The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
291: Better Balance with Susi Hately
Description:
Keeping their balance is something we may have noticed that older adults may find challenging, or something that we may ourselves have felt we need to improve as we age. How can yoga help with this? Susi Hately shares insights from her experience working with people on their balance.
Susi Hately is the founder of Functional Synergy and she helps people reveal and heal their human potential regardless of their age or condition. She also helps yoga teachers, yoga therapists and health care providers hone their talent and become excellent practitioners. Susi also teaches people, often over 50, 60 and 70 years of age, how to get out of pain and handle other symptoms that accompany aging. Susi combines her formal training in Kinesiology and deep knowledge of yoga to foster the magic of recovery and healing so that they can live well, with strength and ease, and better balance.
Susi shares how she was inspired to get into this line of work by her father who improved his balance and mobility through yoga. She outlines the key elements that contribute to balance and highlights the importance of asking students why they want to improve their balance. Susi also talks about joint mobility, rest, breath and breathing all impact balance, and tips to help our students (and ourselves!) maintain and improve balance as we get older.
Key Takeaways:
[2:27] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Susi Hately.
[5:06] What is the work that Susi does and who does she do it for?
[6:46] What got Susi interested in talking about balance?
[8:38] How did Susi's father get interested in yoga at the age of 79?
[9:30] What about yoga helps people improve their balance?
[11:13] What are the first steps Susi takes when someone specifically wants to improve their balance?
[12:50] How does Susi cater to people who may be fearful about their balance?
[14:34] What are some things Susi loves to share with students who want to work on their balance?
[16:33] What are some cues yoga teachers could be more mindful around when it comes to breathing?
[18:38] What does rest have to do with balance?
[20:57] What are Susi's thoughts on guiding people to the practice of yoga when they need to down regulate their nervous system?
[23:12] What kind of homework does Susi give her students to improve their balance?
[26:22] What are some movements related to balance that we take for granted that we can practice in a yoga class?
[30:13] Closing the eyes can be an important part of training people in their balance. How does Susi address students who may feel embarrassed or afraid of fumbling or falling over with their eyes closed?
[33:22] Shannon pops in with a quick message about the sponsor, OfferingTree.
[36:01 - 36:01] Susi highlights the fact that our bodies can change at any age and people can regain some of the mobility and ability that they may have lost.
[39:30] Why do people believe that they are destined to lose their mobility and ability to perform certain actions?
[44:00] Susi leaves us with some final things to remember as we work with students or work on our own balance.
[44:39] Find out more about Susi and her work at her website and check out her YouTube channel too.
[45:25] Shannon shares her key takeaway from this conversation with Susi.
[50:00] Shannon shares some upcoming offerings.
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsor, OfferingTree.
Quotes from this episode:
"The key components are what's going on in your inner ear, your stimulus system, what's going on visually as well as what's going on developmentally, like your motor control patterns and how your body moves."
"Rest and breathing are important to balance."
"The key is how can we help a system down regulate and have a system become too that restful state.... If we can settle and connect and be at ease, we'll find that the balance is a lot better."
"When you have the correct stimulus, all sorts of things can shift."
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
290: Best Microphones for Online Yoga with Ashley Hagen
Description:
Many yoga teachers are teaching online these days and one thing is extremely important for online classes - sound quality. Having a good quality microphone can really help, but with so many options available, which do you choose without breaking your budget? Ashley Hagen has some advice for you in this episode.
Ashley Hagen is a yoga teacher, yoga teacher trainer, yoga studio owner, and business coach. She gets excited about all the things that support an online teacher or studio -- systems, software, and the technology needed to make it all run smoothly. Since moving into the online space, Ashley has become an expert in building an online yoga business - including what mics to use to teach online, on Zoom, and out in big outdoor spaces.
Ashley gives her recommendations on best mics for yoga teachers teaching online, suggestions to improve your sound quality as you are leading classes, and how to navigate some of the complex technology related to getting set up for Zoom and online classes. Ashley also shares how OfferingTree has been a useful resource for her and why she recommends it to yoga teachers, as well as how you can build confidence to teach online.
Key Takeaways:
[2:24] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Ashley Hagen.
[6:11] What is the work that Ashley does and who does she do it for?
[7:14] Did Ashley's business take off with the pandemic?
[8:32] What microphone does Ashley recommend for yoga teachers who want to teach online?
[11:50] Ashley has done a video comparing a whole bunch of different microphones that yoga teachers use. She shares a little about that.
[14:29] Shannon had a problem with adjusting the volume on her Rode microphone so she reached out to Ashley. Ashley explains how she set up her Rode mic to work.
[18:46] How can you play music on Zoom and still use a wireless mic?
[20:49] Ashley shares some tips on what to wear while teaching online so that your clothes don't interfere with the mic, and how to wear your mic.
[23:33] What are some mishaps Ashley has had while teaching online that she has learned from?
[26:10] If you're having problems with your mic, you might want to check the cables first!
[28:16] Ashley has some tips if you are teaching yoga outdoors.
[29:22] How does Ashley handle recording and editing her videos?
[32:00] Ashley has a quick tip about the kind of content you could be sharing on YouTube.
[32:46] Ashley shares her experience with using OfferingTree for her business.
[36:18] Would Ashley recommend OfferingTree for yoga teachers who are just getting started?
[40:04] What are Ashley's thoughts on yoga teachers not getting their offerings out first.
[41:56] Ashley shares some advice for yoga teachers who are feeling uncertain about whether they can teach online yoga.
[43:30] Learn more from Ashley through her website and connect with her on social media!
[44:14] Ashley outlines the information you can find in her PDF guide!
[45:09] Shannon shares her key takeaways from this interview with Ashley.
[46:12] Shannon did a little mic test to show the difference in sound for her between the Blue Yeti mic, her Airpods, and the Rode Wireless Go.
[49:39] Shannon highlights some of her key takeaways from this chat with Ashley.
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsor, OfferingTree.
Quotes from this episode:
"If that's the case for you where you ever feel like your mics are going bad, first check the cables."
"[One tip is] it's using a microphone for outdoor yoga to amplify your voice with a speaker."
"I wouldn't call myself an audio expert or a technology expert, but I'm a step or two ahead of people because I test things out. So I'm able to answer some questions."
"Yoga studios don't get students before they open their storefront. They open a studio first and then they get the students. It's kind of the same thing. You've got to open your virtual studio before you get people in the doors."
"Yoga studios don't get students before they open their storefront. They open a studio first and then they get the students. You've got to open your virtual studio before you get people in the doors."
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
289: Limb Difference and Yoga with Melissa D'Errico
Description:
Many more people live with limb differences than we might realize. However, we are not taught as yoga teachers how to serve people with limb differences when they come into our classes or create more welcoming and comfortable spaces for them. Melissa D’Errico has some advice and insights to share.
Melissa D’Errico has had a lifelong love of movement. She started dance classes at a young age, and eventually found her way to yoga, earning multiple certifications in yoga in different modalities such as pre-natal yoga, yin yoga, yoga dance, and other forms of yoga. Melissa also offers healing energy work through Reiki. She currently teaches at the Yoga Center of Deerfield Beach, the Meditate School of Mindfulness and at Beyond Transformation and supports the Lucky Fin Project, nonprofit organization working to raise awareness and celebrate children and individuals born with symbrachydactyly or other limb differences (upper, lower, congenital, and amputee).
Melissa shares her story of being born with a limb difference and how that never stopped her from doing anything she felt called to. Melissa also shared some valuable insights around the language that we use around people with limb differences as well as what we as yoga teachers need to know when someone with a limb difference attends our classes.
This is a great opportunity to learn more about people with limb differences and how we can better serve them in our classes.
Key Takeaways:
[2:15] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Melissa D'Errico.
[5:15] What has Melissa's yoga journey been like? What is the work she currently does?
[7:17] Shannon and Melissa discuss her experience with yoga dance.
[9:26] Melissa lives in a body with a limb difference. She shares more about her experience.
[14:59] What should yoga teachers do when someone with a limb difference comes into their class?
[19:11] Melissa shares some insight about dealing with "uncomfortable moments" in a yoga class.
[20:34] What are some things around language and cues that Melissa would like yoga teachers to know and use?
[22:29] Shannon highlights some re-education she experienced at the Accessible Yoga Conference.
[25:18] Shannon shares a little about the sponsor, OfferingTree.
[27:43] What does Melissa say to people who have a limb difference that they were not born with and are feeling like it's a disability for them?
[30:54] What made Melissa stop calling her limb difference a birth defect?
[34:14] What are some things from yoga and yoga philosophy that Melissa has learned and applies to her life?
[35:16] Learn more about Melissa or join an online class with her!
[38:11] How does Melissa make her busy schedule work?
[40:25] Melissa shares some final thoughts about teaching students with a limb difference.
[41:06] Being a "helicopter yoga teacher" isn't helpful. Melissa explains more.
[42:24] Shannon shares her key takeaways from this episode.
[49:52] Shannon highlights some of her upcoming events and trainings.
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsor, OfferingTree.
Quotes from this episode:
"I teach yoga with a limb difference."
"You probably feel more uncomfortable than the person with a limb difference."
"We already know everything we need to know, we just need to remember."
"You got this... just lead with your heart, teach with your heart, the true yoga is in your heart and it'll all work out."
The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
288: Shavasana (śavāsana) with Indu Arora
Description:
Shavasana (śavāsana) is the final resting pose of almost every yoga practice but how much do we really know about and understand it? We may think of it as being a pose of resting or relaxation to cool off after a vigorous asana practice but it is much more than that. Indu Arora shares more.
Indu Arora considers herself a lifelong student and has spent the last 2 decades of her life studying, thinking and sharing Yoga and Ayurveda. She is a renowned author of SOMA - 100 Heritage Recipes for Self-Care, Yoga - Ancient Heritage, Tomorrow’s Vision, and Mudra: The Sacred Secret. She is a firm believer that “yoga is not to be learnt and done but explored and realized” and embodies this in her own life and practice. Indu travels extensively within the United States, Canada, Europe and India to teach and speak on Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Ayurveda and Mudras and her unique gift is in making Yoga and Ayurveda a practice which is equally useful for beginners as well as for seasoned seekers.
In this interview, we learn the correct Sanskrit pronunciation of Shavasana (and other asana!) and explore why the Sanskrit pronunciation is so important. Indu shares insights on what we are missing about Shavasana and the true purpose of this pose - as a preparation for death. Indu also answers some common questions we often encounter about Shavasana, such as how long it should be, and if it is okay to fall asleep during Shavasana. Indu offers some deep reflective questions for us to contemplate around why we practice yoga and how we can find, share, and face the truth through yoga. This is a great episode to listen to before your next yoga practice or before you do shavasana.
Key Takeaways:
[3:48] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Indu Arora.
[8:06] What does Indu do and who does she do it for?
[9:24] Indu believes that “Yoga is not to be learnt and done but explored and realized.” What does this mean?
[13:07] When did Indu's journey with yoga start?
[17:58] What is the Sanskrit pronunciation of Shavasana? Indu explains why pronunciation matters.
[24:32] If you are interested in learning more about asana names and meanings, check out Indu's book, Yoga - Ancient Heritage, Tomorrow’s Vision.
[25:38] What does Shavasana mean and what are we missing about it?
[31:36] Shannon pops in with a message about the sponsor, OfferingTree.
[35:33] People have some resistance in thinking about death and dying. How can we approach teaching about Shavasana and deal with that resistance?
[40:20] What elements could yoga teachers incorporate to build more of a practice like this?
[42:34] Indu invites us to consider why we are practicing yoga each time we do it, and to ask ourselves if we are becoming robotic in our approach.
[45:17] How long does Shavasana need to be? Does it always need to be at the end?
[53:13] Learn more from Indu and connect with her via her website, and social media.
[55:09] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Indu.
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsor, OfferingTree.
Quotes from this episode:
"Yoga is not to be done, it is to be explored and realized. It is a state of being, it is a state of mind, it is a state of emotions, it is a state of breath, all of this."
"What is the purpose of yoga and why are you sharing and why are you studying about it? And why are you thinking about it? Do not lose that focus."
"It is a rehearsal for death."
"Shavasana is the practice of Pratyahara, it's a conscious letting go."
"Yoga is not a feel-good practice, it is a face-the-truth practice."