Yogaland Podcast

Today, my guest is Marcia Mercier, a fellow breast cancer survivor and yoga teacher in the U.K. More than two decades ago, Marcia found that the methodical approach of an Iyengar Yoga class was incredibly grounding in the aftermath of breast cancer treatment. Studies corroborate Marcia's experience: Yoga offers a broad array of benefits for breast cancer survivors, from reducing cancer-related fatigue to building bone density, from easing insomnia to improving overall emotional well-being. Marcia shares her story as well as how she developed a a unique system for reaching women in need of yoga for breast cancer during the pandemic. Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode243 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we continue our conversation about the big picture WHY -- that is, why we practice yoga. We muse over the magic of consistency, the power of agency, and how we all need community even if the way that we show up looks different from each other. -->> Go check out our freshly redesigned website complete with podcast collections for easier binging! www.jasonyoga.com Also, to join the waitlist for Jason's Preventing Injuries course, click here.Shownotes: www.jasonyoga.com/yogaland-podcast/episode242 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s hard to believe that Jason and I have been practicing yoga for about 25 years—that’s a quarter of a century! You’d think that in that amount of time we would have gotten what we need from our practice—and you’d be right. But yoga isn’t the type of practice where you learn what you need and move on. It continues to meet your needs as your circumstances shift and change. That’s what we’re talking about on today’s episode: All the reasons we keep showing up for our yoga practice after all these years.Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode241 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“There’s more than one right.” This is something that Jason says often during his trainings. It applies to many different types of yoga postures (and many life circumstances, too!). For today’s episode, we’re talking about how it applies to backbending. Do you really have to keep your feet hip distance apart and parallel to each other? And what’s the risk of playing with different types of alignment?Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode240 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason has recorded hundreds (if not thousands!) of hours of asana and lecture videos in the last few years. And yet, it might surprise you to learn that he’s still a little self conscious about how he looks on video.Everyone has insecurities—even yoga teachers who have been getting in front of students for decades. So, on today's episode we're talking about some of our insecurities. We hope the conversation helps you feel less alone if you've ever felt this way and inspires you to keep showing up for your students anyway.Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode239 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On last week's episode Jason shared why consistency is key when it comes to class planning and sequencing. This week he shares how to actual implement a consistent class curriculum with four different approaches or templates to crafting great yoga classes that keep your students coming back. Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode238 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When it comes to sequencing, there are a few things that trip yoga teachers up time and time again. Jason’s back on the podcast today to talk about several of the mistakes he’s made himself through the years and how he’s shifted his approach to sequencing to overcome these challenges.Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode237 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ninety minutes is a really long time to stand in front of a group and talk, no matter how much you know about the topic! That's why having a clear plan is key for yoga teachers. (Because, as Jason points out, if you don't have some sort of plan, you'll either go off on random tangents or run out of things to say.) Today, Jason shares how he plans his yoga class sequences so his students are engaged and learning something meaningful every time. Plus, he addresses one of the most common objections yoga teachers give for not planning (creativity) and why he believes having a structure actually gives teachers more room to be creative, not less.Show notes:.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode236 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you hope to teach your students when you teach yoga? Is it to make shapes with their bodies? How about your teacher trainees -- is it to memorize and repeat your sequences and study only with you? This week, Jason shares the foundational values that inform his educational style, namely helping students become clear, critical, and independent thinkers that value context and understand different perspectives.Teaching this way means that you welcome questions, you allow a diversity of opinions, you encourage students to -- gasp! -- have more than one teacher or modality, and yet you still hold a container for so that your teaching is clear and accessible. ⁠Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode235 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we return to Patanjali's Yoga Sutra and Jason shares three models for applying the eight-limb path to life -- The Step-by-Step Model, The Integrated Model, and The Single Limb Model. Plus, stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear 5th anniversary messages from listeners!Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode234 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.