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In this episode, I’m exploring what happens when you’ve built a successful business, you’re earning enough and you have plenty of clients, but you still feel compelled to do more. Through three conversations with Yoga business owners and two stories from the Mahābhārata, we’ll look at the beliefs and habits that keep us striving long after the original need has passed, why an empty space in your calendar can feel surprisingly uncomfortable and what it might take to trust yourself to choose less. Because sometimes the next step in your business isn’t more growth. It’s learning how to live well with what you’ve already created. And if you’re curious about exploring these kinds of questions through the stories and teachings of the Bhagavad Gītā, come and join me for Gita Chat Club. We’ll spend six sessions over 12 weeks exploring the text, its mythology and philosophy in a relaxed, conversational way, without needing to be an expert. You can sign up for the full club or come along to a free taster session to see if it’s for you. Check out the brand new Gita chat Club here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/gita Support this show and access all the extra goodies on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/AmyMcDonald Join the Returning Retreat here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/returning Join the Business Breakthrough Day here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/breakthrough REFERENCE: Besant, Annie (1899) Mahabharata: The Story of the Great War, The Theosophical Publishing House, Adyar, Chennai.

Today I’m joined by Mark Breadner who has spent 45 years teaching yoga and more than 30 years educating teachers. His work has taken him from yoga rooms and teacher trainings to elite sport, corporate performance, Tibetan monasteries and online education. Through all of it, one question has remained: what does it actually mean to teach? Today, Mark's work explores Teaching in the New Room—helping experienced teachers translate decades of lived wisdom into a digital world without becoming influencers or content creators. His message is simple: the room has changed. Great teaching hasn't. Check out Mark’s work here: https://vip.yogacoach.com/ And follow him on Instagram @mark.breadner Support this show and access all the extra goodies on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/AmyMcDonald Join the Returning Retreat here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/returning Join the Business Breakthrough Day here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/breakthrough Check out the brand new Gita chat Club here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/gita

Last month we kicked off the new Yoga Teacher Circle with some juicy questions about boundaries. Enjoy a teaser of that conversation. And over on Patreon I’ve got a bonus episode of the podcast all about a recent Shero I discovered. Enjoy! Support this show and access all the extra goodies on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/AmyMcDonald Join the Returning Retreat here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/returning Join the Business Breakthrough Day here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/breakthrough And if you’re interested in working with me individually around your own life, relationships or inner world, you can find out more about counselling here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/counselling REFERENCE: Rao, Kavitha (2021) Lady Doctors: The Untold Stories of India's First Women in Medicine, Westland, Chennai

There’s a strange point in personal growth where you can become very good at understanding your patterns without actually changing them. In this episode I’m looking at why insight isn’t always enough, how attachment and people-pleasing patterns can show up with students, studio owners and colleagues and what it takes to interrupt those automatic responses and choose something different. Support this show on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/AmyMcDonald And if you’re interested in working with me individually around your own life, relationships or inner world, you can find out more about counselling here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/counselling

I’m kicking off a brand new season with a special guest! Kiara Armstrong is the creator of Rubber Band Method®, a system for teaching hands-on yoga through anatomy-informed, consent-centered, and biomechanically precise techniques. She has been a full-time yogapreneur for nearly 15 years, building a sustainable business through hands-on-based classes, private clients, retreats, and teacher trainings. Her work is informed by her background as a massage therapist and anatomy educator, bridging the gap between technique and application. Kiara teaches instructors how to use hands-on work to enhance the student experience, differentiate their teaching, and build a thriving, sustainable career. She is also the author of Hands-On Yoga Assists. Access your special gift from Kiara here: https://www.rubberbandmethod.com/amy Join the launch of the Yoga Teacher Circle and Support this show on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/AmyMcDonald Join the Returning Retreat next month here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/returning REFERENCE: Gilani, Nadia (2022) The Yoga Manifesto: How Yoga Helped Me and Why It Needs to Save Itself, Bluebird, London

Are you spending way too much time answering questions from people who are interested in your Yoga business, but never actually buy? In this episode, I’m talking about sales boundaries: how to stop turning enquiries into free coaching sessions, how to recognise when scarcity and people-pleasing are driving your sales conversations, and how to create a simple process that protects your time while still being warm and helpful. Listen to the full episode on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/AmyMcDonald And if you’re interested in working with me individually around your own life, relationships or inner world, you can find out more about counselling here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/counselling

What do you do when a Yoga student irritates you, pushes your buttons, crosses a boundary or simply makes you think, ‘Oh god, not this person again’? In this teaser episode, I’m exploring what our reactions to students can teach us about boundaries, projection, emotional labour and the difference between compassion and making ourselves endlessly available. Listen to the full episode on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/AmyMcDonald And if you’re interested in working with me individually around your own life, relationships or inner world, you can find out more about counselling here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/counselling

It's birthday week, which means it's time for my annual birthday sale. From now until 6 August, I'm offering 20% off both my Returning Retreat and 1:1 Business Coaching. If you've been thinking about working together, or joining me on retreat, this is a lovely opportunity. 1:1 Business Coaching The birthday sale brings coaching from AUD $3,500 to AUD $2,800 (approximately £1,350 or US$1,800). If you're wondering whether coaching is the right fit, I'd love to invite you to book a Clarity Call. It's a relaxed conversation where we can explore your goals, what's happening in your business, and whether we'd be a good fit to work together. Learn more about coaching: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/coaching Book a Clarity Call: https://scheduler.zoom.us/amymcdonald/strategy Returning Retreat If what you're craving isn't another strategy or another online course, but a chance to step away, breathe, reflect and reconnect with yourself, Returning might be exactly what you need. Three days. Two nights. Time to slow down, think clearly and remember what matters. Learn more about Returning: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/returning If you've got questions, please get in touch. And please don't not book a Clarity Call because you're worried you'll be wasting my time. You won't. I promise.

Have you accidentally built a business where everyone has direct access to your attention? In this episode, I'm exploring the yogic concept of pratyāhāra and how it can help you create clearer communication systems, reduce unnecessary interruptions and reclaim your focus. We'll look at practical ways to simplify your tech, your notifications and your client communication so your business supports your work instead of constantly distracting you from it. If you'd like the space to step back and work on your business rather than just in it, I'll also tell you a little about the dedicated business day at this year's Returning Retreat. Learn more here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/returning Support the show on Patreon. Here is the link: https://www.patreon.com/AmyMcDonald

This week I'm exploring something that's been quietly bothering me for a long time: somewhere along the way, we've become very good at teaching Yoga poses, but we've forgotten that Yoga has always been a tradition of stories. In this episode, I share why stories have been central to the Yoga tradition for thousands of years, explore the extraordinary roles of Vyasa and Valmiki, and reflect on why the Ramayana and the Puranas continue to speak so powerfully to modern life. If you've ever wondered whether there was something deeper beneath the physical practice of Yoga, this conversation is for you. If you'd like to experience more of these teachings, registrations are now open for my free three-part online series next week, where we'll explore three ancient stories from the Yoga tradition and what they still have to teach women today. Sign up for the free training here: https://mailchi.mp/amymcdonald/story Check out all the Returning Retreat details here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/returning Support the show on Patreon. Here is the link: https://www.patreon.com/AmyMcDonald

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Swami Atma Muktananda Saraswati, the long-time resident teacher and manager of Rocklyn Ashram, where we’ll be gathering for my upcoming October Returning Retreat. Swamiji has spent more than 40 years living, teaching, and serving at the ashram, and in this conversation we explore the traditional Satyananda Yoga system, the role of Yoga Nidra in creating deep relaxation, the history of the ashram, and what life in an ashram is actually like. We also talk about community, practice, and why stepping away from the pace of everyday life can create space for something quite profound to happen. After spending time out at the ashram recently, I’ve become even more excited for our retreat. There’s something very special about the place — the warmth of the people, the beautiful bush setting, the simplicity of the rhythm, and the feeling that you can put down all of the usual “doing” for a while and simply arrive as a student and practitioner. If you’ve been craving more depth in your practice, more spaciousness, or simply a few days away from holding everything together, I genuinely think this experience is going to be incredibly special. A quick reminder too: the super early bird pricing for the retreat ends this Sunday, so if you’ve been considering joining us, now is a really lovely time to book in. Enjoy the conversation. Check out all the Returning Retreat details here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/returning Support the show on Patreon. Here is the link: https://www.patreon.com/AmyMcDonald

Have you ever found yourself wondering whether you're tired of teaching... or simply tired of the way you've been doing things? In this final episode of the 'Beyond the Yoga Hustle' series, I’m exploring the quieter questions many Yoga teachers are carrying: what if success doesn't have to mean constant growth? What if you're chasing goals that no longer fit who you are? And what if the problem isn't your business — but the standards you're using to judge it? Shop my coaching sale and get a $1000 gift!: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/coaching Watch the free trainings here: mid-year realignment training here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/videos Check out all the details for my Retreat here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/returning Support the show on Patreon. Here is the link: https://www.patreon.com/AmyMcDonald

In today's yoga industry, standing out can feel harder than ever. More teachers. More studios. More online options. More competition for attention. But what if the problem isn't that there are too many yoga teachers? What if the real problem is that too many teachers are saying the same things? In this episode, I’m exploring why traditional niche advice often falls short, why generic marketing is making teachers increasingly forgettable, and what actually makes students remember and connect with a teacher. Watch the free trainings here: mid-year realignment training here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/videos Check out all the details for my Retreat here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/returning Support the show on Patreon. Here is the link: https://www.patreon.com/AmyMcDonald

Guest Jeremy Engels joins podcast host Amy McDonald to talk about ‘Living Namaste’, what it means and how it can make a difference, taking Yoga into the world for equality and the wellbeing of all and how to stay inspired and true to your values as a studio owner. Follow Jeremy’s work here: https://jeremydavidengels.com or Instagram @jeremy_david_engels Sign up for the free mid-year realignment training here: https://mailchi.mp/amymcdonald/realign Check out all the details for my Retreat here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/returning Support the show on Patreon. Here is the link: https://www.patreon.com/AmyMcDonald

Yoga teachers don't usually burn out from teaching. We burn out from the marketing, admin, travel, content creation, and all the other jobs we're expected to do alongside it. In this episode, I unpack why burnout is so common in our industry and what it might take to build a business that doesn't leave you exhausted. Sign up for the free mid-year realignment training here: https://mailchi.mp/amymcdonald/realign Check out all the details for my Retreat here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/returning Support the show on Patreon. Here is the link: https://www.patreon.com/AmyMcDonald