The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
Ep 127: Let Nature Theme Your Classes with Alee Link
Description:
Do you create your classes around a certain theme? Or have you been a part of a class where every pose and transition was intentional and flowed, and it left you wishing you knew how to structure your classes like that? Alee Link is great at intentional teaching, and finds the inspiration for her classes in nature - she shares how you can, too!
Alee Link attended her first yoga class when she was 12 years old, and in 2011, she completed her 200-hour RYT certification. In 2013, Alee and her husband founded River Flow Yoga and Wellness in Georgia, where she offers students yoga classes primarily rooted in Vinyasa (Flow) Yoga. She also created the MoonLIT Tribe app, which offers moon rituals, mantra, guided meditation and more for people looking to connect with themselves, each other, the planet, the stars, and everything around us.
One of Alee’s specialities is intentional teaching around a general theme for each class. She shares more about how she chooses her theme for each class, based on things that are going on in nature like the seasons, the placement of the moon, and the stars and what’s going on around her. Shannon and Alee also discuss the importance of intentional teaching, and why teaching classes around a certain theme doesn’t have to involve a lot of work.
If you’ve been thinking about where to get theme ideas for your classes, tune in to this episode to find out why you don’t have to look any further than the nature around us for inspiration and guidance.
Key Takeaways:
[6:18] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Alee Link.
[8:16] What does Alee do, and who does she do it for?
[9:43] Alee was only 12 years old when she went for her first yoga class. When did she decide to become a yoga teacher?
[14:15] What are some things Alee wishes she had known when choosing her first yoga teacher training?
[18:40] How does Alee teach intentionally and theme her classes?
[25:20] Alee shares an anecdote from her experience about the founding of the MoonLIT app, and how yoga teachers can use the app.
[31:37] Shannon and Alee discuss the importance of nature, not just in yoga but in other aspects of life.
[33:20] How much pressure does Alee feel in being intentional with every pose and transition in her teaching sequence? Does she communicate her intentions with her class?
[40:23] When leading yoga teacher training to new teachers, how does Alee guide them to create themes for their classes apart from just focusing on their own practice?
[45:08] How does Alee map out her classes?
[50:01] What is something Alee has learned in leading yoga teacher training?
[52:46] What has been a lightbulb moment for Alee's teachers in her training?
[58:11] Does Alee also incorporate things that are going on around us in the world, in terms of news, current events or politics?
[1:03:29] Get in touch with Alee on social media, check out the MoonLIT app, or visit her websites to find out more about her work.
[1:04:21] Shannon shares her greatest takeaways, and would love to hear yours!
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity
Quotes from this episode:
"My purpose on this planet is to spread the message of connectivity."
"That's how I teach, is based on what's going on in the natural world around us and that is our greatest teacher."
"My greatest advice is to take the time to understand the natural world."
"Just giving yourself a little space and grace to explore, I think is the biggest thing."
"The natural world is happening around us regardless. So we can either jump into the flow, or force ourselves against it and resist it."
We have heard from a lot of yoga teachers in the last few weeks regarding the new standards released by Yoga Alliance. In this bonus podcast episode, Shannon Roche explains what this means for both yoga teachers and schools.
Links mentioned:
https://essentials.schedulicity.com/schedulicity-cares/
https://www.yogaalliance.org/New_RYS_Standards
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
Ep 126: Body Mindful Yoga with Jennifer Kreatsoulas
Description:
This episode deals with a topic that impacts so many of us and our students: body image and making peace with the bodies we have. In the USA, up to 30 million people suffer from an eating disorder, and worldwide, almost 70 million. Yoga can be a powerful tool to navigate the daily challenges of recovery from eating disorders, or even to help people accept their bodies.
Jennifer Kreatsoulas is a certified yoga therapist specializing in eating disorders and body image. As an inspirational speaker and the author of Body Mindful Yoga: Create a Powerful and Affirming Relationship With Your Body, she helps others who struggle with their bodies find peace of mind with yoga and mindfulness practices. She also provides yoga therapy online and in-person, and coaches healthcare and yoga professionals.
For over 20 years, Jennifer has struggled with anorexia, and she reveals how that inspired her work in helping people who struggle with their bodies through yoga. Shannon and Jennifer discuss what words and cues can be triggering and some alternatives you can use instead, as well as the general language in our culture around food, fitness, and fashion.
Being mindful of our bodies and creating an affirming relationship with our bodies is not easy, but it is work worth doing. This episode will surely shed new light on some of our practices in cueing during yoga classes, and how to be more aware of the language that we use and that surrounds us.
Key Takeaways:
[5:25] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Jennifer Kreatsoulas.
[7:18] Who is Jennifer and what is the work she does?
[9:35] What is an eating disorder?
[12:50] In the US, 30 million people are affected by eating disorders.
[14:26] What made Jennifer decide that yoga would be a part of her recovery?
[16:14] What are some examples of triggering words or actions?
[21:11] Jennifer and Shannon discuss the importance of educating and empowering students with the language you use, as well as bringing inquiry into the class.
[24:20] We're often told to love our bodies, but that is hard to do sometimes.
[26:18] Jennifer shares some of the language around body parts that can be sensitive.
[31:50] What are some other verbal cues to pay attention to?
[34:05] Movement in a yoga class may not come as easily to beginners as it does to us as yoga teachers, who have been doing it for years.
[35:51] What are some of the best practices surrounding body mindful yoga?
[40:34] There is so much power in our words - we need to be mindful of how our words can hurt ourselves, hurt others.
[45:01] Who is Jennifer's target for her book, Body Mindful Yoga?
[46:00] Jennifer also offers mentorship for healthcare professionals and yoga teachers.
[50:03] Jennifer shares some words of compassion for people who are not feeling confident in their bodies.
[52:13] Don't forget to get a copy of Jennifer's book, and do check out her website to learn more about her work.
[53:27] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this interview.
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity
Quotes from this episode:
"[An eating disorder] affects people of all ages, of all genders, of all races, socioeconomic backgrounds."
"We're all learning how to love ourselves better, and we all have our obstacles to doing that."
"If we want to use that language, let's make it empowering and educate our students on what's actually happening in their bodies, and what it means."
"Find the language that resonates with you most authentically."
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
Ep 125: How to Get Unstuck with Shira Gura
Description:
Do you encounter a feeling of being stuck, as a business owner, or even in your own personal life? You feel like you can’t move forward, you can’t make a decision, and you may even have students who come to your yoga classes to help them get unstuck. Shira Gura, an expert in helping people get unstuck, has just the tools to help you and your students.
Shira Taylor Gura is the creator of The S.T.U.C.K. Method®, author of Getting unSTUCK: Five Simple Steps to Emotional Well-Being, host of the Getting Unstuck podcast, and creator of Consideration Cards. Shira’s own journey in feeling stuck in different areas of her life helped her discover tools to use to help herself and others.
With her five-step S.T.U.C.K Method, Shira coaches Shannon through some areas in her business that she has been feeling stuck. They discuss what it means to be stuck, why people often fall into the same areas of “stuck-ness” in their lives, and why it’s so important to take time to do this work on yourself.
This is such an informative episode with valuable tips and actions you can take immediately to get unstuck in your business or relationships, and to help others in your life get unstuck with things they’re struggling with. Tune in to the end to find out more about Shira’s special giveaway too!
Key Takeaways:
[5:40] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Shira Gura
[7:26] Where did Shira's yoga journey begin?
[9:57] How did Shira get started becoming a STUCK coach and educator?
[15:39] Shira used to blog every week about where she was feeling stuck. She shares one of her more popular stories that really resonated with her audience.
[19:34] How can you figure out if you're stuck?
[20:35] Shira talks through an example of where a yoga teacher might get stuck, and how they can use her method to get un-stuck.
[24:06] Shira coaches Shannon with her stuck-ness around starting her new venture, Pelvic Health Professionals.
[32:45] What are some tools Shira recommends to help you feel your emotions instead of avoiding them?
[34:51] Ask yourself 'what are the beliefs that are creating that emotion?', and how can you flip that belief?
[42:43] The last step in the method is to wrap up with self compassion.
[44:21] Shannon and Shira recap the S.T.U.C.K method.
[51:39] Get in touch with Shira via her website, and do check out her podcast and book too.
[52:10] Shira leaves us with some final thoughts.
[54:09] Shira has a special giveaway!
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity
Quotes from this episode:
"I was basically trying to use mindfulness to help me get out of the stuck spots, but ... I found mindfulness wasn't enough."
"I recognized that this tool was something for anyone and everyone who felt stuck in their lives and needed a tool to help them out."
"If you're doubtful, if you're not sure if you're stuck or not, you probably are."
"Every emotion that you have, that is being created by a thought. Because thoughts create emotions."
"Those stuck spots, the recurring ones, will stay in your life forever until you learn the lesson you're supposed to learn from it."
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
Ep 124: Enneagram for Yoga Entrepreneurs with Sarajane Case
Description:
How much does your personality type influence how you share yoga and run your business? What traits or qualities might your students display, depending on their personality type, and how does that influence their experience of yoga? Sarajane Case is an Enneagram expert, and she shares just how you can harness the power of your personality to influence your business and life.
Sarajane Case is the founder of Enneagram & Coffee, where she works with people through online courses, in-person workshops and business masterminds. She uses the Enneagram as a tool for self-exploration, expression & entrepreneurship, and helps people build and nurture their relationships with themselves.
Learning our personality type is a great way to come to a compassionate understanding of who we are. Sarajane explains more about the Enneagram assessment, and the distinguishing characteristics of the different personality types. She also has some tips on how you can harness your personality characteristics in your own yoga business. Sarajane also recounts the experience of having her Instagram account go viral and why she focuses on Instagram as her main platform to reach her audience.
Whether you’ve always been curious about personality types and how they influence your work and business, or if you’ve heard about the Enneagram assessment and are interested to find out more about it, this episode is sure to be a good listen.
Key Takeaways:
[3:36] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Sarajane Case.
[5:27] Who is Sarajane and what does she do? She also shares a profound moment she experienced in her first yoga class.
[8:13] What is the Enneagram and what got Sarajane interested in looking at it?
[10:15] Sarajane shares a lot of small nuggets of information on her Instagram account, because all the information about your personality can be quite overwhelming.
[11:33] How can you go about finding out what type you are?
[12:54] Sarajane explains how people can see themselves as different types, and what that could mean.
[15:25] What are some of the main distinguishing characteristics of each personality type?
[19:56] How do people who have taken the Enneagram try to change certain aspects of their personality?
[21:41] How can the Enneagram help us as business owners and entrepreneurs?
[25:30] What type are yoga teachers most likely to be? What are their superpowers, and how might they feel out of balance in their businesses?
[28:50] Sarajane highly recommends for business owners who are growing their team to have their team members take the Enneagram to find complementary strengths.
[29:37] Sarajane already had a strong following on Instagram. When she started Enneagram & Coffee, it blew up. What caused that?
[34:44] What are some of the things that have helped Sarajane build her personal Instagram account?
[36:15] Sarajane's business is mainly on Instagram.
[37:14] What are some resources business owners can tap into to learn more about the Enneagram?
[39:06] What are some of Sarajane's final thoughts on the Enneagram?
[41:29] Have you taken the Enneagram, or are you thinking about taking it? We'd love to hear from you!
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity
Quotes from this episode:
"Everything about [the Enneagram] is internal. It's your motivations, it's your basic fears, it's your coping mechanisms."
"What the Enneagram shows us is that we're all just trying our best with what we have and what we've been given."
"I am very cautious with the Enneagram to express it in a way that is all about acceptance, and self-acceptance, and self-compassion."
"I think that I definitely lead with how can I benefit the people who are here. If you've agreed to follow me, I want to make sure that I'm leaving you better than you found me."
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
Ep 123: Habits for Health & Business with James Clear
Description:
How do you cultivate good habits that improve your life, and break bad habits that hold you back? On this episode, James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, reveals more about why habits are so crucial to your success and how to create, change and break habits that impact your business and life.
Apart from being a New York Times-bestselling author, James is the creator of Habits Academy, and international speaker. He combines ideas from a wide range of disciplines to create self-improvement tips for habits, decision-making, and continuous improvement, all based on proven scientific research.
James dives into the nitty-gritty of everything to do with habits - how they are formed, why they have such a huge impact on your health and business, and his tried-and-tested strategies for making small changes that will transform your habits and deliver remarkable results. He also shares hacks to help you reduce your social media usage and stop procrastination!
If you’ve been wanting to make your own yoga practice a habit, or if you need help creating routines to run your business better, this episode is full of tips that you can put into practice immediately.
Key Takeaways:
[5:57] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - James Clear.
[7:09] When did James' work with habits begin?
[8:43] What is a habit?
[12:59] Shannon and James discuss an example of how to create a habit that comes before a ritual or practice.
[00:15:14] Do habits need to happen at the same time every day, and do they need to be a daily practice?
[18:16] How can you hold on to your habits when you are traveling and the context is entirely different? Habit stacking can help!
[21:13] James gets a lot of website traffic and book sales around the New Year as people use their momentum of the fresh start to try to change their habits. What is his advice for people who want to change everything, and get overwhelmed?
[25:41] How does James approach failing to build habits or falling away from a practice?
[29:12] Perfectionism or wanting your habit to be perfect can kill your progress. James has some strategies to get past that, and how that ties in to identity-based habits.
[35:03] How can yoga teachers build habits in their businesses, particularly in areas like accounting or marketing?
[40:55] What kind of goals does James help people achieve?
[42:58] What are James' tips for people who tend to procrastinate?
[48:14] Shannon and James discuss rewards as a way to build habits, and if that could potentially turn into something negative.
[52:20] What can help people focus in the age of social media, email and constant distractions?
[57:53] Check out James' work and his book, Atomic Habits, at his websites.
[58:26] What is a habit James is struggling with right now?
[59:44] Shannon's biggest takeaway from this interview is the idea of casting a vote for who you are as a person through your actions. What's yours?
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity
Quotes from this episode:
"Time is just one element of context, and so habits are linked to a particular context."
"One reason why people sometimes struggle to build a new habit is that they're trying to build a new habit in their old environment."
"It's almost never the first mistake that ruins you. It's the spiral of repeated mistakes that follows from that."
"Every action you take is a vote for the kind of person you want to become."
"Just knowing your numbers gives you confidence in your ability to run the business side of it."