Leadership and Yoga

Today my guest is Ashish Arora. Ashish is a yoga instructor who grew up in Delhi and is currently based in Seattle. He spent 16 years as an engineer in the computer and video game industry before becoming a full-time yoga instructor.  And since then, he’s been teaching for 8 years and teaching weekly, as many as 20 classes per week. Ashish’s classes are challenging, yet not too serious, and his extensive knowledge is complemented by his joyful, energetic personality.  After experiencing a lay off, a door was opened for Ashish to teach yoga and he never looked back. Tune in to hear the whole story, along with what he considers to be the essence of yoga, how he structures his classes, his tips for new teachers, what qualities he looks for in teachers and leaders, and how we can experience more joy.  Time stamps: 2:45 What is the essence of yoga and how can we include it in our classes? 8:30 The power of breath.  9:30 Being present with the students in front of you. 14:15 On energy levels for teaching and practicing. 19:00 The importance of presence while teaching. 22:45 Structuring class. 24:50 Teaching set sequences and changing it up. 31:00 How Ashish started yoga. 32:00 From a laid off to yoga teacher. 39:00 What Ashish looks for in a teacher. 41:40 Elements of a good leader. 46:00 Self-practice. 48:00 On joy. 51:20 Billboard message: Option to smile.    Find Ashish on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashishyoga  Ashish’s website: https://www.ashish.yoga/ Message me on instagram: @shawnakru

In today’s episode I share a story of rejection in Portugal and the reason why it’s okay that our best is not always good enough. In addition, I talk about the pressure of timelines, what happens when our expectations are broken, and how the wildest synchronicities can be born from those moments if we are able to focus even in the face of disappointment.  Warning: I still need to learn how to use the very nice microphone. AI background cleaning is the distortion you hear. Stay tuned for better audio quality next week. (Yay!) Message me on instagram: @shawnakru My website:  https://shawnakru.com/

Today I have a special collab episode to share with you. One of the questions I am asked most frequently aside from yoga-related questions is:  How did you learn Spanish? And how did you become fluent in Spanish?  Who better to discuss fluency with than a language teacher? Emma Martinez is an English and Spanish teacher, and if you’re tuning in today, you will hear about what it takes to learn a new language, what it means to be fluent, and what you can gain from learning another language.  Plus, we discuss the idea of fluency and how it relates to yoga.  If you are curious about learning another language, or finally want to stick with your language learning goals, you’ll hear about what helped me learn Spanish, along with tips and tricks you can apply to your own journey.  Happy learning, fluency here we come! Emma’s instagram: @em_language Message me on instagram: @shawnakru My website:  https://shawnakru.com/

Today my guest is Clara Tomé. Clara is a fashion model, environmental activist and a European Union Climate Pact Ambassador. She holds a masters degree in environmental law and has been part of numerous projects including being a Next Gen Assembly member and being a part of the 2023 United Nations Water Conference… all of which has had her featured in everything from Greenpeace to Business Insider. And at the same time she is modeling internationally for all kinds of brands.  As a rough agenda in terms of what to expect if you are listening, we dive into mindlessness and how that negatively impacts not only how we are feeling, but the earth, our home, and what we can do about it.  And then at the end, I ask Clara about her meditation practice and how it has changed since we last spoke.  Clara stands at the intersection of so many things and handles the duality of it all seamlessly. Her life is proof of what happens when you believe in yourself fully, and in your cause fully.  Time stamps: 04:00 How can we be more mindful in the face of convenience and complacency?  09:30 How do you think that we can proactively start to break a habit before we're forced to act? 14:30 Speaking from terms of how our mind works, why are we not able or willing to feel empathy for something like our living environment, our earth?  20:00 How can we be okay being more uncomfortable if we're going to be less selfish? 21:30 On the process of becoming vegan.  26:25 How can we retrain our brains regarding reducing meat consumption? 32:45 The role of your circle and your friends in breaking out of complacency and making changes.  35:30 Taking control of how you’re being influenced.  36:45 On having a clarity of focus.  41:00 On losing and gaining support when you share your values.  43:00 Using your voice in the fashion industry.  50:00 Some of my favorite yogis don’t have the label of “yogi” or obsession with asana practice.  53:00 On not trying to manifest or force gratitude.  Find Clara on instagram: @iamcleer  Message me on instagram: @shawnakru My website:  https://shawnakru.com/

I’m not going to lie— I think teaching in-person is absolutely essential. It has taught me more life skills than just about any other job that I have had. It is also one of the only things that consistently pushes me to grow, no matter how much I “practice” it.  Tune in today to hear the truth behind the first yoga class I ever taught at a studio, and two absolutely hilarious moments that represent how I was feeling.  In addition, I share 3 ways you can build up the courage to teach your first yoga class. Learn about why confidence is a decision and why you should practice choosing it, how you can choose to be on the offense, not the defense, and how you can be prepared enough to be able to read the room and actually see people.  Happy teaching! Join the Leadership and Yoga Fam email list to stay up to date on giveaways and L&S news. Plus, get immediate access to the free week-long 6am Club training: Join the fam. Message me on instagram: @shawnakru My website:  https://shawnakru.com/

Today my guest is Victoria Hutchins. Victoria, also known as the Daily Victorian in the online world, is a yoga instructor, content creator and corporate lawyer living in Houston, Texas. If you are tuning in today you’ll hear a bit of background on Victoria’s journey and what she’s learned along the way. And we’ll also touch on key topics that include creativity, fear, simplicity, inspiration and of course, teaching yoga.  Time stamps: 05:20 Starting to practice and eventually teach yoga 08:30 Advice for following a creative or untraditional path, and thoughts on external validation 12:00 An appetite for risk and putting yourself out there 14:00 Sharing on social media and vulnerability 20:40 On fear of saying the wrong thing, learning from feedback and polarization 25:00 Sensitivity, creativity and social media as an outlet 28:59 The creative process 34:20 Where does creativity come from? 36:00 Quitting corporate 37:00 Sources of inspiration 39:00 Fear of death, past and future self.  44:00 On stage fright Join the Leadership and Yoga Fam email list to stay up to date on giveaways and L&S news. Plus, get immediate access to the free week-long 6am Club training: Join the fam. Find Victoria on Instagram:  @thedailyvictorian  Find Victoria on TikTok: @thedailyvictorian  Message me on instagram: @shawnakru My website:  https://shawnakru.com/

That’s right, today, Friday, September 8th, is my birthday, and I am bringing you an extra special episode: 26 lessons from 26 years.  I present these lessons to you in exactly the order that they came to mind, and spoiler alert, I think they get better as the episode goes.  This list is completely organic, otherwise I would have overthought this episode and decided to not do a birthday episode after all because how do you really think of the most important things you’ve learned on earth?  Well, these are some of mine, inspired by the gift tradition that my Grandpa Bill started so many years ago. I give them back to you today in the form of food for thought and hopefully a significant dose of motivation, too.  Without further ado, 26 lessons from 26 years of life: When the “thinking” isn’t working, try taking a step back to let your mind get to a centered place.  Life is a series of solving problems. Focus on a grande one or get hung up on the little ones. Progress equals happiness. There’s magic in the mundane, and longevity in laughter.   Celebrate your wins. It’s a musical thing: There are highs and lows, and  darkness before manifestation. The point is the melody. Intelligence > intellect.  Don’t assume that people with more experience are better leaders. And don’t assume that people in leadership roles are good leaders.  Don’t take advice from people who aren’t where you want to be.  Sacar las piedritas and do your non-negotiables. Move slow.  Give value first, in any way you can, before asking for anything.  The only way you can lose is quitting. Don’t overthink it. Overthinking and expectations are the enemy of joy.  We need to be reminded more than we need to be taught.  Draw a smaller and smaller circle of what you are credible on.  No such thing as too long, only too boring. Higher standard not attention span  Most things worth doing aren’t easy.  Invest in yourself.  The energy of a good idea can be felt like the buzz of electricity in the air before a lightning storm. Beauty in simplicity.  Stop wasting your precious energy and accept your imperfections. Listen to your whispers.  You know the answer, but you’re resisting it.  Make a sport out of getting over what gives you cringe.  Energy matters most. Message me on instagram: @shawnakru My website:  https://shawnakru.com/

This week I have an episode that is ENTIRELY different. Sometimes what we need, is not more information, but rather to take a step back and slow down. There’s something powerful about stillness, silence and listening to the melody of it all rather than stuffing your brain with more words. Sometimes what you learn is even more powerful than hours of letting your brain run on loops trying to problem solve. This is one of my favorite jungle moments. I recorded this audio one morning in Villeta, Colombia while enjoying a coffee meditation. It's one of my peak memories and I'm happy to share it with you. From the Amazon in Ecuador to Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Colombia… I’ve given up so much to spend time in the jungle and I will continue to do so. My sense come alive. My ability to be present is sharpened. I wake up in the morning beyond excited just to sit with a cup of coffee and listen, and watch. If you enjoy this jungle sound therapy, and a quick intermission from our regular content, send me a 🌿 emoji on instagram. Message me on instagram: @shawnakru My website:  https://shawnakru.com/

Today my guest is Greta Hill. Greta has been studying yoga, meditation, and the healing arts for more than 25 years, and she has been teaching internationally since 1999. She facilitates Yoga Teacher Trainings, retreats, and online yoga lifestyle courses. She has also served as a consultant for a variety of wellness magazines, including the Yoga Journal. If you’re tuning in today, you’ll hear insight on teaching yoga, including tips for focusing on students and getting out of your own way, taking feedback and developing your artistic expression of facilitating a yoga class. Plus hear about how Greta chose her teachers, and how she structures her own self-practice. 7:30 Graduating YTT, starting to teach. 8:00 25 classes a week. 11:00 Teaching philosophy. 13:00 Tips for focusing on your students, instead of yourself.  14:30 How to truly see students. 16:30 How to make a class more conversational. 19:00 On the use of music in a yoga class. 21:00 A takeaway Greta would like to have heard 2 years into her teaching career.  23:30 How to choose your teachers. 25:00 On self-practice as a teacher. 29:00 What motivates students. 31:30 What feedback to take.  36:30 The art and audience of yoga.  39:15 What Greta enjoys in a class.  43:00 What makes an exceptional leader. 45:00 Billboard message.  Find Greta on Instagram: ⁠@greta_hill⁠ Greta’s website: ⁠http://gretahill.com/⁠  ⁠Michelle Cassandra Johnson⁠, a teacher Greta mentions.  Message me on instagram: @shawnakru My website:  https://shawnakru.com/

This is an episode on survival, hitting rock bottom and exponential growth that will leave you motivated and rooting for Simón the whole time. It’s a story of doing whatever it takes, and finding inspiration instead of letting sadness take over, even in the face of injustice and having everything you’ve ever known taken from you.  If you’re tuning in today, you will laugh, smile, cry, and leave ready to do the work.  This is a very special interview because every time I ask who you want to hear from on the podcast, the number one answer is: Simón! Simón is my husband, and one of the people that has inspired me and motivated me more than anyone else. His outlook on life, and the way he exemplifies self-leadership is on a whole other level.  This episode is for you if you’re looking to take the first step on a project that feels “impossible” or appears to have no end in sight. If you feel stuck, this episode is also for you. Learn about the advantage of being at rock bottom. Plus, Simón shares the lessons we can learn from someone who had to flee a country with barely $10 in his pocket and how that has enabled him to take on big projects, find success and a positive outlook.  This interview is also a first-hand account of the crisis in Venezuela. If you don’t know what’s going on in Venezuela, please take the time to listen today.  Message me on instagram: @shawnakru My website:  https://shawnakru.com/ Join me on my upcoming retreat in Rio Chirripo: Info packet 5:00 We are under a dictatorship. 20:00 Life is like a train, and it’s full of passengers. 24:00 What it means to feel poor. 30:00 On non-attachment: Know what’s out of your control, you’ll live a better life. 32:30 On contentment: My favorite yogis are not yogis in the sense of practicing physical asana. 34:00 Stolen wages, and all the jobs you can think of.  42:00 How to maintain an unattached attitude, and stick with your dreams. 47:00 Can’t afford to fail.  49:00 Advice for someone who is not able to take the first step. 50:00 The moment Simón hit rock bottom. 54:30  The beauty of hitting rock bottom. 56:00 A unique lesson in manifestation.  59:00 It’s not just dreaming about it, it’s also doing the work.  1:04:30 Simón didn’t understand the concept of overwhelmed, it wasn’t in his vocabulary.  1:07:30 The first breath of “I made it.” And getting out of survival mode.  1:15:00 Zero understanding of mindfulness.  1:18:00 Billboard message: Let people always remember your smile.