Yoga teachers are often asked to teach for free in the name of Karma Yoga. However, when this term is divorced from the context of yoga philosophy, it can be exploited and misused. In this episode, Mado explores the practice of Karma Yoga and some of the less obvious implications behind the decision of whether or not to teach for free. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: How the term Karma Yoga is commonly misused and a more accurate explanation of what it means. How Karma Yoga fits into the framework of the Pu...
Aug 31, 2023•22 min•Ep. 239
Want to promote body autonomy in your classes but aren’t sure what that looks like? Featuring Dr. Libby Hinsley, this episode covers ways that yoga teachers may be unintentionally hindering body autonomy for their students and strategies for making your classes a self-empowering space for your students. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Why body autonomy is essential for yoga practice - and a revolutionary act that will help change the world for the better. How yoga teachers might accidentally interfere with ...
Aug 17, 2023•31 min•Ep. 238
Social media can be a great tool but it can also be a detriment to mental health. In this on-air coaching call, Kathy, a kid’s yoga teacher trainer shares her strategy for bypassing social media to reach her customers more directly. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: How to balance the benefits and the drawbacks of technology Old-school marketing strategies How & why to survey your students Offering more to existing students vs finding new students Why it’s important to think through the customer journey f...
Aug 03, 2023•31 min•Ep. 237
Learn to bridge the gap between your social media following and your email subscribers with Mado in this on-air coaching call. Christy is a yoga teacher who teaches inclusive yoga for bigger bodies. She’s found an audience for her message on Instagram but isn’t sure how to translate that following into email subscribers and course sales. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Why Christy hated yoga the first time she tried it … and what convinced her to give it another shot. How to transition social media follower...
Jul 20, 2023•27 min•Ep. 236
What do you (actually) need to invest in when you start a yoga business? Business owners are the target of a seemingly endless number of services trying to convince you that their product is essential for your success. In this episode, Mado helps you figure out what’s essential and what can wait. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Mistakes to avoid when investing in the early stages of your business The hidden downsides to free services What is entity formation and when should you do it? Why it’s crucial to cr...
Jul 06, 2023•34 min•Ep. 235
Learn how to bring more peer support into your life. Sheri, John, and Allison are a group of yoga teachers that found each other online and have been supporting each other since the height of the pandemic. Mado also shares how she taps into peer support and what to look for when starting your own collaborations. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Why peer to peer support is so important, yet often overlooked Different ways to tap into peer support How to start and run a peer support group Best practices for co...
Jun 22, 2023•42 min•Ep. 234
Wish you knew how to lead yoga retreats that are stress free and well paid? In this episode, Mado & Lily draw from their upcoming online course Retreat Roadmap to share 3 key insights that will make the difference between your retreat feeling like an invigorating hike instead of a wild roller coaster ride. Whether you’re a seasoned retreat leader or a retreat leader wannabe, these tips will bolster your ability to create a profitable retreat business that thrives over the long term. EPISODE ...
Jun 08, 2023•49 min•Ep. 233
For the 5th Anniversary of this podcast, Mado shares what she would do differently if she had a do-over at several pivotal points in her teaching career. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Four simple habits to build as a new yoga teacher Some of the differences in being a new yoga teacher in 2005 vs today One thing I regret putting off for five years How to specialize when you have no idea about a niche How to make friends with social media What to focus on first if you’re looking to scale your business EPISO...
May 25, 2023•18 min•Ep. 232
Let’s talk about alignment. Some teachers center their entire teaching technique around alignment, while others argue that it does more harm than good and that students should be encouraged to explore asanas in a more open-ended way. In this episode, Mado shares how her own relationship to the concept of alignment has evolved over the past 20 years and her thoughts about how alignment can be both useful and potentially harmful. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Mado’s personal experience with alignment Defini...
May 11, 2023•29 min•Ep. 231
Yoga Nidra is an aspect of yoga that is accessible to a wide variety of people - including children. Rina Deshpande, author of Yoga Nidra Lullaby shares the practice of yoga nidra from a cultural, practical and neuroscientific perspective. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Rina’s experience with yoga as a child What is yoga nidra How devices impact our nervous system Neuroscience and different forms of rest A pocket version of yoga nidra A reading from Yoga Nidra Lullaby EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Follow ...
Apr 27, 2023•30 min•Ep. 230
Is teaching online the right choice for you now that the pandemic is over? In this week’s on-air coaching call, Anna questions about teaching online. She lives in a small community and worries that she has already maxed out her student base. Is teaching online the answer or are there still untapped opportunities in person? EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: The pros and cons of teaching online When is teaching online a good option The big picture of how to make a yoga business sustainable Why is it so hard to ...
Apr 13, 2023•40 min•Ep. 229
Being a yoga teacher is harder than it looks from the outside! All yoga teachers go through periods of time when they question their choices and consider quitting. If you can relate, listen to this episode to expand your perspective and feel confident in your decision. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Why quitting should always be on the table How to measure success as a yoga teacher The most common cause of yoga teacher burnout How capitalism influences our experience as yoga teachers When taking a break or...
Mar 30, 2023•17 min•Ep. 228
How relevant are yoga’s ancient texts for the modern yoga practitioner? Chase Bossart shares insights on yoga philosophy, ancient texts, and the meaning of practice from his years as a private student of Mr. TKV Desikachar. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: The role of philosophy and yoga’s ancient texts for a modern practitioner How the traditional meaning and purpose of yoga practice differ from how it’s usually practiced today The paths of yoga and how they differ from yoga styles as we think of them today...
Mar 16, 2023•38 min•Ep. 227
Is offering a yoga retreat in your future? Lily Dwyer Begg shares tips and practical strategies to help you avoid rookie mistakes and run your very first retreat like a pro. Episode Highlights: Benefits of leading and attending retreats How to choose a location and retreat center How to plan for safety and avoid major mishaps Logistics for leading retreats when you have a family Tips for creating a sacred transformational container How to plan your curriculum and activities The one question to a...
Mar 02, 2023•47 min•Ep. 226
How do you know if you’re ready for a coach? With coaches for yoga teachers popping up all over the place, you might wonder whether or not coaching is worthwhile for a new teacher. Let’s dig beneath the marketing hype to understand what a coach actually does and how to decide whether or not you want one. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: What a coach can (and cannot) do How transformation happens How to decide whether or not you are ready for a coach Coaching vs education How to get the most from a coaching r...
Feb 16, 2023•18 min•Ep. 225
Even experienced yoga teachers struggle with self-doubt! In this on-air coaching call, long-time yoga teacher Elyce asks for permission to focus on growth in her business. This vulnerable and relatable conversation touches on raising prices, changing goals, taking risks, and trusting that growth is inevitable. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: How to interrupt stagnation Strategies for raising prices (when you haven’t done so recently) How much vulnerability to show your students Being a mean boss (to yoursel...
Feb 02, 2023•40 min•Ep. 224
Ready to hire a web designer? Or on the fence about whether or not you are ready? In this final installment of the website miniseries, Angela and I unpack the ins and outs of hiring someone to create your website. Episode Highlights: Is investing in a website right for you? Budget: what to expect in early 2023 How to vet a designer Time investment for DIY vs using a developer The importance of branding and how it relates to your website How long does it take to have a website built by a professi...
Jan 19, 2023•32 min•Ep. 223
Don’t speak tech? Every website you see is made up of multiple components and you need a basic understanding of them in order to make good decisions for your business. If tech speak sounds like Greek to you, this episode will help you understand what’s going on behind the scenes of your website. We’ll also go over the pros and cons of some of the most popular website platforms. Episode Highlights: The difference between domains, hosting, and platforms The importance of choosing the right platfor...
Jan 12, 2023•47 min•Ep. 222
Now that you’ve created a website that looks good, the next question is how do you get people to visit? Angela and Mado explore different ways to approach getting traffic to your website and then converting that traffic to sales. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: What is a conversion and why is it important for your website? The first thing you need to do when creating a sales strategy for your website How to spend your time, energy, and money wisely when it comes to website traffic Strategies for website tra...
Jan 05, 2023•34 min•Ep. 221
Do you feel website shame? Have you created a frankensite? Join Angela and Mado as they take a deep dive into some tips and tricks to make a website you can share with pride. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: What is website shame and how to avoid it Why making a template look good is harder than it seems How to manage expectations of your website The most important components of your website Simple Do’s and Don’ts to make a better website The last thing to do before you launch your website EPISODE LINKS &...
Dec 29, 2022•26 min•Ep. 220
Have you ever wanted to write a book? Three years ago, Kate Lynch dropped a bombshell in an on-air coaching call: a publisher had invited her to write a book. In this episode we check back in with Kate about how things have progressed since her last episode. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: The steps Kate took to go from the “idea” stage to a finished product Types of accountability that helped Kate complete such a long term project The biggest factor that led to a massively successful yoga retreat after her...
Oct 27, 2022•47 min•Ep. 219
Have you ever wondered if you have created a niche that might be too narrow? Kate Lynch is a long time yoga practitioner, yoga teacher, and mother of a special needs child. While she has a lot of clarity about exactly who she wants to work with, she also has concerns that her niche is too specific and that it could make things difficult in terms of growing her yoga business. Listen to this on-air coaching call to find out what advice Mado offers about Kate’s niche and how to get over the fear of...
Oct 20, 2022•42 min•Ep. 218
What does it mean to live your yoga? In this episode, I share my journey from being primarily focused on asana to my current integrated approach to practice. Episode Highlights: How and why I first started practicing yoga How teaching yoga contributed to my changing relationship with my personal practice What happened when the lineage I was studying exploded in scandal 3 ways of knowing from yoga philosophy & how that relates to your practice Two complementary approaches to living your yoga ...
Oct 13, 2022•30 min•Ep. 217
Have you ever wished you could charge more for your time, take vacations, and focus your classes on the aspects of yoga you are most passionate about? Ashley Zuberi shares how she took control of her schedule and her income using a series class format. Episode Highlights: How the pandemic changed the way Ashely teaches and why she’s sticking with her new format. Why taking vacations is important for long term sustainability. The difference between being an “educator” and an “instructor”. How to ...
Oct 06, 2022•45 min•Ep. 216
Want to make your yoga classes and studios more inclusive? We often talk about how to adapt for students with physical limitations or injuries, but what about people with different cultural backgrounds and beliefs? Dawn Rivers is the first BIPOC woman to own a yoga studio in Ohio, and she’s also a Christian. In today’s episode, she shares experiences from her personal yoga journey as well as insights around embracing cultural differences as a yoga professional. Episode Highlights: Why yoga studi...
Sep 29, 2022•49 min•Ep. 215
Does gender matter when it comes to cueing? A podcast listener called in to ask if she should cue men differently around the hips and hamstrings. In addition to answering the specific question, Mado’s answer touches on how yoga teachers can best navigate the rapidly changing landscape of sex and gender. Episode Highlights: Different definitions of the word man - and how they might impact a yoga practice. The value of recognizing & questioning assumptions Population trends vs individual varia...
Sep 22, 2022•18 min•Ep. 214
What are some ways to help a student with a hip labral tear? In this episode, Dr. Libby Hinsley explains how a labral tear can affect yoga asana practice and how to support students who have them while staying in your scope of practice. Episode Highlights: What are labral tears and what are the symptoms? How labral tears are diagnosed - and why a true diagnosis can be problematic Treatment options for hip labral tears Connections between asana practice, hypermobility syndromes, and hip labral te...
Sep 15, 2022•26 min•Ep. 213
Should we modify spinal flexion for osteoporosis? Osteoporosis affects approximately 20% of women over the age of 50 and increases the risk of bone fractures. In this episode, Dr. Libby Hinsley and I continue our 3 part mini-series highlighting common medical conditions. Episode Highlights: What is osteoporosis, how to treat it, and how to prevent it. Why many people don’t get diagnosed with osteoporosis until after they fracture a bone. The three most common locations for osteoporosis, and how ...
Sep 08, 2022•26 min•Ep. 212
Students often share scary sounding diagnoses with their yoga teachers and expect us to know what they are - and how to modify for them. Today’s episode is the first of a mini series about some of the most common conditions that will show up in a yoga classroom. Dr. Libby Hinsley demystifies the misleading diagnosis of “degenerative disc disease” - and shares the tools you will need as a yoga teacher to confidently help any student who tells you they have it. Episode Highlights: How your back is...
Sep 01, 2022•28 min•Ep. 211
Impostor syndrome doesn’t have to hold you back. Nearly all of us experience paralyzing self-doubt at some point in our lives. In this week’s on air coaching call, we’ll explore ways to change our perspective and turn self-doubt into self-expansion. Episode Highlights: Why impostor syndrome is not your enemy. How your practice can help you heal and transform self-doubt. What your “Internal Family System” has to do with impostor syndrome, and taking action in moments of doubt. How your shadow par...
Aug 25, 2022•33 min•Ep. 210
