Leadership and Yoga

Tune in as yoga teachers join us live from California, Florida, Texas and Peru, Mexico and Canada to discuss X-factor, impact and the art of teaching yoga. Join us in the next roundtable! https://www.shawnakru.com/yoga-teacher-roundtableJoin cohort 2 of the Podcast Launchpad:https://www.shawnakru.com/the-podcast-launchpadFind me on instagram:@shawnakruLeadership and Yoga IRL info:https://www.shawnakru.com/leadership-and-yoga-irl Catch up with the contributors!!@themiamiyogini - www.themiamiyogini.com @davidwilliampearce - SexPrayers.online@jasminegraceyoga@evolvexnicole@j_man_moves@_jonahpolkes_

Join me, Shawna Krueger, for an episode that will quickly motivate you and remind you what it means to actually give something your all. I share the specific details of what I’ve learned about dedicating myself to a project and the biggest mindset breakthroughs I’ve experienced. I promise this one is quick, effective and maybe even a bit funny. I believe in you. Let’s get after ittttt.  Podcast I mention: Soul Gum by Victoria Hutchins Books I mention: Parallel Universes of Self by Frederick Dodson and Women Who Run With the Wolves.  Join cohort 2 of the Podcast Launchpad: https://www.shawnakru.com/the-podcast-launchpad Find me on instagram: @shawnakru Leadership and Yoga IRL info: https://www.shawnakru.com/leadership-and-yoga-irl  Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 03:00 Ex-ci-ting listen to this!!  7:30 Agenda 9:30 100 years of solitude and selling off everything he owned.  12:30 In what areas are you willing to truly make sacrifices.  13:31 You don’t need more time!! 16:45 Only crazy people do that. You can be one of those. 19:00 Wake up like it’s a snow day. Nothing can stop you from running to the window.  23:00 When you are disappointed: the biggest breakthrough mindset shift I’ve experienced.  27:00 If you can’t howl, you’ll never find your pack.  28:50 Who or what do you blame when you want to give up? 31:00 Victim mindset. 33:00 Our gifts require boldness in order to brought into the world. 35:00 Refining and improving.  37:45 Homework: contemplative exercise

Join me, Shawna Krueger, for an episode on FRIENDS. In this episode, we explore how the people around us influence our lives and how we can take control of those relationships. It's not about "winning friends," but about recognizing that you have the power to choose who you spend time with and how they impact you. We talk about assessing your current relationships, setting a vision for the kind of people you want in your life, and being open to those who challenge you to grow. The key is to let go of relationships that no longer serve you, set boundaries, and actively create the connections that uplift you. True friends are found when you’re walking towards your highest potential. Join cohort 2 of the Podcast Launchpad: https://www.shawnakru.com/the-podcast-launchpad Find me on instagram: @shawnakru Leadership and Yoga IRL info: https://www.shawnakru.com/leadership-and-yoga-irl  Get a copy of my guided journal. https://www.ritualofwritingjournal.com/  Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 01:00 Let’s talk about making friends.  05:30 Let’s go to the mountain. Announcements.  10:00 Agenda, baby.  11:15 Assessing your current situation. 12:45 The fish with 3 rows of ugly teeth.  15:50 More often than chance would allow.  18:00 Break routines = new inputs.  20:00 Why do your friends actually matter?  21:00 Suavemente example.  26:30 Where to find your true friends: on the mountains. 28:30 Tasting clarity.  29:30 The Pacific Crest Trail 32:40 Visioning work for friendships. 36:30 Purpose and being proposed to.  39:00 Learning to befriend people who challenge your normal.  41:30 When you free yourself, you will free others as well.  42:50 Letting go of the familiar. 49:00 Setting boundaries: choose how people interact with you. 52:00 You have the power. Radical responsibility.  

Leadership and Yoga fam, Today’s interview is one that reminded me that nothing happens by accident. It is built day by day because we are bold enough to dream and to use our energy to solve problems to make it happen over and over and over again. Our reality is impacted by life and its magical ways, and yet we are also able to pull on the strings of the divine by the dedication we offer up.  Dan and Paloma are yoga teachers from Mexico City, chemical engineers, and content creators who have hit milestones that many dream of: 1.6 M followers each on instagram, over 200k on YouTube, and over a million between the two of them on TikTok. They are sponsored Nike yoga athletes and instructors and have their own flourishing online yoga studio and mats. They are also paving the way for more conversation about yoga, mindfulness and meditation in the Spanish speaking world.  Dan and Paloma’s online studio and trainings: https://www.prayanayogastudio.com/  Find Dan on instagram: @yougui_dan Find Paloma on instagram: @palo.yoga Find Shawna on instagram: @shawnakru   Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 02:00 Interviewing right after class. 04:30 They didn’t have anything in common, not even yoga? 07:00 Never missing a week in 8 years.  11:20 You both have 1.6M on instagram, is there competition?  13:10 Creative process differences in their relationship. 15:00 Morning rituals for success. 16:40 Nauli kriya 17:40 No phone, no snooze. 19:30 The moment they started to take yoga teaching seriously.  22:30 Starting social media. 27:00 Business plan: it didn’t happen by accident.  30:00 Unlocking levels 33:00 Social listening: to your audience. 34:30 Their first goals. Hitting 10k, 100k and 1M. 36:30 Nike: The first yoga teacher signed in Latin America.  41:00 Nike: Selected to be the face of the in-store photos in Latin America. 44:00 What they wanted to be when they were little?  45:30 Dan: split between artist and scientist.  48:40 Getting recognized in public for the first time.  52:00 Why Paloma is doing all of this to share yoga.  53:40 Dan on anxiety and panic and relief through yoga  57:30 Making mindfulness mainstream.  59:00 Billboard messages.

Join me, Shawna Krueger, for an episode that will motivate you and prepare you to follow your dreams. I’m here to tell you that what you dream of, is for people like you. Not someone wiser, younger, older, prettier, more popular or richer. No. We’re talking about everything from life and business to health, happiness, and the impact you’re here to make. When I first started, I didn’t have that friend to hype me up in the way I needed, so I’m here to be that person for you. We’ll dive into mindset shifts, how to get real about your goals, and why you have to trust the process, even when it doesn’t look like you imagined. Plus, I’ve got practical tips on how to take tangible steps towards your dreams—today, not tomorrow. From managing limiting beliefs to connecting with people who lift you up, I’ll share some key insights to help you stay on track and find clarity. And I’ll even encourage you to celebrate your wins and set some new, slightly scary goals that feel just within reach. This episode is all about leaning into the magic. Join cohort 2 of the Podcast Launchpad: https://www.shawnakru.com/the-podcast-launchpad Find me on instagram: @shawnakru Leadership and Yoga IRL info: https://www.shawnakru.com/leadership-and-yoga-irl  Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 03:10 Hands asleep alarm story.  05:05 What's on the menu? Today’s agenda.  10:25 Finding inspiration and the continuous choice to come back to your dreams. 11:30 What does the moment before a quantum leap feel like? 15:30 Don’t feel selfish for wanting to follow your dreams because it will be of greater service to humanity than anything else you do.  19:20 Tough mindset shift. Rule one.  22:30 What you are looking for, you will find.  25:00 Finding your people and changing what you are “steeping” in.  30:00 Tell NO ONE.  32:00 Evaluate the things you do that you think are normal.  34:00 Let something fully blossom rather than spreading yourself too thin?  35:30 Questions for clarity.  38:40 Cooking pancakes on the table in high school during lunch. 40:30 Reinvent yourself like Martha Stewart. 42:15 Intermission and dog poop. I am actually a crazy person. 43:15 If not now, then when? 46:30 If not me, then who? 49:00 What part of me wants this?  51:48 I secretly wanted to be popular growing up but didn’t think it was for girls like me.  53:30 Are you in control? Or is the dream? 57:13 Two actionable steps. Your homework.

Join me, Shawna Krueger, for a special interview with David Swenson. In today’s episode, David gives us a behind the scenes look into Ashtanga history and his adventure-filled life. From police showing up when he was practicing in the park in 1969 to becoming one of the world’s foremost practitioners and instructors of Ashtanga Yoga, there are stories that will make you laugh and leave you shocked. We talk about his first impression of Ashtanga, being present when Pattabhi Jois arrived in the US, and driving from Texas to Costa Rica three times to make a Yoga and Surf movie.  David shares how after completing all the sequences he was still left without answers and went on a subsequent search that took him from only eating grapes for 40 days to 5 years as a Hare Krishna. Plus, we get to hear what he really learned after a life through the lens of yoga and the first chapter of his memoir book: Only Dead Fish Go with the Flow.  IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE WITH DAVID, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE & DROP ME A RATING. Thank you!  David’s website & where you will find his book: https://www.ashtanga.net/  Find David on instagram: @davidswensonashtanga Find Shawna on instagram: @shawnakru Time stamps: 00:00 Welcome 01:00 Intro 05:00 Police pull up to the park in 1969 to investigate yoga 09:00 Starting at 13. Not knowing life without yoga. David’s other jobs.  10:30 David’s parents instilled the belief that pursuing his dreams was an admirable quality.  13:00 A brief history of Ashtanga: David was in California when Pattabhi Jois arrived from India.  15:00 David’s friend met Manju by chance in India. 17:40 David takes us to the moment that he first experienced Ashtanga.  18:45 I thought the walls were breathing.  20:45 It wasn’t just the practice, it was the people.  22:00 It wasn’t about mastery as much as it was fun. 27:05 The growth of Ashtanga yoga: We were on the fringe of the fringe of society. 29:30 Surfing and Yoga movie: Why David wasn’t in the famous filmed primary series class with Pattabhi Jois. 33:00 Should we bring David and Doug’s movie back to life?  36:00 David learned all sequences by 1977. But now what? Letter to Pattabhi Jois. 37:05 Nothing but grapes for 40 days.  38:45 David’s Hare Krishna era.  42:00 David’s mom was the sweetest and supported him no matter what. 43:45 Coming back to yoga asana after 5 years.  47:00 Pattabhi Jois remembers David.  48:30 Answers should give birth to 3 more questions.  49:40 A life without drugs or alcohol.  52:00 Teaching was something that just happened.  53:20 Writing the Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual. 56:20 Breath is the heart of the practice.  1:00:00 David’s memoir book: Only Dead Fish Go with the Flow 1:02:00 The first chapter of David’s book. 1:06:00 When we can’t see beyond the mess of difficulty.  1:07:30 When life gives you poop, make compost.  1:08:00 What makes an exceptional teacher? And on taking personal responsibility and independence. 1:12:00 David’s billboard message.

Join me, Shawna Krueger, for an episode that takes us back to the essence of what the Leadership and Yoga podcast is about. The art of teaching yoga. Here are my unfiltered observations and things you might want to keep an eye on. Exceptional teachers come in infinite forms and they excel not just in what they do, but in how they show up. Thanks for being here and I hope together we can continue this conversation of how we can deliver classes that move students and inspire them profoundly.  Find me on instagram: @shawnakru Start a podcast with me! https://www.shawnakru.com/the-podcast-launchpad  Leadership and Yoga IRL info: https://www.shawnakru.com/leadership-and-yoga-irl  Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 02:20 Top 5% of video podcasts on Spotify. 04:15 Your dreams are for people like you. 6:40 Thank you for taking the time to contemplate how you show up for others.  9:30 No routines before teaching, but do get yourself into state. 11:30 How are YOU feeling AND how do you hope your students will feel? 14:00 How are you presenting yourself? Not too cool for school. 16:15 Life Ring: set sequence?  18:30 Freestyle muscle: when is it beneficial? 22:00 Hands-on assists in a yoga class. 23:30 Pacing and rhythm: musicality in class.  28:30 Trance state in yoga. Why? How?  31:30 How to read a room. 35:00 Epiphanies.  37:30 Shock effect and getting “back to base” 39:30 Confidence!! 43:00 Expression and using your voice. 47:00 Cues. 48:52 Trust the silence.

Join Shawna Krueger and Morgan Lee as they dive into the intricate relationship between Ashtanga yoga, injury management, and personal growth. They explore the cycle of pain, the importance of mobility over flexibility, and how traditional practices can evolve to better serve practitioners. Morgan shares insights from his personal journey as a nurse and level two authorized yoga teacher, emphasizing the need for a more holistic approach to yoga that incorporates various movements and healing modalities like acupuncture.  The discussion highlights the significance of testing practices and understanding individual experiences in the pursuit of healing and self-discovery. Morgan explains how acupuncture can be likened to fixing a traffic light, allowing energy to flow freely in the body. The discussion transitions into the importance of breath and energy movement in yoga, emphasizing that healing often requires looking beyond the area of pain. Morgan shares insights on disc injuries, highlighting the complexity of causes and the necessity of finding specialized support. IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE WITH MORGAN, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE & DROP ME A RATING. Thank you! <3  Find Morgan on instagram: @ashtanganurse Morgan’s website: https://www.ashtanganurse.com/  Find Shawna on instagram: @shawnakru  Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 03:22 Why when one injury heals, does another appear? Can we escape having pain points? 9:30 Morgan’s Ashtanga evolution. Where does real strength come from? 15:00 Foundational movements of the human body.  17:20 Changing a forward fold: muscular structure. 20:50 Feeling restricted in sharing. 22:30 The positive aspects of Ashtanga yoga: It’s beautiful.  26:30 It’s mobility not flexibility that gets us into poses.  28:20 Shoulder injuries and anatomy training in yoga teacher training. 30:40 The “olympic games” of yoga. 33:00 Self-illumination? Many masters, do they know the recipe for enlightenment? Healing? 34:00 How do we test the practice? 38:30 For the love of yoga. 41:20 Acupuncture: what is happening when someone is healed?  43:00 The electrician of the body.  50:00 Back injuries, disc issues.  56:00 Not knowing where to turn to start to heal. 1:00:00 Generalizations about back pain: does backbending help? Do lunges help, by releasing psoas?  1:09:00 What makes an exceptional teacher? 1:11:00 Billboard message. 1:12:30 Secret shala in Venice and practice with Morgan. 

Join me, Shawna Krueger, on an episode about the truth behind relaxation. In this episode, I explore the concept of relaxation, challenging common misconceptions and emphasizing the importance of doing things for joy rather than obligation. I discuss the significance of slowing down, breaking free from information addiction, and finding personal practices that work for individual relaxation. I also highlight the role of preventative care in maintaining a relaxed state and the impact of deadlines on stress levels. I wrap up the episode with a reminder of the power of connection and self-comfort in navigating life's challenges. Find Shawna on instagram: @shawnakru Join the Leadership and Yoga Fam: https://www.shawnakru.com/  Leadership and Yoga IRL: https://www.shawnakru.com/leadership-and-yoga-irl  The Podcast Launchpad 2025: https://www.shawnakru.com/the-podcast-launchpad  Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 05:00 Do something just for the sake of doing it.  09:09 Techniques for Relaxation. Slow down. 19:13 Breaking information addiction. 26:22 Do what works, not everything.  32:13 Preventative and don’t invent deadlines that don’t exist. 38:32 Have someone sit with you, or comfort yourself. 

Join Shawna Krueger for a special interview with Deanna Di Carlo, also known as Dedica in the online world. In part one of this interview, Dea opens up about her background getting started teaching yoga, and behind the scenes of how she’s risen stronger after experiencing extreme anxiety and a medical emergency that required her to start from zero. Tune in to hear how her style and teaching philosophy developed largely without influence and the origin story behind “Dedica.” Next week in part two, you’ll hear the whole story of how Dea has turned lemons into lemonade on a life-changing level. You don’t want to miss it.  PLEASE SUBSCRIBE & DROP A RATING IF YOU ENJOYED THIS INTERVIEW WITH DEA. Thank you. <3 Find Dea on instagram: @dedica Unlock your superpowers with Dea online: https://www.dedica.live/  Find Shawna on instagram: @shawnakru Join the Leadership and Yoga Fam: https://www.shawnakru.com/  Leadership and Yoga IRL: https://www.shawnakru.com/leadership-and-yoga-irl  Time stamps: 2:30 Why Dea didn’t come to an in-person interview.  4:00 Where does the name “dedica” come from? 7:30 Entering the instagram world. 8:50 Dea finds yoga. On ADHD, dancing, high school… 12:50 Confidence. 14:15 University.  15:45 Panic and anxiety attacks. 20:00 Baptiste yoga & getting to the bottom of your own shit.  21:01 Teaching yoga.  23:00 Fear of being seen & rewiring your mind. 25:00 What Dea wanted to be when she grew up.  26:05 Before shit hits the fan. 29:00 Moving to the island of St. Martin. 30:20 3 chances.  31:50 No influence in teaching yoga. 33:00 Set sequence is a blessing when you start teaching or practicing.  36:00 The phoenix moment   38:00 Ovarian cyst emergency, healing and starting over.  41:30 “My heart was broken, my body was broken.” 42:32 Practicing modified & coming back stronger. Being “unrelatable.” 45:45 There will always be work, rest when you need to.  46:45 “My spirit was broken.”