079: Yoga and Endometriosis with Kimberly Castello [Part 1]
In part 1 of a 2-part series on endometriosis, we welcome Kimberly Castello, a certified Yoga Therapist who completed her Clinical Internship with the Simms Mann Venice Family Clinic in Los Angeles, California. Kimberly specializes in developing chronic pain management programs for individuals, hospitals, and clinics.
Kimberly tried yoga when a friend recommended it to her, knowing that as a dancer she had a love for movement. She shares that she fell in love with yoga as soon as she hit the mat and soon after pursued yoga teacher training. Her curiosity and devotion to yoga have only grown stronger and her passion for teaching has been enhanced through her life experiences.
At the age of 27, Kimberly fell ill, finding herself plagued by fatigue. She also had bladder issues and persistent pelvic pain. Kimberly describes how she and the many doctors she saw were stumped by her symptoms. Eventually, asking to be tested for mononucleosis (with the results coming back positive), she believed that to be the answer to her mysterious symptoms. Nonetheless, the severity of her symptoms continued and worsened. Kimberly describes the grueling process that eventually led to being diagnosed with Endometriosis many years later.
Kimberly generously shares her experience in order to bring awareness and validate other women’s experience with this crippling disorder. Endometriosis has been long been overlooked and is far more common than was believed. There has been very little research done in this area of women’s health, with doctors writing the symptoms off as menstrual pain with the attitude of “suck it up”. Kimberly defines the condition, how it is a lifelong struggle and her approach to managing what she describes as an autoimmune disease. She also openly shares the grief, depression, and isolation she encountered while coping with the diagnosis that shifted the course of her life.
6:20 Shannon defines endometriosis
8:30 Kimberly’s yoga journey
10:00 Kimberley’s mysterious illness
16:50 Kimberley’s surgery for endometriosis and her decision to pass on medication that would have put her into early menopause
18:00 The connection between mononucleosis and endometriosis and how endometriosis is an autoimmune disease
19:10 How Kimberley defines endometriosis and the symptoms that accompany the condition
21:50 The lack of education around endometriosis and developments in this area
23:15 Kimberley’s long road to being diagnosed with endometriosis
25:10 How endometriosis feels
27:25 Kimberley describes some symptoms she experienced and how it can begin and progress differently in every woman
30:00 Kimberley’s experience with weight gain as a symptom of endometriosis and her struggle to accept this change in her body
31:25 Accepting that this systemic illness would affect her for the rest of her life and that she’d have to “work 10 times harder than the average person works to do the simplest things” and the struggle to process the grief
32:45 How Kimberley is coping with the illness now and what has she found helpful in managing the disorder e.g. diet, focusing on what she can do rather than what she can’t do, managing her expectations
37:35 The importance of practicing restorative yoga
38:50 Kimberly’s choice to share her story
40:20 Helping herself and others find acceptance that their life won’t look the way they imagined
41:55 Kimberly on finding acceptance, patience, and kindness for herself through yoga
43:55 Kimberly’s advice on coping for those who have been newly diagnosed
46:00 Suggested poses and breathing practices for symptom relief
49:10 “What can you do to give yourself what you need in the moment?” How this advice to her students has begun to spill over into Kimberly’s life and how it applies to those with endometriosis
52:20 Kimberly explains “endo belly”
54:40 Kimberly’s decision to wean herself off medications (under the guidance of a doctor) and eating, breath work and yoga for her body and the importance of taking time to rest when she’s tired
59:25 Can restorative yoga help to prevent inflammation when brought on by stress and the benefit of “self-talk”
1:02:50 Keeping things in balance- in life and in our yoga practice
1:04:00 What services Kimberly offers and her philosophy of “meeting people where they are”
1:06:00 Shannon’s wrap-up and key takeaways
Links
Kimberly’s Email: info@kimberlycastelloyoga.com
Kimberly’s Website: Kimberly Castello Yoga
Kimberly Castello Yoga on Facebook
The Connected Teacher Facebook Group
Follow The Connected Teacher on Youtube
Book a Consultation Call with Shannon
Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training September 22nd and 23rd, 2018
Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity
078: Creating an Online Studio with Brea Johnson
Brea Johnson has over 16 years of yoga teaching under her belt and has recently ventured into the world of online teaching. Finding herself tired of the class grind she refined what and how she teaches and in doing, so she was able to define her niche. In shifting her focus, she also found herself turning to a more sustainable approach to yoga by bringing in movement education and research to enhance her yoga teaching. This approach has attracted an international audience which inspired Brea to offer online classes and teacher trainings.
With an open and authentic spirit, Brea shares her experience with creating and offering online content. She shares how teaching in this format works for her lifestyle and how she loves being able to dive deeper into teaching and being able to cover more details through her online offerings that she isn’t able to cover in her weekly class.
There are, of course, many challenges. Shannon also shares her experience with her online offerings and dispels the myth that online teaching can provide a comfortable passive income when it is, in fact, an ongoing process.
Brea and Shannon also discuss online platforms to host your videos, equipment suggestions, and Brea’s method of offering online memberships. An episode filled with great advice, Brea sums it up best: “The first step is to be bold enough to put yourself out there.”
5:30 What moved Brea to teach online
7:20 What led Brea to define her niche and her “ yoga existential crisis”
11:20 What Brea found the most challenging aspect of offering online classes
12:40 How Brea’s online class membership works; library of classes, filters to help students find a class that works for them e.g. focused on a certain area of the body, energy level
15:50 On how she found the perfect time to shift her focus
17:00 How often Brea adds new classes to her online collection
19:15 The choice to hire professionals to film DIY and Brea’s experience filming the classes herself and equipment she uses
21:00 Brea’s suggestion on choosing a wireless mic
24:00 Other video making advice; the camera, lighting, shooting the video
30:10 Brea’s editing process and the editing program she uses
31:35 Brea’s approach to keeping in touch with her clients and offering classes and on her choice to teach without notes
32:55 Which platform Brea uses to host her classes online
35:35 Brea’s online YTT offering and the importance of teaching movement teacher trainings
42:35 On Brea’s rebellious nature
43:20 Shannon and Brea discuss the accessibility of online classes and trainings such as reaching an international audience, and focusing on “How can I provide online classes?” rather than simply “Can it be done?”
46:15 How to reach Brea and access her free content and how pleased she is when those access her free online content
48:30 The importance of seeing a diversity of ages in our yoga teachers in online content
53:05 Shannon’s final thoughts and her experience putting herself out there online, feeling vulnerable, and her advice to you if you’re thinking of offering online courses
Links
Email Brea: brea@heartandbonesyoga.com
Brea’s Website: Heart and Bones Yoga
Hearts and Bones Yoga on Instagram
The Connected Teacher Facebook Group
Follow The Connected Teacher on YouTube
Book a Consultation Call with Shannon
Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training September 22nd and 23rd, 2018
Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity
077: Interstitial Cystitis (Painful Bladder Syndrome) with Helena Spears
Shannon met Helena Spears through a discussion in The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook group about interstitial cystitis.
Upon graduating from her 200-hour yoga teacher training, Helena turned her focus towards teaching chronic pain informed yoga as well as yoga for pelvic health. Shannon asked Helena on as a guest to share her first-hand experience with interstitial cystitis and persistent pain and the many benefits of practicing yoga in regard to pain management.
As a teen, Helena was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis (IC) and in her 20s, through a cliff jumping incident, she developed chronic back pain. The back pain evolved into Fibromyalgia and Ankylosing Spondylitis (an inflammatory arthritis that attacks the spine).
Helena describes how she turned to yoga for chronic pain management but soon found the benefits were limited within the confines of a traditional yoga practice. She shares this experience and her perseverance in pursuing her own yoga path on her website:
“It was in my early 30s that I discovered how powerful yoga can be in managing pain; the emotional, spiritual and physical. I decided to pursue my yoga teacher training out of frustration and curiosity. I was frustrated that “regular” yoga practice seemed to flare my Fibromyalgia, yet I knew that yoga could be the key to helping heal my overactive nervous system and dialing down my pain. Since completing my yoga teacher training, my practice has deepened in a way I never thought possible. The emotional healing and guidance I have received from studying sutras and yogic philosophy inform my life and practice every day. Through meditation, I have learned to tap into the calm part of my soul, pranayama allows me to quickly tap into that inner calm”
Helena candidly shares her experience with Interstitial Cystitis, the anger she encountered while coping with her persistent pain, the importance she places on the mind/body connection, and the sutras that are guiding her along her journey.
7:30 Helena’s yoga journey
10:40 Helena describes her chronic pain
12:30 The definition of Interstitial Cystitis (from the IC Network website)
13:25 5 different types of IC (listed in The Connected Yoga Teacher Interstitial Cystitis (Painful Bladder Syndrome) PDF)
16:35 No one-size-fits-all treatment for IC
17:30 Helena’s take on the term “Painful Bladder Syndrome” as an alternative to Interstitial Cystitis
18:55 Helena’s IC symptoms
19:45 Helena’s experience with the mind/body connection in relation to persistent pain
21:35 The benefit of yoga in nurturing Helena’s mind/body relationship and the activities Helena has given up due to pain and stress
25:35 Helena’s yoga practice
27:05 The benefits Helena has found using Muse headbands
32:50 Helena’s interest in pursuing Yoga for Pelvic Health and taking Pain Care Yoga- Teacher Training and Learning with Tianne
34:40 How Helena wants to empower her yoga students and how she’s always learning as a teacher
36:30 How Helena feels the spiritual aspect of yoga, such as the Yoga Sutra has helped her cope with chronic pain- Ahimsa (compassion for self) and Aparigraha (non-attachment) and Brahmacharya (dedication to practice) are guiding principles in her life
39:55 Anger and chronic pain- how Helena identified and worked on her anger and the importance of acceptance
42:25 What Helena would say to someone suffering from persistent pain
45:30 Helena’s concern for men who feel like they can’t convey their pain which is toxic for pain management
46:00 The emotional component of persistent pain and the importance of treating the mind, body and soul
48:35 How best to reach Helena
Links
To enter to win a Muse Headband leave a comment below these shownotes :)
Helena’s Website: Helena Spears Yoga
PDF: Interstitial Cystitis (Painful Bladder Syndrome)
Website: The IC Network
Definition of Interstitial Cystitis on The IC Network website:
“An unpleasant sensation (pain, pressure, discomfort) perceived to be related to the urinary bladder, associated with lower urinary tract symptoms of more than six weeks duration, in the absence of infection or other identifiable causes.”
Shelly Prosko’s Website: Physio Yoga
Pain Care Yoga- Teacher Training and Learning with Tianne
The 10 Step Approach to Living with Pain Webinar (scroll down the page a bit to see video and links to handouts)
Book: When The Body Says No by Gabor Maté (chapter 1 available for no charge)
The Connected Teacher Facebook Group
Follow The Connected Teacher on Youtube
Book a Consultation Call with Shannon
Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity
076: Designing A Yoga Teacher Training with Rachel Scott
Think back to your first 200-hour yoga teacher training. What was it like? Did it fit your learning style? What do you wish was included? If you’ve given these questions some thought perhaps designing and teaching yoga teacher training is a path for you.
Shannon came across Rachel Scott in a serendipitous-like fashion. Rachel had shared photos on the Pixabay (a free image-sharing site), and Shannon used one for her online 5-Day Content Creation Challenge. Noticing that Rachel was a yoga teacher, Shannon clicked on the link to Rachel’s site. Discovering that Rachel did consultation work with yoga teachers interested in designing their own YTT, (a topic Shannon wanted to cover on the show), Shannon took the opportunity to invite Rachel on the podcast as a guest.
Rachel is an educational designer and teacher whose mission is to support yoga teachers and studios to create their own excellently crafted and delivered teacher trainings. She has worked in education for nearly twenty years and led the Teachers College at one of Canada’s largest yoga studios for more than seven. The author of two yoga books, she hosts an award-winning blog and has contributed to several publications. Rachel has a BA from Columbia University, Masters of Science in Instructional Design and Learning Technology. She describes herself as “part nerd, part creative artist”, believing in elevating strengths, laughing out loud, and taking a few deep breaths.
With warmth and wisdom, Shannon and Rachel discuss the pros and cons of designing a yoga teacher course, how to determine if this path is right for you, teaching and planning strategies and much more.
As always, please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. What would you like to see included in a yoga teacher training? Have you given thought to teaching one?
11:30 How Rachel become interested in helping yoga teachers create their own yoga YTT and her process of becoming a consultant
17:45 Rachel’s perspective on creating online yoga content with good intentions (versus income-focused)
19:05 Rachel’s approach to guiding teachers through designing a YTT
22:00 How do yoga teachers know if they’re ready to create a yoga teacher training, the qualities of a good teacher and defining where strengths and interest lies
26:00 How to test the waters to help you decide if you would like to teach a YTT and considering training for becoming a good teacher
28:05 “One of the reasons to teach is to learn” -don’t feel pressured to go into teaching “knowing all”
30:00 Helping students learn versus telling students what you know and Rachel’s first time leading a YTT and learning the significance of this “creating an environment where people can make mistakes” a practice and actively learning instead of students sitting and listening
33:10 Is there a downside of designing a YTT and pitfalls to avoid
36:35 Considerations to help you determine what to charge for your YTT
41:20 How much content can students manage to process in a day and strategies that can help
44:40 Rachel’s thoughts on improving YTTs she has attended- finding a way to give feedback to students, some form of accountability, clarity in what students will learn from a course
49:10 The services Rachel provides and how to work with her
53:15 Shannon’s wrap up and final thoughts on offering yoga teacher trainings
Links
Contact Rachel for a free 15-minute consultation call:
Rachel’s email: info@rachelyoga.com
Rachel’s Website: Rachel Yoga
The Connected Teacher Facebook Group
Follow The Connected Teacher on YouTube
Book a Consultation Call with Shannon
The Connected Yoga Teacher 5-Day Content Creation Challenge
Relevant TCYT Episodes:
052: Create Your Online Course with Janelle Allen
061: Too Many Yoga Teachers with Kimma Stark
Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity