The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
239: Connecting in Divisive Times with Sinéad O'Connor
Description:
These are divisive times, both online in yoga communities and beyond that. Some people are for the vaccine, some people are against it, some people have questions and are uncertain about their stance. Yet, these divisions are the opposite of what yoga is about. This podcast is all about connections, and we need to be mindful about how we can extend care to ourselves, those around us, as well as the planet and every living creature.
In this episode, Sinéad O’Connor talks from her perspective as someone with an underlying health condition living through the pandemic. Sinéad is a member of The Connected Yoga Teacher team, a yoga teacher, and active mother of three energetic boys who enjoys camping and hiking. She is also someone who lives with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic kidney disease, and is in Stage 3 of renal failure.
Sinéad shares a post she recently wrote about living with this disease during a pandemic, especially on how it is a privilege to be able to question the healthcare offered to us as healthy, able-bodied people. Shannon concludes by urging us to reflect on how we can practice care or ahimsa for someone else -- that doesn’t involve trying to change their behaviour or views?
Key Takeaways:
[5:00] We are seeing many divisions in the yoga world right now.
[7:45] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Sinéad O'Connor.
[8:35] Sinéad shares a little bit about herself and her condition, polycystic kidney disease (PKD).
[9:30] Sinéad recently wrote a post on Facebook about living with this disease in light of the COVID situation.
[13:01] If you would like to support Sinéad’s fundraiser, two things you can do are to give a donation, or share Sinéad’s post to share her story with the world.
[13:32] Shannon has a few questions for us to reflect on.
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsors Schedulicity and the Accessible Yoga Conference.
Quotes from this episode:
"Not everybody understands what it's like to live with an underlying health condition in a pandemic."- Sinéad
"Like millions of people living with underlying health conditions, I don't have the privilege of questioning the healthcare I'm being offered. That privilege is only afforded to the healthy, the able bodied, the people that once stayed home to protect us." - Sinéad
"What does care for someone in my community look like without trying to change their views or their behavior?" - Shannon
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
238: How to Host a Yoga Challenge with Amanda McKinney
Description:
One of the main questions that is often asked in The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook group is “How do I get more students to sign up for my classes?” A common and effective way that you might build your yoga student roster, your email list or a Facebook group is by hosting a yoga challenge. Amanda McKinney has a lot of experience in hosting challenges, and she joins Shannon Crow in this episode to share her 10 step process to successfully host a yoga challenge.
Amanda McKinney is a marketing coach who is passionate about helping yoga teachers find the tools and the confidence within themselves to build a thriving yoga business. She couples her background in marketing and years of experience in the corporate world with her knowledge and love of yoga to help yoga teachers create sustainable businesses they enjoy through the Marketing Yoga with Confidence podcast, online courses and the Thrive membership program.
Yoga challenges can come in all shapes and forms. Amanda explains what a yoga challenge really is, and how it can help grow your yoga business. She also outlines her tried-and-tested 10 step program to help you put together a successful yoga challenge. Whether you’ve been running challenges for years, or have never done a challenge with your audience, you’re sure to get some useful tips to ensure your next challenge is a huge success.
Key Takeaways:
[3:06] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Amanda McKinney.
[4:25] Shannon gives a shout out to Schedulicity.
[8:52] What is a yoga challenge, and why or when would we use one?
[11:27] Challenges can range from 3 days to a month long!
[12:32] Challenges are great because they can kickstart engagement in your community, and they are shareable!
[14:53] Step 1: Decide on the topic you want to focus on.
[15:32] Amanda shares her thoughts on having a yoga teacher training be the paid offering at the end of a challenge.
[16:49] If you're planning to promote classes at a yoga studio at the end of a challenge, be sure to check in with the studio about running the challenge!
[17:42] Step 2: Map out the details of the challenge like the dates, the goals, how you're going to deliver it.
[23:59] Step 3: Outline all of the content.
[27:04] Step 4: Create a pre-challenge to-do list.
[31:03] Step 5: Write out a "during the challenge" to-do list.
[38:37] Step 6: Get everything you've planned onto your calendar.
[41:06] Step 7: Actually do the work, and follow the plan you've created!
[43:37] Step 8: Promote your challenge.
[45:04] Step 9: Host your challenge.
[47:29] Step 10: Invite people to the paid offering.
[50:41] Amanda has prepared all the resources to get your own challenge off the ground with Yoga Challenge in a Box - check it out.
[56:04] Will you be running a yoga challenge soon? Tell us all about it in The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook group!
[57:08] Shannon leaves us with an action step for this episode.
How to Host a Yoga Challenge with Amanda McKinney
Pre-Challenge - What's the goal? What do you want people to do at the end of this? Be on your email list? Join your Facebook group? Sign up for your paid offering?
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsors Schedulicity and the Accessible Yoga Conference.
Quotes from this episode:
"A challenge is something where you walk your students through small, tiny steps to either give them some relief to solve a problem or to give them the experience of working with you."
"The health of your email list is a direct indication of the health of your business."
"We make it so complicated, but it actually needs to be so simple... You want people to think about, how can I take this action, whatever that action is, in 15 minutes or less a day."
"Once you run a challenge one time, 90% of the work is done for you. All you have to do, even if it's a different challenge, is use what you've already done and adapt it."
"If it's scheduled, it will happen."
"If you're creating this amazing party, people have to be invited to it or they don't know what's happening."
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
237: Scope of Practice & Compassion with Drew Hume
Description:
There is a lot of fear, misconceptions and misinformation about the COVID vaccine being shared in online spaces. As yoga teachers, what lies within our scope of practice when it comes to talking about vaccination, and how can we approach this topic with compassion? Shannon Crow and Drew Hume discuss a recent post by Gil Hedley in the broader context of conversations happening in the yoga community around vaccination and related topics.
Drew Hume is Founder & Director at Navina, where he and his team offer training and certifications in Thai yoga therapy. Drew’s background is in Human Biology, and he holds a degree in Applied Science of Human Biology. While not specifically an expert in virology, public health and in vaccines, he has studied all of those topics to a degree at the university level. As a trained yoga instructor, Drew also teaches certain courses to yoga instructors specifically in anatomy, physiology and also in manual therapy.
In this honest and open conversation, Shannon and Drew discuss the harms caused by comparing vaccination to non-related, unequivalent events, and how we can react when we encounter misinformation or falsehoods online. They also explore whether requirements and policies put into place about vaccination are a form of coercion, what truly is within our scope of practice as yoga teachers, and dispel some of the myths around being “healthy” as sufficient protection against COVID. These are tough conversations and difficult decisions - we invite you to approach them with compassion.
Key Takeaways:
[2:26] This week's episode is a recent live episode with Drew Hume.
[4:47] Shannon opens the interview by sharing her stance on vaccination against COVID, and shares how we can approach these difficult and uncomfortable conversations.
[5:47] Drew introduces himself and his background.
[6:45] Shannon and Drew are having this conversation in light of a recent post by Gil Hedley, and in the broader context of conversations happening in the yoga community around vaccination and related topics.
[8:53] One of the things mentioned in the post was a comparison of the vaccine to the Holocaust, intersex surgery and circumcision. Why is that harmful?
[15:55] Drew brings up the idea of informed consent in the context of the vaccine.
[18:29] Are some of the policies being put into place, like vaccine passports and requiring proof of vaccination to participate in certain activities, a form of coercion?
[23:43] Shannon and Drew explore the idea of scope of practice. Who are the experts we should be listening to, and how can we find that expert information to guide our choices?
[29:25] Shannon gives a shout out to Schedulicity.
[30:55] What should we do if we see misinformation being posted or shared?
[34:47] Shannon addresses some dangerous misinformation about the vaccine. A common misconception is that the vaccine is not FDA approved. Drew debunks this myth.
[37:19] Another fear-based statement is that people are dying from the vaccine, not COVID. Drew addresses this untruthful statement.
[38:08] Shannon and Drew discuss another common comment that a healthy body and immune system is an alternative to vaccination.
[40:33] The pandemic has brought to light how our society has normalized the idea and verbalization that chronically ill or disabled people's lives don't matter.
[44:30] Shannon brings up the confusion around vaccinated people wearing mask, and the importance placed on being "healthy".
[47:52] To what extent is a fully vaccinated yoga class safe?
[50:16] Shannon and Drew explore concerns around disclosing health and medical information.
[51:54] A listener shares their fears about not being able to visit with elderly parents for fear of breakthrough infections.
[53:26] A listener asks: How are children being affected in all of this, because they can't be vaccinated?
[55:05] Drew addresses a final point about relying on our immune systems and appropriate supplementation.
[56:33] This is a very divisive topic and we may be faced with tough conversations and difficult decisions as we navigate this situation. Shannon and Drew discuss approaching with compassion and openness, and really being aware of the nuances in this complex time.
[59:04] Find out more about Drew, his work, and bees in Costa Rica on Instagram and Facebook.
[60:22] Shannon shares her reflections and takeaways from this interview.
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsors Schedulicity and Conscious Marketing for Yoga Teachers Training with Tristan Katz.
Quotes from this episode:
"To a degree, there is a certain amount of fear for everyone regarding something, whether it's fear around infection from the virus or fear around all of the other things that have been said about the vaccine."
"Intent and impact are two very different things."
"The reality of the situation is, we all do have the choice to either take the vaccine or not."
"Scope of practice, especially when we have influence with other people is really important. It's a really important boundary to set for ourselves and therefore a boundary with which we protect the people that we're in contact with."
"All evidence is not equally weighted. All perspectives are not equal, and validity is not encapsulated in the presence of an opinion. Validity is based upon the weight of evidence, as opposed to simply being an idea that's present or presented."
"Actions taken for the benefit of other people are incredibly valuable, in some cases, life saving."
"[We need to] think about also how our actions and decisions influence other people in all aspects of our lives. We are in no way isolated from the existence of the people who surround us, in no way, shape or form."
"Your own right to privacy is not more important than another person's right to safety.
"The idea of medical intervention is not a new idea, nor is it having minimal impact. It's having a substantial impact."
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
236: Five Steps to Effective Content with Shannon Crow [Part 5]
Description:
Have you ever felt stuck when it comes to creating content for your yoga business? Maybe you feel like you don’t know what to post, or how to share about your unique yoga offering. In this 5-part mini-training, Shannon Crow walks us through a 5 step process to create effective content.
The last step to creating effective content easily is the PLAN to share, schedule and repurpose the content you are creating. Shannon talks more about how to create content in batches, scheduling tools that can help you get ahead in content creation, and how she maps out her content. She also has some tips on repurposing content, so be sure to tune in!
Key Takeaways:
[2:52] In this episode, Shannon is diving into the last step of the 5-step process to make content creation easy and effective.
[4:02] Shannon recaps the first four steps to creating effective content.
[5:22] Listen to the hot tip of the week from Schedulicity.
[6:46] Shannon reminds us that the yoga and content we share are unique!
[9:09] It's okay to do a B- job with these action steps! The important thing is to take action.
[10:03] Once you're in the content creation mode, think of how you can schedule out your content. Shannon shares her experience with batching and scheduling, and how that works for her.
[11:06] Shannon recommends Facebook Business Suite to help with scheduling.
[12:06] Shannon explains how she maps out her content.
[12:39] Once you've figured out a set of content for one platform, consider sharing it on other platforms.
[14:13] Pay attention to how you write your content, and keep it all in one place!
[15:51] Shannon shares the action step for this episode.
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsors Schedulicity and Conscious Marketing for Yoga Teachers Training with Tristan Katz.
Quotes from this episode:
"Your yoga and your content that you share are unique. No one can copy or steal it."
"Remember to keep coming back to [content creation] like you would a yoga pose that you're really working on and it will get easier."
"Go ahead and repeat yourself over and over again."
"What can you repurpose and what can you repeat?"