08] Shannon shares some of the upcoming events in Pelvic Health Professionals, including Nourish Your Nervous System. Links: Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "Mostly the studio model doesn't really work for making yoga accessible." "I just don't think advanced yoga is advanced asana anymore. That's not the point." "As a yoga teacher, you're not simply just channeling the teachings in a pure way, you have to be interpreting them." "The question is, how do you make them resonant and applicable to this moment for your students who are in front of you today?" "I don't think yoga practice is just about my personal enlightenment or the goal of becoming that. Rather, it's about becoming of service to the world and to others." "I would say a little bit of imposter syndrome is actually healthier than too much ego." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/30199963

364: 7 Years of Podcasting with Shannon Crow 02/26/2024

364: 7 Years of Podcasting with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 364: 7 Years of Podcasting with Shannon Crow Description: It has been 7 years of podcasts on the Connected Yoga Teacher podcast with Shannon Crow. While it is a time of celebrating the consistency and the amazing connections that have come from the podcast, Shannon shares some of her reflections about her recent situation, both personal and on a broader scale. Shannon has been dealing with emotional heaviness, sadness, and heartbreak, on top of a cold. She shares how current events like what’s happening in Gaza have been affecting her emotions, especially because of the silence of many people in the health and wellness world. She talks about some things that are helping her through this time and how she is working through the anger and emotions she is feeling. Shannon also invites us to explore how we can start seeing the connections between us and how we can support ourselves as we navigate these challenging times. Key Takeaways: [0:02] It's the 7th year anniversary of the Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast! [4:23] This episode is supported by OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals, but you can chip in to keep the podcast going too! [7:05] Kathleen Pratt shares a little about the upcoming Yoga Series she is hosting in Pelvic Health Professionals - Nourish Your Nervous System. [9:26] Shannon guides a short breath exercise. [10:22] Shannon checks in with herself. In addition to dealing with a cold she has been feeling some heaviness, sadness, and heartbreak. [15:14] Shannon has also been feeling angry about the silence from many people in the health and wellness world. [18:13] One thing that has made a difference for Shannon is seeing the yoga teachers who are speaking up and supporting the Palestinian cause. [21:06] Shannon talks about some ways she is working on processing her anger. [25:10] Shannon shares two messages that have held her and kept her steady. [27:39] Shannon gives a shout out to Jivana Heyman's upcoming collaboration with OfferingTree - Chair Yoga is Real Yoga. [29:22] Shannon reads another message she received after sharing Rula's episode. [34:14] How can we start seeing the connections between us? [37:08] The upcoming yoga series, Nourish Your Nervous System, is a great course for anyone who has been feeling stressed. [38:33] Shannon shares some other upcoming events and offerings you can check out. Links: Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "I am so grateful to those of you who listen to multiple episodes. It's really a complete honor and the podcast exists because of you." "I want to be able to speak up against harm and oppression because I feel like that's part of yoga." "We can speak up and make mistakes and be in community." "In society, we are not taught to get comfortable with anger." "I am just so grateful when I see a comment on a post that we've made or a podcast that we've done or a message in support of the work that we're doing here on the podcast." "In these connections, we realize how connected we really are." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/30093328

363: Build a Full-Time Private Yoga Career with Mary Reddinger 02/19/2024

363: Build a Full-Time Private Yoga Career with Mary Reddinger The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 363: Build a Full-Time Yoga Career with Mary Reddinger Description: Teaching private yoga is a topic that often comes among yoga teachers. Questions like about finding and retaining private students, the difference between group classes and private sessions, and how to make sure private students are getting what they need are common. Mary Reddinger shares her insights. Mary is a full-time yoga teacher and mother to two boys, ages 9 and 5. Mary has practiced yoga on and off for many years, but integrated it into her life after her first pregnancy when she started really seeing the benefits of yoga. Mary also shares a little about her journey to working with perinatal students – she currently teaches prenatal yoga, postnatal yoga and private lessons. In addition to her yoga teacher training, Mary has also studied under Francesca Cervero about The Science of the Private Lesson. In this episode, Mary gives us a detailed look at her full-time yoga career as a private yoga teacher. She shares how she got started teaching private yoga lessons, what helped her retain her students, how she structures classes with private students and how she manages her schedule as a mother and yoga teacher. Tune in to learn all about the art of teaching private yoga lessons. Key Takeaways: [0:17] Hang out with this episode's guest, Mary Reddinger, in Pelvic Health Professionals! [3:08] This episode is sponsored by OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals! [3:44] Check out the upcoming yoga series with Kathleen Pratt - Nourish Your Nervous System. [6:16] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Mary Reddinger. [10:53] What does Mary do and who does she do it for? [11:55] How did Mary build up her private classes as her main business? How did private students find her? [14:37] What challenges did Mary face after she completed her yoga teacher training in teaching 1:1? [16:43] What did Mary find were the best ways to get the initial few students booked? [17:44] How has Mary managed client retention after the initial set of sessions with a student? [21:49] Does Mary do mostly online or in-person classes? [22:47] What makes Mary's private sessions different from the group classes? [26:02] Shannon pops in to share some exciting news about OfferingTree. [27:59] Does Mary take notes when she is teaching 1:1? [29:13] Mary explains why she goes to the student's home rather than having them come to her or meeting at a studio. [34:00] What kind of responses or feedback does Mary get from her students about private sessions? [38:03] How does Mary manage her schedule and find balance between teaching yoga and showing up for her family? [43:06] Find out more about Mary and her work via her website. [43:06] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Mary. [50:15] If you would like to support the podcast, do leave a review or make a financial contribution! Links: Previous Podcast Episodes about Private Yoga: Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "The number one thing I have done to create a full schedule of private students is to tell people that I am a private yoga teacher." "A lot of yoga teachers do not share that private sessions are something they offer." "Really the first year of working with a new private student, it's about building your relationship with them and it's about building trust." "Part of yoga as a practice is noticing what comes up when we are distracted and then what do we need to do to come back." "In terms of what we're teaching, you can truly make a yoga practice that serves that student that day in the body and the mind they are showing up with that day." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/29990238

362: Yoga in Times of War & Violence with Molly Nixon 02/12/2024

362: Yoga in Times of War & Violence with Molly Nixon The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 362: Yoga in Times of War & Violence with Molly Nixon Description: As yoga teachers, we might be seeing people who are refugees in our yoga classes — and we need to know how we can support them, even if we don’t know their status. Molly Nixon shares her perspective and experience about how yoga can support us in times of war & violence. Molly Nixon is the Director and Trainer for Yoga Mandala Project, a grassroots initiative cultivating a community of care among refugees and those serving them around the world while providing tools to support mental-health through yoga and other embodied modalities. As a trauma-informed yoga teacher and teacher trainer, Molly believes yoga is an effective way to support the well-being of refugee communities, and can help to foster dignity, compassion and a sense of a shared humanity. She has spent the past eight years weaving together her passions for yoga, travel and service in the heart of the humanitarian sector while co-creating sustainable projects in Greece, Turkey, Jordan and Iraq. In this episode, Molly shares her experience of losing her closest friend to violence in the Middle East and how yoga not only supported her in dealing with the grief and trauma in that moment, but also moved her to bring the healing tools of yoga to refugees, genocide survivors, and aid workers. She explains how supporting refugee communities is part of yoga and how we can help, even if we don’t have plans to move to a refugee community and start teaching yoga. Tune in to find out how you can support the work of the Yoga Mandala Project and more. Key Takeaways: [0:07] This episode goes beyond just teaching yoga in refugee communities. [4:54] Shannon introduces herself and gives a shout out to sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals. [7:32] Kathleen Pratt shares about the upcoming yoga series in Pelvic Health Professionals: Nourish Your Nervous System [8:50] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Molly Nixon. [10:45] What does Molly do and who does she do it for? [12:12] What does it look like when Molly goes to a refugee camp? [14:11] Molly shares a little about how she started doing this work. [16:09] Yoga supported Molly through the grief and trauma of losing her friend to violence in Syria. [16:58] How did Molly deal with people in her life who were discouraging her from doing this work? [18:42] Molly provides some context about how yoga teachers partner with the Yoga Mandala Project. [23:20] Connections can be really powerful. Molly shares a little about why connection is a part of the mission of Yoga Mandala Project. [26:44] In light of what is happening in Gaza, Palestine, what is Molly's response to people who are saying that we should be focusing more on the hostages instead of what the people of Gaza are experiencing? [30:50] How is all of this related to yoga? [33:30] Shannon pops in with a quick message about OfferingTree - especially if you dread updating or working on your website! [34:53] How can you sign up for a trauma-informed training? How relevant is it to yoga teachers? [39:08] Shannon and Molly discuss what people who are menstruating in Gaza are going through now with no access to menstruation products. [41:15] What would Molly say to someone who says all this information about Gaza is triggering? [46:39] What was one thing from yoga that helped Molly in the aftermath of her friend being taken? [50:42] Connect with Molly via the Yoga Mandala Project website or email. [52:45] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Molly. [54:58] Come hang out in real time in the Pelvic Health Professionals membership! Links: Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "The intention behind our work is to create ... community and a culture of care among those experiencing war and violence." "For me, it really comes down to looking at the intentions of yoga and offering that and making it accessible to people experiencing stress and other impacts of trauma." "There's all sorts of ways to make a difference even if you can't be on the ground in a refugee camp." "I think connection is the only way forward for humanity." "Yoga is not about gymnastics on the yoga mat. It's about living these, living the Yamas and the Niyamas." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/29886208

361: Connect to Nature and Your Roots with Tracee Stanley 02/05/2024

361: Connect to Nature and Your Roots with Tracee Stanley The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 361: Connect to Nature & Your Roots with Tracee Stanley Description: What is our relationship with nature? How do we connect to our roots and our ancestors? Why is all of this important and relevant to yoga? Tracee Stanley shares her insights. Tracee Stanley is the author of Radiant Rest: Yoga Nidra for Deep Relaxation and Awakened Clarity and The Luminous Self: Sacred Yogic Practices & Rituals to Remember Who You Are. She is also the founder of Empowered Life Circle, a sacred community and portal of practices, rituals, and Tantric teachings. Tracee is devoted to sharing the wisdom of yoga nidra, rest, meditation, self-inquiry, nature as a teacher, and ancestor reverence. In this episode, Tracee talks about her journey in seeking a place beyond all sorrow through yoga, and how this is different from turning inward and blocking out external suffering of others. She also shares her perspective on our relationship to nature, how to change it into one of reciprocity and cultivate a real connection through rituals. Tracee also explains our deep connection to our ancestors and how we can tap into their wisdom and learn from them through our practice. Key Takeaways: [1:10] A snippet from this interview with Tracee Stanley about how nature can help us, our loved ones, and our communities. [1:42] Shannon expresses gratitude to Tracee for not shying away from some tough questions and gives a brief introduction to herself and her work. [6:10] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Tracee Stanley. [8:28] What does Tracee do and who does she do it for? [11:59] Tracee shares a little about turning inward to find this place beyond sorrow, and how it is different from simply ignoring what is going on in the world. [14:50] What is the place that is beyond all sorrows? [16:23] How does getting out in nature help people come back to themselves? [19:21] What are some of the rituals and practices to start connecting with and being in a reciprocal relationship with nature? [21:27] Shannon reflects on how her relationship with her garden has changed since 2020. [27:11] Shannon pops in with a message about OfferingTree. [28:38] Tracee talks a little about our connection to our ancestors. [32:05] Tracee shares her experience of connecting to her ancestral realm. [36:22] Shannon talks about looking up her own settler ancestry. Tracee reflects back some insights about this process of reclaiming our roots. [41:09] What are some of the rituals that Tracee does now that help her? [44:35] Check out Tracee's book on her website. [45:06] Tracee has some final words of advice for people who are feeling worn out. [46:28] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Tracee. [48:39] What's coming up in Pelvic Health Professionals and the podcast? Links: Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "If we know that we can also touch into a place that can be revealed to us through stillness and practice. That to me is very hopeful because it becomes an inner resource that we can always go to." "One of the things that happens when we want to look away and pretend it's not happening is that we're not acknowledging this idea that we are all connected." "We actually, as human beings, have to take this respite of rest at some point, whether it's seasonal or whether it's during the day or whether it's because the cycle of the news has carried us to a place where we need to take a moment or a day to rest or more than one or two days. But we have to listen." "Can we, instead of resisting this cold, resisting this time of fallowness, can we welcome the beauty that the snow brings and the cold brings?" "For most of us, I think that has been lost or forgotten or we feel that it's not important. And yet all of the prayers of our ancestors, all of their memories, all of their knowledge is living in our DNA and it's part of who we are." "I can't tell anybody what to do. This is why practice is so important because practice, when we get still and silent and we rest, gives us the answer of what is ours to do." "It really doesn't have to be big, but one little increment of movement in a positive direction can be so helpful." 255 What is our relationship with nature? How do we connect to our roots and our ancestors? Why is all of this important and relevant to yoga? Tracee Stanley (she/her) addresses these questions and shares insights about rituals we can practice to go deeper. /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/29784083

360: Nature Meditations with Ray Zott 01/29/2024

360: Nature Meditations with Ray Zott The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 360: Nature Meditations with Ray Zott Description: Meditation does not have to be just sitting down and being still. There are other ways to meditate, including being out in and connecting with nature. Ray Zott (she/her/they) talks about how nature offers her a sustainable mediation practice and how she helps others meditate in nature too. Ray is a yoga therapist whose greatest joy in their work is connecting people to nature. She has worked as a park ranger for 12 seasons in a variety of national parks and is currently also building out a retreat center in Costa Rica. In their work, Ray supports all kinds of folks through yoga therapy, nature, and boundary work. In this episode, Ray shares more about how she discovered this unique niche for her yoga therapy work after her experience supporting her husband through his traumatic brain injury. They explain why connecting to and with nature can be the perfect meditation, especially for those who find it difficult to sit still, and offer ways to find connection to nature even if we live in cities or urban settings. Shannon and Ray also discuss the healing powers of nature, spiritual meanings we can find from being out in nature, and how we can turn to nature for lessons and guidance in difficult times. Key Takeaways: [2:02] This podcast is made possible by OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals. [4:25] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Ray Zott. [7:09] Ray share's a little bit about her morning routine. [8:24] What is the work that Ray does and who do they do it for? [11:02] How did Ray's work with being in nature and nature meditation start? [14:01] What does meditation in nature look like? [16:18] What are some guidelines Ray offers for meditating in nature? [18:32] Shannon and Ray discuss where inspiration for their yoga practice and yoga therapy comes from. [21:10] What are some ways we might find connection with nature if we live in a city or suburban area? [26:37] Shannon pops in to share some of the struggles she is having with her Wordpress website, and why she prefers OfferingTree. [29:31] Shannon has recently been feeling an immense gratitude for her life right now, while also experiencing guilt about what is happening in Gaza. How does Ray deal with this? [32:45] Shannon has been turning to nature to help her deal with a lot of grief. [36:49] We can learn a lot from nature and we don't have to know all the tree names or plant names. [39:25] Shannon and Ray discuss finding spiritual meaning in nature. [41:24] How else does the practice of connecting with nature impact Ray or the people she works with? [47:02] Ray and Shannon contemplate whether part of the healing power of nature comes from how we experienced it in our childhoods. [48:22] Check out Ray's podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify. [50:58] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Ray. [56:25] Hang out online in real time with Shannon in Pelvic Health Professionals. Links: Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "I use nature and meditation as a way to practice. And that's sustainable for me." "I feel like my relationship to nature has changed so much and that it's just being in it, just being present for it." "All nature is sacred. All nature is holy, whether it's the dandelion growing out of the crack in the sidewalk or the ornamental tree in the yard. It's all so beautiful and important." "Wherever we are in the world, we can tap into nature." "The more we turn to nature, the more we will get clarity on our part and our roles and how we participate and how we heal our communities who are turning to us." 255 How can we meditate in nature? Ray Zott (she/her/they) shares how to connect with nature as a way to meditate, why it can be a more sustainable practice than sitting still, and ways we can learn from and be supported by nature in difficult times. /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/29667958

359: Ahimsa in Times of Conflict with Rula Wardeh 01/22/2024

359: Ahimsa in Times of Conflict with Rula Wardeh The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 359: Ahimsa in Times of Conflict with Rula Wardeh Description: One of the most important yoga teachings is ahimsa, usually translated as non-violence or non-harming. How do we practice this in times of conflict like the one we are witnessing now in Gaza, Palestine? What can we do to make a difference? Rula Wardeh shares her perspective on the obligations we all have to show up during times like these. Rula is a Palestinian yoga teacher, who studied yoga in Canada. She lives in Jordan, an hour away from the Occupied Territory of West Bank, Palestine. She has family and friends in Gaza and her yoga students are all Palestinian. Rula introduced Yin Yoga to Jordan in 2012 and she now leads a unique Yin Yoga immersion course in Jordan & Cairo. Rula is also one of the directors and founding members of the NGO Yoga Mandala Project which provides refugee communities in Jordan with psychosocial Yoga and trauma related sessions. In this conversation, Rula shares what her experience has been like holding space for Palestininans as Gaza continues to be bombarded and held under siege by Israel. She speaks about yoga activism, how she draws on the teachings of yoga and the 8 limbs for support as she continues to speak up for ceasefire in Palestine, and what yoga teachers can do in these times to make a difference. If you have been wondering how you can show up and practice ahimsa as a yoga teacher in times of conflict, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways: [2:05] This podcast is sponsored by OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals. [2:55] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Rula Wardeh. This episode originally aired as a live conversation in December 2023. [5:22] What does Rula do as a yoga teacher? [8:16] Shannon shares some context about the 1948 Nakba in Palestine. [10:38] Rula shares how she started serving the population of urban refugees. [13:03] How has it felt for Rula to hold space for Palestinians or people who have family in Palestine? What has she learned from the experience? [21:08] Rula speaks to her experience of yoga activism: How do we implement what we have learned and what we teach in yoga? [25:26] We can start feeling disconnected from what is happening in Gaza when we only focus on the numbers. We need to also focus on the individual, personal stories coming out of Gaza. [28:55] What can people do when it feels to dysregulating to look at the news? [32:38] Rula explains how we can practice ahimsa in times of conflict. [36:17] We can draw on teachings from the eight limbs of yoga to guide us in how we should show up in times of conflict. [41:18] Shannon shares a comment from a live listener: How we feel is quite frankly irrelevant in the face of people being murdered. We should not be centering our feelings, especially not on social media. [41:58] How can you seek out the real truth and not fall into the trap of confirmation bias? [44:00] Watch the rest of this full interview with Rula on YouTube. [44:35] People are not their religion, their culture, or their government. We need to be mindful of conflating those. [46:47] What should we do if we're afraid to speak up or if we spoke up and got attacked? [50:10] Shannon reflects on her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Rula. [56:29] Hang out live with Shannon inside Pelvic Health Professionals. Links: Updates from/about Gaza (Non-exhaustive list) Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "At the end of the day, we know this as yoga teachers - that we are all connected." - Shannon "Anger was an agitation, [it] was asking us for action more than sitting down on the mat." - Rula "That's the dilemma. It's not about us. Why am I taking care of myself right now?" - Rula "How can we do less violence?" - Rula "By your silence, you're hurting. You're doing more himsa than ahimsa." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/29577293

358: Community and Communication with Shannon Crow 01/15/2024

358: Community and Communication with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 358: Community and Communication with Shannon Crow Description: Many yoga teachers are dealing with tiredness, overwhelm, sadness, and many other difficult emotions as we navigate living through the active genocide taking place in Palestine. Community and communication can be a good solution to dealing with these heavy emotions and the challenges of consistently showing up for causes we care about. In this episode, Shannon reflects on what has been helping her as she faces some of these big emotions. She shares how being out in nature, doing yoga, and meditating has been helpful to get clarity and different perspectives. It is also easier to keep going when you have community to support you in doing the work. Shannon talks about the different places she has found community, including a Discord server called Yoga Teachers for Change. In times like these, community and communication are what we can lean on and draw strength from. Key Takeaways: [5:09] Shannon reflects on how community and communication have come up for her recently. [8:07] Many yoga teachers that Shannon has spoken to have shared feeling many heavy and deep emotions. Shannon shares what helps her get through those tough days. [10:17] Shannon shares her experience of drawing inspiration from nature. [12:34] Shannon pops in to share a complaint she has about Wordpress, and why she prefers OfferingTree instead. [15:31] Shannon reflects on the clarity and different perspectives that sometimes become available when you spend time in nature, do yoga, or meditate. [17:36] Shannon shares more about the Discord server called Yoga Teachers for Change. [19:11] With a collective community, you can lean on each other for support and take it in turns to keep the torch burning. [23:15] Shannon has also talked about the importance of community in a previous episode with Linda Sparrowe. [24:49] Shannon highlights some other community initiatives that you might be interested in. [27:40] Keen to hang out with Shannon in real time? Check out the Yoga for Pelvic Cancer series with Tyla Arnason. Links: Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "What I know is that in my heart, I'm going to keep living in this world that I know is the world that I want to be a part of where we are all connected and we can make a difference." "Look for the people who are up for communicating right now, who are talking about this, who feel safe to talk about it, who can take this on." "I know that many yoga teachers care about this deeply and are searching for that community. And it's a nice feeling." "I could feel in that moment that what I really needed to focus on was community and communication and the connections were really the answer." "How can you find and/or create community for yourself or for others in your community, a community that's going to support you or maybe you are creating a community that's going to support others?" "If you've been feeling isolated and alone, you're not alone." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/29469233

357: Pay-What-You-Can is Working with Shannon Crow 01/08/2024

357: Pay-What-You-Can is Working with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 357: Pay-What-You-Can is Working with Shannon Crow Description: Have you tried using the pay-what-you-can model in your yoga business? Shannon recently implemented this model for an upcoming yoga series in Pelvic Health Professionals and was amazed that it has worked! In this episode, Shannon shares more about why she decided to implement the pay-what-you-can model for the Yoga During a Pelvic Cancer Diagnosis: 6-Week Online Series with Tyla Arnason. She talks about how setting it up with OfferingTree was so easy and the best part - that they’ve already met the minimum required to pay the guest teacher and not lose money, even without extensive marketing! Pay-what-you-can for yoga teachers can be an option. It is one way we can disrupt systems that are not serving us and our communities. Shannon invites you to consider how you could implement this in your yoga business or disrupt harmful systems in other ways. Key Takeaways: [4:14] One of the offers Shannon is sharing now is Tyla Arnason's Yoga for Pelvic Cancer workshop. It operates on the pay-what-you-can model and it's working! [7:32] Even with minimum marketing, Shannon has been able to get enough signups to meet the minimum required to pay the guest teacher! [9:35] Shannon shares how easy it was to set up the pay-what-you-can model with OfferingTree. [11:10] Shannon reflects on how she has approached pricing in her yoga business and the recommendations she has given yoga teachers in consultations too. [14:22] What questions do you have about the pay-what-you-can model? [14:55] Shannon shares some ways you can hang out in real time. [17:07] Crunch, who does the show notes for the podcast (hi!) is hosting some workshops around travel for inner work. Check them out! Links: Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "We decided to try something we've never done before with a full yoga series. We made it pay-what-you-can and I am so amazed with how it's working." "What can we do in our own business to really start to disrupt these systems that don't feel great?" "What if we make our offerings more accessible while we still get paid so we can keep doing this work?" "I hope that you are finding moments of joy and peace as we move into this new year together." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/29262928

356: How Silence Feels for a Yoga Student with Suzanne Miller 01/01/2024

356: How Silence Feels for a Yoga Student with Suzanne Miller The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 356: How Silence Feels for a Yoga Student with Suzanne Miller Description: Since October 7 2023, Israel has been retaliating to the attack by Hamas by indiscriminately bombing Gaza, resulting in thousands of Palestinians being killed, many more injured, and almost the entire population of Gaza being displaced. In light of this genocide, how are yoga teachers reacting? How are they holding space for their students? Suzanne Miller is a long-time yoga student who shares her experience, particularly about the silence from yoga teachers in this situation. Suzanne has been practicing yoga as a student since around 2000. She has taken classes of different yoga lineages and currently practices at a studio that does vinyasa flow in a hot room. She is a lawyer and works in-house at a US-based global corporation. Suzanne is also a single mom and occasionally teaches law school at nighttime. In this conversation, Suzanne shares more about her experience going into yoga classes where the teacher was simply not acknowledging what is happening in Gaza, Palestine right now. She speaks about her feelings of disconnection and why this interaction felt more jarring and isolating in a yoga space. Shannon and Suzanne discuss what yoga teachers could do to hold space for their students, how our yoga practice can give us tools to navigate these challenging situations and conversations, and why it is so important for us to be having these difficult conversations. Key Takeaways: [2:47] Shannon shares that the upcoming Yoga for Pelvic Cancer series with Tyla Arnason is on a pay-what-you-can model -- and it's working! [5:51] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Suzanne Miller. [7:49] Suzanne shares a little about who she is. [9:23] Shannon provides a little context about the situation between Israel and Gaza. Suzanne shares how it feels for her as a yoga student going to classes now. [15:24] Suzanne did not share with her yoga teachers the disconnection she is experiencing and reflects on how it is a result of her "encoding" as a white woman. [17:32] Shannon invites Suzanne to consider how the interaction with her yoga teacher differs from a similar interaction that could happen at the grocery store. [20:46] Shannon and Suzanne discuss the things that could happen if yoga teachers started addressing the genocide in Gaza in their classes. [27:00] How would yoga teachers know how to navigate this? [28:28] How does Suzanne feel about yoga teachers who say they don't want to talk about politics or war in their classes? [31:22] Doing all of this difficult, uncomfortable, challenging work is easier when it is done in community. [33:32] Shannon and Suzanne discuss how yoga philosophy is weaved in (or not) into the typical yoga classes. [36:04] Shannon pops in to share a little about OfferingTree, how she uses it in her own business, and how they are aligned with Shannon's values. [40:56] Yoga teachers don't often bring yoga philosophy into their typical classes, so what are some things that they could say to help their students feel seen in their classes? [45:47] Suzanne shares a little about bringing yoga into law spaces. Small actions can have a huge impact! [49:15] What if people did more yoga or brought more yoga teachings into their lives? What if people exercised more compassion and empathy? What if there were more love? [54:38] Shannon and Suzanne discuss inclusivity and making yoga spaces feel welcoming to everyone, and the importance of speaking up. [60:41] Shannon and Suzanne reflect on the history of their own settler colonial states. [65:05] This is a flashpoint for yoga teachers who are hungry to mobilize their practice, to put their yoga in action. [67:08] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation. Links: Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "Even in times of great difficulty of my life, I feel like I can show up at a yoga class, not even talk to other people, but practice in community." "It has been very surreal to show up [to yoga classes] in the middle of a genocide. And no one's talking about it." "This is all from a place of empathy and yet also we, we need to do better." "That's the whole purpose of yoga for me is to meet discomfort with breath and awareness." "Any time we're turning away from suffering, is that because we're just unable to sit with that discomfort? And if so, yoga is a wonderful way to practice that." "I think the solution is going to be in community." "If you can put your ankle behind your ear, but you're a jerk off the mat, you're not practicing yoga." "I really do think that the small tiny conversations that we have and the tiny things that we say as yoga teachers and humans can make a big difference." - Shannon /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/29262828

355: A Quick Niche Quiz with Shannon Crow 12/25/2023

355: A Quick Niche Quiz with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 355: A Quick Niche Quiz with Shannon Crow Description: Shannon Crow continues the theme of Niche November by sharing a quick niche quiz she has created to help you figure out what yoga niche you want to be serving! In this short quiz, Shannon goes through a list of “would you rather” questions that can help you get more clarity about what kind of yoga you want to teach. In this series of 14 questions, Shannon invites you to consider your preferences when it comes to 1:1 vs group classes, the age range and gender of your students, the style of yoga, location of your classes, and even class size. All these questions will guide to to uncover the kind of yoga offerings you feel most aligned creating, and will help you in your niching down and specializing journey. If you have been needing help to figure out your niche or yoga specialty or have been wondering how to build a yoga business that suits how you want to work, this episode is for you! Get the downloadable PDF from the links! Key Takeaways: [2:01] Shannon gives a shout out to sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals. [3:21] Shannon has a niche quiz for you! Answer these questions as authentically and honestly as you can! [7:18] Shannon pops in to share a little about OfferingTree. [8:59] Shannon continues with her list of questions for this niche quiz. [12:35] If you need additional support with finding and defining your niche, book a consultation call with Shannon! Links: Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "How can I help right now if you're thinking about specializing and niching down?" "I hope these questions get you to a place where you can really figure out what is your ideal yoga that you want to teach." “All of these questions can help you to define your niche. You might be left with more questions. And that's ok.” /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/28876703

354: Do I Need to Specialize? with Shannon Crow 12/18/2023

354: Do I Need to Specialize? with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 354: Do I Need to Specialize with Shannon Crow Description: Shannon Crow continues the theme of Niche November. In this episode, Shannon explores the question that everyone asks when it comes to niching down and finding a yoga specialty: do I need to specialize? Shannon shares a quick quiz she has created to help you figure out whether you need to niche down in your yoga business. She goes through a list of true-false questions that can help you get more clarity about whether you should be thinking about niching down or if you don’t need to right now!. Shannon invites you to consider whether you are comfortable referring students who are not a fit to other yoga teachers, if your ideal students can easily find you, whether you’re making money and have a schedule you love, and more. All these questions will guide you to figure out if niching down in your yoga business is something you need now. Get the downloadable PDF from the links! Key Takeaways: [1:30] Shannon gives a shoutout of thanks to sponsors OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals. [2:35] Shannon niche and specialty has been pelvic health for almost 10 years, as well as niching down! [3:22] Is niching down something you need to be doing? Do you need to specialize? Shannon has some true-false questions that can help you answer that. [5:36] Shannon pops in to share a little about OfferingTree. [7:35] Shannon continues with the second half of the quiz to help you figure out if you should specialize. [10:15] If you answered ‘false’ to any of these statements, you might want to think about niching down! [11:40] What are your questions about niching down? Share them on the website or in the Facebook group! [12:47] Shannon shares a few ways you can hang out in real time. Links: Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "Today's question is really about, Do I need to specialize? Do I need to niche down?" "If you are already loving how things are set up on your calendar,...And on top of that, if you're making a great income for the work that you're doing, you may not need to specialize and niche down." "If you answered ‘false’ to any of these statements, you might want to think about niching down. It might be time for you to do that again." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/28876598

Yoga for Peace with Shannon Crow [BONUS EPISODE] 12/12/2023

Yoga for Peace with Shannon Crow [BONUS EPISODE] The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast [BONUS] Yoga for Peace with Shannon Crow Description: What place does yoga have in the context of the ongoing situation between Israel and Palestine, particularly in light of the current lethal bombardment and blockade in Gaza? What responsibility do yoga teachers have to advocate for a ceasefire, liberation and freedom of all peoples, and peace in the region? Shannon Crow tackles these big questions in a vulnerable and open live video. Shannon is nervous about addressing what is happening in Gaza right now, but a recent interaction with a member of the community has prompted her to share her thoughts. She reflects on how we can apply the teachings of yoga and yoga philosophy, particularly the aspect of ahimsa, non-harm to the current situation. Shannon invites us to consider our own positions, why it is necessary to speak up rather than remaining silent, and how we can use our yoga to amplify compassion. There is complex historical context at play here, and people who have ties to Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, and Palestinian communities are being affected, so it is important to keep that in mind as we navigate this situation. We are all interconnected. However, we must also speak up against harm when we see it and Shannon invites us to consider: What action can we take today that embodies the teachings of yoga? Key Takeaways: [1:47] A Connected Yoga Teacher messaged Shannon on Instagram to respond to a question she had asked on her Stories: How are yoga teachers and students feeling now? This question is in light of the current situation in Palestine. [5:18] In the discussion that followed, Jim asked Shannon a question that gave her pause: Why do the other conflicts going on in the world right now not deserve our action, our compassion, our urgency? [8:55] Jim had also written that he sees his role as expanding people's awareness and hopefully their compassion. [10:15] Shannon brings up the idea of scope of practice, staying in our lane, and niche work. Yet, one aspect of yoga is also ahimsa - non-harm and speaking up when you see harm. [12:49] Shannon shares her personal experience as someone who is speaking up and calling for a ceasefire in Gaza now. [15:05] In the midst of this, Shannon has experienced some moments of hope and excitement. [19:36] Shannon addresses how yoga students may be feeling coming to their classes and what might support them in this time. [24:15] Anyone who is not speaking out to call for a ceasefire is being counted in the group that doesn't want a ceasefire. Shannon reflects on and share some of the conversations she has had with others on this issue. [30:44] Shannon has also been speaking with her therapist about everything that is going on in Palestine. [33:50] What is an action that you can take right now that embodies the teachings of yoga? [37:24] Shannon shares some of the things she is doing in her business. Links: Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "I was also feeling on edge about it, like something was really not feeling settled in me about it. So I've learned over the years and by making many mistakes, that this is when I need to pause and reflect." "Why does that [the conflict in Sudan and other parts of the world] not deserve our action, our compassion, our urgency?" "How do we address all of the suffering in the world?" - Shannon "What ethical theory would justify cutting off food, water, fuel and bombing trapped people to the order of 12,000 and counting in response to the killing of 1200 [and] the abduction of 240?" "There isn't just one genocide happening right now or one war or one conflict. And there's a lot going on in our own countries and our own communities. There's a lot that we can be doing right now to help the suffering of others." "You might assume that everyone wants peace and a cease fire. But there are a few people who don't. And when people say nothing, they start to get lumped into that group." "The safety of Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Palestinian and really all of us, all people, all of our safety is intertwined. So more violence is never the answer." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/29007453

353: Is Age a Yoga Niche? with Shannon Crow 12/04/2023

353: Is Age a Yoga Niche? with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 353: Is Age a Yoga Niche? with Shannon Crow Description: Shannon Crow continues the theme of Niche November by answering a question that two people asked in The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook group - is age a yoga niche? Shout out to Barbara and Beatrix for posting their questions! Shannon shares her insights about niching down. She invites you to consider if there is even a need for you to niche down at this time. She has a helpful PDF to guide your niching process too. Shannon also shares her thoughts about using age as a niche factor and how to showcase your niche on your website and social media. She also reiterates that you don’t need a website or a prominent social media presence to niche down! If you have been wondering about niching down, specializing in yoga, or how to communicate that with your dream audience, this episode is for you! Key Takeaways: [3:26] Shannon is responding to two comments in The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook group that really stood out to her. Both comments talk about age as a yoga niche. [4:59] Shannon reviews Barbara's website. Is her niche of teaching mostly students over 60 immediately apparent? [6:39] Is age a small enough niche or should there be additional niching factors? Shannon has a helpful resource with questions to guide your niche work! [9:45] Another comment was left by Beatrix who is interested in niching down to chair yoga. Shannon shares some of her thoughts around defining this niche. [13:55] Shannon pops in to share a little about OfferingTree. [15:25] It's not necessary to have a website or social media to define your niche and grow your yoga business in that niche! [16:35] Shannon highlights a big reason to find a niche and specialize! [19:03] Shannon wraps up with a straightforward answer to the question: Can age be a yoga niche? Links: Barbara’s and Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "Do you need to specialize or niche down right now?" "What does the ideal yoga look like that you want to be teaching?" "One of the big reasons that we niche down and specialize is we want our marketing to be a little simpler and we also want to see an increase in yoga students or our income." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/28876278

352: How to Niche with No Website with Shannon Crow 11/27/2023

352: How to Niche with No Website with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 352: How to Niche with No Website with Shannon Crow Description: Shannon Crow continues the theme of Niche November by tackling a question many yoga teachers have struggled with - how do you niche down and specialize without a website? In this episode, Shannon answers a question from a podcast listener and community member, Amy who has been trying to niche down for the past three years. Shannon does some sleuthing to uncover Amy’s niche and shares some tips about establishing a niche in your yoga business. Shannon also gives some advice on content ideas, why trying out a niche for a whole month is a good start, and where to market yourself if you don’t have a website! Tune in for some valuable tips if you have been thinking about niching down and specializing in your yoga business but have been putting it off because you don’t know how to do it without a website! Key Takeaways: [4:03] This episode is all about how to niche down and specialize without having a website. She shares a question from a podcast listener, Amy. [7:48] Shannon shares that she tried to discover Amy's niche by looking on Google and checking out her social media pages, and discovered something interesting. [11:35] If you don't have a website, you should be marketing where your ideal clients are hanging out. Shannon shares some tips on what kind of content to post. [14:59] Shannon pops in with a reminder that if you're looking for an easy way to create a website for your yoga business, you should check out OfferingTree. [16:29] Whatever platform you're choosing to market your niche on, try it out consistently for a month, at least! [20:46] Shannon shares some details about where you can hang out with her in real time and a short personal update. Links: Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "Do not feel like you're going to get to this place where, ok, all of the niche work is done." "You do not need a website to start niching down and specializing." "It is going to feel repetitive. I know it is. I know it so well. But trust me, there are so many ways to talk about [your niche] that if you're already excited to do it, you'll be able to continue it past the month." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/28696003

351: Water Yoga with Christa Fairbrother 11/20/2023

351: Water Yoga with Christa Fairbrother The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 351: Water Yoga with Christa Fairbrother Description: Water yoga (or aqua yoga) may not be widely known but it is a unique variation of yoga that has some amazing benefits. Christa Fairbrother shares her expertise on this uncommon variety of yoga. Christa is an internationally recognized aqua yoga coach and trainer who makes yoga accessible through yoga in the water. She is passionate about helping people start an aqua yoga practice and she trains movement professionals to offer aqua yoga in their communities. Christa is also an internationally recognized expert in water yoga and published author of Water Yoga. In this episode, Christa explains what exactly water yoga is and how it differs from traditional yoga that is done on land. She also talks about the science of immersion in water and the additional or different benefits that water yoga offers. Christa shares more about how water yoga can be a more accessible form of yoga for many people, especially those who deal with pain or are concerned about their strength. Dive into this interesting conversation to learn more about water yoga and how we can support people through different mediums to get the benefits of yoga. Key Takeaways: [3:42] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Christa Fairbrother. [6:56] What does Christa do and who does she do it for? [9:16] What got Christa started in teaching water yoga? [11:14] What are some common questions people have about water yoga? [12:36] Was there ever a moment when Christa felt hesitant or unsure about her niche in water yoga? [14:47] What are the benefits of doing yoga in the water? [18:53] What are some things people can try if they don't have an aqua yoga class in their community but they have access to a pool? [21:06] Shannon pops in to share a conversation she had with Sara Villamil who uses OfferingTree in her yoga business. [23:30] Where can yoga teachers learn more about teaching aqua yoga? [25:41] What are some things that hold people back from attending water yoga classes? [27:56] Christa highlights some of the benefits people find from doing yoga in the water. [30:12] Christa shares a bit more about how she teaches and the tranings and courses she offers. [31:40] Do you need to know how to swim to teach aqua yoga or be trained as a lifeguard? [33:35] Christa often works with yoga teachers where there is nobody else doing aqua yoga in their communities. How has she tackled the challenge of marketing and growing her own classes in a community that doesn't know about aqua yoga? [35:18] Where can you get in touch with Christa and learn more about her work? [38:06] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this interview with Christa. Links: Christa Fairbrother on and Six Week Series with Tyla Arnason Pelvic cancer Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "A lot of people who live with chronic pain or with arthritis, their joints are uncomfortable and the fact that you suddenly don't weigh as much, literally takes a load off." "Whatever poses you like, try those first." "The barrier is fear of the water and it's really important to acknowledge that because not a lot of people had swimming lessons, they might have had a traumatic experience even if they got swim lessons." "They're building so much body awareness, so much balance." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/28681003

350: Yoga for Autism & Special Needs with Shawnee Thornton Hardy 11/13/2023

350: Yoga for Autism & Special Needs with Shawnee Thornton Hardy The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 350: Yoga for Autism & Special Needs with Shawnee Thornton Hardy Description: Autism spectrum disorder affects about 1 in 100 children globally yet there is still a lot of misconception and misunderstanding about people with autism and other special needs. Shawnee Thornton Hardy shares more about how yoga can support people in this community. Shawnee is the Founder of Asanas for Autism and Special Needs and the Founder/Director of Yoga Therapy for Youth Certification Program. She has worked with children and adults with autism and individuals with diverse needs for almost 3 decades, specializing in working with children and adults with significant cognitive and language delays, sensory processing challenges, significant behavior challenges and trauma histories. Her goal is to bring the experience of yoga and somatic practices to all individuals no matter their differences or challenges. Shawnee is also a published author – and will be giving away three copies of her book! In this episode, Shawnee shares more about the children and teenagers that she works with, what their challenges may be, and how yoga can help. She explains some yoga practices that can help with anger and anxiety and how to bring calm when a class or student has high energy. Shawnee also highlights why it’s so important to treat each child as an individual and to let go of our preconceived ideas about them or their special needs label. Key Takeaways: [3:40] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Shawnee Thornton Hardy [7:12] What does Shawnee do and who does she do it for? [9:01] What inspired Shawnee to do this work? [10:33] What are some of the labels that get placed on children Shawnee works with? [14:15] What are some basic things a teacher who encounters a young person with complex needs in their class should know? [17:33] What trainings does Shawnee recommend for a yoga teacher who is starting out on this journey of supporting someone with special needs? [20:37] What are some of the benefits of yoga for young people in this community? Shawnee shares some anecdotes from her experience. [25:35] Shannon and Shawnee discuss how useful it is even for adults to be able to practice self-awareness. [28:35] Many adults today have grown up in environments where we were encouraged not to express our negative feelings like anger or sadness. [29:50] Shannon gives a shout out of thanks to sponsor, OfferingTree. [31:38] What are some practices that can help for children who are feeling a lot of anxiety or worry? [34:14] What does Shawnee do when chaos breaks out in her classes? [37:16] What is something that Shawnee wishes yoga teachers who are supporting children with complex needs knew earlier? [42:02] Shannon and Shawnee discuss the importance of caring for each child as an individual and not assuming that we know everything about them because we know their diagnosis. [45:25] Shawnee is giving away three books! Shannon shares the details of the giveaway. [46:14] How did Shawnee end up writing her books? [49:41] Shawnee reflects on how important leaning into celebration and joy is, and how that is part of her inner child work. [56:26] Shannon shares some of her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Shawnee. Links: Shawnee Thornton Hardy on and Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "[Labels] can be helpful to understand a diagnosis that a child or teen may have because we can have a sense of what some of their challenges or complications may be. But then once we know the label, we go deeper beneath and just look at that child or teen as just a human being and get to know their specific not only challenges but also strengths and their individual ways of navigating the world." "How can we ground ourselves in the sense of helping this individual child or human, whoever is in front of us, feel a sense of belonging?" "When we have kids that are in a dysregulated state, they're not in a learning space." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/28594258

349: Yoga Niche Success Story with Christine Jaureguiberry 11/06/2023

349: Yoga Niche Success Story with Christine Jaureguiberry The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 349: Yoga Niche Success Story with Christine Jaureguiberry Description: Niching down is a tried-and-tested method to grow your yoga business while allowing you to focus only on the things you love sharing. A guest from almost 5 years ago is back on the podcast to share her success story with niching down. Christine Jaureguiberry specializes in teaching Yoga for those who live with Scoliosis. She is the founder of Move with Scoliosis, born from her love of yoga and her own personal journey with living with scoliosis. Apart from her Shine membership, a support community with yoga and pilates practices for those living with scoliosis, Christine also offers workshops for yoga teachers who would like to support their students with scoliosis and/or spinal fusion. She also has a thriving YouTube following and is in the process of writing a book. In this episode, Christine shares an update about her business since the previous episode. She explains where she is in her business now and how she has grown her yoga business by focusing on her niche. She talks about running a niche membership, how she grew her YouTube channel to over 30,000 subscribers, as well as the roadblocks and challenges she had to overcome in order to get there. Key Takeaways: [3:04] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Christine Jaureguiberry. [6:49] What does Christine do and who does she do it for? [7:55] Alongside her YouTube channel and a book she is writing, Christine also has a membership offering. [9:47] What kind of struggle was Christine experiencing in 2017 that made her decide she needed to niche down? [13:26] What were some of the challenges Christine had in niching down? [16:10] Why is Christine still looking at ways to let more things go, even though she has picked her niche? [20:33] It's a common misconception that when you niche down, you have to immediately let go of everything that isn't within that niche. [20:59] Shannon pops in with a quick note about creating and hosting a membership site, which you can easily do on OfferingTree! [22:40] Does Christine now feel like an expert in movement for scoliosis? [26:29] We can't predict how our interests and inclinations may change or what our niche may be in a few years from now! [27:52] Sometimes we need a little external help to get started on our niche journey, and sometimes we just need to do one small thing at a time. [29:58] What are some roadblock that have come up for Christine as she navigates refining her niche? [32:12] What does Christine do in those tough times? [33:53] Christine has gotten help from her Virtual Assistant in her business. [37:18] Christine recognizes that she has different interests and may get pulled in different directions along the way, but she has found a way to harness that energy in her niche. [39:34] What advice would Christine offer a yoga teacher who is just starting out? [44:06] What are the benefits Christine sees in her yoga business now that she has really established her niche well? [46:34] How has Christine shifted her marketing efforts now that she has refined her niche? [48:54] Christine has also added Pilates to her offerings, even as she niched down in who she wants to serve. [52:30] Christine shares some of the ways you can connect with her. [53:48] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Christine. Links: Previous Episodes about Niching Down Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "One of them was as a yoga teacher to let people down. I think that was kind of a big thing... they really need me, what's going to happen if I don't teach that class? And there was a huge resistance around this." - Christine "Niche work doesn't end." - Shannon "Another one of my challenges was to fully commit to this work that I was doing because ... I have got many interests and there's lots of different projects that excite me." - Christine "It's just a process that you have to kind of go through over and over again and think of all the things that you do and what is it that you actually want to do?" - Christine "Sometimes the things don't happen obviously overnight and maybe not as quickly as we want them to happen. So we do have to stick with it, which I think is really hard, which is difficult at times." - Christine "If you commit to that journey and stay consistent with it, you will get there, you will get somewhere." - Christine /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/28502033

348: Yoga for Eating Disorder Recovery with Abbey Morris 10/30/2023

348: Yoga for Eating Disorder Recovery with Abbey Morris The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 348: Yoga for Eating Disorder Recovery with Abbey Morris Description: Eating disorders are a group of serious health conditions that affect about 70 million people worldwide. Yoga can be a helpful tool for people dealing with eating disorders or in recovery from them. Abbey Morris shares her personal journey and how yoga can support people in eating disorder recovery. Abbey is a Mindfulness & Meditation Instructor, Sound Healer, and Ayurvedic Yoga specialist. At her studio, she hosts unique public yoga and meditation classes, educational workshops and retreats and works 1:1 with clients on their healing journey through these various modalities. Abbey’s speciality is in working with folks on the journey to recovery from eating disorders/disordered eating and working on a more loving relationship with oneself. In this episode, Abbey shares the details of her own journey with disordered eating, as well as how yoga and Ayurveda have been a supportive, healing, and nurturing space for her through her recovery. She also highlights how she now works with others in recovery from eating disorders, including offering a series of yoga classes without any movement practice! Abbey explains the ways yoga teachers can support their students through recovery or dealing with an eating disorder through their cues, language, and more. Key Takeaways: [1:58] Shannon shares what sparked inspiration for this episode. [4:50] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Abbey Morris. [7:36] What does Abbey do and who does she do it for? [12:40] How did yoga help Abbey in recovering from her eating disorder? [23:01] Abbey talks about her journey of being reintroduced to Ayurveda. [33:05] Shannon pops in with a message about a 5-day website boot camp hosted by OfferingTree. [34:14] Did Abbey's yoga teachers or yoga teacher trainers know that she was dealing with an eating disorder? [37:37] Having an awareness that our students may be dealing with an eating disorder or in recovery from it is important! What are some things yoga teachers may be doing that are not helpful to this population? [46:29] Abbey has a yoga offering that does not involve any movement. She shares more about that. [56:04] Where can yoga teachers learn more about supporting students who are dealing with eating disorders or in recovery. [62:05] Shannon reflects on her key takeaways from this conversation. Links: Previous Episodes about Eating Disorders & Diet Culture Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "I finally let go of the pressure and the perfectionist attitude and the pushing and the going deeper or going harder or, you know, staying just a little bit longer. All of that was replaced with gratitude for just being in a body that could move." "I was reminded that I am no different than all of these other moving parts around me in nature." "Rather than it being so complicated as navigating digestion and nutrition can feel, it all became quite simple. And I realized that we are the ones that make it so complicated. Diet culture is the one that makes it so complicated." "Ayurveda gave me a lot of agency and it transformed the way that I view nourishment and my body altogether." "Nourishment is so much more than calories and what a disgrace it is to think that that's all it is." "This goes to the idea of yoga being a practice and not a performance." "If we only show up on our mats, when we're feeling like a million percent, then how is yoga supposed to help us through life?" "Everyone's recovery is very different and yoga in your recovery can also look very different as well depending on what you're ready for and what resonates with you." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/28448573

347: Yoga in the Cancer Community with Tyla Arnason 10/23/2023

347: Yoga in the Cancer Community with Tyla Arnason The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 347: Yoga in the Cancer Community with Tyla Arnason Description: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally, responsible for nearly . Millions more are diagnosed and survive cancer annually. As yoga teachers, we may have someone in our class who is from the cancer community or we may be interested in learning more about how we can better support someone dealing with cancer. Tyla Arnason is an expert in this area and has some insights about teaching yoga in the cancer community. Tyla is an accomplished yoga therapist who has been named a Top Ten Yoga Instructor in Calgary. She has spent the last 15 years working in partnership with the University of Calgary's Health & Wellness Lab in developing protocols used in programming for the cancer community and the research they supported. Tyla supports those with cancer, care teams, and yoga instructors through her specialized yoga therapy protocols, classes, and trainings. She describes herself as a movement optimist, and her philosophy is that with classes tailored to the individual, yoga can be made accessible to everyone and all students can become more confident movers. Tyla answers some questions yoga teachers often have, including: "How do I keep a student with cancer safe in a yoga class?" and “How can I gain the confidence to work with people from the cancer community?”. She also addresses specific questions about supporting students with different types of cancers, students who use compression garments, the impacts of post treatment meds, and much more. Key Takeaways: [3:11] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Tyla Arnason. [7:24] What does Tyla do and who does she do it for? [9:59] What got Tyla into doing her work in the cancer community? [11:13] What are some things Tyla wishes she would have known about working with someone who has a cancer diagnosis? [14:31] What are some things a yoga teacher could say if a student shares that they have/had cancer? [17:47] What are some things yoga teachers need to know about keeping students with a cancer diagnosis safe in their class? [21:04] What does the training for yoga teachers who want to get a basic knowledge about working with the cancer community look like? [22:42] What are some key things Tyla covers with yoga teachers in a training specific to cancer? [26:03] Tyla shares some examples of how she might modify some yoga poses to cater to students with different needs. [30:17] Shannon pops in to share a little about a recent Q&A session with Eddie of OfferingTree. [31:47] What is neuropathy and what kind of modifications are available for people dealing with that? [36:41] How does Tyla respond when people tell her they can't do yoga or are not allowed to do yoga? [44:10] Communicating and working with the healthcare team can be extremely helpful in supporting someone with a cancer diagnosis. [48:18] What does Tyla recommend if a yoga teacher gets a cancer diagnosis? [52:27] Where can you connect with Tyla and learn more from her? [56:55] Shannon shares some of her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Tyla. Links: Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "I was never too overly confident and so that allowed me to stay humble and to stay curious and to really recognize that I was not a cancer expert." "Specifically to cancer, I think that what teachers really want to understand is that every single diagnosis is different." "Sometimes yoga teachers, we could do ourselves a service by sitting for a moment and really considering what information do I need to gather in this moment? Because we don't need every single answer." "You have to really be able to change things quickly on the fly." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/28383068

346: Nāda Yoga with Rishima Bahadoorsingh 10/16/2023

346: Nāda Yoga with Rishima Bahadoorsingh The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 346: Nāda Yoga with Rishima Bahadoorsingh Description: Yoga is not just about asana - sound is also an important part of yoga, and this is called Nāda Yoga. Rishima Bahadoorsingh is a yoga teacher who focuses on teaching this element of yoga and she shares her insights about Nāda Yoga in this episode. Rishima has been immersed in the tradition of yoga since birth, practicing it as a way of life in her family. She began singing spiritual Indian songs in the temple traditions of bhajans, kirtan and other devotional styles at a young age and also studied classical Raga. In 2016, she found a deep with Nāda Yoga—the Yoga of Sound. Rishima teaches locally and internationally online in Spanish and English, and her goal as a teacher is to make the intricacies and beauty of classical Raga and traditional bhajans accessible to all, and to spark love within ourselves through sound. Rishima explains the three Nāda Yoga that she practices and teaches - Mantra, Raga and Kirtan/Bhajan. She talks about the differences between mantras and affirmations, how Sanskrit ties into to Nāda Yoga, what Raga is and how it is useful in meditation. Rishima also addresses some common questions like if you need to know Sanskrit to practice Nāda Yoga, how to deal with people who are uncomfortable with chanting or singing in Sanskrit (or other languages), and where to start learning about Nāda Yoga. Key Takeaways: [2:56] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Rishima Bahadoorsingh [6:01] What does Rishima do and who does she do it for? [6:45] Why does Rishima say that she is not a yoga teacher? [8:10] There are many ways to practice yoga that do not involve physical movement. [9:17] What are the three parts that make up Nāda Yoga? [12:14] What's the difference between a mantra and an affirmation? [15:18] Rishima clarifies that mantras within the Yogic tradition would most likely be in Sanskrit. [16:35] The second element of Nāda Yoga is Raga. Rishima shares some examples of what it is and how it is used. [19:57] Raga is an excellent tool for meditation. [22:19] Rishima explains a little more about the silence needed for meditation. [23:51] Shannon pops in with a message about OfferingTree. [25:26] Listening to the sounds can be just as powerful as singing or sounding them. [27:20] The third part of Nāda Yoga is Bhajan or Kirtan. [28:32] Some people may feel uncomfortable with Sanskrit or a different language. [31:46] Where can yoga teachers start learning about Nāda Yoga if they have never experienced it or learned about it before? [34:49] Where can yoga teachers learn more from Rishima? [35:53] Rishima shares some closing thoughts on Nāda Yoga. [37:27] Rishima does Nāda Yoga in Spanish and English! [39:06] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation. Links: Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "I feel like I do yoga as my life. It's not something separate from my life." "When you sing [Raga], you become a nada yogi, one who practices the yoga of sound." "With mantra and yogic practice in general, it's about repetition - the more you do it, the more benefits you will experience." "Singing in another language doesn't mean you're converting to a different religion." Summary: Nāda Yoga is the Yoga of Sound. Rishima Bahdoorsingh (she/her) shares the three aspects of Nāda Yoga she teaches and practices, how to incorporate Mantra and Raga into your yoga practice, why affirmations aren’t Mantras, teaching Bhajan/Kirtan and more. /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/28319003

345: Try a Month of This Niche with Shannon Crow 10/09/2023

345: Try a Month of This Niche with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 345: Try a Month of This Niche with Shannon Crow Description: Niching down and picking a niche to focus on as a yoga teacher is one of Shannon’s favorite things to talk about. However, it can feel overwhelming and seem like there is a lot of planning and work to do before niching down. In this episode, Shannon Crow shares her tips for you to pick a niche and niche down. Shannon shares a few anecdotes around niching down that can help you see that it really doesn’t have to be a big deal or a complicated process. Many yoga teachers are often hesitant or feel nervous about picking a niche because they feel like they have to do it forever or they have to be an expert in that area - but this is not true! Shannon also gives some ideas about what might be a niche you could pick and clear steps you can take today to start sharing that niche with your audience.This episode is perfect if you’ve been wanting to niche down but don’t know where to start. Key Takeaways: [2:56] Shannon loves to talk about niching down but it can feel like an overwhelming amount of planning and work goes into it. [3:30] Shannon shares an anecdote about how a couple of people have reached out to her about gardening. [5:35] It can make you nervous to pick a niche or specialty! [6:32] Shannon shares a first baby step you can take to niche down - choose a niche for a month. [11:34] Shannon pops in with a quick message about an upcoming live call with OfferingTree. [13:24] You can do a lot of niche work, and you can do more! Shannon shares a personal reflection about how niche work is showing up for her now. [16:10] What niche will you take on for a month? [17:34] Shannon shares some ways for you to connect with her in real time. Links: Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "I love to talk about niching down and specializing as a yoga teacher, but I also know that when I talk about this, it can feel like an overwhelming amount of planning and work goes into Niching down." "People get to know you for whatever you're talking about, and then at some point, they often will ask questions." "If you do want to stand out, you work on your niche or your specialty." "You do not have to choose something that you are the expert in and this isn't something that's going to be forever." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/28254536

344: Grief, Breaks and a Birthday with Shannon Crow 10/02/2023

344: Grief, Breaks and a Birthday with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 344: Grief, Breaks and a Birthday with Shannon Crow Description: Shannon has been navigating grief and some heavy personal issues recently. She has received a lot of support, kind words, and messages from listeners. In this episode, she reads an email she received from a listener. Shannon first talks about the grief she has been experiencing and the things that are helping and holding her through this time. She shares the email from a podcast listener and how it made her feel. Shannon reveals that she thought about quitting and even considered selling the podcast and Pelvic Health Professionals recently and the decision she made in the end. P.S. It is Shannon’s birthday and the best virtual gift you could give her is a podcast review! Key Takeaways: [3:34] Shannon is sharing an email from a listener on this episode. [4:11] Shannon shares a little about the grief she is experiencing and how she is finding comfort at this time. [8:53] Shannon gives an update about OfferingTree. [10:49] Shannon reads an email she received from a listener about the thing she shared in Episodes 339 and 340. [13:38] Shannon reflects on how reading this email made her feel. [15:42] It's Shannon's 47th birthday today! [17:20] Shannon shares a big update about how she was considering quitting and even thought about selling the podcast or Pelvic Health Professionals. [19:42] There are some ways you can hang out with Shannon in real time! Links: (Discount Code: Podcast50) Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: “I like them to see how it's not that hard to take a piece of lawn and turn it into a place where you can grow food." "I really think that when more and more people have time outside. It can impact us emotionally, physically in a good way and also it can impact the earth we're standing on in a really positive way, the more that people are outside." "What is the minimum that I need to do today to kind of keep things going and how can I ask for help with the rest that still is on my list?" /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/28182833

343: Niche Yoga Marketing with Sarah Karsten [Consultation Call] 09/25/2023

343: Niche Yoga Marketing with Sarah Karsten [Consultation Call] The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 343: Niche Yoga Marketing with Sarah Karsten [Consultation Call] Description: Marketing your yoga can be easier when you find your niche. How do you discover what you want to specialize in, and once you do, how do you market it effectively? In this live consultation call with Sarah Karsten, Shannon Crow guides her through niche yoga marketing. Sarah Karsten is a yoga teacher based out of Strathmore, Alberta, Canada. She discovered the transformative power of yoga about a decade ago when seeking a change in the world of fitness. Sarah is passionate about creating a supportive community for individuals who are seeking pain relief, stress management, and overall well-being. In this consultation call, Shannon asks questions to help uncover the niche Sarah wants to explore and her ideal working schedule. Together, they craft a marketing outline to let students know about her offerings and to expand her reach to new audiences. Shannon also shares helpful tips on where to get content ideas for marketing Sarah’s new niche and how to deal with imposter syndrome and overwhelm. If you are wanting to niche down and market your yoga to get more right-fit students and fill your classes, this is the episode for you. Key Takeaways: [2:51] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode which is a live consultation call - Sarah Karsten. [6:30] What does Sarah do and who does she do it for? [7:17] What would Sarah's ideal teaching schedule look like? [8:44] Shannon and Sarah dig into her specific niche as a yoga teacher. [11:53] Sarah explores why she feels hesitant and awkward about saying she's a yoga teacher. [14:43] There may be feelings of imposter syndrome to deal with when niching down. [19:27] Shannon and Sarah discuss her marketing efforts and how she can reach more people. [26:53] Shannon shares a little about OfferingTree. [28:37] Shannon and Sarah talk about how to market her online offerings. [30:41] Shannon offers some tips about how to speak to Sarah's niche audience. [33:08] What kind of content is Sarah usually sharing with her audience in terms of email marketing? [40:35] Shannon guide Sarah to find a rhythm that feels doable and sustainable for her in terms of sending out content to her audience. [46:49] It can be helpful to set aside time in your calendar to create content if you are struggling to find the time to do it. [48:43] What hesitations does Sarah have about implementing some of these suggestions? [52:17] Shannon shares some places Sarah can get content ideas. [55:49] Overwhelm is a very real part of being a yoga entrepreneur. Shannon shares some advice on tackling that. [64:39] Shannon reflects on this consultation call with Sarah. Links: (Discount Code: Podcast50) Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "Even when I first started teaching, I felt awkward to say I was a yoga teacher... And so that's already come easier. So I think it will get easier the more I talk about it." - Sarah "You're the best person if you're passionate about it." - Shannon "Remember why you're doing it. Also, remember that you're doing it to help people." - Shannon /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/28125056

342: The Yoga of Parenting with Sarah Ezrin 09/18/2023

342: The Yoga of Parenting with Sarah Ezrin The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 342: The Yoga of Parenting with Sarah Ezrin Description: Parenting can be really challenging, but yoga can be a useful toolkit for parents and people supporting parents. Sarah Ezrin, author of The Yoga of Parenting Book, has some insights on how yoga can help with the struggles of parenting. Sarah Ezrin is an author, freelance writer, yoga educator, and content creator based in the Bay Area. She writes extensively on the subjects of yoga, parenting, and mental health, often interweaving these themes, and she is a regular contributor for a variety of popular publications. Her recently-published new book is The Yoga of Parenting: Ten Yoga-Based Practices to Help You Stay Grounded, Connect with Your Kids, and Be Kind to Yourself. Sarah talks about her why for doing this work and what inspired her to write this book on yoga and parenting. She also shares the two articles that really resonated with people over the years, and how her book is different from other parenting books that can feel really overwhelming to parents. Sarah and Shannon discuss being a present parent, feeling guilty about taking time for yourself, and how to deal with unsolicited parenting advice. Whether you’re currently in the thick of parenting, are a new parent, or past the “active parenting” stage with older children or supporting parents in yoga classes, Sarah’s tips about the yoga of parenting will definitely be useful. Key Takeaways: [3:18] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Sarah Ezrin. [7:43] There's a special book draw you can enter to win one of Sarah's books! [9:05] Sarah talks about her why and what gets her out of bed in the morning. [11:08] What are some pieces of content Sarah has created that have really resonated with people? [14:19] What motivated Sarah to start writing this book that connects yoga to parenting? [18:29] What are some ways that yoga can help in parenting moments? [22:38] Even as adults, we have moments of dysregulation. [24:02] How did Sarah organize her book for parents and how does she hope people will use it? [26:20] Shannon pops in with a message about OfferingTree - a software that saves her time, money, and headaches! [27:27] What were some parts of the book that were challenging for Sarah to write? [30:45] Shannon and Sarah discuss how overwhelming it can be to write a book, particularly about topics as huge as yoga and parenting. [34:21] What are some things that Sarah has learned while writing the book that have positively impacted how she parents? [35:51] Shannon shares her personal experience of receiving unwanted parenting advice. [40:21] What tips does Sarah have for a parent who feels like they don't have time to meditate or do yoga? [44:06] Sarah addresses the guilt that parents often experience about taking time for themselves. [49:02] Where can you get a copy of Sarah's book and connect with her? [51:38] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Sarah and gives the details of the book giveaway! Links: Sarah Ezrin on , , , and (Discount Code: Podcast50) Gratitude to our Sponsors, and . Quotes from this episode: "What really gets me out of bed are the people that feel seen and heard by my work." "I just felt there was a lack of parenting books that were normalizing making mistakes." "All of us are the best parents for our Children. We are the best expert on our child." "The more I think I know, the less I know and the less I need to know." /episode/index/show/theconnectedyogateacher/id/28014426

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