The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
252: Reflect & Plan [Part 3] with Shannon Crow
Description:
At the end of every year, Shannon has a personal practice of reflection and planning. In this episode, Shannon encourages you to think about what you would like to be doing with your time, as a way to direct your energy and focus. She also shares her five-year framework that acts as a guiding compass for her life. By focusing on the four areas of importance - health and wellness, relationships and community purpose, work, and finances - Shannon finds that she has more direction. This episode is part of a series, and an excellent guide to return to every time you need to take stock and review how things are going in your yoga business.
Key Takeaways:
[3:25] What do you want to spend your time doing this year?
[5:35] Shannon reviews Part 1 and 2 of her framework for reflecting and planning.
[7:25] Shannon sends gratitude to Schedulicity.
[9:34] Shannon shares her journal prompt for this episode. She encourages you to think about what you would rather be doing instead with your time. What are the things that excite you and you want to dedicate your time and energy to?
[14:14] Shannon has been using this framework for years, and is shocked by how things have turned out!
[15:14] Shannon sets the scenario for this activity. How will your life be in 5 years from now in these four areas of importance: health and wellness, relationships and community purpose, work, and finances?
[17:00] Shannon shares some examples from her four areas of importance.
[20:28] Part 4 of this series will be all about setting goals.
[21:23] Shannon ends off with a few reminders.
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsors, Schedulicity (Coupon:cyt2months), and Pelvic Health Professionals (Coupon: Connected2021).
Quotes from this episode:
"What do you want to spend your time doing this year?"
"Time is our most precious resource."
“Don't forget to aim high. Dream big. Be as specific as you can.”
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
251: Reflect & Plan [Part 2] with Shannon Crow & Jivana Heyman
Description:
At the end of every year, Shannon has a personal practice of reflecting on how her year has been. In this episode, she shares more about reflecting on what didn’t work and letting that go. In her practice, Shannon has tried to include elements of non-attachment and letting go, and turned to Jivana Heyman with her questions about incorporating yoga philosophy and Sanskrit into her framework.
Shannon and Jivana discuss different elements of non-attachment mentioned in yoga texts, and how we can respectfully incorporate these teachings into our lives and daily practice. Shannon also offers a guided reflection practice with some questions to contemplate and journal on things we need to let go and release. This episode is part of a series, and an excellent guide to return to every time you need to take stock and review how things are going in your yoga business.
Key Takeaways:
[4:36] This episode is part two in a series about reflecting and planning in your yoga business.
[6:21] Part one of this exercise was looking at what went well and finding moments of contentment. Part two focuses on what didn't work and letting that go.
[9:49] Shannon shares what she has learned from reading yoga texts about non-attachment and letting go.
[11:25] Sponsor Schedulicity shares the hot tip of the week.
[12:13] Shannon learned about Vairāgya from Jivana Heyman. She also wanted to make sure she wasn't appropriating yoga in trying to include these elements in her reflection and planning.
[14:52] An important part of reflecting is to think about what we are distracted by and that's pulling us off course.
[16:58] Shannon is doing a giveaway of one of Jivana's books!
[17:31] Vairāgya is really about looking at what we want to reach for or make space for. Shannon has a small exercise to illustrate this principle.
[19:08] Shannon encourages you to make a list of things you would like to clear out and let go of or release and create space.
[22:40] Shannon talks about the continuation of learning that we are all doing.
[24:32] This framework can act as your map and your compass all wrapped into one.
[28:01] If we climb every single mountain alone, we would never get anywhere.
[28:10] Shannon shares some journal prompts to guide your reflection.
[30:30] Shannon introduces Jivana and shares more about why she reached out to him for this conversation.
[32:58] How can we respectfully integrate yoga into what we are doing?
[36:45] Jivana shares some of his thoughts on non-attachment.
[37:52] Shannon reflects on how the idea that yoga is the opposite of capitalism has played out in her own journaling and reflection this year.
[39:02] Non-attachment is about analyzing our desires.
[43:36] Non-attachment doesn't mean having non-attachment to the things going on in the world because it's too painful. Jivana explains more about this.
[46:08] Shannon and Jivana discuss her conundrum around integrating yoga and Sanskrit into her reflection framework.
[54:07] Shannon has three gifts for listeners!
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsors, Schedulicity (Coupon:cyt2months), and Pelvic Health Professionals (Coupon: Connected2021).
Quotes from this episode:
"What would you like to let go of next year or next month or next quarter? What is no longer serving you?" - Shannon
"We are not looking at how to escape every moment of discomfort or bad emotion." - Shannon
"This whole framework, what we're doing, is like your map and your compass all wrapped into one." - Shannon
"This whole framework, what we're doing is like your map and your compass all wrapped into one." - Shannon
"How can we apply monastic ancient teachings to our lives now? How do we do that in a respectful way?" - Jivana Heyman
"In the West, we tend to identify with the mind so much that we don't even know what it means to identify with spirit." - Jivana Heyman
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
250: Reflect & Plan with Shannon Crow
Description:
At the end of every year, Shannon has a personal practice of reflecting on how her year has been. In this episode, she shares how she cultivated this practice and how she has incorporated elements of yoga and yoga philosophy into this practice. She speaks about the element of santosha, contentment, that she has brought into her reflection practice this year. In this guided reflection practice, Shannon invites us to contemplate some questions to assess our year in terms of contentment. This episode is part of a series, and an excellent guide to return to every time you need to take stock and review how things are going in your yoga business.
Key Takeaways:
[4:22] Shannon shares a little bit of background on her process in putting together this episode.
[5:35] This is a great series to return to every time you need to take stock and review how things are going in your yoga business.
[6:34] Shannon likes to do her reflections with pen and paper. She has recorded a special guided practice to help you with your reflection to focus on moments of contentment.
[9:09] Schedulicity shares the hot tip of the week.
[10:07] What can you do to bring yourself to the present moment? As we reflect on the past year to find the moments of contentment, remember to let go of certain outcomes.
[12:42] Notice anything around you that offers you comfort, and take a moment to appreciate yourself for taking this time as a gift to yourself and everyone around you.
[13:52] Shannon shares some guiding questions to direct your reflection on contentment.
[15:29] Shannon shares something she learned from doing this practice this year.
[17:14] How did this reflection go for you? How are you feeling after creating this list?
[17:52] Be sure to get the accompanying PDF for this episode.
[18:43] Shannon shares a review from a member of Pelvic Health Professionals.
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsors, Schedulicity, and Pelvic Health Professionals (Coupon: Connected2021).
Quotes from this episode:
"What would bring me into this present moment right now?"
"Let yourself color outside the lines today and to do something differently."
"When did you find inner peace this year? When did you give something your best? When did you lose track of time? When did you let go of the outcome? When did you feel compassion? When did you look at something and feel satisfaction? When did you feel successful? When did you embrace who you are? When did you honor your limits?"
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
249: Yoga for Older Grownups with Maria Kirsten
Description:
Have you considered teaching older grownups as your niche in yoga? Many yoga teachers have not, and may feel some fear or apprehension when it comes to teaching people in older bodies. In this episode, Maria Kirsten sheds some light on what teaching yoga to older grownups can be like.
Maria Kirsten was a yoga therapist working mainly with pain and mental health, and offered yoga classes to grownups and older grownups in her community. She also taught teacher trainings about how to support older grownups and regarding general mental health. For Maria, the focus was always on intelligent movement that reconnects people to the joy of being alive in their bodies, and helping people connect with the intuitive wisdom of the body, and nurturing their innate capacity to heal through simple, joyful movement.
Maria shares openly about what inspired her to start teaching yoga for older grownups and how her classes are structured. Maria addresses the fear and caution that some yoga teachers may feel when it comes to teaching older bodies, and gives advice on things to avoid in a yoga class with older people. She explains the mental health benefit yoga can have, and also talks about some of the words that can be triggering for older grown ups.
This interview was so valuable in understanding what teaching yoga to older grownups can be like and how to approach teaching this group of people.
Note: This interview was conducted in January 2021, and Maria passed away back April 2021. The information she shared was invaluable, and we are glad to be able to share this interview with you now.
Key Takeaways:
[5:08] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Maria Kirsten.
[10:24] Shannon gives a shout out to Schedulicity and a listener who left a review.
[15:33] How did Maria come up with the name Yoga for Grown Ups?
[17:21] What is the age range for grownups vs. older grownups?
[18:55] What does Maria usually teach in classes for older grownups?
[20:10] Shannon and Maria discuss some of the fears and lack of confidence older people have, particularly around falling.
[22:40] Maria shares a little more about some of the education she does for her students about what's happening in their bodies and their movements.
[25:55] How does Maria use chairs in her yoga classes?
[27:50] Sit to stand and stand to sit is an important movement, and not all of us do it correctly!
[29:59] Shannon shares more about the S breath and claw fingers to engage the pelvic floor.
[31:01] What are some things that Maria does not do with older grown ups?
[34:19] The thing is not to be scared of older people.
[36:09] What are some things Maria has learned about teaching yoga for older grown ups?
[38:15] What are some conditions that yoga teachers working with bodies with more experience on Earth should be aware of?
[42:01] Yoga for older grownups also has mental health benefits.
[43:01] Maria explains a bit about her experience with cancer.
[44:00] Do Maria's older grownups do online yoga?
[45:58] What are the restrictions on yoga classes in Australia?
[48:06] Maria also has a Yoga for Older Grownups training online.
[51:01] Shannon reflects on a mistake she made with naming a class for older people.
[53:07] Certain words can be triggering for older people and we need to be mindful of that.
[54:22] Shannon and Maria discuss the idea that mental health is a spectrum, and something that needs to be cultivated and built.
[58:13] When it comes to mental health and aging, we need to consider what a sustainable practice is.
[59:51] Learn more about Maria's work by visiting her website.
[61:26] Shannon shares her key takeaways from this interview with Maria.
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsors, Schedulicity, and Pelvic Health Professionals (Coupon: Connected2021).
Quotes from this episode:
"The biggest risk for falling is fear of falling."
"The thing is not to be scared of older people. If you give them the education and tell them what you're doing and why then they can make educated choices about what options they'll take or when they'll rest and then they feel really empowered."
"Don't underestimate what people are getting [out of your yoga class]."
"Only you know when enough is enough or too much is too much."
"Mental health is a spectrum and the thing that people don't understand, I think, about mental health, is that they don't just get it for free. People are really shocked when mental health isn't fantastic all the time."
"As teachers were trying to empower people in the class, but we're also trying to empower them to do home practice because as soon as they practice on their own at home, everything changes."