The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
Ep 136: Yoga for Teens & Tweens with Karen Pascoe
Description:
Tweens and teengagers can be a difficult audience to reach. They are changing physically, mentally, and emotionally, and that comes with a whole different set of challenges. Dr. Karen Pascoe has found her niche in catering to this specific age group and on this episode, shares some of her strategies and tips for teaching yoga to younger students.
Dr. Karen Pascoe is a Licensed Psychologist, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Therapeutic Yoga Teacher, and an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 200) with Yoga Alliance. She began teaching yoga in 1996, and in 2015, launched the Mind Body Life Transformation Center. Apart from yoga classes, therapy and wellness sessions, she offers classes, parties and summer camps specially targeted at tweens and teens.
How is teaching tweens and teens different from teaching adults? What are some of the challenges you might encounter in reaching this age group? Why is communication and connection so important when structuring these classes? Karen shares her insights on these topics, as well as the business side of marketing and promoting yoga for tweens and teens.
If you teach tweens and teens, or are interested in niching down to this age group, or if you just have teens of your own and would like some tools to share with them, this episode is just what you need to listen to.
Key Takeaways:
[6:08] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Dr. Karen Pascoe.
[7:27] What is Karen's yoga journey and how did it bring her to where she is now?
[10:05] What is the biggest difference between an adult yoga class and a class for teens and tweens?
[11:52] What age group is tweens and what age group is teens?
[13:06] How do teen and tween students differ?
[14:57] What motivates younger students to participate in yoga classes?
[15:56] How does Karen deal with students who come in as a result of being signed up by their parents and who are unmotivated?
[17:24] What do Karen's tween classes look like vs teen classes? She walks us through the structure of her classes.
[22:39] Karen incorporates pauses into her classes for younger students. She explains how that works.
[24:45] Shannon and Karen discuss why making yoga an empowering practice is so important for this age group.
[27:23] What are some tools that Karen teaches her students to help them with emotional regulation?
[31:39] In her work as a psychologist, Karen works with tweens and older. She shares more about her work in that area.
[34:35] What are some of Karen's tips for yoga teachers who have never taught a tween or teen class?
[38:23] Karen explains more about what it takes to be "cool" with tweens and teens.
[41:40] What is the most effective strategy to get the word out about tween and teen yoga classes?
[43:42] What does Karen's tween and teen camp look like?
[45:53] Karen shares some resources for yoga teachers interested in teaching teens.
[48:30] Connect with Karen via her website or Facebook to find out more about her work and trainings.
[49:04] Karen leaves us with an anecdote of how impactful teen yoga can be.
[51:08] Shannon would love to hear your feedback!
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsors Schedulicity and MamaNurture.
Quotes from this episode:
"In the tween and teen classes, you have to have these pauses to engage and re-engage, because they don't have the attention span for that. It needs to be more of a community-oriented experience."
"One of my goals for that age is empowerment."
"After the inversions, because those are the single most calming pose that you can do ... it will be silence."
"I want so much of the yoga to be strategy, for it to be empowering."
"If they are not being taught strategy and skill for emotional regulation, they feel very vulnerable."
"Depression, anxiety, no matter what they're coming in for, it's in their body as much as their mind."
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
Ep 135: How to Modify for the Prenatal Student with Rena Wren
Description:
When teaching prenatal yoga, or pregnant students, what are the poses you should avoid? Can you teach twists, inversions or front extensions? What are some modifications I can cue, or props I can use to cater to the needs of my pregnant students? All your questions are going to be answered on this episode with Rena Wren.
Rena Wren is one of our MamaNurture lead trainers, and the founder of Empowered Yoga Teaching, where she provides continuing education and support for yoga teachers. Apart from prenatal yoga teacher training through MamaNurture, she offers yin yoga training, and yoga teacher mentoring on a wide range of topics, as well as workshops, retreats, and online courses.
Contraindicated yoga during pregnancy covers eight main areas. Shannon and Rena dive into each of these, as well as modifications and variations that you can cue for your pregnant students and in your prenatal class. Be sure to check out the free PDF Download and Rena’s videos where she shares variations you can use.
If you have ever taught prenatal yoga, or had a pregnant student come to your class, this episode is going to be a real treat. It is full of tips and modifications that you can immediately start applying to any of your prenatal classes or to work with pregnant students.
Key Takeaways:
[5:38] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Rena Wren.
[8:04] How did Rena get started in her yoga journey?
[12:35] Rena juggles multiple roles and responsibilities. She shares how yoga has helped her find balance in what she does.
[15:09] Check out the PDF download for the 8 contraindicated poses during pregnancy.
[16:03] Shannon and Rena discuss the first contraindicated pose - Breath retention and/or strong, forced breathing. What are some of Rena's favorite modifications for this?
[17:47] Advanced poses that challenge and build heat are second on the list. How can you tell when certain poses are advanced?
[22:31] What are some modifications Rena recommends to avoid poses that engage and/or stretch the rectus abdominis muscles (e.g. boat, crow, leg lifts)?
[27:18] Front extensions can overstretch the abdominal muscles. Rena walks us through a modification of camel pose for the pregnant body.
[30:11] Inversions are contraindicated for pregnancy. How would Rena modify the headstand, handstand, shoulder stand and downward dog poses?
[36:46] What are some of Rena's favorite variations for prone poses?
[40:05] How can you identify closed twist poses and what are some modifications you can offer?
[44:54] The last one is hot yoga. Shannon and Rena discuss why they would not teach hot yoga to pregnant people.
[47:15] Check out the live video from September 16 to find out more about caution poses in the grey area.
[47:48] Rena has some final insights on how teachers can approach having a pregnant student in their class.
[49:39] Rena has a MamaNurture training coming up!
[52:05] Shannon shares some details about upcoming teacher trainings that are available.
[53:12] Shannon has an update about MamaNurture and all the work she is doing with niching down.
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsors Schedulicity and MamaNurture.
Quotes from this episode:
"One of the main things I've learned from yoga is to know the things that I value, and to make sure that I have enough of those things in my life to help me have balance."
"A lot of students who come to prenatal yoga are new to yoga."
"Challenging is dependent on the student."
"Getting people to slow down and feel nurtured in a space really helps them realize that they don't really care about their idea of yoga was anymore. They care that they feel good when they leave this room."
"One of the first things to do ...is [think about] what are the benefits, what are we trying to do?"
"Take baby with you in the twist."
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
Ep 134: Pelvic Health for Pregnancy & Beyond with Julie Wiebe
Description:
What is the recovery time after birth for prenatal yoga students? What are some things to consider in the recovery of postnatal students looking to get back to full strength and fitness? There are a lot of myths around pelvic and abdominal health during pregnancy and postpartum, which Julie Wiebe busts through on this episode.
Julie Wiebe is a Physical Therapist (PT) with over twenty years of clinical experience in both Sports Medicine and Women’s Health. She is also an educator and women’s health advocate working to create awareness of pregnancy recovery, postpartum and pelvic and abdominal health issues in fitness.
Pregnancy and birth is a period during which the body changes and adapts to accommodate the growing baby, and post-birth, there is a period of rehabilitation that is necessary for the body to return to its regular function. Julie shares some of the misconceptions around post-birth recovery, hyperlordosis, urinary incontinence, Kegels and much more. She also highlights some breath techniques and poses yoga teachers can use to help their students regulate intra-abdominal pressure, and the importance of teaching from a place of educated hope instead of educated fear.
This episode is meant for any yoga practitioner or teacher who has been pregnant, who plans to be pregnant, or who really wants to help the pregnant and postnatal yoga student - Julie’s insights on this topic are really eye-opening!
Key Takeaways:
[7:45] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Julie Wiebe.
[9:07] What does Julie do and who does she do it for?
[10:21] Why is there a rehabilitation period after pregnancy and giving birth?
[12:43] Julie recommends for people to come to her prenatally and postnatally.
[15:10] Julie shares some statistics around how paid maternity leave affects infant and parental health.
[19:16] What are some things that Julie would want prenatal yoga teachers and students to know about the changes in the body?
[21:59] How can we teach people to breathe optimally?
[27:01] What pose does Julie recommend to get into the closure of the rib cage?
[29:45] During pregnancy, there is a lot more weight on the front of the body. How does that affect alignment, and the lumbar curve? Julie busts some myths around anterior pelvic tilt in pregnancy.
[34:16] Where does Julie start to help people find alignment?
[37:24] What does it mean to strengthen the diaphragm?
[41:09] Julie and Shannon discuss the condition of incontinence, specifically leaking urine.
[45:20] Kegels is not always the answer! Julie addresses this myth that Kegels is always a good exercise after birth.
[48:45] What else can yoga teachers be doing to help their students in terms of movement, breath or information?
[53:28] Why is it important to be having conversations around pelvic health, pregnancy and postpartum rehabilitation and recovery?
[58:36] Get in touch with Julie and check out the wealth of resources, articles and videos she has available on her website.
[59:40] Shannon shares some of her key takeaways.
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Mama Nurture
Quotes from this episode:
"There are changes that come because of the pregnancy...what my job is, is to help you rebalance those changes and get you back to function and fitness without any limitations."
"What would we see down the line with pelvic health knowing that women had an opportunity just to recover?"
"If I could do anything for anyone, if I could do one thing, it would be to optimize their breathing."
"Form or alignment, for me, has a lot to do with access to muscles."
"We need to start looking at individuals and understand their needs, and that's tricky."
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
Ep 133: Yoga for Painful Sex with Casie Danenhauer
Description:
How is the health of your pelvic floor is related to sexual dysfunction and painful sex? This is a topic that many of us find uncomfortable to talk about, but that a lot of us, particularly women, struggle with. Dr. Casie Danenhauer, someone who has experienced pelvic pain herself, reveals how she has combined techniques from physical therapy and yoga to create a holistic approach to healing.
Dr. Casie Danenhauer is a pelvic floor physical therapist, registered yoga teacher, and Founder of Enlighten Physical Therapy, where she focuses on providing conscious care for pelvic health. After using a combination of yoga techniques and physical therapy to address her own struggles with pelvic pain and painful intercourse, Casie realized that a holistic approach is the most efficient and effective path towards pelvic health. Since then, she has integrated yoga, breathing and meditation exercises into her physical therapy practice to create a unique East-meets-West approach.
By speaking openly about her own experience with pelvic pain, Casie hopes to break some of the stigma and shame that surrounds the topic. She explains more about the pelvic floor, some common symptoms and conditions associated with painful intercourse, and how therapeutic yoga, physical therapy and breathwork can be used in combination to treat these conditions. She also offers advice on how yoga teachers can responsibly talk about and cue the pelvic floor, and be a part of a client’s healing journey.
Whether you have students who are dealing with pelvic pain or painful intercourse, or you just want to be more aware of how yoga and physical therapy can be integrated to address pelvic health conditions, you’re sure to find value in this episode.
Key Takeaways:
[6:30] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Dr. Casie Danenhauer.
[8:10] What does Casie do and how did she get into it? She shares her journey with physical therapy and yoga, and how she came to integrate the two in her practice.
[16:01] Shannon and Casie discuss the language and connotations of using expressions like "pelvic dysfunction".
[16:58] When did Casie start dealing with her own pelvic health conditions?
[21:34] Pelvic health professionals can make a big impact on people and make a difference to people.
[23:02] Casie shares some of the treatments that helped with her pain with sex, and how she moved into becoming a pelvic floor PT.
[25:41] That Casie has shared the personal aspects of her own struggles with her pelvic health condition openly is very powerful.
[27:00] What are some conditions associated with painful sex, and what are the symptoms associated with each?
[29:32] What were some treatment methods Casie engaged in to treat her own pain, and who would she engage to help in her treatment now?
[32:20] What can yoga teachers do to support students who are dealing with painful intercourse?
[39:22] Casie recommends for yoga teachers to reach out to your students PT to find out more about what they are dealing with.
[43:13] How can yoga teachers use the same pose for different purposes? Casie breaks down with the example of cat-cow.
[49:10] What are some cues yoga teachers can give for students who need to build strength in their pelvic floor?
[50:23] Casie shares some key issues to be aware of when addressing a student who is struggling with pelvic pain or painful intercourse.
[51:47] What are some differences in Casie's approach compared to the medical approach?
[55:55] Connect with Casie on Instagram, or check out her website for more information on the work she does.
Links:
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 121: Yoga for Pelvic Health with Shannon Crow
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 129: Pelvic Floor 101 with Marie-Josée Forget
Pelvic Floor (Dys)Function, by Dominique Gauthier for LFL Blog
Gratitude to our Sponsors Schedulicityand Pelvi
Quotes from this episode:
"There's a million different ways we can prescribe a breathwork, but most of it, honestly, is just giving the patient permission to move in ways and give attention to their body and specifically, their pelvic spaces, when maybe they've never even heard of that as a possibility."
"I was really, really moved by how powerful pelvic floor PT can be in helping people with really basic ‘quality of life’ level issues that we take for granted until something goes wrong."
"That's part of my main mission is to de-stigmatize all of this stuff, and take out the shame."
"That, I feel is the most healing aspect, is just being able to voice what we're experiencing in our body."
"Pain levels decrease with mindfulness."
"The brain and the nervous system is influencing all of the tissues in the body."
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
132: Marketing to Increase Private Bookings with Amanda Mays
Description:
How can you market your yoga business without seeming pushy or salesy? What kind of strategies can you use to attract your ideal client? Amanda Mays joins Shannon on this consultation call to talk through her struggles with marketing herself and putting her yoga business out there.
Amanda is self proclaimed yoga and happiness ambassador. She works as a freelance editor and occasionally teaches e-courses on writing, specifically journaling, and how to use that habit to fuel a bigger writing practice. She is also raising six children apart from all this, and has very limited free time. Amanda wants to expand her yoga offering to begin working with private clients, and to become more purposeful in her approach to teaching yoga and marketing her business to the right clients.
Shannon coaches Amanda through her mindset blocks of not wanting to market herself while offering actionable advice on how best to move toward offering more 1:1 private yoga sessions. From tips on how to use social media to promote her yoga business, to goal-setting, Shannon guides Amanda to find clarity in her aims for her business.
If you’re like Amanda and worry that your marketing efforts are too pushy, or feel like you’re being pulled in too many different directions promoting your yoga business, this episode will help you get some clarity around how best to get the word out about your yoga offerings.
P.S. Since this episode was recorded, Amanda has grown her yoga business from zero private clients, to about five 1:1 clients a week!
Key Takeaways:
[5:17] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Amanda Mays.
[7:50] What is Amanda's biggest challenge in her yoga business?
[9:19] What are some of Amanda's top ideas that are calling to her? Shannon suggests doing a free writing practice.
[12:43] What is the one thing that can increase profit and growth in Amanda's business?
[14:22] Why does Amanda want to move towards 1:1 yoga?
[17:14] Shannon goes through an exercise with Amanda to create an ideal week and how to bridge the gap between her current schedule and ideal schedule.
[21:08] Amanda's biggest hurdle is marketing herself. Shannon shares an anecdote from her personal experience running a farmer's market to help her with this mental block.
[24:06] What is something Amanda's ideal student is struggling with?
[27:27] Shannon and Amanda discuss setting measurable goals for her yoga business, and how sharing her story can contribute to making the 'ask'.
[32:25] Shannon highlights why it's important for Amanda's social media to reflect her business and how to leverage that to reach her ideal clients.
[40:21] Shannon shares her tips on doing live video.
[46:35] Shannon and Amanda set some goals for her to start doing live videos!
[48:59] Shannon prompts Amanda to think about how people can book 1:1 sessions with her.
[52:53] How can Amanda figure out her core values as a yoga teacher, and some of her discomforts around marketing herself? Shannon suggests the "I believe" exercise.
[1:00:45] Amanda shares more about her fear of niching down.
[1:03:07] Amanda struggles with how she can incorporate some of her previous e-courses and journaling activities into her offering that all target the same ideal client. Shannon has some suggestions.
[1:10:55] What's your biggest takeaway from this consultation call? Share your comments or questions with Shannon!
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Pelvic Health Professionals
Quotes from this episode:
"This is what I want to do, but I can't quite figure out how to put the steps together." - Amanda
"What if we instead, really focus on who might be your ideal student?" - Shannon
"The thing is with working 1:1, is it takes time to build it. Our best advertising is someone telling someone else how great they feel." - Shannon
"People are excited to invest in the why, why you do something and the whole story behind it." - Shannon