The Art and Science of Teaching Yoga Online - Part 1 with Lily Dwyer Begg

Four types of retreats (and how to choose the one that's best for you) with Lily Dwyer Begg

Yoga retreats allow you to share yoga free from the distractions of daily life - while often earning far more than your usual weekly classes. There are four basic types of retreats to consider: day, camping, local, and international. In this episode, we cover the pros and cons of each to help you decide which is right for you. Packed with personal insights and practical tips, this dialogue aims to inspire yoga teachers to organize retreats, explaining the win/win dynamic for both student and teacher.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

00:00 Why we love retreats and four types of retreats to consider leading

01:34 Retreat opportunities for students and teachers

13:24 Day Retreats: A low-risk way to dip your toes into leading retreats

19:33 Camping Retreats: An affordable option for nature lovers

27:03 Local Retreats: Gateway to a deeper practice

33:47 International Retreats: The easiest retreat to fill up and earn a profit

40:07 Conclusion: Choosing the right retreat for you

EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:

Quiz: What kind of retreat is best for you?

Retreat Timing Guide

Episode 226: Yoga Retreat Fundamentals

Episode 233: How to Thrive as a Retreat Leader

Lily Dwyer Begg Yoga

Follow Lily on Instagram @lilydwyerbegg

The Ultimate Retreat Roadmap Online Course

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

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12 Tips for Teaching Large(r) Groups

Teaching large groups can be intimidating! But it’s also fantastic for improving your teaching skills and boosting your confidence. This episode focuses on the unique challenges and opportunities involved in teaching large yoga groups. Learn to embrace the challenges of large-group instruction and develop your ability to offer high-quality instruction to groups of any size.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

00:00 The benefits of teaching larger groups

05:15 Why teaching large groups is so nerve-wracking

07:02 Why it’s important to keep your class plan simple in a larger group

09:33 How to encourage focus and engagement in a larger group

10:12 How to balance different personality types when it comes to student participation

12:04 How to manage student questions to avoid getting thrown off track

15:06 How to provide an intimate experience in a large group

17:14 Thoughts on physical touch in a large group

19:17 How to bring attention back to you after small group or partner work

21:06 The role of visual aids in a larger group

22:51 How to utilize assistants when teaching a larger group

24:54 How to learn your student’s names (even if you’re usually terrible with names)

26:52 How to facilitate connection between students in a larger group

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

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An Anti-Perfectionist Approach to Accessible Yoga with Jivana Heyman

Over the past decade, there has been a welcome push towards a more inclusive approach to yoga. But what does that look like on a practical level? Jivana Heyman has been at the center of the accessible yoga movement as the founder of the Accessible Yoga Project and the author of The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga, Best Practices for Sharing Yoga with Every Body. In this episode, Jivana shares an anti-perfectionist approach to accessible yoga that centers the relationship between teacher and student. The conversation delves into insecurities and imposter syndrome, the interplay between teaching and personal growth, and the importance of ethics in guiding both personal and teaching practices.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

00:00 The philosophy of accessible yoga

01:48 Jivana’s early experiences with yoga

03:30 How yoga helps with emotional regulation

05:59 The impact of social media and information overload

08:43 How to deal with impostor syndrome

13:22 Teaching as a relationship

21:04 Inquiry on the ethics of teaching

27:50 The importance of meeting your students where they are and respecting their preferences

33:41 Perfectionism and people-pleasing

38:30 Kindness as a guiding principle for accessible yoga

42:15 Helping and fixing vs serving

EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:

Accessible Yoga School

Access all of Jivana’s books here

Follow Jivana on Instagram @jivanaheyman

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource

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How to Run a Registered Yoga Series with Nyk Danu

Series classes deepen your relationship with your students, helps them commit to their practice, and provides financial stability for you as the teacher. Nyk Danu, a certified yoga therapist and business mentor, shares her insights on creating a sustainable yoga teaching business through a registered series. Listen in to hear practical advice on setting up your series, handling logistics like space rental and insurance, and filling your series classes. Nyk also touches on considerations for yoga studio owners thinking about transitioning to a registered series. If you value teacher-student connections, consistency in practice, and control over your teaching environment, this episode is for you!

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

00:52 Meet Nyk Danu: Yoga Misfit and Mentor

06:09 Why yoga classes shifted away from the registered series model

09:59 How to Start Your Own Registered Yoga Series

20:11 Finding the Perfect Space for Yoga Classes

22:04 Essential Tools for Running Yoga Series: Registration and Communication

24:40 Essential Policies for your Registered Series

28:21 Priority Registration for Existing Students

29:20 Starting Small with Class Registrations

30:15 Engaging Older Students with Simpler Technology

31:18 Handling Minimums and Cancellations

31:47 Leveraging Workshops to Fill Series

33:30 Setting Minimum Attendance Numbers

36:16 Choosing the Right Duration for Your Series

37:40 Make-up Classes and Free Sessions

40:09 Finding Your First Group of Students

46:02 Utilizing Email Lists for Growth

48:58 Transitioning Studios to Registered Series

50:14 The Benefits of Running Pre-registered Series

55:43 Concluding Thoughts and Resources

EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:

Nyk Danu Yoga

Follow Nyk on Instagram @nykdanuyoga

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource

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Teaching Mixed Abilities in Yoga Classes with Dr. Libby Hinsley

Yoga is for everyone, but when people of varied physical abilities show up in the same class it can be difficult to meet all their needs at the same time. In this episode, Mado and Libby offer a framework for understanding why your students might struggle with a particular asana and how to offer variations that provide a similar experience to people with different physical abilities.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

00:00 Why teaching mixed ability yoga classes is harder than it needs to be

02:49 How to plan for an all levels class

03:35 Understanding progression and regression

04:46 Four reasons a pose might be challenging for a student

05:39 How to simplify yoga postures

07:14 Essential biomechanical principles for yoga

11:35 How gravity can impact asana

16:27 Why teaching simpler poses will help your students progress

21:50 How teaching one one-on-one will help you teach better group classes

23:16 A breakdown of Warrior 3 Pose

28:51 Moving vs static yoga postures

30:39 The role of creativity in yoga teaching

32:14 A breakdown of Triangle Pose

38:53 Why anatomy is a key skill for asana teachers

EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:

Libby Hinsley

Anatomy Bites

Follow Libby on Instagram @libbyhinsleypt

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource

Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list

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Leave a review on iTunes

Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe