The Heart and Bones Podcast

Is Online Yoga Teacher Training Still Worth It in 2025? If you're considering yoga teacher training or curious about how online learning has evolved, this conversation is for you. Join Ula (Heart + Bones team + yoga teacher) and Brea Johnson (founder of Heart + Bones Yoga) as they unpack the myths, trade-offs, and benefits of online yoga teacher training in 2025. With nearly a decade of experience running anatomy-informed, globally accessible training programs, Brea shares what’s changed, what still works, and what really makes a teacher training impactful—online or in person. In this episode, you’ll learn: How online yoga education has matured since 2020 What actually makes a yoga training effective (hint: it's not just the format) Surprising benefits of online learning for neurodivergent and international students How mentorship and community thrive even in virtual spaces Red flags to watch out for when researching online YTT programs Why accessibility is more than a buzzword—it’s a necessary evolution Want to experience it yourself? Explore our 200 and 300 hour online trainings: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/modern-yogi-certification-course/ PRACTICE WITH HEART + BONES Enjoy an entire month in the Heart + Bones online yoga studio for just $1 with this coupon code: PODCASTMONTH Start Here: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/   00:00 – Intro: What this episode covers 01:11 – Is online yoga teacher training worth it in 2025? 01:35 – What’s changed in the last 5 years of online YTT 02:44 – What surprised Brea about teaching online 04:08 – Online vs in-person: Real trade-offs to consider 07:40 – Accessibility: The deeper layers people overlook 19:33 – Mentorship and connection in online YTT 23:49 – What’s missing from many yoga teacher trainings 29:07 – How to choose the right online YTT in 2025 32:45 – Brea’s hopes for the future of teacher training

If you struggle with sequencing your yoga classes, here is one simple tip that you can use no matter what style of yoga you teach AND without having to create brand new sequences each time. It makes your life easier as a teacher and most importantly, it makes your teaching more effective. This lesson will share insight about action cues and then we'll go through a bunch of different examples so that you can see how simple it is to add action cues to your sequences and teaching. If you are a visual learner, follow along with Brea HERE. PRACTICE WITH HEART + BONES Enjoy an entire month in the Heart + Bones online yoga studio for just $1 with this coupon code: PODCASTMONTH Start Here   STUDY WITH HEART + BONES  200/300 Hour Online Teacher Training: Learn More

Got bendy joints? Or ever wondered if there’s more to yoga than chasing flexibility? In this honest, practical chat, Ula (Heart + Bones team member + hypermobile human) sits down with Brea Johnson (Heart + Bones founder + anatomy nerd) to talk all things hypermobility, strength, and sustainable movement. We cover: What hypermobility actually is (and how to know if it applies to you) Why strength and stability matter more than going deeper into poses How to stop glorifying extreme flexibility in yoga Easy cues that help everyone—hypermobile or not—move smarter The connection between nervous system support + healthy movement Whether you’re a student, yoga teacher, or just want your body to feel stronger and more supported, this episode’s for you. Try the Heart + Bones online studio for $1 this month using code: PODCASTMONTH Start here: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/ Curious about our anatomy-informed yoga teacher trainings? Check them out here: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/yoga-teacher-training-options/

A quick behind-the-scenes check-in with Brea, studio owner of Heart + Bones Yoga, as we reflect on the past 30 days of running an online yoga studio. We cover what’s working (and what’s not), how we’re adapting for summer, launching a new mentorship program, and why we’re leaning into platforms like YouTube and podcasts instead of chasing social media trends. If you're a yoga teacher or thinking about running your own online yoga business, this is an honest look at what it really takes. Learn more about our online yoga teacher trainings: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/yoga-teacher-training-options/ Read Ula’s Substack for essays on creativity, slow living + behind-the-scenes reflections: https://avibrantmind.substack.com/ PRACTICE WITH HEART + BONES Enjoy an entire month in the Heart + Bones online yoga studio for just $1 with this coupon code: PODCASTMONTH Start Here: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/ Got a question for a future check-in? Drop it in the comments!

What does it really take to grow an online yoga platform—from a single workshop to a global membership community? In this episode, Brea Johnson shares the behind-the-scenes story of Heart + Bones Yoga: how she launched her first course before it even existed, transitioned from in-person teaching to online, and built a sustainable platform without burning out. We talk about real mistakes, valuable lessons, and how the yoga industry has changed. If you’re thinking about teaching yoga online or growing your presence as a teacher, this episode offers practical takeaways and honest insights from someone who’s lived it for over a decade. Yoga Teacher Training with Brea and Heart and Bones Yoga: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/yoga-teacher-training-options/ Yoga Teacher Mentorship Program with Brea: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/inspired-yoga-teacher-mentorship/ PRACTICE WITH HEART + BONES Enjoy an entire month in the Heart + Bones online yoga studio for just $1 with this coupon code: PODCASTMONTH Start Here

Not sure you have a yoga brand? You do. Even if you’re just starting out—or have never thought about branding—your students are already experiencing your brand every time you teach. It’s not your logo or colours. It’s how people feel in your classes, the tone of your cues, the clarity of your voice, and how you show up. In this episode, Brea and Ula explore what brand really means for yoga teachers and studios. We talk about what makes a teaching style memorable, how to attract the right students, and what building a sustainable yoga business actually looks like beyond the Instagram tips. 💡 Plus: We share practical takeaways so you can start applying what you learn—not just listen and forget it. What you’ll hear: What “brand” really means for yoga teachers How your values, voice, and class vibe build trust Brea’s lessons from growing Heart + Bones Yoga Why your teaching style is your marketing How to attract the right students without selling out Homework prompts to clarify your unique yoga brand Want to build a sustainable and soul-aligned teaching practice? Check out our Inspire Mentorship and our 200hr / 300hr Yoga Teacher Trainings: Yoga Teacher Mentorship Program with Brea Yoga Teacher Training with Brea and Heart and Bones Yoga PRACTICE WITH HEART + BONES Enjoy an entire month in the Heart + Bones online yoga studio for just $1 with this coupon code: PODCASTMONTH Start Here: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/

Feeling like a fraud at the front of your yoga class? You’re not alone. Imposter syndrome can happen to yoga teachers also! In this episode, we unpack imposter syndrome for yoga teachers—where it comes from, how it shows up in class, and what to do when the inner critic gets loud. Brea and Ula have an open conversation about self doubt as yoga teachers. We explore how to stay confident and authentic as a teacher, why “being professional” might be hurting your connection with students, and how to find your voice without faking it. In this episode: Imposter syndrome and self-doubt as a yoga teacher The pressure to be perfect or “professional” Why yoga teaching can feel feel isolating Real talk on authenticity vs oversharing Tools to soften self-judgment and reconnect with your teaching style Want support becoming the kind of teacher you want to be? Check out our Inspire Mentorship and our 200hr / 300hr Yoga Teacher Trainings: Yoga Teacher Mentorship Program with Brea: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/inspired-yoga-teacher-mentorship/?utm_campaign=button_list_YogaTeacherMentorship&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=later-linkinbio Yoga Teacher Training with Brea and Heart and Bones Yoga: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/yoga-teacher-training-options/ PRACTICE WITH HEART + BONES Enjoy an entire month in the Heart + Bones online yoga studio for just $1 with this coupon code: PODCASTMONTH Start Here: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/

What happens when you are the teacher… but still feel like an outsider in your own practice? In Part 2 of this conversation, Ula and Brea get even more real. From being injured students in rigid classes, to struggling with the pressure to look a certain way on Instagram, this is a no-filter conversation on the systems, expectations, and social media traps that shape modern yoga. We talk about: Why being a flexible, able-bodied white woman shouldn’t be a yoga marketing strategy The myth of the “perfect teacher” and the yoga voice we all faked at some point How social media algorithms can undermine empathy and authenticity Why building inclusive, values-led yoga spaces matters now more than ever The burnout of the weekly class grind—and how to build a sustainable teaching path 🎧 If you’ve ever felt like you weren’t “yogi” enough, or that something in modern yoga just feels… off—you’re not alone. And you’re not wrong to question it. 💡 Want to build a teaching life that’s aligned with your values—not the algorithm? Learn more about our Inspire Mentorship and our 200hr / 300hr Teacher Training: Yoga Teacher Mentorship Program with Brea Heart + Bones Yoga Teacher Training (200hr / 300hr) PRACTICE WITH HEART + BONES Enjoy an entire month in the Heart + Bones online yoga studio for just $1 with this coupon code: PODCASTMONTH Start Here

If you’ve ever taught a class and thought, “What am I even doing?” — you’re not alone. In our first episode together, Ula and Brea share their real, raw, and often hilarious stories from their early days of teaching yoga. From bringing a notebook to class to being completely unprepared for students with injuries, we’ve been there. This is the behind-the-scenes mentorship talk we wish we had when we started. We also explore how yoga in the West often misses the deeper teachings—and what it really means to create an inclusive class, one that supports all bodies, not just the flexible few. 👉 If you’re a new teacher, a seasoned one rethinking your approach, or just yoga-curious, you’ll feel seen in this one. 💡 Want support becoming the kind of teacher you want to be? Check out our Inspire Mentorship and our 200hr / 300hr Yoga Teacher Trainings: Yoga Teacher Mentorship Program with Brea Yoga Teacher Training with Brea and Heart and Bones Yoga PRACTICE WITH HEART + BONES Enjoy an entire month in the Heart + Bones online yoga studio for just $1 with this coupon code: PODCASTMONTH Start Here

In your teacher training you learn so many different aspects of yoga but rarely do we talk about the things that actually make a good yoga teacher. This informative lesson will share the five most important aspects of being an effective and confident yoga teacher. You won't learn this in (most) teacher trainings and quite often will learn it the hard way so I'm here to give you a shortcut and help you be the best teacher you can be! Looking for weekly inspiration and deeper yoga + movement knowledge? Whether you are a yoga teacher or student, Brea’s email is written to help you learn, grow, and connect with community: https://heartandbonesyoga.outgrow.us/General_list_Sign-Up STUDY WITH HEART + BONES 🎓 200/300 Hour Online Teacher Training: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/modern-yogi-certification-course/ 10 Hour Online Applied Anatomy for Yoga: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/essential-course-curious-people/ Want to watch the video? Find Brea on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PCuziHlrXAU?si=e_n_wDzsyasP3JDV