Yogaland Podcast

There’s something about fall that just feels like back to school time for me, even as an adult. Jason’s 200-hour YTT is coming up October 24th, so we thought we’d review what to look for if you’re thinking about going back to yoga school! We talk through the importance of adapting asana to modern knowledge and safety standards, the significance of understanding yoga anatomy in a functional context, and prioritizing strength and stability in practice. We also tough on the need for a thorough understanding of yoga philosophy, and some of the foundational texts to look for on the syllabus.More highlights from the interview:Sequencing is a critical aspect of teacher training. In a 200-hour YTT, learning a few set sequences can be incredibly helpful.Immersive and repetitive practice teaching is essential for building confidence as a yoga teacher. Jason shares how he structures it and the advantages of practice teaching on Zoom.YTTs that offer specialized training in a specific area of yoga are a plus! These skills can enhance a teacher's expertise and marketability.A lead trainer who is stable, compassionate, and mentally/emotionally composed will help you navigate personal growth during your yoga journey.Join Jason for a free webinar August 31st! The focus is on the psycho-emotional benefits of teacher training. You can register for Yoga Teacher Training as Self-Transformation at www.jasonyoga.com/webinar Attendees will receive a code for $50 off the early bird price of the training.Andrea just announced her next Yogaland Book Club pick -- Wild Asana, by Alison Zak. This gorgeous book by a wildlife conservationist combines yoga, science and memoir. Join the Yogaland community at yogaland.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On our live episode two weeks ago, we answered the question, ‘Is this thing that we’re doing still yoga?’ Jason shared five principles that make even the most modern practices a yoga practice. On this episode, we will walk through how yoga teachers can bring these principles to life in their teaching.Here are some of the ideas we talk through:Reflecting on whether classes still have liberatory qualities, inviting students to grow beyond self-limiting beliefs and identifications.Introducing intentional theming or recommended readings to enhance students' understanding of yoga philosophy and its application.Incorporating abhyasa (effort) and vairagya (letting go) -- balancing striving with non-attachment to outcomes in the practice.Encouraging students to focus on specific skills to enhance the transformational aspect of yoga.Inviting students to cultivate self-awareness by observing their self-talk, patterns of reactivity, and responses to discomfort during practice.For shownotes, visit www.yogalandpodcast.com/episode306 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As many of yoga know, Sally Kempton was hugely influential to me. She was an expert guide, a loving presence, and a creative inspiration. She passed away on July 10th and has been on my mind constantly since then. I put together this episode to honor and remember her with my friend, the former editor-in-chief of Yoga Journal, Kaitlin Quistgaard. We had a lot of fun sharing stories and memories of Sally.The second part of this episode features my favorite episode that I did with Sally a few years ago: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly of the Ego.I hope you enjoy it. If you have any stories about Sally that you'd like to share, send me a voice note! You can DM it to me on Instagram (@andreaferretti) or email it to me at support@jasonyoga.com.I put links to other past episodes with Sally and other useful resources from her on the shownotes page: yogalandpodcast.com/episode305 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This discussion was recorded in London at the new Mission studio where Jason led Module I of his hybrid YTT a few weeks ago. Together, Jason and I explored the question -- Is this thing that we're all doing still actually yoga? Our power-hour or our 30-minute glo class or our rolling on foam rollers with some poses sprinkled in -- are those still yoga? Or has yoga in the West evolved into something else altogether?A few tidbits that we discuss in the episode:The fact that the word "yoga" has more than 350 definitions in Sanskrit, revealing its diverse nature.The belief in a singular, authentic yoga tradition is challenged throughout history.Swami Vivekananda's influence on bringing yoga to the United States and his perspective on Hatha Yoga.Different yoga traditions, like Iyengar and Ashtanga, were once considered radical innovations.The long-standing tension between "head up" and "head down" yogas: intellectual vs. physical practices.The importance of focusing on one's practice and impact rather than judging others' practices.The five common denominators of yoga traditions, including liberation teachings and philosophical infrastructure.The significance of Abhyasa (effort) and Vairagya (letting go) in all yoga practices.Yoga as a gradual process of replacing unconscious patterns with conscious beliefs aligned with self-realization.Jason will be back at Mission in London in October -- join him for a 6-day immersion or for Module II of his Hybrid YTT. Get the details at: jasonyoga.com/londonYou can find shownotes for this episode, including links to the books mentioned at: yogalandpodcast.com/episode304If you'd like to support the podcast, join our Substack here -- it's a great way to connect with other listeners and get more of us in your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're talking about five things that Jason wishes he knew earlier in his yoga teaching career. We hope this discussion helps yoga teachers everywhere take some pressure off of themselves to be everything to everyone all the time. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason takes over this week to present a special comprehensive lecture on Patanjali, aka, his Patanjali “Super Lecture.” This episode essentially combines our three existing episodes on Patanjali plus additional content featuring essential philosophical concepts to teach beginners. We wanted to provide a place for all of these conversations to exist together so you have them at your fingertips. The topics we take on include:The Sutras: Unpacking Purusha and Prakriti The Sutras: Defining Chitta, Vritti and the GunasThe Sutras: Three Approaches to the 8 Limbs of Yoga8 Essential Philosophical Concepts to Teach BeginnersJason spends so much time teaching and discussing asana, pranayama and meditation so these conversations were a welcome change of pace for us. We hope you enjoy it.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deepen your knowledge of yoga anatomy and the anatomy of twists, in this 20-minute detailed conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I'm sharing 8 things I've learned in the process of creating this podcast for the past 8 years. Jason joins as my sound board and points out that a lot of these ideas about how to create content -- things like defining your editorial scope, sustaining your passion, and having a thick skin -- apply to teach yoga, too. So -- you get a twofer here: lessons for sharpening your content creation/podcasting skills that can also help boost your confidence, creativity, and effectiveness as a yoga teacher.We'll be doing a Yogaland live episode at Mission in London on July 14th! Come join us for this free event. Find the link on the shownotes page, here: yogalandpodcast.com/episode301It's not too late to join Jason's Online YTT module that focuses on spine and core. The group starts together July 22nd! Go to jasonyoga.com/300 to get all the details. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the 300th episode of Yogaland -- huzzah! For this momentous occasion, I've decided to reflect on the past 8 years. So much has changed in yoga and in podcasting and I wanted to take a look back together. On the episode I share where and why podcasting started for me (it was a comfort during radiation treatment for breast cancer treatment), what my aim was in starting the podcast, and what the podcasting landscape was like at that time vs. now.I share some personal details of how these past 8 years have helped me to grow and some of the big surprises along the way.Lastly, I read listener responses to a question I posed on my Substack: "What's your why? Why do you teach yoga?" One of the biggest benefits of doing the podcast has been the sense of community and connection that has formed. So, I wanted to share your thoughts, feelings, and motivations to celebrate you, too!Support the podcast by subscribing to Yogaland Substack -- you can read all of the whys from other listeners and get lots more content related to Yogaland, including the Book Club.And a heads' up that Module II of Jason's online 500-hour starts in just a few weeks! You can go to jasonyoga.com/300 to get all of the details and to enroll. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this last of our "essentials" series, Jason shares 5 essential ideas for finding ease and stability in your shoulders during yoga practice. On this episode, you will learn:Why it's particularly crucial to build shoulder stability if you practice vinyasa yoga -- and which joint (of the four) in the shoulder is the most unstableA common misconception about what to do with your shoulders when your arms move overheadThe cue that you can give when arms move overhead that will prevent neck and shoulder tension (without leaving the shoulders vulnerable to injury)Why different backbends benefit from different shoulder openersHow to experiment with different rotations of the shoulders in Downward-Facing DogHow a simple change in your hand placement can create more freedom in your shouldersTo try a shoulder sequence from Jason at home, go to our shownotes page: yogalandpodcast.com/episode299 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.