Yoga Medicine

When the yoga landscape is changing and trends are constantly shifting, how do we find our place as teachers? How do we balance feeling purposeful and fulfilled with making a sustainable living? This episode is for people who are new to teaching yoga, those who have been teaching for decades, and everyone in between. Hosts Tiffany and Rachel discuss four phases of teaching and the potential pitfalls and pathways of each stage. Listen in to hear what reflections and actions could take you from feeling stuck to a place where you thrive. — Show Notes: Phase 1: Starting out – just do it [2:36] Phase 2: Curious about what lights you up [9:30] Where teachers get stuck in this phase [12:44] Phase 3: Invest in your speciality [19:28] Navigating imposter syndrome [22:02] The value of teaching one-on-one [26:33] Sharing your expertise through writing [29:14] Phase 4: Staying inspired, open to self-growth and reinvention [30:57] Final takeaways [42:42] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Yoga Medicine® 200HR Teacher Training Yoga Medicine® 500HR Teacher Training You can learn more about this episode and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-151 . And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

High achievers in business, sport, and life in general can benefit hugely from yoga practice. However, the very traits that lead to success in their field can bring up unique challenges when brought to the mat. Today, host Katja speaks with Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist Katharina Claeys about teaching yoga to high achievers. Katharina is an educator, speaker, and consultant with a focus on building resilience and nervous system regulation, as well as women's health. Listen to this episode to learn why setting realistic expectations, being flexible in your teaching approach, and managing the moments of transition into class are so important when working with high achievers. — Show Notes: Traits of high achievers on and off the mat [2:47] Which high achievers seek yoga for support? [6:29] Establish "the why" and set clear expectations [10:27] Working with perfectionism and over-efforting [15:26] Be ready with a range of techniques [17:19] Doorway affirmations, tapping into physical senses [27:05] Work with the person, not the profession [31:49] Match your student's energy [34:17] Tips for teachers: self-care, scheduling, community, mentors [40:28] Get started teaching yoga to high achievers [45:22] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Online Burnout Resilience Program Previous Yoga Medicine Podcast Episode: Episode 146: Hustle Culture Meets Wellness Sphere Connect with Katharina Claeys & Resilience Yoga: Katharina Claeys | Instagram | LinkedIn You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-150 . And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

A major barrier for many people interested in yoga teacher training is the assumption that it is only for certain kinds of people—whether that's deep and spiritual, energetic and outgoing, irresistibly charismatic, or highly skilled at yoga postures. In this short excerpt from Episode 103, Teacher Training Myths, host Rachel and fellow teacher trainer Dana Diament share that the truth is that teaching yoga is as much about holding space for students to be themselves as it is about instructing yoga poses and practices. They also share details of the Yoga Medicine Online 200-hour Teacher Training 2026 intake and a deep discount available right now. — Show Notes: Myths about who YTT is for [2:12] Find your own voice, range, and teaching style [4:12] Learning to communicate with groups, as yourself [10:10] Teaching as holding space [13:00] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Yoga Medicine® 200HR Yoga Teacher Training Listen to the full Yoga Medicine® Podcast Episode 103: Teacher Training Myths You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-149 . And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

The holidays can bring up strong feelings. Whether you're managing travel, disruption to regular routines, over-indulgence, or deeper issues like family conflict or loss, this time of year isn't always as magical as we perhaps imagine it to be. Today, host Rachel is joined by returning guest Diane Malaspina, yoga teacher and psychologist, to share practical suggestions on how we can better self-regulate through the holiday season. In this episode, Diane stresses the importance of making time for honest reflection on our feelings regarding this season, and shares how this process prompted one key change in her own life that created more joyful holidays. Listen to this episode to learn how a mindful approach can, slowly but surely, transform your experience of the holiday season. — Show Notes: Holiday expectation versus reality [3:08] Honest reflection on how you feel about the holidays [5:20] Cultivating awareness BEFORE the holidays arrive [9:05] Carrying imagined expectations from others [11:49] Challenge one undesirable holiday pattern [14:50] Embracing seasonal rhythms [18:47] Self-regulation micro-doses accumulate [21:37] Boundaries as self-care [30:29] Grief at the holidays [39:50] Yoga Medicine Burnout Resilience Program [47:48] Final takeaways [50:48] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube LIVE Online Burnout Resilience Program Working with Grief – Theory & Therapeutic Application of Yoga Online Course Inside the Yoga Sutras – The Path to Freedom Online Course Exploring the Niyamas through Meditation & Practice Online Course Exploring the Yamas through Meditation & Practice Online Course Previous Yoga Medicine® Podcast Episodes with Diane Malaspina, PhD: 04: Find Ease in Uncertainty 31: The Power of Intention 57: Drishti, the Potency of Our Focus – Research Roundup 121: Yoga Sutras for Modern Life Connect with Diane Malaspina PhD: Facebook | Instagram | Diane Malaspina | Yoga Medicine® Online Guest Teacher You can learn more about this episode and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-148 . And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Today's guest calls traumatic brain injury (TBI) "a silent epidemic", describing a common yet complex injury that, for many, presents with chronic symptoms. In this episode, host Rachel Land speaks with expert guest Dr. Kyla Pearce, Senior Director of Programs, Research & Operations for the LoveYourBrain Foundation – a national nonprofit that delivers evidence-based holistic health programs for the brain injury community. Because individual experiences of TBI vary widely, it can be a daunting thing to work with as a yoga teacher. Dr. Pearce talks about the under-appreciated importance of social support and the delicate balance of giving students agency without creating overwhelm. She also offers best practices for movement and breath work, and discusses the power of visualization. Listen in to learn how to use yoga as a healing modality for traumatic brain injuries. — Show Notes: Defining Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) [3:38] Surprising causes of brain injury [5:28] Common symptoms of brain injury [6:21] The mission of the LoveYourBrain Foundation [12:45] Evidence-based research outcomes [17:14] Yoga for brain injury versus other trauma [19:29] Challenges for yoga students with TBI (and their teachers) [24:50] Balancing student agency and simplicity [33:23] Suggested practices [39:57] "Cognitive preparation" cueing [45:00] Preferred meditation and breath work techniques [47:32] How to know when students need up-regulation [55:23] Summing up, final takeaways [58:18] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Learn more about LoveYourBrain's certification-level yoga teacher trainings, resources, and research-backed holistic health programs for TBI/concussion Learn more about LoveYourBrain Yoga for Traumatic Brain Injury, Level 1 & Level 2, 20-hr online training for yoga teachers, yoga therapists, and people in the brain injury community Learn more about LoveYourBrain Yoga for Health Professionals, 20-hr online training for clinicians Previous Yoga Medicine Podcast Episodes: Episode 47: Concussion Care with Dr. Daya Grant Episode 30: Trauma Informed Yoga with Dr. Ann Bortz Yoga for Concussions Online Course with Dr. Daya Grant You can learn more about this episode and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-147. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes, or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5-star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Today hosts Katja and Tiffany introduce some recent research on an always-interesting topic: the place where hustle culture meets the wellness sphere. In this episode, we discuss how these two fields influence each other, how this relationship has shifted recently, and how yoga teachers can navigate the hustle. Listen in to learn about the origins of hustle culture, how it shows up in the wellness space today, and how yoga can help to adapt to recent challenges and changes that have been perhaps expedited by the recent pandemic. — Show Notes: Origins of hustle culture [1:44] Recent trends: moving beyond hustle culture [4:46] How the realms of hustle culture and wellness interact [10:31] Reconciling work as a yoga teacher with capitalism [21:23] Recent changes and challenges [26:50] Advice for people entering the yoga teacher space [28:57] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Hustle Culture Meets Wellness Sphere References Doc Connect with Katja Bartsch: Facebook | Instagram | Kalamana Yoga | Yoga Medicine® Online Guest Teacher You can learn more about this episode and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-146 . And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

It can be a challenge to maintain a regular yoga practice in the busyness and distraction of daily life. In this short excerpt from Episode 5, Sustainability and Yoga, Rachel and Tiffany talk about what keeps us coming back to our mats year after year. We share the most important question to ask yourself on the mat, and highlight the underrated skill of finding what you need even within a led group class. — Show Notes: Myriad areas for focus and investigation in practice [1:04] The most powerful question to ask on the mat [3:15] An underrated ability: finding something you need in a led class [5:27] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Listen to the full Yoga Medicine® Podcast Episode 05: Sustainability & Yoga You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-145 . And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

How we phrase things is so important, especially in a personal, experiential practice like yoga. Today, hosts Rachel and Tiffany talk about the power of the language we use when teaching. What does it mean to use open and invitational language versus commanding? How can our words help students to feel strong and resilient instead of fearful on the mat? What problems can arise for students when we offer pose options as a hierarchy? Listen in to learn how to tailor your language with more skill and discernment and cultivate an environment in which your students flourish. — Show Notes: Why is language important when teaching yoga? [0:47] The delicate balance of invitational versus commanding language [3:43] Nocebic or fear-based language [14:47] Hierarchical language versus open options [28:34] Body-positive language [36:53] Gendered language [40:18] Using technical terms judiciously [42:42] Changing default language takes time and practice [45:16] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Yoga Medicine® 200HR Teacher Training Program You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-144 . And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Welcome to our new series of "Shorts"—gems from previous podcast conversations that deserve a second look (or listen). This excerpt is drawn from episode 54: Love Those Hips! All About the Hip Labrum. In discussing yoga practices to embrace and avoid during hip labrum injury, hosts Tiffany and Rachel also highlighted how all of us can strengthen, support, and mobilize these crucial joints to maximize their capacity over the long term. They also explored a repeated theme on this podcast: the power of curiosity and how our practice can act as an individual invitation to find the challenges we need to thrive. — Show Notes: Biomechanics patterns that can contribute to hip issues [1:22] The challenge of balancing 3D mobility and strength [4:00] Commonly neglected: active control in hip rotation, eccentric hip flexor work [5:51] A caution: loaded internal rotation [10:53] The power of practice as individual investigation [13:59] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Listen to the full Yoga Medicine® Podcast Episode 54: All About the Hip Labrum Online Hip: Anatomy, Dysfunction, & Application Yoga Teacher Training In-Person Hip: Anatomy, Dysfunction, & Application Yoga Teacher Training in Bali October 10-17, 2025 Tiffany's "All About the Hips" Playlist on Yoga Medicine® Online (YMO) Rachel's "Hip Health Series 4: MFR 360 Degrees of the Hips" YMO class You can learn more about this episode and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-143 . And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Today, hosts Tiffany and Katja discuss current research on female hormones, the immune system, and exercise. Both the female hormones as well as the immune function are intricate systems – bringing them together adds even more complexity! In this episode, we try to boil down the immune system and inflammatory response and explore recent research that sheds light on the relationship between the menstrual cycle, immune responses and exercise. We also discuss the nuances of inflammatory processes, individualised responses, and potential implications for peri- and post-menopause. Listen in as we talk about the influence of female hormones on immune processes and share why inner wisdom is an important part of understanding our bodies better. — Show Notes: Disclaimer – complexity of the immune system and menstrual cycle research [1:52] Inflammation and the immune system – bird's eye view [4:18] Influence of female hormones on immune and inflammatory processes [6:47] Potential changes in the second phase of the menstrual cycle [14:16] Current meta-analysis and systematic review on female hormones and immune function/ inflammation [15:43] Relationship with exercise [22:41] Current state of menstrual cycle-based training research [29:33] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Female Hormones & Immune System References Doc Female Health Yoga Teacher Training Menopause Yoga Teacher Training Connect with Katja Bartsch: Facebook | Instagram | Kalamana Yoga | Yoga Medicine® Online Guest Teacher You can learn more about this episode and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-142 . And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes, or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5-star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Teaching private yoga can be enormously fulfilling, but it also has the potential to create a whole new set of challenges for teachers. In this episode, host Rachel Land speaks with returning guest Elena Cheung about the pitfalls of private yoga sessions and some potential ways to avoid them. We discuss how to set student expectations early, manage anxiety regarding that first session, and offer tips on setting boundaries, taking payment, and setting cancellation policies. Listen in to learn how to navigate the pitfalls of private yoga like a pro, and find your niche. — Show Notes: Positives of private yoga [2:08] Pitfall #1: Scheduling and admin time [9:38] Pitfall #2: The unstructured unknown of the first session [12:08] Pitfall #3: Research and planning time [19:08] Pitfall #4: Cancellations and no-shows [24:55] Pitfall #5: Homework that works [28:31] Pitfall #6: Uncertainty whether you'll be able to help [35:34] Pitfall #7: Blurry boundaries [41:38] Pitfall #8: Mismatched expectations; find your niche [50:15] Final takeaways [54:20] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Previous Yoga Medicine Podcast Episodes: Episode 109: Teaching Yoga One-on-One Episode 74: Yoga for All The Art of Teaching Impactful Group Classes Online Course For those left hanging by the podcast, the left hemisphere of the brain is generally associated with analytical thinking, logic, and language, while the right is linked to intuition, creativity, and spatial awareness. Connect with Elena Cheung: Instagram | Elena Shapeshifts | Yoga Medicine® Online Guest Teacher You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-141 . And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Today hosts Tiffany and Rachel dive into the muddy waters of hands-on assists. We discuss their complicated history, the different types of hands-on assists, and debate their pros and cons. We also talk about the importance of clear communication and consent, and alternatives you could employ instead. Listen in to hear how truly game-changing assists might be the ones that students find their way to on their own. — Show Notes: Differing attitudes toward hands-on assists over time [1:11] The case for hands-on assists, different types, asking for consent [4:13] Can a teacher know how a student feels by looking at them? [10:57] The same assists don't work for every teacher [15:12] The case against hands-on assists [16:19] Potential for injury [18:27] Overriding students' body autonomy [22:03] Alternatives to hands-on assists: language, demonstrations [26:53] Is touch within a yoga teacher's scope of practice? [29:51] Physical adjustment might disrupt students' internal experience [31:27] Final takeaways [36:13] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-140 . And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

There are still plenty of questions about the experience of the transitional phases of our lives. Today, hosts Tiffany and Katja discuss recent research that seeks to shed light on the menopausal transition. Experience of menopause is highly variable from person to person, so in this episode, we explore common symptom clusters identified in the research as well as the phenomenon of "not feeling like myself" in perimenopause. We also talk about how midlife can pose a challenge to one's self-image and discuss how fatigue and emotional volatility may impact a woman's day-to-day in this phase of life. — Show Notes: Background on menopause and perimenopause [2:50] Symptoms of peri- and postmenopause [14:41] Symptoms that show up in all stages of menopause [27:19] The phenomenon of "not feeling like myself" in perimenopause [29:22] Symptoms related to not feeling like yourself [38:20] The role of fatigue [45:17] New sensations of emotional volatility [46:38] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Menopause References Doc Connect with Katja Bartsch: Facebook | Instagram | Kalamana Yoga | Yoga Medicine® Online Guest Teacher You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-139 . And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Today's episode dives into the vital topic of yoga during pregnancy and beyond. Host Rachel connects with Allie Geer, a Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist and Biodynamic Cranial Sacral Therapist whose specialties include pre- and post-natal yoga. In this episode, we discuss what it looks like to create space for both mother and baby in yoga classes, plus the impact of changes in circulation, centre of gravity, and soft tissue laxity. Listen in to learn what to keep in mind when practicing yoga during and after pregnancy, the vital importance of community, and how teachers can help pregnant and postpartum students feel welcome and supported in class. — Show Notes: Practicing group yoga classes while pregnant [3:50] A key question: is this creating space for me and baby? [5:22] How to recruit extra support from props, walls, or teacher [6:47] Heated & fast-moving flows [8:25] Centre of gravity changes and standing balance [10:45] Relaxin and increased ligamentous flexibility [11:27] Lying on your back; implications for the vena cava [16:01] The importance of community [21:06] Breath work, bandhas, and upper body strength [24:51] Yoga postpartum [29:56] Planning a dedicated postpartum class [34:42] Practicing group classes postpartum [40:04] Working with diastasis recti; favorite deep core practices [42:17] <li class="_lineContainer_t4qxl_11" data-slate-node="element" data-slate-fragment= "JTVCJTdCJTIydHlwZSUyMiUzQSUyMmxpbmUlMjIlMkMlMjJjaGlsZHJlbiUyMiUzQSU1QiU3QiUyMnRleHQlMjIlM0ElMjJQcmFjdGljaW5nJTIwZ3JvdXAlMjB5b2dhJTIwY2xhc3NlcyUyMHdoaWxlJTIwcHJlZ25hbnQlMjAlNUIzJTNBNTAlNUQlMjIlN0QlNUQlN0QlMkMlN0IlMjJ0eXBlJTIyJTNBJTIybGluZSUyMiUyQyUyMmNoaWxkcmVuJTIyJTNBJTVCJTdCJTIydGV4dCUyMiUzQSUyMkElMjBrZXklMjBxdWVzdGlvbiUzQS

An estimated 50 million Americans live with an autoimmune disorder, and women are twice as likely to be affected as men. Yet diagnosis and treatment can be challenging when taking a solely Western medical approach. Today's guest is The Functional Nutritionist, Erin Holt. She has dedicated her life to helping those with autoimmune disorders find their way back to full health, taking a research-based whole-person approach. In this episode, we discuss the major triggers of autoimmune disorders and the current limitations of Western medicine. Listen to learn the key role a multi-disciplinary team can play, and the power of food as medicine. — Show Notes: Erin's personal experience with autoimmune disorder [2:29] Theories on why women are more affected by autoimmune disorders [5:01] Different autoimmune conditions and potential for remission [7:28] Six major triggers of immune disregulation [16:06] Holistic approach to health: working with a multi-disciplinary team [22:00] Three phases of autoimmune disorder [25:43] Key signs of undiagnosed autoimmune disorder [27:32] Challenges with the Western medical approach [34:46] After autoimmune diagnosis: a whole-person approach [39:00] Nutritional support for autoimmune disorder: where to start [44:57] The Wahlz Protocol [47:08] Gluten, dairy, eggs, soy [49:05] Food sensitivity testing vs elimination diets [50:05] Final takeaways and resources from Erin [53:21] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Hear Tiffany on The Funk'tional Nutrition Podcast Yoga Medicine® Podcast Episode 112: Yoga & Autoimmune Conditions Connect with Erin Holt, integrative nutritionist: Facebook | Instagram | The Funk'tional Nutritionist You can learn more about this episode and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-137. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Most of us have heard of, and even practiced, Yoga Nidra. But it holds a certain mystique that means we might not know as much about it as we think. Today, host Rachel dives into this topic with returning guest and 1000-hr Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist Caroline Wybar. Caroline unpacks some of the misconceptions around Yoga Nidra and offers her tips for both students and teachers of this guided relaxation practice. Listen in for more on Caroline's upcoming Online Yoga Nidra Teacher Training, to learn about relaxation-induced anxiety and hear tips for staying awake during Yoga Nidra… if you want to! — Show Notes: Is Yoga Nidra an ancient practice? [2:58] Does "authentic" Yoga Nidra require a set sequence of techniques? [8:13] Can Yoga Nidra replace sleep? [12:09] Must Yoga Nidra be done in Savasana? [14:59] Can Yoga Nidra cultivate Delta brain waves? [17:06] Yoga Nidra frees us from the pressures of time [20:47] How Caroline found her way to Yoga Nidra [28:03] Challenges for Yoga Nidra students [34:34] Who is Yoga Nidra for, and not for? [38:31] Teaching Yoga Nidra: script or no script? [42:06] Teaching Yoga Nidra: leaving space for silence [49:03] Upcoming Yoga Medicine Yoga Nidra training live online [50:32] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Yoga Nidra Teacher Training Yoga Medicine Podcast Episode 68: Approaches to Anxiety Birch, J., & Hargreaves, J. (2015). Yoganidrā: an understanding of the history and context. The Luminescent. https://www.theluminescent.org/2015/01/yoganidra.html Connect with Caroline Wybar: Facebook | Instagram | Caroline Wybar Yoga | Yoga Medicine® Online Guest Teacher You can learn more about this episode and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-136 . And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

As both yoga teachers and practitioners, it is important to understand how to take general instruction and use it to cater to your personal needs. In this episode, hosts Tiffany and Katja talk about recent research on personalized medicine and training, discuss how wearables and data collection play into individualized training programs, and relate current research findings to personalized yoga approaches. Listen to this episode to learn about the history and trends of individualised medicine and training, how to know which data to collect, why body awareness is important in individualisation, and how to take this perspective into account in a group class. — Show Notes: What is the history of personalized medicine, training, and yoga [2:04] Factors to consider [8:31] Tracking and evaluating data [12:12] Current research and potential downsides [20:37] How to individualize a group class [35:32] Recap [37:49] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Connect with Katja Bartsch: Facebook | Instagram | Kalamana Yoga | Yoga Medicine® Online Guest Teacher You can learn more about this episode and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-135 . And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

What is it about yoga that makes such a significant difference in well-being for people with ADHD? Today, host Rachel invites guest Emily Mariola to help answer that question. Emily is a Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist and studio owner who recently completed her 1000-hr research project on Yoga for ADHD. In this episode, Emily shares yoga practices that help those with ADHD learn to self-regulate both on and off the mat—from asana, to breath work, meditation, and use of drishti. She also encourages yoga teachers and practitioners to view disruptive behavior with more compassion. — Show Notes: Describing ADHD, its challenges and opportunities [4:22] How Emily's thesis project came about [10:56] Yoga practices for ADHD [16:49] Sun salutations: discipline & patterned behavior [21:52] Suggestions when struggling with stillness [25:31] Fixed gaze: focus & impulse control [31:14] Yoga for emotional regulation [33:27] Breath work for regulation, and a cue to internal state [38:34] Recognizing ADHD behaviors with compassion [44:23] Key outcomes of Emily's research project [49:45] Final takeaways [54:37] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Connect with Emily Mariola: Facebook | Instagram | Flex Yoga Wooster You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-134 . And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Today host Rachel dives deep into Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) with returning guest Dr. Nikki Tugnet FRACP. We discuss common symptoms, what distinguishes RA from other inflammatory and auto-immune conditions, the role Western medicine can play, and – most importantly – how yoga can help. Listen in to learn how yoga teachers best serve students with RA, how to sneak more mindfulness and body awareness into your classes, and the vital importance of making space for rest. — Show Notes: The background on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) [2:22] Common symptoms [10:50] Uncontrolled RA versus remission [14:32] Western medical interventions [16:00] How yoga can help: stress release [19:28] How yoga can help: breath work & visualization [26:01] How yoga can help: meditation [28:27] Managing flareups [29:47] How yoga can help: easing morning stiffness [36:28] How yoga can help: standing, seated & floor options for asana [41:01] Guiding students to be more willing to rest [43:26] A general class flow for RA [48:38] Challenges of working with RA [50:51] Final takeaways [52:50] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Previous Yoga Medicine® Podcast Episodes: 112: Yoga & Autoimmune Conditions A comprehensive scientific evidence-based impact of yoga in patients with rheumatoid arthritis Pawanmuktasana Joint Rotation Series Connect with Dr. Nikki Tugnet: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Nikki Tugnet You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-133 . And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Today host Rachel and returning guest and Yoga Medicine Teacher Valerie Knopik PhD explore a recent research paper on the topic of interoception (Voss et al: Mind-body practices, interoception and pain: a scoping review of behavioral and neural correlates). In this episode, we discuss the many ways yoga teachers can guide students to becoming more informed inhabitants of their body, and how honing that skill of interoception seems to help manage all kinds of pain. Listen in to learn more. — Show Notes: Overview of the scoping review paper [5:02] Limitations of the study [9:36] Defining interception [13:11] Challenges of studying yoga interventions [16:45] Interesting takeaways: interoception as a trainable skill [20:02] Yoga tools help pain management (whether used deliberately or not) [29:06] Guiding students in the experience of being their bodies [38:19] Other takeaways [40:59] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Mind-body practices, interoception and pain: a scoping review of behavioral and neural correlates, Voss et al: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37939212/ Mental Health & Wellness Online Training Yoga Medicine® Online: Interoception & Pain Research Monthly Dose Yoga Medicine® Podcast: Previous episodes on Pain Science: 15: Shifting Persistent Pain with Marnie Hartman, DPT, CSCS 64: Impactful Pain Strategies Previous episodes with Valerie Knopik PhD: 49: Epigenetics, Mental Health & Yoga 79: The Neuroscience of Resilience Connect with Valerie Knopik: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Yoga Medicine Online Teacher You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-132 . And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Female health is something we are passionate about at Yoga Medicine — exactly why we have dedicated several episodes to the topic. Today we are distilling the best tidbits of information and advice from multiple episodes into this one. — Show Notes: The female hormonal cycle, starting with menstruation [1:28] The follicular phase and ovulation [6:33] The luteal phase [14:20] Major effects of estrogen on muscle mass, strength, and recovery [18:00] The female hormone cycle: impact on athletic performance and other goals [26:06] Does our movement practice need to change during menstruation [36:07] Yoga during perimenopause and menopause [51:39] The current state of research on female health [1:03:09] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Yoga Medicine® Podcast Episodes: 48: Research Roundup: Female Hormones 62: Yoga During Menstruation: Yes or No? 97: New Perspective on Athletic Performance in the Menstrual Cycle: Research Roundup 116: Yoga for Menopause & Beyond: Community Conversations with Niamh Daly 122: Estrogen Effects on Muscle: Research Roundup Online Female Health Yoga Teacher Training Online Traditional Chinese Medicine Yoga Teacher Training Yoga Medicine® Online Videos: Female Health Lecture Move & Nourish Series PMS Flow Menses Practice Post-Menstrual Practice Support Ovulation You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-131 . And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com .</

Conversations on how to secure opportunities to teach yoga are much more common than those on when we should NOT teach, so today hosts Tiffany and Rachel explore a handful of scenarios where you may need to step back from the role of teacher—whether that is just for today or over the longer term. In this episode, we discuss whether it's ever ok for a teacher to simply "go through the motions" and what it means to truly show up for students. We also talk about schedule sustainability and the value of teaching what is meaningful to you. Listen in to learn when yoga teachers should not teach. — Show Notes: Recognizing privilege in the choice to not work [1:54] When you're contagious [3:01] When you can't reliably stay in the room [5:28] When you can't truly show up for your students [8:58] Is there a time to permanently stop teaching a person or class [18:44] Energy management and sustainable teaching schedules [21:27] Moving on when you've taught all you can [31:22] When ethical limits are breached [34:55] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Yoga Journal articles: When Should You NOT Teach? How You Know When It's Time to Break Up With a Class You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-130 . And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Usually, this podcast features seasoned yoga instructors, so today we are doing something different: exploring the perspectives of those early in the experience of holding the role of a teacher. In this episode, we connect with three guests who completed 200-hour teacher training at the end of 2023. We discuss their expectations of the training, which areas of study best prepared them for the work they hoped to do afterward, how they secured their first teaching opportunities, and what advice they would share with those considering yoga teacher training now. If you are a newer teacher yourself, or contemplating yoga teacher training, listen in to learn about the reality of yoga teacher training, as well as the joys and challenges new teachers tend to experience. — Show Notes: Is teacher training only for people who want to teach [3:05] Hopes and expectations prior to teacher training [6:23] Most and least enjoyed areas of study [10:24] What did you feel most and least prepared for after teacher training [14:26] Challenges that arise for new teachers [18:42] How to find the first opportunities to teach [21:36] Next steps, including how to know you're ready for ongoing study [26:36] Advice for future yoga teachers [30:34] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Previous Yoga Medicine® Podcast Episodes: 127: Your 200HR YTT Questions Answered 103: Teacher Training Myths 200HR Online Teacher Training Connect with today's guests: Becky Bruce – Instagram Suzanne Powell – Email | Union Yoga Co. You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-129 . And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com . To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Many of us kick off the new year ready to commit (or recommit) to a dedicated personal yoga practice. But as the days and weeks pass, this commitment can start to run out of steam. So today hosts Tiffany and Rachel share their personal practice tips as well as things that have been particularly helpful in keeping their practice going over the years. We emphasize the importance of flexibility of mind and how we can change our lens to turn needs into likes. Listen in to learn how to build a realistic personal practice that supports you. — Show Notes: Why personal practice matters, for teachers and students [3:07] What constitutes a personal practice? [12:37] Being honest with yourself about what is and isn't yoga practice [23:19] Does frequency on the mat matter? [27:28] Should we prioritize needs or wants? [33:20] Does your personal practice have to be self-guided? [37:38] Takeaways & more tips [38:51] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Previous Yoga Medicine® Podcast Episodes: 05: Sustainability & Yoga 96: Creating Change with Alison Heilig <li data-slate-node="element" data-slate-fragment= "JTVCJTdCJTIydHlwZSUyMiUzQSUyMmxpbmUlMjIlMkMlMjJjaGlsZHJlbiUyMiUzQSU1QiU3QiUyMnRleHQlMjIlM0ElMjJXYXRjaCUyMHRoaXMlMjBlcGlzb2RlJTIwb24lMjBZb3VUdWJlJTIyJTdEJTVEJTdEJTJDJTdCJTIydHlwZSUyMiUzQSUyMmxpbmUlMjIlMkMlMjJjaGlsZHJlbiUyMiUzQSU1QiU3QiUyMnRleHQlMjIlM0ElMjIqJTIwRXBpc29kZSUyMDgyJTIwQnVpbGRpbmclMjBhJTIwSGVhbHRoeSUyMFJlbGF0aW9uc2hpcCUyMHdpdGgl

It is a new year—the perfect time to commit to a new path or project. Each year, for some, that means diving into yoga teacher training. In this episode, returning guest and lead teacher of the Yoga Medicine 200hr teacher training, Dana Diament, sits down with host Rachel Land to explore all your 200hr teacher training questions. We explain how you know if you are ready to take that journey and what to consider before signing up. We also unpack the realities of fitting the training schedule into your life and what hurdles you can face transitioning to teaching afterward. Listen to this episode to learn if yoga teacher training is right for you, and to hear about the upcoming Yoga Medicine 200hr Online Teacher Training, kicking off between February and June. — Show Notes: How do I know I'm ready? [2:10] Do I have to want to teach? [7:48] Which yoga teacher training should I choose? [11:09] In-person locally, retreat/ immersion format, or online? [14:14] Considering the style of yoga [23:43] Is Yoga Alliance registration important? [29:18] Recap: considerations discussed so far [31:32] Prerequisites for YTT: your own practice [32:42] Prerequisites for YTT: sufficient time [35:20] Prerequisites for YTT: passion for learning [36:57] Things that aren't required before YTT [39:58] How should I prepare? [41:02] <span class="_bas