Leadership and Yoga 7 keys for teaching yoga that changes lives
In this episode, 7 Keys for Teaching Yoga That Changes Lives, I share the heart of what it really means to teach yoga as art, service, and courageous self-expression. I talk about what it takes to step out on the limb creatively, hold the energy of the room with invisible impact, and stop judging yourself through the eyes of others. We explore how to set clear expectations, create soulful structure, and bring confidence that students can feel before you even begin.
I share Gene Key 26 with you and the transformation of pride into artfulness, and how our classes become sacred offerings—not performances. Whether you’re blasting music or teaching in silence, giving detailed cues or letting simplicity lead, every class is a living canvas. The challenge is to know your palette so deeply that you can improvise in real time and truly see your students. Tune in for an honest, edgy, and heartfelt breakdown of how we can teach yoga that leaves a lasting, unseen imprint on people’s lives.
Mailing list:
Follow me on instagram:
Get my guided journal for $33 with code POD33
https://www.ritualofwritingjournal.com/
Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:
https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat
Time stamps:
00:00 Intro
03:00 sweet simplicity retreat & poem
08:00 teach a sensational class
10:15 put pressure on yourself: dealing w/ disappointment
13:50 painting analogy
17:05 less pride while teaching, more invisibility: gene keys on teaching
23:15 in the giving there is glory
24:15 judging yourself through the eyes of students, stop that!
32:30 don’t “do your time,” do the work instead
35:00 don’t create a class that’s a reaction to training
37:20 see the students, really!
39:50 confidence
43:40 tips for before class
47:45 it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it
49:00 cueing
52:00 master the experience you want students to have
55:40 when you make a mistake