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In this episode, we’ll talk about applying anatomy to movement and in a specific way: the student who is out of alignment. This can be something that raises alarm bells for teachers and it’s often a mask for a lack of understanding anatomy.  In this episode, I break down four common yoga alignment scenarios and explore why we need to look beyond whether a position appears right or wrong. You’ll learn how to evaluate the actual demands of a pose, understand when an alignment issue requires action on your part and we’ll take a look at the common fear and worry associated with students who are out of alignment.  I mention in the beginning of the episode that I recently updated my 3 main training videos on the following:   How to do the Walk and Talk   https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-do-the-walk-and-talk   How to share effective cues   https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-share-clear-yoga-cues   How to create a Signature Sequence   https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-create-a-signature-sequence   I also share a new way you can work with me to get some help to craft or update your Signature Sequence. You can now sign up for a Sequence Solution Session where I’ll help you craft aa sequence you love and can confidently teach. Sessions are just $29 and you can book one here:   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Sequence-Solution-Session   I also mention how I can help you learn anatomy and how to apply it to your cues and sequences in my program, The Yoga Anatomy Accelerator:   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

It’s common to spend time worrying about things when you’re teaching. But just because it’s common, doesn’t mean that you need to be worrying about these things. In fact, when you spend your time worrying while teaching, it feels pretty uncomfortable. The fact that teachers worry about so much is an unfortunate result of a lot of the beliefs that are common in the yoga industry. This episode is a chance to see through a lot of those beliefs, move past them and in the process, drop the worry you might have for different things that might show up.  In this episode, I share 5 common things that yoga teachers worry about and underneath each one is a core feeling, which is fear, and that fear is driven by a belief they picked up from talking to another teacher or maybe one they created themselves. You’ll hear about the scenario of the beginner in class, the person who says they’re injured and even the situation when a person leaves your class early.  We'll explore the difference between being overly attached, or attached in an unhealthy way, to the students versus taking responsibility for things that are within your professional scope of practice.. meaning, the things that are on your plate to worry about versus the things that are not. And, when I say “worry” what I really mean is the things that are your’s to know how to do.  There are a few links that go along with this episode, which you can find below:   https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/the-5-day-confidence-challenge   https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-create-a-signature-sequence   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

Feeling confident and like teaching yoga is easy and natural isn't about trying to control everything that happens in your classes. But often, teachers try to do that because they think some things are theirs to control when they’re really not.  In this episode, I'm sharing 6 essentials that can help you become a more confident, intentional yoga teacher while letting go of the worry and pressure around the things you can't control. We'll talk about creating a signature sequence, understanding the cues you share, learning the essentials of anatomy, adopting a walk-and-talk teaching style, shifting from attachment to agency, and finding a grounded approach to yoga philosophy. You'll also discover how to focus your energy on what matters most: understanding what you're teaching, knowing why you're teaching it, and taking responsibility for your own growth as a teacher. Resources mentioned in this episode are:  https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/ten-steps-to-learning-anatomy   https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-create-a-signature-sequence   https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-do-the-walk-and-talk   https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-share-clear-yoga-cues     https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

“I don’t teach that in my classes because my students can’t do it.” I hear teachers say this all the time. But how do you actually know what people can and can’t do? In this episode, I take a deeper look at the assumptions that can sit behind this belief—from our own experiences and limitations, to assumptions about older, newer, or deconditioned students, to things we’ve simply been told by other teachers. We’ll also look at the fear that offering a challenging movement might somehow put our students at risk, and how our attachment to having students “do it right” can actually get in the way of teaching objectively. Using High-to-low push-up as an example, you’ll discover why understanding anatomy changes the way you teach. When you understand what a movement is asking the body to do, you can observe what’s actually happening, offer modifications and useful cues, and help students develop the strength and skill they need to progress. Because sometimes, when we decide a student “can’t do it,” we’re actually denying them the opportunity to discover what they can do. And this is one of the reasons learning anatomy is so important for yoga teachers. It’s not about memorizing muscles and bones, it’s more about filling in the knowledge gaps so that you can trust what you teach.  You’ll hear more about this in the episode and here it is:  Download my free guide, 10 Key Steps to Learning Anatomy:    https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/ten-steps-to-learning-anatomy   Here’s the link to the Accelerator Program, where I’ll show you how to use the blueprint to learn anatomy:      https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

What happens when the way you want to teach is different from the way you were trained to teach? In this episode, I’m exploring the tension between following the script and actually responding to the people in front of you. We’ll use Child’s Pose as a case study: a pose we’re often told is restful and accessible, yet one that can be surprisingly uncomfortable for many people. What happens when teachers can see that discomfort but don’t have the anatomical understanding or tools to know what to do about it? This is a conversation about moving beyond memorized cues, learning to observe what’s actually happening, and developing the confidence to teach from understanding rather than simply repeating what we were taught.   Here is a video on social media that I created that partners with this episode:     https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dd9oYV0PM46/   Here is the link to the Accelerator Program:   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

Have you ever given a cue in class and wondered, “What does this really mean?" Many yoga teachers learn cues by hearing them in teacher training, taking classes or watching other teachers. But when you don’t understand the WHY behind a cue, it can be hard to trust what you’re saying—or know what to do when a student is out of alignment.  In this episode, I’ll walk you through a simple framework for creating cues from an understanding of anatomy rather than relying on memorization. We’ll look at how to start with the pose, identify the major joint movements, determine which muscles are creating those movements and then turn that understanding into something you can actually say to your students. I’ll also share my 3 action cues + 1 anatomy cue approach and explain why I always say, “Say the cue, see what they do.” Because the goal isn’t to memorize more cues. It’s to understand the WHY behind what you say so you can adjust, reframe and teach in your own voice. That’s how you begin to trust your cues—and trust what you teach.   Here’s the video I referred to in the episode:   https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdozrvOMQC2/   Here is the link to the Yoga Anatomy Accelerator. You get a $50 discount for being a podcast listener ( let me know you’re ready to enroll and I’ll share the code)   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator     Here’s the link to the 90 day coaching program:   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/blueprint-learning-program

Have you ever walked into teach your class, started teaching and something triggered you to feel nervous or anxious? In this episode, we’ll talk about why this can happen even after you’ve completed your 200-hour teacher training and feel like you “should” be getting it by now.  I’ll share how overcomplicated sequences, complex cues and the pressure to please or take care of your students can make teaching feel harder than it needs to be. You’ll learn simple strategies to help you stay grounded, including using a signature sequence, simplifying your cueing with action cues, and what to do in the moment when anxiety starts to take over. The other piece of the episode that will really shift your perspective is the section on mindset. The mindset you have about your role as a teacher, especially as it relates to you and the people in your class, is a huge part of how you feel when you teach This rarely gets discussed in teacher training and that’s why so many teachers end up feeling nervous when they teach.  Trusting yourself as a yoga teacher doesn’t mean you’ll never feel nervous. It means having a clear approach you can rely on when you do. Here’s a download on how to create a Signature Sequence:    https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-create-a-signature-sequence   And if you’re looking to get support to pull this all together, here’s how we can work on it together:   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

How can anatomy actually help you build a yoga sequence? In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of a recent hip-focused Movement Lab and share the simple framework I used to create a 30-minute sequence leading to Half Pigeon. You’ll learn how starting with an objective, creating the structure of your class, and using movement to guide your pose choices can make sequencing feel simpler and more intentional. I’ll also show you how understanding the anatomy behind your sequence can help you create clearer, more effective cues.   Links:       https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-build-a-yoga-sequence-lead-page     https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

When you went to teacher training, how much “real life” support did you get around scenarios that come up when you’re teaching? If you’re like a lot of teachers I talk with, you didn’t get much. Now that you’re teaching weekly classes, you might feel like  every class there’s a new situation that comes up where you’re not exactly sure how to handle it. In today’s episode, I cover 7 scenarios that arise and an approach to each.    The conversation covers both the technical aspects of teaching, meaning cues and sequences, the anatomical aspect of teaching, meaning how you apply anatomy to movement as well as the mindset piece that can impact how you feel when you teach.    As you listen, you’ll hear me refer to The Yoga Anatomy Accelerator. If you’re curious to find out more, here’s the link:     https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator     If you have questions or are wondering if it’s a good fit for you, just reach out to me in my Instagram DM’s and let’s talk.

As we head into the fall, there’s a natural shift in energy, People get back to work, their regular schedules and children return to school. With that shift, we as yoga teachers can leverage this shift and speak to it in our classes to match how students are feeling. This can be a fun experiment and exercise in bringing in a theme to your class and also giving yourself a chance to speak to a theme that’s outside the technical aspect of teaching.    In this episode, you’ll discover a way to approach your classes this fall that allows you to feel in control and calm and to have an approach that helps you build confidence. You’ll learn how to bring in simple movement based themes and a short exercise you can do after your class to track how you’re feeling- in an objective way.    At the end of the episode, I speak about a new opportunity for you called, “September Sessions.” This is a series of 4 live teaching labs I’ve added for just the month of September for teachers inside my program, The Yoga Anatomy Accelerator. It’s designed to help you learn in real time how to apply anatomy to movement. All the details and dates of the live sessions are on the program page which you can see here:   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator   If you have questions, just send me a DM on Instagram.

If you've been following my Anatomy Breakdown videos on social media this summer and loving the format and content, this short bonus episode is for you. I'm sharing why those videos inspired something new I'm launching this September (2026)—and why learning how to think through movement is far more valuable than memorizing anatomy or repeating cues. In this special announcement episode, I’m sharing a new way for you to up level your confidence- it’s called September Sessions, a new series of Live Teaching Labs designed to help you learn how to apply anatomy to movement without having to memorize anatomy or feel like you’re just repeating what you were told in teacher training.  You can discover the exciting details in the episode and of course, you’ll need the link to the Yoga Anatomy Accelerator which you can find here: https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

In a number of episodes, I speak about the anatomy and how to apply it to your teaching. But in today’s episode, I take it up a notch and talk about once you’re the kind of teacher who truly understands not just the anatomy but how to apply it to movement, what’s the transformation? By this I mean what kind of transformation do you experience?    This is the kind of episode that’s meant to inspire; to help you see what’s possible for you and to take you from the day to day teaching of classes, to the broader vision that describes the teacher you really want to be.    In this episode, I share a Listener Appreciation Bonus. This is something that’s only available to listeners of the pod. Once you get to it, you’ll need these two links:     https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator     https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/blueprint-learning-program

As summer comes to a close, I found myself reflecting on the episodes I shared this summer, conversations I had with teachers and what’s coming up in the fall. The fall is always a busy time and for yoga teachers, you’ll find busier classes and more beginners. In today’s show, I share a few lessons I learned by really listening to the teachers who reached out, emailed or commented on my social media and I share these lessons with you in this episode.    As you listen, see which ones resonate and what you might add that’s a lesson you learned from teaching this summer.    As always, I love to hear from you so drop me a line and share any thoughts you have.    Links:   The Yoga Anatomy Blueprint Learning Program   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/blueprint-learning-program     The Yoga Anatomy Accelerator   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

I hear from so many teachers that they feel overwhelmed learning anatomy. This leads to a host of problems like the teacher feeling like there’s something wrong with them because they can’t learn it but also that they aren’t able to feel confident teaching.    The reasons behind why so many teachers feel this way have to do in part with how the yoga industry is set up to teach anatomy inside 200 hour trainings. But more importantly and connected to that is the lack of a step by step, proven method is what’s missing. Inside my programs, I have a step by step proven method that has helped teachers all over the world move past this feeling of overwhelm and instead feel confident that they know what they’re doing when they’re teaching.    Today’s episode will give you the step by step way to learn anatomy and if you choose to work with me inside one of my two programs, I’ll walk you through it. You also learn about how people learn and the brain science behind it. You’re going to discover some things in this episode that will surprise you.    Here are links to the two programs and my e book as well:    The Yoga Anatomy Accelerator/ 30-day short program:   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator   The Yoga Anatomy Blueprint Learning Program/ 90 day coaching experience   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/blueprint-learning-program     The Bare Bones Yoga Guide to Yoga Teaching     https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/the-bare-bones-yoga-guide-to-incredible-yoga-teaching

In today’s episode, I share a simple framework for how to bring anatomy themes into your classes. This is a great way to use the Signature Sequence you already know and simply overlay an anatomical theme onto it, to teach your students about movement and lend a bit of a different focus.    I also review a recent article about yoga teacher pay and talk about the implications of what was raised for you and how you plan for the work you do as a yoga teacher. You’ll find links to the articles below.   Article one:   https://www.thesunlightexperience.com/insideyogablog/some-of-us-scrape-the-floors-others-can-afford-the-apartment-a-hard-look-at-yoga-alliances-executive-pay   Article two (related):   https://yenfeng.substack.com/p/the-half-million-dollar-ceo-salary   E book:   https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/the-bare-bones-yoga-guide-to-incredible-yoga-teaching   How to build a Signature Sequence:    https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-create-a-signature-sequence   The Yoga Anatomy Accelerator:    https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator     The Yoga Anatomy Blueprint Learning Program:   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/blueprint-learning-program     The Mindset Method:   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/the-mindset-method