

Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast
Mado Hesselink
Information, support, and inspiration for yoga teachers. Topics include the business of yoga, teaching skills, philosophy, ethical and legal considerations, and more.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 15, 2021 • 20min
How to price your offerings
If you struggle with pricing or are unsure about how to set prices for your teaching, this episode is a mini-training to help you set a minimum hourly rate.
This episode originally aired in Dec 6, 2018. Enjoy the replay!
Episode Highlights
Why you should set a minimum hourly rate
Whether or not to discount your rates for charity
The 3 basic considerations to setting your hourly rate
How to compare yoga teacher rates to massage therapist rates
Some strategies for using your minimum hourly rate to price workshops
Links & Resources
Take the interactive pricing for yoga teachers quiz
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Email list
Become a patron of the Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast to support weekly ad-free podcast episodes and get bonus resources each month.
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource

Jul 8, 2021 • 19min
Student retention: why some students ghost
Mado shares reasons new students might not be coming back to your classes and solutions to help you attract the people who truly want what you are offering. This information in this episode will help yoga teachers build their class attendance faster and find their authentic voice as a yoga teacher.
This episode originally aired on October 31st, 2019 - enjoy the replay!
Episode highlights:
Reasons people don’t come back that have nothing to do with you as a teacher
The most common ways that yoga teachers make their students feel uncomfortable without realizing it and the quick fixes for this problem
How to make sure that the advertising for your class is as accurate as possible
The importance of naming your classes and considerations for choosing a class name
How to talk to your regular students to get feedback on what they enjoy and get out of your classes
Links & Resources
Become a patron of the Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast to support weekly ad-free podcast episodes and get bonus resources each month.
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource

Jul 1, 2021 • 17min
Why students struggle to step forward from down dog
Ever wonder what’s actually happening in the transition from downward facing dog to lunge? Why is it so challenging for some? Is it an essential transition to master? Listen to learn how you can help your students navigate this common movement while still offering them an empowering yoga class experience.
This episode originally aired on February 27th 2020, enjoy the replay!
Highlights from this episode:
Understanding the mechanics of this particular movement and what is required of your body.
Specific cues for that will help your students be successful.
Why repetition of important cues is helpful to students.
Building the poses and your cues progressively.
Alternatives, modifications, and how to determine when they are appropriate.
Strengthening movements that prepare your students for what it takes to step forward from down dog.
Links & Resources
Become a patron of the Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast to support weekly ad-free podcast episodes and get bonus resources each month.
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list

Jun 24, 2021 • 16min
Sequencing Warm Ups
Warm ups are an essential part of your yoga sequence - so how do you know if you are choosing the right poses? By listener request, I share my thoughts on the topic in this episode including:
The two main purposes for warming up
The kind of movement that is best for fulfilling these intentions
How to choose warm up poses based on the more challenging poses you plan to teach later in the sequence.
Why I think that most basic yoga poses are actually pretty complex - and how to prepare our students to get the most out of them.
A simple guideline you can use for any class
How to modify warm ups based on the population you teach
This episode originally aired April 11, 2019 - enjoy the replay!
Email subscribers also have access to three short videos of warm up sequences that I use personally. Subscribe now to get access to this and other bonus content.
Links & Resources
Join The Yoga Teacher Resource Email List
Become a patron of the Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast to support weekly ad-free podcast episodes and get bonus resources each month.
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource

Jun 17, 2021 • 18min
Building Confidence as a Yoga Teacher
Grace reached out for advice and support on gaining confidence as a yoga teacher. She's been teaching for a year and is afraid that her teacher training was sub-par, but doesn't have the funds to take another at the moment. She feels she should have enough experience by now to feel confident, so she wonders what the heck is going on?
This episode originally aired on March 14th, 2019 - enjoy the replay!
Episode Highlights
The main source for confidence as a yoga teacher
The biggest reason teachers lack confidence
One powerful teaching from the yoga sutras
How to interrupt the habitual thoughts that feed lack of confidence.
Why more knowledge does not equal more confidence.
Links & Resources
Become a patron of the Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast to support weekly ad-free podcast episodes and get bonus resources each month.
Join The Yoga Teacher Resource Email List
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource

Jun 10, 2021 • 15min
Self Care Reconsidered
Self care is essential for yoga teachers - but easier said than done. In the fast pace of modern culture, our role has partly become a cheerleader for self care. Yet, many of us live with life circumstances that cause us to neglect our own self-care. In this week’s episode of the podcast I demystify the idea of self care and offer a simple way of thinking about it that will help you understand how to implement it in your own life.
This episode originally aired May 30th, 2019 - enjoy the replay!
Episode Highlights
A simple way of describing self-care from a yoga perspective.
A review of the structure and function of the human nervous system and how it relates to self care.
Why understanding the nervous system is helpful for yoga teachers.
How the modern self-care movement oversimplifies self care and portrays it in a misleading and potentially harmful way.
Additional ways to think about and practice self care that are more effective and accessible.
How to talk about self care with your yoga students.
Links and Resources
Become a patron of the Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast to support weekly ad-free podcast episodes and get bonus resources each month.
Join The Yoga Teacher Resource Email List
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource

Jun 3, 2021 • 17min
How to prioritize your personal practice
Use the latest research in neuroscience to turn your personal practice from a resource intensive decision to a nourishing habit.
This episode originally aired on October 11th, 2018. Enjoy the replay!
Episode Highlights
Why habit formation is a missing piece in most teacher trainings
Destigmatizing the struggle to stay consistent and debunking the myth of the disciplined practitioner
The three main components of a habit and how to manipulate them to create an effortlessly consistent personal practice
5 types of triggers how to strengthen their effect
Ritual, accountability and small wins
Links & Resources
Become a patron of the Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast to support weekly ad-free podcast episodes and get bonus resources each month.
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource
Join The Yoga Teacher Resource Email List
The Power Of Habit by Charles Duhigg (Affiliate link)

May 27, 2021 • 26min
Boundaries, communication and re-opening to in-person classes
Show Notes
Communication is a key skill for yoga teachers, studio owners, and anyone working in a leadership position inside a yoga business. In this on-air coaching call, Mado chats with yoga teacher and studio manager Emma Rabbit about personal and professional boundaries, client communication, and the myriad considerations for re-opening to in person yoga classes.
Episode Highlights:
Balancing personal and client priorities
The benefits of values based decision making
Navigating differing opinions on in-person classes
How to safely invite people back into the studio
Professionalism in leadership roles
Links & Resources
Become a patron of the Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast to support weekly ad-free podcast episodes and get bonus resources each month.
Join The Yoga Teacher Resource Email List
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource

May 20, 2021 • 42min
Truth, Silence and Community Accountability
Learn to put your values into action. Mado and Rach Junard discuss strategies to set boundaries, honor your values and cultivate self awareness in order to live an aligned life.
Episode Highlights:
Quiet and stillness as a necessity for the modern world
Transformative and restorative justice
Accountability as kindness
How to respectfully give and receive feedback
The importance of honoring the roots of yoga
Approaching your teaching with a beginners mind
Links & Resources
Become a patron of the Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast to support weekly ad-free podcast episodes and get bonus resources each month.
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource
Rach’s instagram @rachdoes.yoga
Rach’s website

May 13, 2021 • 27min
2 Ingredients of Niche (on air coaching call)
Show Notes
Decision making, perfectionism and niche. If you need guidance with defining who your teaching will benefit most and encouragement to get started, you’ll love this on-air coaching call.
Episode Highlights:
Questions to ask yourself when choosing your niche
Niche myths and realities
How to set good boundaries for your business
Conserving energy in decision making
The value of ‘done’ over ‘perfect’
Links & Resources
Become a patron of the Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast to support weekly ad-free podcast episodes and get bonus resources each month.
Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group
Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource
1 on 1 business coaching