Yoga Professionals
21 entries · oldest first
When the Well Runs Dry: Burnout, Imbalance, and the Practice of Awareness
A colleauge of mine feels overwhelemed and uninspired in their teaching, and feeling sore, sluggish, and resetful of their ashtanga practice . Sound familiar? I've sure as fuck been there. When the well is dry, it’s dry. No creativity, more irritation, and a creeping sense…
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The Courage to be Vulnerable and Thrive Beyond Fear
In a world that often champions perfection, "Embracing Imperfection: The Courage to be Vulnerable and Thrive Beyond Fear" invites you to explore the beauty of authenticity. Discover the profound connection between risk, vulnerability, and the courage it takes to confront our fears. From understanding that true courage is not the absence of fear to recognizing the potential within discomfort, this blog reveals how embracing our imperfections can lead to extraordinary growth. Join us on a transformative journey where we challenge the norm of perfectionism, lean into our vulnerabilities, and ultimately, reinvent ourselves through courageous action. Are you ready to step out of the shadows of fear and into the light of your true potential?
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Yoga Teachers and Movie Extras: A Comparison of Pay and Value
https://youtu.be/U3YCoBPbJMM The Screen Actors Guild (SAG), now SAG-AFTRA, has long been an advocate for actors, including those in non-speaking roles such as movie extras. Under SAG's protections, even extras—often seen as the most replaceable individuals on set—are guaranteed minimum pay rates, overtime compensation, meal breaks,…
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Embracing Change Through Our Ashtanga Practice
I want to acknowledge the challenges many of you may be experiencing. It’s a time of uncertainty, and I understand how it can impact our mental and emotional states. To support you during this period, I’ve updated our newsletter to include a more robust collection of writings focused on wisdom from our practice, as well as systems and processes that can enhance our journey together in Ashtanga Yoga. My intention is to provide you with resources that not only nourish your practice but also offer insights and reflections that can help us navigate these turbulent times.
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The Burden of Caring and Its Complexity
Caring for others is often considered a noble and virtuous responsibility, one that evokes feelings of compassion, duty, and love. However, the act of caring is not always straightforward. It is a complex burden that requires more than just emotional investment. For those who have taken on the role of caregivers, the emotional toll can be immense, and the line between caring for others and simply managing the logistics of caregiving often becomes blurred. The reality is that caring for someone isn’t the same as being good at it.
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Five Unexpected Ways Radical Candor Can Make You a Better Yoga Teacher
Many yoga students walk into class thinking they need to “perform” the poses perfectly. If they struggle, they feel like they’ve failed. But when you use Radical Candor—balancing direct feedback with genuine care—you shift their mindset from perfection to progress. Instead of saying, “That alignment is off,” try: ✔ “I love how focused you are—let’s adjust your stance a little so you can move with more ease.” This tells them you see their effort and want to help them grow, not just critique their form. Let's explore a few more.
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Adapting Ashtanga Yoga for Life Long Practice
For many, Ashtanga yoga may evoke images of youthful, flexible practitioners twisting gracefully into challenging poses. This perception, deeply rooted in yoga's modern history, suggests that the practice is predominantly tailored for the young and resilient. This belief, however, overlooks an essential truth about yoga's adaptability and its potential as a lifelong practice.
Read the essay →Embracing Props in Ashtanga: A Modern Perspective
The journey of incorporating props in Ashtanga yoga has been met with curiosity and skepticism. Traditionally, there was a belief that props were not part of the Ashtanga practice, often viewed as unnecessary crutches. This perspective suggested that props were a deviation from the purity of traditional practice.
Read the essay →The Importance of Explicit Communication in Teaching
Teaching, at its core, is about conveying information in a way that leads to understanding. Whether it's teaching yoga, guiding students through complex subjects, or addressing legal matters, the clarity and precision of communication are paramount. In my experience, explicit communication has proven to be…
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Navigating Teacher Burnout: Strategies for Self-Care and Healing
Teaching yoga is a profound and fulfilling vocation, yet the weight of responsibility can lead to burnout if we’re not mindful. As Jason Crandell reminds us, the journey is not for the faint-hearted, with challenges such as compassion fatigue, financial worries, and the isolation that can come with the role. In this blog, we’ll explore essential strategies for self-care that will not only help you recognize the signs of burnout but also empower you to take proactive steps towards healing. From nurturing your personal practice to prioritizing rest and connection, discover how you can align your expectations and embrace the journey of teaching without sacrificing your well-being. Join us as we dive into effective self-care techniques designed to rejuvenate your spirit and enhance your teaching capacity—because self-care isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity that allows you to shine brighter for your students. Embrace the process and remember, when you prioritize yourself, you elevate your entire practice.
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The Emotional and Physical Challenges of Yoga Practice
Advancing in yoga, particularly in the Ashtanga tradition, is a journey that requires dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to confront both physical and emotional limits. Over the years, I have found myself at the intersection of personal expectations, teacher guidance, and the inevitable boundaries of…
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The Courage to Feel
BUILDING THE CAPACITY TO STAY OPEN To live in a body that is fully connected to its capacity for feeling means opening to being vulnerable. By vulnerable, I’m not meaning without clear boundaries, but rather the capacity to open when openness is needed. The ability…
Read the essay →Naive Practice vs Deliberate Practice
Mastery Demands Deliberation, Not Just Repetition! In the quest for mastery in any field, the distinction between naive practice and deliberate practice often determines the trajectory of an individual's progress. While many may believe that simply investing time into an activity guarantees improvement, the reality is more nuanced. Understanding these two approaches can illuminate the path toward genuine skill acquisition and expertise. This article explores the pitfalls of naive practice and the effectiveness of deliberate practice, ultimately guiding readers toward more productive learning strategies.
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Understanding the Basics of Pranayama: A Guide for Teachers
**Unlocking the Power of Breath: A Teacher's Guide to Pranayama** Dive into the essential art of pranayama, where breath becomes a transformative tool for enhancing your yoga practice. This comprehensive guide equips teachers with the foundational knowledge to harness and share the profound benefits of breath control—aka *pranayama*. Discover how understanding the intricacies of inhalation, exhalation, and retention can deepen connections, cultivate emotional balance, and elevate the overall experience in your classes. Learn how to safely navigate the delicate dance of *kumbhaka* and *bandhas*, and uncover the ancient wisdom that links breath to life force energy. Whether you're a seasoned instructor or just beginning your journey, this guide offers invaluable insights to enrich your teaching and inspire your students to embrace the breath as a pathway to mindfulness and vitality. Join us on this exploration of breath, and empower your practice one inhale at a time.
Read the essay →Notes on Physical Assists
https://dcashtanga.com/portal/course/decentralized-ashtanga/lessons/assisting-as-spiritual-practice/view https://dcashtanga.com/portal/course/scope-of-practice/lessons/strength-conditioning-best-practices-for-yogis-copy-1759266519/view https://dcashtanga.com/portal/course/scope-of-practice/lessons/strength-conditioning-best-practices-for-yogis-copy-1759266519/view https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6chi4KadlO8&pp=ygUbTWljaGFlbCBqb2VsIGhhbGwgYXNzaXN0aW5n https://ashtanga.tech/portal/course/teaching-arts/lessons/asana-adjustment-assisting-guidelines/view https://michaeljoelhall.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=14789&action=edit
Read the essay →Body Awareness and Alignment in Yoga Teaching
The Art of Saying It So They Actually Feel ItIf you've ever stood in front of a room full of yogis and said something like “engage your core,” only to be met with blank stares or wildly different interpretations (someone holds their breath, another tenses…
Read the essay →Adapting Poses for Individual Needs
Adapting Poses for Individual Needs You know that moment when you cue “step your right foot forward between your hands,” and someone’s foot ends up somewhere between left field and the front row? That’s not failure — that’s anatomy doing its thing. Welcome to the…
Read the essay →The Five Obstacles to Yoga
The Five Obstacles to Yoga Introduction Every yogi, whether fresh-faced on the mat or seasoned from years of practice, eventually bumps into... something. A wall, a plateau, a discomfort, or an inexplicable resistance. In yoga philosophy, these aren’t random speed bumps — they are known,…
Read the essay →The Evolution of an Ashtanga Teacher
The Evolution of an Ashtanga Teacher Introduction Change and iteration? I'm good with those. I started out verbose—talking too much, explaining every little thing. Then I swung the pendulum toward the stereotypical Ashtanga script: minimal instruction, no props, traditional cues only. But ultimately, I came…
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Equity, Not Extraction
AI isn’t the threat — extraction is, and we’ve already run this playbook before.
Read the essay →When self-inquiry becomes the product you resent
The polite version says abundance mindset. The honest version is that the math doesn't work for most people teaching yoga. Not because they lack dedication. Not because they're doing it wrong. Because…
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