The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

326: Teach Yoga with Confidence with Shannon Crow 0

May 29, 2023

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

326: Teach Yoga with Confidence with Shannon Crow

Description:

If you are a new (or not-so-new) yoga teacher who is feeling nervous or anxious about teaching yoga to a class full of students, you are not alone! This is a feeling many yoga teachers face and is one of the biggest challenges you have to overcome to teach yoga.

In this episode, Shannon Crow reflects on her experience with fear and self-doubt as a new yoga teacher and the steps she took to overcome her anxiety and build up her confidence around teaching yoga. She shares her list of 15 things that have helped her through moments of self-doubt.

Tune in to learn more about how you too can start teaching yoga confidently.

Key Takeaways:

[1:30] Shannon introduces the topic for this episode - teaching yoga with confidence.

[4:54] Shannon shares her own experience with fear and self doubt on her journey as a yoga teacher.

[8:39] Shannon shares a lesser-known feature of OfferingTree.

[12:02] Do not feel like you need another yoga teacher training before you can start teaching.

[13:09] Your own experience with yoga is a tremendous source of information and ideas!

[15:24] Teach more. You build confidence by doing. Shannon shares some tips to make this process easier.

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[17:31] Remind yourself of why you are teaching yoga.

[19:08] Be on time and be prepared.

[20:56] Consider how you use demos in your class.

[22:19] Start your students from a place where you can find a moment to breathe and center yourself.

[23:18] Do not be afraid of repeating a class over and over again!

[24:44] Making mistakes is a part of the process. Learn to embrace them.

[25:29] Be okay with silence and don't be a cookie-cutter teacher!

[26:40] Remember that your students want to be there with you.

[27:01] Ask for and be open to receiving feedback.

[29:47] See the value in the questions your students are asking - don't make yourself feel like a failure because of it.

[32:04] If this episode was helpful, be sure to leave a review!

Links:

Gratitude to our Sponsor, OfferingTree.

Quotes from this episode:

"Start teaching right now and learn as you go."

"It's by being a student that we deepen our teaching. A student of our craft, of course, but perhaps more importantly, a student of ourselves." - Shannon quoting Barrie Riseman

"Please do not feel like you have to plan an entire new class each time you teach."

"We all make mistakes as humans and then they can learn from us and see how we deal with that."

"You can really show up with confidence when it's you."

"Share the yoga that you feel connected to."

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325: Stress of Teaching Yoga with Sarah Garden 0

May 22, 2023

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

325: Stress of Teaching Yoga with Sarah Garden

Description:

There is a common misconception among non-yoga teachers that teaching yoga is stress-free. However, this is not true! Teaching yoga and running a yoga business can be extremely challenging and stressful and we need to be able to deal with it. Sarah Garden shares her experience from years working in the yoga industry.

Sarah Garden is the Director of Bodhi Tree Yoga Therapy and the full time Pain Educator and Yoga Therapist at The Chronic Pain Clinic in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Sarah has been actively working in the field of yoga therapy for over 20 years and taught classes across North America and on Yoga International.

In this conversation, Sarah highlights the difference between practicing yoga and teaching yoga, and why teaching is so much more stressful than most people imagine it. She shares some of the symptoms you may notice if you are deregulated and her tips on how to incorporate your personal practice back into your life as a yoga teacher. Tune in to learn how you can do your own check in and manage the stress of teaching yoga.

Key Takeaways:

[1:16] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Sarah Garden.

[4:35] What does Sarah do?

[6:17] Sarah shares a little about her experience as possibly the first yoga therapist in Saskatchewan.

[8:48] Being a yoga teacher and running a yoga studio is tough. What keeps Sarah going?

[14:20] There's an assumption that teaching yoga will be just as relaxing and calming as practicing it, but that's not the case. Why is teaching yoga so different from practicing yoga?

[19:32] We need yoga in order to keep teaching yoga but it can be hard to fit in your own personal practice around your teaching schedule.

[20:44] Shannon pops in with a shout out of thanks to sponsor, OfferingTree.

[23:15] What is Sarah's advice to yoga teachers who have fallen away from their own practice and think they can't fit it in on top of all the other demands of being a yoga teacher?

[25:14] What are some symptoms of a deregulated nervous system?

[30:43] It may not be easy to tell when you are regulated or deregulated. Sarah shares some advice on how to discover that self-awareness.

[37:05] Sarah shares a quick check in that you can do to assess how regulated you are.

[42:45] People have the idea that a yoga practice has to be something big, but that's not necessarily true.

[44:38] Learn more and connect with Sarah via email and social media.

[45:55] Shannon shares her takeaways from this interview with Sarah.

Links:

Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree.

Quotes from this episode:

"It's not just like the work that I do going in to teach the class, but it's all this preparation."

"The way the yoga industry runs is it's hard to make a living as a yoga teacher. You have to teach a lot."

"Full-time teaching isn't often financially sustainable, nor is it energetically sustainable. And so, what do we do to do that? I think we have to fall back on our own practice."

"Checking in with body tension patterns is a really nice way to notice if you're feeling deregulated, [and] checking in with your emotional regulations."

"Relaxation or finding greater ease in your body isn't a process of addition, it's always a process of subtraction. We're doing work that we don't need to be doing."

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324: Niches & Yoga Business Chat with Sunita Patil & Shannon Crow 0

May 15, 2023

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

324: Niches & Yoga Business Chat with Sunita Patil & Shannon Crow

Description:

It can feel challenging to find your place as a yoga teacher in the yoga industry. That’s where finding your niche can be helpful in standing out and serving your dream students. In this episode, Shannon Crow and Sunita Patil discuss niching down in your yoga business. This episode was recorded for the Meditation, Yoga & Stuff with Sunita Podcast.

Sunita has over 30 years of experience in the personal practice of yoga. Over the past 20 years, she has taught thousands of students in Australia, USA, and India. Sunita has studied Yoga and Meditation, Sanskrit, Ayurveda, and the Vedas and Upanishads with teachers from around the world. Today, she offers mentoring sessions, group sessions, talks, workshops to bring the wisdom of Yoga and Ayurveda into day-to-day life.

Shannon and Sunita discuss why finding a niche is important for yoga teachers, their own individual journeys discovering their niches, and how you can figure out your own niche. Shannon also highlights some of the myths around niching down and shares some tips for overwhelmed yoga teachers.

Key Takeaways:

[1:27] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Sunita Patel. This episode was recorded for Sunita's podcast, Meditation, Yoga & Stuff with Sunita.

[3:14] Sunita opens the podcast and Shannon introduces herself.

[4:47] Many yoga teachers struggle to find their footing in the yoga industry. Shannon shares her journey of how she discovered what worked for her and her suggestions that can help yoga teachers.

[9:29] How can yoga teachers find their niche?

[12:57] Sunita shares her struggles with finding her niche.

[16:42] Shannon highlights that there's a little bit of a myth about finding your niche. It's not just that you figure out your niche and that's it. There's more to it!

[18:26] Finding your niche can be a lot about experimentation and taking stock of what's working and what isn't.

[22:13] Sunita shares her perspective on why she hosts her podcast.

[25:11] Shannon explains how she got interested in the topic of pelvic health and explains a little about the pelvic floor.

[29:53] Sunita and Shannon discuss how there is a lot of taboo and shame associated with talking about the pelvic floor and how yoga can help.

[33:14] Shannon gives a shout out to sponsor OfferingTree.

[35:02] How did the Connected Yoga Teacher come about and how has it evolved?

[39:21] Starting a yoga business can be a lot with many moving parts and things to consider. What are some of Shannon's tips for yoga teachers who may be feeling overwhelmed?

[43:56] Everything changes really fast, especially with marketing.

[46:29] Shannon shares her contact details and how to join the Facebook group.

[49:24] Shannon shares some final closing thoughts and information.

Links:

Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree.

Quotes from this episode:

"What helps me … is focusing on: How can I help people? How can I share and how can I just invite people if it feels like a good fit?" - Shannon

"Niche work is not easy." - Shannon

"There's a myth that entrepreneurs and yoga teachers just like get to a point where they have it all figured out." - Shannon

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323: Finding Support in Yoga Philosophy with Sunita Patil 0

May 8, 2023

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

323: Finding Support in Yoga Philosophy with Sunita Patil

Description:

Yoga philosophy is an important part of yoga. Yet, interpreting and applying those principles to our modern lives can be difficult. So how can we find support for our yoga practice in the sutras and yoga philosophy? Sunita Patil has some insights.

Sunita has over 30 years of experience in the personal practice of yoga. Over the past 20 years, she has taught thousands of students in Australia, USA, and India. Sunita has studied Yoga and Meditation, Sanskrit, Ayurveda, and the Vedas and Upanishads with teachers from around the world. Today, she offers mentoring sessions, group sessions, talks, workshops to bring the wisdom of Yoga and Ayurveda into day-to-day life.

Sunita explains about how we can make yoga, yoga philosophy, and the teachings from the sutras simple and adaptable to our daily life, and what the true essence of yoga philosophy is. Shannon and Sunita also discuss self-care for yoga teachers, how to maintain peace and calm in our hectic lives, and so much more.

Key Takeaways:

[2:32] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Sunita Patel.

[5:02] What does Sunita do and who does she do it for?

[7:36] How can yoga philosophy support yoga teachers?

[16:14] What are Sunita's thoughts on the different translations or interpretations of yoga philosophy out there?

[20:10] Sunita talks a little bit about the first principle of yoga.

[24:58] What are some of Sunita's takeaways from the character of Arjuna in the Gita?

[26:37] Shannon gives a shout out of thanks to sponsor, OfferingTree.

[28:26] What are some of Sunita's ideas of how to incorporate yoga into our daily lives?

[34:39] What are some things that Sunita does to bring calm and ease to her life?

[43:12] Sunita shares some inspiration from yoga philosophy for yoga teachers who might be feeling that life is a lot right now.

[53:01] Get in touch with Sunita via her website and social media.

[54:19] Shannon shares her biggest takeaway from this conversation with Sunita.

Links:

Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.

Quotes from this episode:

"With the yoga philosophy, it's basically coming back to stillness."

"My always intention is how can I make it simple to adapt to my life, this modern life?"

"This is the beauty of yoga like you can adapt it according to your need."

"As we grow in the practice, we will change the practice."

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322: The Creative Cycle with Wenlin Tan 0

May 1, 2023

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

322: The Creative Cycle with Wenlin Tan

Description:

Feeling stuck, procrastinating, and facing a day when you don’t want to do the work that is ahead of you as an entrepreneur are all normal parts of life and business. How can we understand these phases and move with them? Wenlin Tan shares insights about the creative cycle and how we can work with it instead of against it.

Wenlin Tan is a Qigong and Yoga Teacher Trainer, women’s health & well-being specialist, growth consultant and curious human. She specializes in supporting female yoga teachers, healers and changemakers to optimize their well-being and impact in the world by aligning with the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Eastern Philosophy, Qigong, yoga and psychology.

In this episode, Wenlin explains the creative cycle and how it ties into the common challenges many entrepreneurs face such as resistance and procrastination. She shares some tools that we can use to overcome these challenges and reminds us that our ideas are not ours and we are merely vessels bringing them to the world. This is a deeply insightful conversation that can bring perspective to how we show up in our work in the world.

Key Takeaways:

[2:43] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Wenlin Tan.

[5:30] What does Wenlin do and who does she do it for?

[6:18] Wenlin explains a little about what the creativity cycle is.

[9:10] What are some common challenges that understanding the creative cycle can help with?

[12:51] We can often get stuck in trying to focus on planting new seeds (ideas) rather than doing the work of moving one seed (idea) through an entire cycle. How do we know what are "good seeds" to focus on?

[16:29] The seeds do not belong to us - we are merely vessels for them. It's important not to take our "failures" personally.

[17:42] The creative cycle can be related to the menstrual cycle, and it applies even for people who don't menstruate.

[27:53] Shannon pops in with a word of thanks to sponsor OfferingTree.

[29:36] What are the elements associated with the creative cycle?

[36:35] What is the biggest struggle Wenlin sees among yoga teachers and other creatives?

[41:00] What are some tools that Wenlin finds useful when you are experiencing resistance?

[44:02] Wenlin shares some of the ways she finds the balance between tasks she is excited about and tasks she does not enjoy.

[46:47] Learn more about Wenlin and her work via her website and social media.

[49:50] Wenlin has a message for listeners.

[54:39] Shannon shares some of her biggest takeaways from this conversation.

[57:54] Hang out with Shannon in real time at the Balance Flow Yoga series with Shelly Prosko

Links:

Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.

Quotes from this episode:

"The idea that things are linear is actually not true. The idea of growth and businesses, how we expand is actually cyclical."

"Before even thinking about what seed to get attached to or what seed is a really good seed is to remember that none of the seeds really belong to us."

"We can practice this cycle, but we cannot force creativity."

"Growth is not linear. Work is not linear. Life is not linear. And more importantly, your path, your cycle, your strengths, your challenges will be different from someone else's."

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