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Are 200 and 500 hour designations meaningful, or are they just gatekeeping? Andrew Tanner, CEO of American Yoga Council, is uniquely qualified to speak on the topic; his past includes owning multiple studios, leading Kripalu School of Yoga and Ayurveda, a stint as a Yoga Alliance board member, and later leading its Standards Review project. Andrew describes founding the American Yoga Council as a public benefit corporation to improve yoga education and help professionals earn a living through transparent, competency-based school standards with accountability, member benefits like insurance and continuing education, revenue sharing back to teachers and schools, and consumer tools to match people with the right yoga for their needs. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:43 Andrew’s Yoga Journey 04:39 Kripalu Lessons and Trust 09:53 How (& why) Yoga Alliance isn’t living up to its potential 13:57 Why AYC Exists 14:47 Competency Standards and Accountability 20:33 Specialist Badges and Niching 26:47 Marketing Yoga to the Public 31:17 How to Learn More &  Final Thoughts EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: American Yoga Council (use code MADO30 for 30% off membership) LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Planning your first yoga retreat? Let’s make sure the math actually works! In this episode, you’ll hear a real-life retreat planning conversation about pricing, minimum enrollment, deposits, cancellation policies, and how to make sure you’re paying yourself for all the work that goes into creating a retreat. We also talk about how to communicate the value you bring when the retreat center already offers yoga, Ayurveda, food, and other experiences. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:54 Is it OK to Run a Retreat Over the Holidays? 02:48 Cancellation Terms with a Short Timeline 04:19 What’s the optimal length for a retreat? 05:13 Sustainable Approaches to Pricing 11:25 The reality of minimum numbers 16:40 How to communicate urgency without being salesy 20:46 Deposits and Refunds 25:38 Defining Your Value 29:51 Curating Guest Experts 34:19 Vetting Retreat Centers 38:24 Wrap Up and Next Steps EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Retreat Roadmap Get on the priority registration list for Mado's Yoga + Hiking in the French Alps October 2027 (Registration opens September 2026) Monisha's Website Monisha's Instagram   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Dreaming of leading your first yoga retreat? Save yourself time and potential headaches by following this two-step retreat center vetting process that covers everything from communication red flags to the fine print on cancellations. In this episode, you’ll hear exactly how I narrow down my options for retreat venues, compare apples to apples, and read between the lines to find the best venue for your first yoga retreat. If you aren’t sure exactly what questions you need to ask a retreat center before booking with them, tune in for practical advice for choosing the venue for your first or next yoga retreat. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 Why retreat leaders get stuck at step one 01:06 Start with the geographic region, but don’t get attached 02:30 Dedicated retreat centers vs hotels vs vacation rentals 06:07 Phase One: The non-negotiables 07:36 How to compare prices 08:59 Communication red flag 10:15 Phase Two: The fine print and extras 16:26 What to do when the choice isn’t clear 18:14 Contracts, deposits, & next steps EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Retreat Roadmap LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Many yoga retreat leaders have never attended a retreat as a guest. In this episode, I share 12 reasons why retreat leaders should prioritize experiencing a retreat from the other side. Some of these reasons are personal, such as forcing you to take a break, while others are more practical, like discovering your operational blind spots. Since finances are often a major hurdle, I also share three ways that retreat leaders can get discounts on other people’s retreats. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 Why Leaders Skip Retreats 01:07 Leader vs Guest Reality 03:46 Reason 1: Self-Care Reset 04:08 Reason 2: Spot Blind Spots 05:20 Reason 3: Reinvigorate Your Practice 06:04 Reason 4: The Food 06:56 Reason 5: Stop Overstuffing Your Retreat Schedule 08:11 Reason 6: Retreat Yoga is Different From Home Yoga 09:09 Reason 7: Retreat Social Dynamics 10:02 Reason 8: Build Confidence & Calm 10:43 Reason 9: Market Research 12:45 Reason 10: Venue Research 13:06 Reason 11: Reduce Taxable Income 13:36 Reason 12: Force Yourself to Rest 14:42 Money Objections and Values 16:27 3 Ways to Get Discounted Retreats 21:09 Why Retreats Support a Sustainable Yoga Business EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Retreat Roadmap LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Mado shares her top 5 tips for sequencing a 20 minute demo class to audition for a teaching position.   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Why yoga studios ask for a 20 minute audition. How to do research for the teaching job you are hoping to get.  What to focus on when you don’t have enough time to sequence a full class experience.  Teaching techniques you can use in your demo and beyond. How to have a plan for if you start running out of time and can’t teach everything you prepared. How to show up as your best self - even when you’re nervous.   EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Get a free downloadable cheat sheet based on this episode when you sign up for my email list.   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Dr. Crystal Frazee unpacks common myths and misconceptions about the breath that are frequently shared in yoga classes. In this episode, she shares the basics of breathing physiology that every yoga teacher should know - and how to apply that knowledge in a yoga setting. She advises teachers to drop the cue “deep breath,” prioritize quiet, effortless nasal breathing with lower rib expansion, emphasize the full breath cycle and pauses, offer opt-outs in group classes, and use gentle strategies such as slowed exhalations and brief breath holds to support CO2 tolerance and student self-observation. Listen to this episode to understand why these are best practices for teaching and cueing the breath in a yoga setting.   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:46 Meet Dr Crystal Frazee 08:27 The difference between breathing and respiration 12:25 What most people get wrong about oxygen and CO2 18:22 What we can learn from watching a baby breathe 23:58 Nose vs Mouth Breathing 31:35 Hyperventilation & Why it Matters 34:13 Pranayama and Dysregulation 37:26 Breathing deeply: The biggest breathing myth in yoga 49:31 Breathing and Yoga Therapeutics 56:41 How to teach breathing in general public classes 01:07:51 Key Takeaways & Recap   EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Crystal Frazee Website Follow Dr. Crystal Frazee on Instagram @drcrystalfrazee Follow Dr. Crystal Frazee on Facebook Graduate School of Behavioral Health Sciences (where Crystal studied breathing mechanics) Breathing assessment worksheet * Note: This worksheet is laid out as a diagnostic tool; however, yoga teachers are not qualified to make diagnoses. If you download this worksheet, you agree to use it for your own education and as a tool to evaluate whether to refer a client or student to a clinician for diagnosis.   LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

If you’re an anatomy nerd eager to share your enthusiasm for the human body with your students, you’ll love the insider tips and best practices we share in this conversation. Listen in to hear about the balance between clarity and accuracy, the importance of knowing your audience, and the potential pros and cons of incorporating anatomical concepts into asana classes. We also cover special considerations for teaching anatomy in yoga teacher training programs. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 02:51 Pros of including anatomy in yoga classes 04:36 Cons of including anatomy in yoga classes 05:47 Balancing anatomy in general classes 18:13 Considerations for teaching anatomy in teacher training 21:24 What it takes to be an excellent anatomy teacher 26:34 How to handle diagnostic questions 28:47 The most important aspects of anatomy for yoga teacher trainings 32:28 Dr. Libby Hinsley's anatomy training programs EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Libby Hinsley Anatomy Bites Anatomy Bites - Embodied Anatomy Follow Libby on Instagram @libbyhinsleypt LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Why is learning anatomy so hard for yoga teachers? In this episode, we discuss the importance of becoming fluent in basic anatomy to accurately speak about the body in your yoga classes. We know anatomy can feel like a foreign language - that’s because it is! But fear not, we have the secret sauce to make it all stick. From our own adventures with anatomy to tips that'll make studying a breeze, this episode is the ultimate cheat sheet for all wannabe anatomy enthusiasts. Get ready to unleash your inner nerd and build a rock-solid anatomical foundation. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 01:09 Why yoga teachers need basic anatomy knowledge 02:02 Challenges and misconceptions in learning anatomy 03:32 The role of anatomy in your yoga classes 09:13 Our personal journeys in anatomy learning 13:10 Tips for yoga teachers to learn anatomy 18:36 The basics: bones, joints, and muscles 23:24 The importance of context and relevance 28:14 Advanced tips and continuous learning 35:52 Recommended anatomy education programs EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Libby Hinsley Anatomy Bites Anatomy Bites - Embodied Anatomy Follow Libby on Instagram @libbyhinsleypt LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Learn to correct common misunderstandings about yoga. As teachers, we have an important role to play in improving the public perception of yoga. In this episode, you will learn the most common misconceptions that prevent people from trying yoga, why yoga is misunderstood in the wider culture, and what you can do about it as a yoga teacher.   Episode Highlights:  4 misunderstandings that make (some) people resistant to yoga Tips for sharing what yoga is really about How incorrect public perceptions of yoga spread and solidify Why hearing an objection about yoga is an opportunity and a gift Mini scripts to help you speak clearly about yoga   Episode Links & Resources Thinking Fast & Slow - By Daniel Kahneman   Links & Resources Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes

What does it actually take to run a yoga teacher training? In this episode with Angela Hammond, founder of Main Street Yoga, we talk about the real behind-the-scenes of leading a 200-hour yoga teacher training. From curriculum design and Yoga Alliance requirements to navigating group dynamics and burnout, Angela shares what she’s learned over years of trial and error. Teacher trainings are a lot of work, yes—but also the most rewarding format for teaching. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 Angela’s story 03:09 Opening a studio in a small town 05:15 Why start a teacher training 10:07 Building the curriculum 12:01 Refining through feedback 15:24 Schedule and teaching load 16:33 Anatomy teaching breakthrough 22:39 Online vs. In-Person 24:30 Advice for new trainers 28:36 How to know if you are ready 31:55 Final tips EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Main Street Yoga Follow Main Street Yoga on Instagram @mainstreetyogafmt Follow Main Street Yoga on Facebook Follow Angela Hammond Yoga on YouTube @angelahammondyoga Embodied Anatomy LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

Physical demonstration is an important tool for teaching - so what do you do when an injury prevents you from being able to demonstrate? In this on-air coaching call with Juzbi Walia, we explore what it means to teach yoga with an injury, from rethinking asana beyond set sequences to developing more subtle, specific approaches to movement and instruction. What at first feels like a limitation can actually boost creativity, expand accessibility, and highlight the role of structure and community in long-term growth.  EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 01:10 Meet Juzbi: A yoga teacher returning to her hometown and grappling with an injury 09:26 Why teaching with limitations feels so hard - but can be a catalyst for growth 12:27 Reimagining Asana Practice 14:42 How to Build Community Through Access 18:06 Cultivating a Growth Mindset with Discernment 23:18 How to Challenge without Compromising Safety 27:44 The benefits of a One-on-One Teacher 31:14 Wrap-Up and Next Steps EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Follow Juzbi on Instagram @juzbiyoga Follow Yoga With Juzbi on Facebook LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

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

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

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

Should we modify spinal flexion for osteoporosis? Osteoporosis affects approximately 20% of women over the age of 50 and increases the risk of bone fractures. In this episode, Dr. Libby Hinsley and I continue our 3-episode miniseries highlighting common medical conditions.    Episode Highlights: What is osteoporosis, how to treat it, and how to prevent it. Why many people don’t get diagnosed with osteoporosis until after they fracture a bone. The three most common locations for osteoporosis, and how this might affect a yoga practice. Whether or not to modify yoga practices for higher-risk students who do not have an osteoporosis diagnosis.  How osteoporosis is different from other common medical conditions that are likely to show up in your yoga classes.   Episode Links & Resources: Visit Anatomy Bites Libby Hinsley Follow Libby Hinsley on Instagram @libbyhinsleypt Follow Libby Hinsley on Facebook   Other Resources: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast