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The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

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Now displaying: September, 2018
Sep 24, 2018

083: Instagram for Yoga Teachers with Daniel McIntire

 

As a yoga teacher have you thought about creating an Instagram account? Do you already have an Instagram presence and wonder if you’re on the right path? Have you thought about creating a separate account for your yoga business? Today’s guest, Daniel McIntire, the founder of Influncrrs helps to answer these and many more questions about Instagram.

 

Daniel McIntire knew yoga was right for him the first time he tried it. It took him over 3 years to consider teaching but when he did his 200 YTT it was another great fit. He began by teaching part-time and expanded into full-time teaching when he quit his corporate job in 2016. He taught several classes a week to sustain a living but found in time that he was getting burnt out.

 

Daniel has happily found a place for yoga in his life- as a hobby. He has found his current niche as the creator and owner of Influncrrs by following his passion for incorporating his yoga practice into his online presence. As he expanded his skills in this area, he was able to help others market events on Snapchat and Instagram. Daniel came to realize that he felt most passionate about and excelled in guiding clients through expanding their business through Instagram. When working with his clients focuses on a couple of key goals 1) to increase traffic to their Instagram account and 2) encourage public engagement and feedback.

 

Daniel shares many gems including the importance of quality over quantity when it comes to posting, the value of public engagement in the comments section, and his 3 key components to a good post.

 

7:05 Daniel’s yoga journey

 

12:00 How Daniel started sharing his yoga on Instagram and then turning that into a career

 

16:35 How often Daniel recommends posting- quality over quantity

 

19:55 How Daniel prepares his Instagram posts- gives himself 30 minutes in a quiet space and reflects on the subject of the post

 

21:45 Daniel on captions and the opportunity it affords to connect with your words, along with your photo

 

22:25 The Importance of interacting with your audience by replying to comments- Daniel checks in daily

 

23:20 Shannon asks Daniel whether she should have a personal account and a separate business account

 

27:35 Daniel on Instagram Stories and cautions putting out too many stories and how they can be beneficial for showing another side of yourself

 

30:55 Shannon asks for advice on engaging her followers with her podcast-related posts

 

34:00 Daniel’s helps his client to draw out what they have to offer and talks about the importance of clients creating their own content

 

34:55 On Daniel’s realization that engagement is more valuable than followers

 

35:25 How Daniel helps his clients 1) get traffic to their account 2) get more engagement with their content (such as a free e-book) which helps clients create a list of leads, discover their niche, and develop a long-term strategy

 

37:25 Daniel’s feeling that there is so much misinformation about social media engagement and that it is simpler than is perceived

 

39:35 The best way to connect with Daniel and request a free week of consultation

 

42:30 Linktree- allows you to share more than one link on Instagram

 

43:30 Shannon’s wrap-up and key takeaways



Links

 

Daniel on Instagram @dmacyoga

 

Daniel's Business on Instagram @nfluncrrs

 

Daniel's partner Courtney on Instagram @courtrandyoga

 

Shannon's Instagram Account @shannon_crow_yoga

 

Influncrrs E-Guide: Win on Instagram

 

Fuel Yoga Workouts in Portland, OR

 

The Connected Teacher Facebook Group

 

Follow The Connected Teacher on YouTube

 

Book a Consultation Call with Shannon

 

To Contact our virtual assistant Samantha Scott for website design help and more:

 

Tech Crazy Va: Website Design, System Efficiencies & Virtual Assistant Services

7-Steps to Link Schedulicity to your Instagram account

 

Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity

Sep 17, 2018

082: Yoga and Fibromyalgia with Pamela Crane

 

We are so grateful to welcome Pamela Crane, a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapist (IAYT) who is currently working towards her Masters in Yoga Therapy at Maryland University of Integrative Health.  She is a Yoga Alliance 200 RYT, a Reiki 1 and 2 practitioner, and a member of the National Dance Education Association (NDEO).

 

On today’s episode, Shannon asks Pamela to speak to her experience with Fibromyalgia- as a sufferer and as a yoga therapist. As a lifelong dancer, Pamela was devastated when the pain of Fibromyalgia changed her life. In addition to the condition, she dealt with chronic pain, anxiety, and depression for years and credits yoga as a major factor in her path toward healing.

 

Pamela wants to share the benefits of yoga with others and as a yoga therapist has worked with those suffering from Fibromyalgia, dancers, and most recently those who work in corporate environments by providing workshops on stress reduction.

 

Pamela and Shannon discuss Pamela’s personal experience with this condition, how to balance the yin and yang of physical activity, how yoga teachers can support their students with Fibromyalgia and much more.



6:50 Pamela’s first yoga class

 

9:10 Pamela describes how yoga “saved her life”

 

12:35 How Fibromyalgia wasn’t understood until the later 2000s and suffers previous to this time weren’t validated and made to feel it was psychological

 

13:05 Pamela’s definition of Fibromyalgia and her experience with the condition

 

17:10 How Pamela has been able to manage her pain

 

19:20 Pamela expands on how it feels to suffer from the condition and the sufferer's relationship to pain

 

20:40 How practicing gratitude and forgiveness has helped Pamela

 

22:00 Practicing mindfulness and meditation

 

22:55 How to support a new student who suffers from Fibromyalgia and the importance of keeping in mind that yoga teachers can’t diagnose or treat people, rather support the student to find their own healing

 

25:35 How meditation, restorative yoga, or yin vs. yang might not be the answer for every sufferer will work- listen to the individual

 

26:55 How aerobic activity can benefit those with Fibromyalgia, the importance of not pushing too hard and how yoga can facilitate those activities

 

29:10 Pamela’s personal experience with finding balance with physical activities

 

33:50 As a yoga teacher when planning classes “less is more” and checking in with students after class (even a day or two later)

 

35:45 What Pamela likes to include in her yoga classes: constructive rest, sitali and viloma breath, loving-kindness meditation

 

42:15 Pamela’s work as a yoga therapist for stress management workshops in corporate settings

 

43:55 On Pamela’s love of helping those who may not believe yoga is right for them and guiding them towards a style that may work

 

45:30 Pamela’s belief that stress, in her own case, was a major factor in developing Fibromyalgia

 

47:20 When Pamela will receive her Masters in Yoga Therapy from Maryland University of Integrative Health and her advice on choosing a school if you aspire to become a yoga therapist

 

50:40 How to reach Pamela and her work with clients online and in-person

 

53:00 Shannon’s closing thoughts and key takeaways, including her own experience with “less is more”



Links

 

Pamela’s Website: Crane Yoga Therapy

 

Jump-start your 2019: 6-Week Group Program for Yoga Entrepreneurs

 

Metta Meditation by Shannon Crow

 

The Connected Teacher Facebook Group

 

Book a Consultation Call with Shannon

 

Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity

Sep 10, 2018

081: Set-Up to Teach Private Yoga [Consultation Call] with Stephanie Brunson

 

Do you or have you considered teaching private yoga classes as a way to set up or grow a yoga business? If so, this episode is for you!

 

Shannon shares a consultation call with the kind permission of Stephanie Brunson. Stephanie has been teaching yoga for 10 years and has recently come to the realization that teaching students one-on-one is a viable option for her. She is excited at the prospect of changing focus but is asking where to start with her new endeavor.

 

Stephanie  turned to The Connect Yoga Teacher Facebook group and asked:

 

Can anyone help me with setting up in home yoga lessons? I have been teaching now for almost 10 years and have recently been asked to teach private sessions. I don’t even know where to begin. Liability, waivers, session goals sheets, session pricing? Packages or partner lessons? Any help or advice is appreciated.

 

With her experience as a consultant to yoga teachers and teaching private yoga classes Shannon guides Stephanie through some key considerations along with some of the benefits, she has found teaching one-on-one. Shannon also sends Stephanie off with some concrete steps as she moves toward her goals.

 

10:20 Stephanie’s question to The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group

 

11:10 Stephanie’s struggle to set her prices and to articulate what she is offering

 

11:50 The mindset around private yoga versus other one-on-one teaching situations (such as piano lessons) and the benefit of teaching private yoga classes

 

17:40 Your first session with your client- bring a liability and waiver form to help with intake and asking your client to do some movement for assessment (while avoiding diagnosing conditions)

 

21:40 Thinking about working with a client as part of their team (even if their team hasn’t been established yet) and on keeping clear boundaries with your scope of practice

 

26:20 Asking your client what their goals are and on meeting them where they are and keeping track of their progress

 

28:30 Designing package rates

 

30:35 Shannon walks Stephanie through what to consider when setting her rates

 

34:05 Considering safety and liability issues when going to your client’s home or holding the session in your home

 

35:55 Considering prices for a session with 2 or more people (semi-private)

 

37:00 Marketing and advertising and the benefit of word-of-mouth

 

39:50 Creating social media posts that address potential clients fears and special needs or perhaps offering specialized services (such as couples yoga or yoga for back pain)

 

44:15 Stephanie asks about online one-on-one sessions

 

46:30 Stephanie considers good places to advertise to target her audience

 

48:40 Scheduling your clients and organizing your schedule and thinking ahead to create seasonal specials

 

51:15 Stephanie’s realization that there is a market for private yoga

 

52:00 The joy Shannon has found working with clients one-on-one

 

52:55 Shannon sets up Stephanie’s first steps for advertising and guidance with growing her private yoga business

 

56:00 Shannon’s key takeaways:

 

  1. Teaching one-one is easier than teaching to a group
  2. Feedback and modifications happen easily when teaching one-on-one
  3. Work one-on-one with a yoga mentor so that you have experience as the student
  4. Bring a waiver form
  5. Ask questions:

 

Do they have any conditions? How does it affect them (symptoms)

Their stress levels- at work and at home

Pain levels on a scale from 1-10

Ask clients to do some movements to assess

 

Make sure to have a notepad

 

  1. Consider yourself part of a health-care team (work in your scope of practice) and create a list so you are able to refer your client to specialists
  2. Empower your client to create yoga goals
  3. Consider your prices and the possibility of offering packages
  4. Location- in your space or your client’s or somewhere else
  5. Marketing and advertising through social media, websites and more
  6. Create your private yoga schedule
  7. Consider niching down to provide specialized services

 

Pick one actionable item and share with Shannon. It can be something from the list or something else that works for you.

 

Links

 

Group Program for Yoga Teachers

 

Shannon on Instagram

 

The Connected Yoga Teacher Editable Student Waiver Form

 

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

Sep 3, 2018

080: Yoga and Endometriosis [Part 2] with Dustienne Miller

 

In part 2 of our 2-part series on endometriosis, Shannon asked yoga teacher and physical therapist Dustienne Miller to share her knowledge and experience working with clients with this chronic illness.

 

Dustienne feels strongly endometriosis is underdiagnosed and that there is much more to be understood in this area of women’s health. It is now recognized that 1 in 10 women struggle with this chronic illness. Dustienne also wants all women to trust their intuition when determining the severity of their pain and to know that period pain should never be debilitating.

 

Dustienne began studying to become a physiotherapist in 1994 and began practicing yoga while doing musical theater in New York City as a way to warm up. She continued practicing yoga at home and decided to pursue yoga teacher training at Kripalu. Dustienne came to realize as a yoga teacher and a physiotherapist specializing in pelvic health, that these disciplines complemented each other beautifully. She began to integrate yoga into physical therapy home programs and saw the difference yoga made to her clients suffering from endometriosis.  

 

Dustienne details for us how pranayama and asana can ease the symptoms of endometriosis. She describes the connection between pranayama and the pelvic floor and her way of leading clients through asana in a progressive fashion to minimize overextending themselves.



6:20 Dustienne’s yoga and physical therapy journey

 

8:50 Dustienne describes endometriosis

 

10:40 Symptoms of endometriosis

 

12:20 What Dustienne has heard from her clients suffering from endometriosis

 

13:20 Are the endo flare-ups in sync with the menstrual cycle?




15:40 Pain management- the importance of teaching strategies in order to allow sufferers to have ownership over managing the flares

 

How yoga can benefit those with endometriosis:

 

16:25 Pranayama- a daily practice can help with the prominence of the parasympathetic nervous system to be more dominant which can lessen the pain

 

17:30 Relationship between pranayama and the pelvic floor and the importance of lengthening the spine to optimize the pranayama-pelvic floor connection

 

20:55 Asana- a gentle yoga program can mobilize the tissues and the muscles that are attaching to both the pelvis and the thorax



22:15 Yoga poses to approach with caution extensions and cause rebound pain

 

24:40 Is there a pain level where one should avoid asana and Dustienne’s hope that students will feel that for themselves

 

27:40 The benefit of child’s pose, goddess pose, banana pose, standing half-moon, supine twist (to help with rotation through the spine) and their variations

 

32:55 Dustienne’s love for restorative yoga, that it is “real” yoga

 

33:55 Additional advice from Dustienne and on reconditioning the body to have a different response to pain to help lessen it (softening the belly, table pose letting belly hang)

 

36:05 Other treatments Dustienne recommends for endometriosis

 

38:20 How endometriosis can be diagnosed and how treatment options are evolving as research into this illness expands

 

40:25 Misconceptions around endometriosis, how raising awareness is helping e.g. through social media campaign #1in10

 

42:10 Importance of listening to intuition- don’t push yourself

 

42:55 Shannon’s closing thoughts and wrap-up and on “curating your team”



Links

 

Dustienne’s summary page of resources

 

Dustienne’s website: Your Pace Yoga



Related TCYT Episodes:

 

079: Yoga and Endometriosis [Part 1] with Kimberly Castello

 

007: Breath and Pelvic Health with Trista Zinn

 

008: Core Breath and Pelvic Health with Kim Vopni

 

009: Kegels, Mula Bandha, and Pelvic Health with Shelly Prosko

 

033: A New Perspective on Diastasis Recti with Sinead Dufour

 

073: The 8 Limbs of Yoga [Part 1] with Shannon Crow

 

074: The 8 Limbs of Yoga [Part 2] with Jennie Lee

 

 

 

Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training September 22nd and 23rd, 2018

Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity

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