Episodes
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You know what feels really terrible? Teaching yoga when you don't feel inspired. And yet, realistically, we all encounter dry spells in our own practice. This week's conversation with Jason will give you ideas for reigniting your inner spark and feeling inspired to practice again.
If you'd like even more inspiration, join us in January for our newest online course, Mind-Body Reset! Get all the details here: learn.jasonyoga.com/reset
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We're back! This week we're talking through four life skills for every yoga teacher to master. These four skills are attributes that we work on in our own work and personal lives through our practice. They are also the four pillars around which our upcoming January program -- Mind-Body Reset -- is built.
The four skills are:
Self-compassion -- the skill of being an ally to yourself and accepting yourself, as you are.Self-awareness -- taking a look inward and acknowledging your areas of strength and your areas of challenge.Self-regulation -- understanding the science behind the different stress responses and learning what you need to do in your practice to have a balanced response to stress and adversity.Self-direction -- harness your creative energy, kick imposter syndrome to the curb, and embrace an entrepreneurial spirit.If you'd like to learn more about the program, go to learn.jasonyoga.com/reset and jump on the waitlist.
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Missing episodes?
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Fall doesn't just mean pumpkin spice lattes. It means that you will likely start to hear a cacophony of sniffles and coughs when you're ordering said pumpkin spice latte -- or wherever you go. It's a great time to thinking about your yoga practice as a tool for building your resilience. Iyengar Yoga teacher Lisa Walford joins me this week to talk about her approach to immune health and how to use asana, pranayama, and meditation as part of your support system. Lisa also opens up about her own personal immune health challenges since she was diagnosed with HIV in 1985. This conversation was a beautiful reminder of the many ways that yoga can help us to heal when we start from a place of care and attention.
About Lisa:
Lisa Walford holds a Level III (formerly Intermediate Senior II) Iyengar teaching certificate and has been teaching yoga in Los Angeles since 1982. She continues her studies annually with the Iyengars, in Pune, India, and teaches worldwide. Lisa is the curriculum director for the Teacher Training Program at The Center for Yoga in Los Angeles. Previously, she co-created the Teacher Training Program at YogaWorks. She is on the advisory board of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and the Yoga Studies program at Loyola Marymount University.
For shownotes for this episode, got to yogalandpodcast.com/episode314
Thank you, as always for listening and sharing. If you'd like get regular updates from us, join our mailing list at jasonyoga.com/newsletter
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Inversions can be fun, empowering, and strength-building -- if they are introduced thoughtfully and systematically. On this episode, Jason walks through how to introduce four key inversions to beginners: Handstand, Forearm Balance, Headstand, and Shoulderstand. He shares the building blocks that will create a blueprint for each pose, keeping them safe and beneficial.
We have companion sequences for these poses on our website! Find them on the shownotes page here: yogalandpodcast.com/episode313
Jason has also created a tutorial on his Youtube channel so that you can see the variations he refers to in the episode. Check it out here: youtube.com/@JasonCrandellYoga
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Carving out a place for yourself as a yoga teacher is no easy task. It was such a treat to have multi-hyphenate Neeti Narula on the show to hear how she has done it. Neeti is an NYC-based yoga and meditation teacher, as well as a mother of two, a contributor at Yoga Journal and now, a freshly minted contributor on the lifestyle platform, Melissa Wood Health.
Neeti shares so many helpful gems on this episode including:
How yoga came into her life and helped her begin to heal from lossThe thing that surprised her most when she left investment banking to become a yoga teacherHow the pandemic helped her reassess her teaching schedule and pursue other avenues to share yogaHow intuition and persistence have led to the biggest leaps in her careerThe necessity of being willing to fail as she pursued opportunities in her teaching careerHow she pitched Melissa Williams Health and what she will be sharing there.You can now take classes with Neeti Narula on Melissa Wood Health !
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This week we continue on with our series for beginners (and those teaching beginners): Our focus is the best arm balances for beginners. Arm balances are typically poses that beginners really enjoy playing around with, because they offer shapes that we don't typically do in other disciplines (unless you're a gymnast or a pro skateboarder). Arm balances can build stability, balance, strength, mobility. They're also aesthetically beautiful and novel -- unless you're a gymast or a pro skateboarder, you won't likely encounter shapes like these in your daily life. So, they're fun! And fun is truly valuable in life and in yoga.
A little bit about what we mean by "best" -- these are families of arm balances that are accessible and emphasize stability and strength. They are poses that can be broken down into steps so that you feel your confidence grow as you progress. As with anything in life, we want to offer ourselves or our students just enough challenge, but not too much. That's what these families of poses do.
To get some sequences where you can work on the arm balances mentioned in this episode, go to the shownotes page here: yogalandpodcast.com/podcast/episode311
Also: We're closing early bird registration for Jason's 200-Hour Online Teacher Training this Saturday! You can learn more and enroll at learn.jasonyoga.com/200
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland.
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Modern life is not great for your back -- sitting in chairs tightens the hip flexors, which can lead to a chain reaction that stresses the low back. When we type at a computer, we typically roll the shoulders forward or hunch the upper back. And looking at our phones constantly can lead to the dreaded and painful "tech neck." -- chair sitting, typing, and looking at our phones. Simple backbends are a fantastic antidote.
But which backbends are most beneficial for beginners and why? Jason shares his thoughts on this episode.
We talk about:
Prone backbends like Locust Pose, Medium-Sized Cobra, and SphinxKneeling backbends like Cobra and New School AnjaneyasanaReclined backbends like Bridge Pose and Lying over a blockLearn the best approaches and modifications for these poses. And find lots of sequences to help you practice them by going to the shownotes page here: jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode310
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TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS
Early bird registration for Jason's 200-Hour YTT is open! Go join today and save $300! jasonyoga.com/200
If you're thinking about training but want to learn more, Jason is leading a free webinar that will walk you through his 200-hour online YTT. You can register here: jasonyoga.com/webinar
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Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland.
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Jason joins me on this week's episode to talk about how yoga teacher training goes beyond skill acquisition and can become a catalyst for self-transformation. We just hosted a webinar on the topic last week and we enjoyed it so much we thought we'd re-record the episode especially for the podcast.
This is a fun episode if you're considering YTT or if you've already done a YTT and you'd like to reminisce about all the ways that learning this discipline deepens your understanding of yourself and changes hows you move through the world.
PS: Early bird registration for Jason's 200-Hour Online YTT is open! Get all the details here: jasonyoga.com/200
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland.
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Today's conversation is with Alison Zak, who recently published her first book, "Wild Asana: Animals, Yoga, and Connecting Our Practice to the Natural World." Zak's unique nature memoir artfully weaves together her personal stories, ecological context, and yoga asana. Her book is a moving and urgent call for us to remember our connection to the natural world. As Zak says, "We're more alike than different from even the animals that might seem quite different from ourselves, like a scorpion or a fish."
Wild Asana is the next selection for the Yogaland Book Club, which I host on my Substack. You can sign up for the book club: yogaland.substack.com and Alison will join us on October 24th.
Other announcements: Jason and I are hosting a webinar this Thursday, August 31st on the topic of Yoga Teacher Training as Self-Transformation. You can register for this free live webinar here: jasonyoga.com/webinar
He'll leave some time at the end for questions and a brief overview of his upcoming online 200-hour teacher training program.
You can access all of this info and more on the shownotes page: yogalandpodcast.com/episode308
If you enjoy the podcast, don't forget to Subscribe and share it with friends, colleagues, your cat, your cat's colleagues. Just checking to see if you're still reading. Sharing really does help get the word out, so, my sincerest thanks.
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland.
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There’s something about fall that just feels like back to school time for me, even as an adult.
Jason’s 200-hour YTT is coming up October 24th, so we thought we’d review what to look for if you’re thinking about going back to yoga school!
We talk through the importance of adapting asana to modern knowledge and safety standards, the significance of understanding yoga anatomy in a functional context, and prioritizing strength and stability in practice. We also tough on the need for a thorough understanding of yoga philosophy, and some of the foundational texts to look for on the syllabus.
More highlights from the interview:
Sequencing is a critical aspect of teacher training. In a 200-hour YTT, learning a few set sequences can be incredibly helpful.Immersive and repetitive practice teaching is essential for building confidence as a yoga teacher. Jason shares how he structures it and the advantages of practice teaching on Zoom.YTTs that offer specialized training in a specific area of yoga are a plus! These skills can enhance a teacher's expertise and marketability.A lead trainer who is stable, compassionate, and mentally/emotionally composed will help you navigate personal growth during your yoga journey.Join Jason for a free webinar August 31st! The focus is on the psycho-emotional benefits of teacher training. You can register for Yoga Teacher Training as Self-Transformation at www.jasonyoga.com/webinar Attendees will receive a code for $50 off the early bird price of the training.
Andrea just announced her next Yogaland Book Club pick -- Wild Asana, by Alison Zak. This gorgeous book by a wildlife conservationist combines yoga, science and memoir. Join the Yogaland community at yogaland.substack.com
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On our live episode two weeks ago, we answered the question, ‘Is this thing that we’re doing still yoga?’ Jason shared five principles that make even the most modern practices a yoga practice. On this episode, we will walk through how yoga teachers can bring these principles to life in their teaching.
Here are some of the ideas we talk through:Reflecting on whether classes still have liberatory qualities, inviting students to grow beyond self-limiting beliefs and identifications.Introducing intentional theming or recommended readings to enhance students' understanding of yoga philosophy and its application.Incorporating abhyasa (effort) and vairagya (letting go) -- balancing striving with non-attachment to outcomes in the practice.Encouraging students to focus on specific skills to enhance the transformational aspect of yoga.Inviting students to cultivate self-awareness by observing their self-talk, patterns of reactivity, and responses to discomfort during practice.For shownotes, visit www.yogalandpodcast.com/episode306
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As many of yoga know, Sally Kempton was hugely influential to me. She was an expert guide, a loving presence, and a creative inspiration. She passed away on July 10th and has been on my mind constantly since then. I put together this episode to honor and remember her with my friend, the former editor-in-chief of Yoga Journal, Kaitlin Quistgaard. We had a lot of fun sharing stories and memories of Sally.
The second part of this episode features my favorite episode that I did with Sally a few years ago: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly of the Ego.
I hope you enjoy it. If you have any stories about Sally that you'd like to share, send me a voice note! You can DM it to me on Instagram (@andreaferretti) or email it to me at [email protected].
I put links to other past episodes with Sally and other useful resources from her on the shownotes page: yogalandpodcast.com/episode305
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This discussion was recorded in London at the new Mission studio where Jason led Module I of his hybrid YTT a few weeks ago. Together, Jason and I explored the question -- Is this thing that we're all doing still actually yoga? Our power-hour or our 30-minute glo class or our rolling on foam rollers with some poses sprinkled in -- are those still yoga? Or has yoga in the West evolved into something else altogether?
A few tidbits that we discuss in the episode:
The fact that the word "yoga" has more than 350 definitions in Sanskrit, revealing its diverse nature.The belief in a singular, authentic yoga tradition is challenged throughout history.Swami Vivekananda's influence on bringing yoga to the United States and his perspective on Hatha Yoga.Different yoga traditions, like Iyengar and Ashtanga, were once considered radical innovations.The long-standing tension between "head up" and "head down" yogas: intellectual vs. physical practices.The importance of focusing on one's practice and impact rather than judging others' practices.The five common denominators of yoga traditions, including liberation teachings and philosophical infrastructure.The significance of Abhyasa (effort) and Vairagya (letting go) in all yoga practices.Yoga as a gradual process of replacing unconscious patterns with conscious beliefs aligned with self-realization.Jason will be back at Mission in London in October -- join him for a 6-day immersion or for Module II of his Hybrid YTT. Get the details at: jasonyoga.com/london
You can find shownotes for this episode, including links to the books mentioned at: yogalandpodcast.com/episode304
If you'd like to support the podcast, join our Substack here -- it's a great way to connect with other listeners and get more of us in your inbox.
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland.
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Today we're talking about five things that Jason wishes he knew earlier in his yoga teaching career. We hope this discussion helps yoga teachers everywhere take some pressure off of themselves to be everything to everyone all the time. Enjoy!
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Jason takes over this week to present a special comprehensive lecture on Patanjali, aka, his Patanjali “Super Lecture.” This episode essentially combines our three existing episodes on Patanjali plus additional content featuring essential philosophical concepts to teach beginners. We wanted to provide a place for all of these conversations to exist together so you have them at your fingertips. The topics we take on include:
The Sutras: Unpacking Purusha and Prakriti The Sutras: Defining Chitta, Vritti and the GunasThe Sutras: Three Approaches to the 8 Limbs of Yoga8 Essential Philosophical Concepts to Teach BeginnersJason spends so much time teaching and discussing asana, pranayama and meditation so these conversations were a welcome change of pace for us. We hope you enjoy it.
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland.
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Deepen your knowledge of yoga anatomy and the anatomy of twists, in this 20-minute detailed conversation.
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This week I'm sharing 8 things I've learned in the process of creating this podcast for the past 8 years. Jason joins as my sound board and points out that a lot of these ideas about how to create content -- things like defining your editorial scope, sustaining your passion, and having a thick skin -- apply to teach yoga, too. So -- you get a twofer here: lessons for sharpening your content creation/podcasting skills that can also help boost your confidence, creativity, and effectiveness as a yoga teacher.
We'll be doing a Yogaland live episode at Mission in London on July 14th! Come join us for this free event. Find the link on the shownotes page, here: yogalandpodcast.com/episode301
It's not too late to join Jason's Online YTT module that focuses on spine and core. The group starts together July 22nd! Go to jasonyoga.com/300 to get all the details.
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland.
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It's the 300th episode of Yogaland -- huzzah! For this momentous occasion, I've decided to reflect on the past 8 years.
So much has changed in yoga and in podcasting and I wanted to take a look back together. On the episode I share where and why podcasting started for me (it was a comfort during radiation treatment for breast cancer treatment), what my aim was in starting the podcast, and what the podcasting landscape was like at that time vs. now.
I share some personal details of how these past 8 years have helped me to grow and some of the big surprises along the way.
Lastly, I read listener responses to a question I posed on my Substack: "What's your why? Why do you teach yoga?"
One of the biggest benefits of doing the podcast has been the sense of community and connection that has formed. So, I wanted to share your thoughts, feelings, and motivations to celebrate you, too!
Support the podcast by subscribing to Yogaland Substack -- you can read all of the whys from other listeners and get lots more content related to Yogaland, including the Book Club.
And a heads' up that Module II of Jason's online 500-hour starts in just a few weeks! You can go to jasonyoga.com/300 to get all of the details and to enroll.
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland.
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In this last of our "essentials" series, Jason shares 5 essential ideas for finding ease and stability in your shoulders during yoga practice. On this episode, you will learn:
Why it's particularly crucial to build shoulder stability if you practice vinyasa yoga -- and which joint (of the four) in the shoulder is the most unstableA common misconception about what to do with your shoulders when your arms move overheadThe cue that you can give when arms move overhead that will prevent neck and shoulder tension (without leaving the shoulders vulnerable to injury)Why different backbends benefit from different shoulder openersHow to experiment with different rotations of the shoulders in Downward-Facing DogHow a simple change in your hand placement can create more freedom in your shouldersTo try a shoulder sequence from Jason at home, go to our shownotes page: yogalandpodcast.com/episode299
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On this episode, Jason clarifies what we mean when we talk about the core in yoga. Once you're finished listening, the core will no longer be a vague two-dimensional region that you aspire to pummel into submission. Instead, you'll understand:
The difference between the abdominals and the coreThe functions of the core -- it contains! connects! supports! It's like a Swiss Army Knife!The part of the core that is typically the tightest; the part of the core that is typically weakestHow to counteract our tendency to be "up & tight"What you need to binge on Netflix right now if you haven't already (no this has nothing to do with the core, but you'll thank us later)Go to the shownotes for links to past episodes -- 5 Essential Ideas for Healthy Hips & 5 Essential Ideas for a Healthy Spine: yogalandpodcast.com/episode298
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