The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 187: How to Choose a Yoga Teacher Training with Cecily Milne   Description: The first big step that we often take in our journey to become yoga teachers is our Yoga Teacher Training (YTT), and in many ways, much of how we teach is influenced by our YTT experiences. However, not all YTTs are created equal, and some are better than others. Cecily Milne published the blogpost “10 ways to make your yoga teacher training suck less”, and has some pointers on what makes a good YTT.   Cecily Milne is the Founder of Yoga Detour™, which began as a 200HR program, but has evolved since then. Today, Cecily focuses on education within the yoga and movement teaching community, and hopes to provide other professionals in this space with the resources she wishes she had access to as a teacher and business owner. She offers online learning courses as well as in-person training to support others and help them grow as yoga teachers and movement educators.   What sets a great YTT apart from the rest? Shannon and Cecily dig into why many teacher training programs today fail to set trainees up for success, and the top lessons Cecily learned from running her own 200hr TT. Cecily also highlights the importance of diversity and representation teacher trainings, teaching skills and evaluations, and the business aspect of running YTTs. Ultimately, choosing a YTT is all about finding the right fit between the student and the school.   Whether you are brand new to yoga and are thinking about a YTT, or if you are wondering how to put an amazing YTT together, this episode is full of valuable insights.   Key Takeaways: [4:53] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Cecily Milne. [6:41] What does Cecily do and who does she do it for? [8:33] How did Cecily get started with yoga? [10:19] What was Cecily's first 200-hour yoga teacher training like? [12:20] What inspired Cecily to write her article "10 ways to make your yoga teacher training suck less" [14:05] What are some of the most important things to consider when choosing a yoga teacher training? [17:16] Shannon and Cecily discuss how to make yoga teacher trainings more representative and inclusive. [21:18] What are some questions we should be asking when considering a yoga potential teacher training? [23:41] How can we bring up the topic of race and representation in a yoga teacher training? [25:00] Cecily highlights some other questions to ask when considering a yoga teacher training, particularly around the business aspects of being a yoga teacher. [32:36] As much as those taking the training programs, those offering the training programs need to ask themselves why they are providing that program and who it is for. [33:48] Shannon and Cecily discuss where being a part of Yoga Alliance ties in with yoga teacher trainings. [35:29] Accountability should be a big part of a yoga teacher training. Cecily shares how she helps teachers with learning to teach. [39:42] Cecily has had some great success with getting her students record themselves teaching. [41:40] How can teachers deal with the privacy aspect and getting consent from their students to record? [43:10] It is important for students to know what their needs and priorities are in choosing a yoga teacher training, and to find a school that caters to that and is a good fit. [44:08] Shannon recommends that you talk to previous graduates from the yoga school or training program you are considering. [45:06] Get in touch with Cecily via her website to find out more about her work and the training she offers. [46:47] Shannon shares her key takeaways from this interview.   Links: Cecily Milne, Yoga Detour 10 Ways to Make Your Teaching Training Program Suck Less, by Cecily Milne How to Make Your Teacher Training Program Suck Less Cheatsheet Detour Method Synthesis Shannon Crow on Instagram   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode:   "The program helped me see that there was actually real value to becoming a yoga teacher, and for me that was being able to help people make the most of their experience in their bodies." - Cecily   "I see fewer and fewer programs actually asking people to teach, and asking people to teach and get evaluated for it." - Cecily   "We have to just get more creative with how we structure our programs and how we include different members of faculty." - Cecily

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 186: How to Get Booked as a Podcast Guest [Part 2] with Kelly Glover   Description: Getting booked as a podcast guest is something that can be part of your marketing strategy and growing your business. But pitching to be on a podcast is not as simple as sending an email and hoping for the best. Industry expert Kelly Glover has loads of tips to share from her experience in this area.   Kelly Glover is the CEO of The Talent Squad, a podcast booking and publicity agency. With almost two decades working in media under her belt, Kelly helps her clients get from pitched to published to get more clients and build their brand through podcasting. She works with clients in-person in Newcastle, Sydney, Los Angeles, & New York, and does both 1:1 personal brand strategy as well as podcast pitching, and business model coaching.   Pitching to be on a podcast starts with understanding why you should even be trying to get on podcasts. Kelly explains how niching down and having a specific area of expertise can help find podcasts that would be a good fit, and how to decline being a guest on a podcast that doesn’t align with your brand while maintaining a positive relationship with the host. She shares more about how to find the shows your target audience is listening to, and how to write an effective pitch.   If you’ve been thinking about showcasing your expertise by being a guest on some podcasts or wondering how to get featured on your favorite podcasts, give this episode a listen.   Key Takeaways: [7:04] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Kelly Glover. [8:35] What does Kelly do and how did she get started in this industry? [10:34] Why should you even go on a podcast? [15:23] What's the next step once you've decided you want to be a guest on a podcast? [16:41] It's best to niche down and speak only on topics you know really well. Kelly shares how you can figure out what those topics should be. [20:53] When looking for a show to pitch, you need to find a topic that has not already been covered on the podcast. [23:09] Shannon shares her experience about the pitches she has received - what works and what doesn't. [26:27] How can we vet the podcasts we're pitching to? [31:01] It is important to know the audience of the podcast as well, and it's okay to reject some offers to be a guest on a podcast! Kelly explains how you can turn down offers while maintaining that relationship. [32:57] When should you be doing your own pitches or hire an agency? [35:38] What are Kelly's thoughts on including a lead magnet when you're a guest on a podcast? [39:20] What are some other tips Kelly has about pitching podcasts? [42:27] How much time does Kelly spend listening to podcasts and which are her favorite ones? [44:16] What are some of Shannon's top podcasts? [47:22] Get in touch with Kelly via her website for some resources or to work with her. [48:18] Shannon shares her key takeaways from this interview.   Links: Kelly Glover The Talent Squad The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 185: How to Get Booked as a Podcast Guest [Part 1] with Shannon Crow Pitch Perfect Masterclass / Training How to Get On a Podcast – Discount Code: TCYT50  Podcast Application Form (The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast) Ohana Life Podcast Episode: Shannon Crow on Creation without Fear The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 152: Simplifying Facebook Ads with Claire Pelletreau Every Little Thing Podcast How I Built This Podcast StartUp Podcast My Favorite Murder Podcast Get Paid Podcast by Claire Pelletreau Courage & Clarity Podcast by Steph Crowder The Newsworthy Podcast Because News Podcast 1:1 Consultation with Shannon   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode:   "Being on a podcast is awareness. It also gives you expert status." - Kelly   "It's about knowing the audience, and what value you're delivering that audience, because podcasts are a way for you to teach the audience." - Kelly   "You don't ever want anyone to feel like they fell for something. You want them to be rewarded." - Kelly   "When you, as a yoga teacher, are looking for a show to pitch, you're also competing against the back catalog." - Kelly   "What benefit are you giving my audience, and what will they learn by the end of the episode that they didn't know in the beginning, and why are you the person to teach my audience that?" - Kelly

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 185: How to Get Booked as a Podcast Guest [Part 1] with Shannon Crow   Description: Being a guest on a podcast is a great way to showcase your offering or expertise, while connecting with more of your ideal client. But with podcasters getting hundreds (or thousands) of pitches, how can you stand out from the crowd and get booked as a podcast guest? Seasoned podcasters Amanda Kingsmith, Mado Hesselink, and Amanda McKinney join Shannon to share their tips and insights to get yourself on some podcasts.   Amanda Kingsmith is the host of MBOm: Mastering the Business of Yoga, World Wanderers and Matcha Mornings. Mado Hesselink hosts Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast, and Amanda McKinney who hosts Marketing Yoga with Confidence. Together with Shannon, these ladies have a wealth of experience to help you navigate getting booked on a podcast.   They share their best suggestions to take your podcast pitch to the next level, what topics you should be talking about, and even which podcasts you should be reaching out to. Tune in to find out more about how to be a great guest on the podcast after you get booked, how to promote the episode when it goes live, and more.   If you have ever wanted to be on a podcast but didn’t know how or where to start, this episode is for you.   Key Takeaways: [1:51] When did you start listening to podcasts? Shannon shares how she got into podcasting, and some of the benefits she has seen from it [3:01] Amanda McKinney explains why one of the bonuses of being on podcasts is connecting with the podcast host. [4:45] Shannon has a gift for you! [8:12] Want a shout-out on the podcast? Leave Shannon a review! [9:47] Think about the podcasts you love listening to, and what draws you to them. The first step to pitching a podcast is listening to them to make sure you have something to offer the listeners and that it's a good fit for you. [10:25] Mado has some tips on where to start with your search for a suitable podcast. [11:12] Once you find some podcasts, make a list of these podcasts. [11:57] What topic will you be speaking about as a guest? [16:05] What are some ideas to stand out when making a pitch to be a podcast guest? [18:09] You can easily pitch to be on a podcast on your own! Amanda Kingsmith has some tips. [19:59] How should you prepare for the interview on a podcast? [22:07] Avoid being a boring guest - Amanda Kingsmith shares how. [24:07] Marketing the episode will serve your business and the podcast host! How can you market and share your episode? [28:36] Mado gives us a summary of how to get booked as a podcast guest. [29:41] Shannon shares some final thoughts on getting on a podcast.   Links: Pitch Perfect Masterclass / Training How to Get On a Podcast - Discount Code: TCYT50 Amanda Kingsmith MBOm: Mastering the Business of Yoga Podcast World Wanderers Podcast  Matcha Mornings Podcast  Mado Hesselink The Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast Amanda McKinney Marketing Yoga with Confidence Podcast The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 177: How to Connect (aka Network) with Natalie Eckdahl Loom BombBomb The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 179: Get Confident with Video with Alicia Berruti Shannon Crow on Instagram Podcast Application Form (The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast) The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 054: Launching a Podcast and Facebook Group with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 005: Set and Achieve Big Goals with Natalie Eckdahl 1:1 Consultation with Shannon   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode: "A huge benefit of being on a podcast is the connection to the host and to other people." - Amanda McKinney   "There are three sides to this connection - the host, the guest and most important, the listeners." - Shannon Crow   "You don't need to hire a booking company. As Amanda Kingsmith said, she prefers a personal pitch. Often, I do as well, and I know it's the same for many podcasters." - Shannon Crow   "With your space, it is really essential that you're in a quiet place with good WiFi." - Amanda Kingsmith

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 184: Is Yoga Cultural Appropriation with Shailla Vaidya   Description: It is common knowledge that yoga originated from India, and has been practiced in India and South Asia for millennia. It is only recently that yoga has gained popularity in the Western world. Over time, people within the yoga space have adapted it to cater to different needs and trends, and today, there are many different forms of yoga that exist which can be very removed from the original practice of yoga as it was intended. This leads to the complex question - Is yoga cultural appropriation?   Dr. Shailla Vaidya joins Shannon as someone who is of South Asian descent and was raised in the yoga tradition to share her perspectives. Dr. Shailla Vaidya is a Physician and Yoga Therapist, who practices Mind-Body Medicine in Toronto, Ontario. Shailla teaches medically-informed therapeutic yoga to yoga therapists internationally, and offers a variety of programs that combine the science of Western Medicine with the Eastern Mind-Body practice of Yoga.   In this eye-opening and straight-from-the-heart conversation, Shailla really opens up about her own personal experiences of what it was like to grow up in the culture of yoga and then to step into a Westen yoga class. She also talks about what we can do to honor the tradition of yoga and share it in a way that is respectful of its heritage and history, and the culture it comes from, while acknowledging the challenges that come with it   Being respectful, culturally sensitive and appropriate is something we all constantly need to learn and work on. This interview is a great starting point to think about some of the issues around yoga and cultural appropriation.    Key Takeaways: [7:16] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Dr. Shailla Vaidya. [8:32] Shannon and Shailla share some context about the situation at the time of recording. [11:51] Shailla shares a bit about her background. [18:59] How does Shailla combine yoga and medicine? [24:55] Where did Shailla's journey begin with the understanding of cultural appropriation with regard to yoga? [29:38] Shailla shares the experience of when she really felt the pain of cultural appropriation in yoga. [34:02] Colonization is a part of India's history, and there is trauma carried by people of this heritage and culture, as a result of that. [36:55] Shailla defines cultural appropriation. [38:38] Shannon and Shailla discuss why she felt like an imposter in a yoga class and at yoga conferences. [41:55] What does Shailla wish yoga teachers knew? Shailla shares some of the practices that exist in the Western yoga community that are inappropriate. [48:45] Un-learning things we have always done can be difficult, but it is something that we need to do. Shannon shares her experience of trying to un-learn saying 'namaste' at the end of a yoga class. We need to always be questioning and learning. [52:49] It is also important to recognize when we're profiting off somebody or someone's culture. [56:07] Shannon and Shailla discuss some ideas on how we can be a part of the solution. [1:01:02] Who should we be seeking to learn from? [1:07:25] How can we respect and honor the traditions of yoga as we bring it into our lives? [1:12:13] Shailla shares some of her struggles around how people practice yoga in Western cultures. [1:18:24] All of us need to do the work as we learn what's okay and what's not okay. [1:20:22] What are some questions coming up for you after listening to this interview?   Links: Dr. Shailla Vaidya Adverse Childhood Experience Score The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 137: Yoga and Brain Injuries with Ann Green Biopsychosocial Model of Care - Dr. Carolyn Vandyken Race-based Traumatic Injury - Dr. Gail Parker  Symposium for Yoga Therapy and Research (SYTAR) by International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) Yoga Therapy: Yoga, Body, Breath and Mind, by Mohan? Gandhi (movie) Herniated Lumbar Disk Discussion - The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 116: Pain Language with Shelly Prosko (Part 1)   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode:   "It is such an important turning point that we really have to stop and ask ourselves, 'What is the way forward"." - Dr. Shailla   "I've been doing yoga my whole life, it's not something I learned to do or came across - it's something that's a part of my culture." - Dr. Shailla   "How is it okay that you can use these symbols, when I was repeatedly bullied and shamed and put down for my culture? How is it okay that you can do this as a white person, and make money off of it?" - Dr. Shailla   "I was happy that other people are enjoying other cultures, that they're appreciating other cultures, and yet, I'm still struggling with 'Is this appropriation?', or why am I feeling this pain?" - Dr. Shailla   "You have to understand the history and the culture of India, because you're teaching something that is based in and from Indian culture, and you have to understand what was done to these people." - Dr. Shailla   "If we're really open, and if we really want to appreciate another culture, it actually means starting to get comfortable with that other culture." - Dr. Shailla  

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 183: How to Plan a Productive Week with Shawn Radcliffe   Description: As a yoga business owner, there are so many things to do that we may feel overwhelmed by our to-do lists, and left wondering how to get everything done and where to start. That’s where productivity comes in, and no matter where you are in your yoga teacher journey, we could all use some tips around improving our productivity. Shawn Radcliffe has some tips on how to use a 15-minute planner to get organized and plan a productive week.   Shawn Radcliffe is a health and science journalist based in Ontario, Canada. His work has appeared in a variety of print and digital publications. Shawn has also been teaching yoga since 2009, and offers students a dynamic mix of Hatha yoga and viniyoga, with a special focus on helping people develop mindfulness.   With just 15 minutes a week, Shawn has mastered the art of staying on top  of his professional and personal life. He shares how he first discovered the 15-minute planner, and breaks down how he uses it to keep track of and prioritize all his projects, tasks and activities. He also has some other tips around planning a productive week and working effectively.   If you’ve been wondering how to make better use of your time or how to keep track of all the projects you have going on, this episode is for you.   Key Takeaways: [5:33] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Shawn Radcliffe. [6:41] What does Shawn do and who does he do it for? [8:43] When did Shawn start using the 15-minute planner? [11:43] How do you start with the 15-minute planner? The first step is setting aside 15 minutes to plan, every week. [13:17] Shawn explains the concept of the 15-minute planner using the rocks, pebbles, sand analogy. [14:53] Step 2 is to do a brain dump. [17:54] Why is it so important to make a list of things to get done, instead of just doing them? [19:45] What happens after the brain dump? Shawn and Shannon discuss putting the "rocks" into the planner. [24:25] How do you choose the "pebbles"? [27:45] The next step is to put these activities into your calendar. [33:00] Shawn explains what happens to the "sand". [34:59] What has Shawn learned along the way that he would like to share? [36:53] What is Shawn's strategy for dealing with things that just pop up suddenly? [38:24] Shannon shares about the difference between her brain dump and her “idea parking lot”. [39:13] Shawn highlights how different planning methods work similarly, and things to keep in mind when planning. [42:17] What are some things Shawn has been able to accomplish using the 15-minute planner method? [44:16] Get in touch with Shawn via his website, or on Twitter.    Links: Shawn Radcliffe Shawn Radcliffe on Twitter Steph Crowder (Courage & Clarity) - 15-minute Planner Method  Trello Asana The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 122: Productivity for Yoga Teachers with Amber De La Garza The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 123: Habits for Health & Business with James Clear Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy The One Thing, by Gary Keller Crickets to Customers Workshop by Steph Crowder   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode:   "A lot of times we get so fixated on our to-do lists that we just do things as they come up, and a lot of things that we're doing are busywork - they're small things that aren't really driving our business forward." - Shawn   "Sometimes we don't know what we need to get done, or don't know what we've already agreed to do." - Shawn   "When you just start working, you're not always working effectively." - Shawn   "Being busy feels good, but it's not always effective." - Shawn   "What do I need to do to make my business grow, and survive, and thrive?" - Shawn  

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 182: Yin Yoga vs Restorative Yoga with Nyk Danu   Description: Slower styles of yoga such as Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga are becoming more popular as people are seeking balance in their hectic, fast-paced and stressful lives. However, while Yin and Restorative yoga are often used interchangeably, and may even seem similar externally, there are many differences between the two. Yin Yoga expert (and a member of The Connected Yoga Teacher Team) Nyk Danu shares more about these two types of yoga.   Nyk Danu has been teaching yoga for 15 years, and is a Yin Yoga expert and teacher trainer. She is also a Yoga Therapist who helps people with back pain, particularly those she describes as “yoga misfits” - people who don’t feel at home in mainstream Yoga circles. As a teacher trainer, Nyk also offers Yin Yoga modules as a complement to existing teacher training programs and 1:1 Yin Yoga apprenticeships for teachers. She is also currently in the planning stages of an online Yin Yoga Teacher training.   Despite appearing similar, these two practices differ greatly. Nyk shares more about the origins of each of these styles of yoga and the intention behind them, as well as some of the key differences in the length of poses, counter poses, and use of props. Nyk also has some great insights about the internal perspective - physiologically, emotionally, and how each type of yoga impacts the nervous system.   If you are considering taking specialized training on Yin Yoga or Restorative Yoga, or are wondering who each type of yoga is suitable for, or just want to deepen your understanding about these two practices, this episode is perfect for you.   Key Takeaways: [4:16] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Nyk Danu [6:19] What does Nyk do and who does she do it for? [7:34] Nyk shares where her definitions and frameworks for Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga come from. [9:26] Nyk explains how yin-yang theory ties into Yin Yoga. [11:32] What is Yin Yoga? What is Restorative Yoga? What is the difference between them? [16:48] Nyk gives an example of how a post could be done in Yin vs Restorative yoga. [19:22] What are the intentions of each type of yoga practice? [21:25] Nyk explains more about the resonance or echo of a pose in your body, which is unique to Yin, and about the meditative elements of Yin Yoga. [24:39] Who would Nyk recommend Yin Yoga to? [29:48] Different teachers have different approaches to Yin Yoga. [32:19] What are the differences in the emotional landscape between Yin vs Restorative Yoga? [34:15] How long are poses held in Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga? [35:31] What is the usual duration of classes for these practices of yoga? [38:34] How long are Nyk's Yin Yoga classes? [39:46] Nyk explains how she guides students through her Yin Yoga classes. [41:17] Which practice has more talking through each pose? [44:04] Does Nyk use music in her Yin classes? [48:55] Get in touch with Nyk via her website, or on social media. [50:50] Nyk has a special gift for you, Connected Yoga Teachers! Links: Nyk Danu Nyk Danu (Portal for Teachers)  Yin Yoga Teacher Training with Nyk Danu  50 Hour Yin Yoga Training with Nyk Danu (Online) The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group Paul GrilleyYin Yoga (as taught by Paul Grilley) Restorative Yoga (as taught by Judith Hanson Lasater) The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 098: Many Layers of Fascia with Gil Hedley The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 019: Restorative Yoga with Andrea Peloso   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode: "Part of understanding Yin Yoga is having a good understanding of yin-yang theory." - Nyk   "When I look at the biggest difference between the two, it's a matter of degrees, and intention." -Nyk   "One of the primary differences between Yin and Restorative, is that in a Yin practice, we are trying to feel sensation. In a Restorative practice, we're not." - Nyk   "It is the intention behind the pose and what the person is feeling in the pose that would determine 'is this Yin, or is this Restorative'." - Nyk  

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 181: Grow an Online Yoga Business with Nikki Naab-Levy   Description: In recent times, many of us have had to make the leap to shift our businesses online. Whether it's creating the foundation to sell online classes or courses, or figuring out what to share on social media or the videos to put up on YouTube, most of us could do with a little help. Nikki Naab-Levy has some insights on how we can leverage the online space in our yoga business to bring yoga to more people and grow our businesses at the same time.    Nikki Naab-Levy is a Pilates teacher and certified functional strength coach with over 10 years of experience helping clients build strength and overcome injury. Apart from her work with fitness and movement, Nikki also provides business consulting and copy writing services for movement teachers, particularly yoga and pilates teachers, to help them build their businesses and get better at marketing. Nikki Naab-Levy runs her movement-based business almost 100% online, and she has some great insights about what it takes to transition your yoga business to the virtual world.   If you are asking, “How can I stand out online when we’re all teaching the same thing?”, “What should I post on social media?” and “How can I get past the fear of putting myself out there?” - Nikki has some answers for you. Shannon and Nikki also discuss figuring out which online products to offer or which workshops will sell best, and the technology needed to run a successful yoga business online. (Hint: you don’t need fancy tech to be successful!)   Key Takeaways: [6:34] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Nikki Naab-Levy. [7:43] What does Nikki do and who does she do it? [11:42] What was Nikki's journey in taking her business online? [15:09] Nikki's strategy is to build relationships with people over a long period of time. She explains how she has done this authentically over time. [17:48] Nikki's other strategy was to get into Facebook groups and help people. [20:30] Building relationships with potential clients is like dating! [21:35] Why is email marketing more powerful than social media? [24:33] Getting your business online is a lot of trial-and-error to figure out what works. [25:25] Why does Nikki feel more confused now than she did four years ago? [28:50] What are some things that Nikki knows now that she wishes she had known from the beginning? [30:30] Part of Nikki's branding is ... fishnets! How did she come up with that idea? [35:30] If Nikki could choose only one platform for video, what would it be? [38:13] What content should you start with to begin building your audience? [43:40] Nikki has some final bits of advice for someone looking to move their business online. [47:44] Follow Nikki online via her website, and check her out on social media. [50:23] Shannon shares some of her key takeaways. What were yours?   Links: Nikki Naab-Levy Nikki Naab-Levy on Instagram (Fitness), Instagram (Marketing) and YouTube The Mentor Sessions Podcast with Francesca Cervero Episode 065: Marketing for Yoga Teachers with Nikki Naab-Levy How to Create Professional Looking Video with an Iphone, by Nikki Naab-levy The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 100: Cultivating a Community of Professional Peers with Linda Sparrowe The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 179: Get Confident with Video with Alicia Berruti Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training Work with Shannon   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode: "If people can't understand what you're saying, then they don't understand how to use the information or how you can help them." - Nikki   "I very quickly realized I need a network to be successful." - Nikki   "The best way you can get on someone's radar in a positive way is to show up and be helpful." - Nikki   "Instagram isn't where my money is. Email is." - Nikki

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 180: Sticky Note Secret for More Students with Shannon Crow   Description: Do you have a new event, training or yoga offering and are wondering how to fill it? Perhaps you’re trying to get more students into your classes or sign up new 1:1 private students. You’re in luck because Shannon has a secret method to get more students - the sticky note secret.   Shannon shares her sticky note secret to getting new students and outlines the different steps to ask yourself along the way. She encourages you to set a minimum number and maximum number to fill your yoga offering as well as challenges you to think about your ideal class size. How do sticky notes come into the picture? Tune in to find out how you can use the humble sticky note (or even a piece of paper!) to get more students and fill your yoga offerings.   Key Takeaways: [1:32] Shannon has a secret to getting more students to sign up for your yoga offering. [3:00] The first step is to think about the minimum number of people you would like to have in your yoga offering. [5:04] You also need to consider the maximum number of people you would be comfortable teaching. [6:59] Setting a minimum and maximum number to fill your yoga offering helps you get closer to your goal. [7:50] Shannon gives Schedulicity a shout out! [9:20] If money were not a factor, what would your ideal class size be? [10:02] Shannon addresses some of the road blocks that people encounter. [11:30] For those of you who prefer to teach 1:1 private yoga, Shannon has some advice about planning your week. [13:41] Shannon explains how she uses sticky notes to keep track of filling her yoga offerings, but you could do the same thing with a piece of paper. [17:44] Ask yourself: How can I fill these spots? [19:57] The last step should be about getting people to sign up, not the first! [20:28] Shannon does a quick recap of the steps of the "sticky note secret". [21:32] Share your sticky note wall or spot-filling list with Shannon on social media! Links: Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode: "We definitely want to take a look at the money side of things in this, but we also want to take a look at 'what does it feel like to show up and teach this number of people?'." - Shannon   "What is the feeling you want your yoga students to walk away with?" - Shannon   "You are going to get better at this, you are going to figure things out." - Shannon   "Ask yourself 'Can I think of anyone right now who's either told me that they're interested in this offering or who I just think is a great fit?'." - Shannon   "When you don't hear back from people, it is not 'no!'." - Shannon

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 179: Get Confident with Video with Alicia Berruti   Description:   Video is a really amazing tool, and particularly in this time where a lot of us are encountering a lot of physical distancing, video is the best way to really reach out and form connections with people. Yet, a lot of us struggle with video, and with being confident enough to put ourselves and our message out there. We shouldn’t be missing out on opportunities to use video because we lack confidence, so Alicia Berruti is her eto share with us her take on doing videos confidently.   Alicia Berruti is the National Speaker at BombBomb, a video enablement platform that helps people communicate face-to-face via video. They are focused on bringing back the human side of communication to the virtual world, by making it easy to record, send, and track videos, allowing you to be “in person” with those who matter most to your business at any given time. In her role at BombBomb, Alicia teaches and inspires people to use simple videos to ReHumanize business communication and get face-to-face with clients and prospects more often.   "I don't look good on video." "I can't figure out the technology for videos." "I get so nervous doing videos." If this sounds like you, you need to listen to this episode. Alicia and Shannon dive into overcoming fear around videos and gaining confidence to do them. Alicia also shares why video is an important communication tool, not just for social media, but to actually talk to people and build a deep connection with them. She talks about how we can move past some of the hang ups we may have around putting ourselves out there to show up on camera, and how we can get started with using videos more effectively and intentionally.   Key Takeaways: [9:25] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Alicia Berruti. [11:58] What does Alicia do and who does she do it for? [13:36] How did Alicia start helping people get comfortable with being on video? [15:31] What did Alicia's journey of loving her own body and feeling comfortable in her own skin? [20:50] Alicia shares about the power of gratitude in her own life and changing how she sees her body. [21:30] Feeling confident is a process, and it's something we have to work on constantly. [25:43] Video is effective because it gives people an opportunity to get to know, like and trust you. [29:44] Think about what the world would have missed out on if Oprah had waited to be comfortable in her body to get get in front of the camera. [31:13] What is Alicia's response to some common reasons people have for not doing video? [39:11] Shannon and Alicia discuss why we should be sharing on video because of the value we bring. [43:06] What is BombBomb? [49:08] Video can help convey tonality, which is often lacking in our emails and text messages! [52:22] Shannon sometimes replies to people on Instagram and Facebook messenger on video, and it makes such a difference. [54:46] There is a 14-day free trial of BombBomb available for you to check out how it could work in your business. [1:01:36] Find out more about BombBomb on the website, or get connected with Alicia on Instagram. [1:04:26] What do you think about a live video challenge? Share your thoughts with Shannon!   Links: Alicia Berruti on Instagram @al_berruti BombBomb  14-day Free Trial with BombBomb The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 167: How to Make a Recruiting Plan with Reneé Clair The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 088: Creating Professional Yoga Videos ith Kira Sloane The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 086: Live Video for Yoga Teachers with Ian Gray The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 139: Grow Your Yoga Business via Email with Tarzan Kay Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Time Blocking 101 with Renee Clair - Code: TCYT   Quotes from this episode: "The #1 thing that keeps people from doing video is this uncomfortability with being on camera." - Alicia   "Video is effective and video works because it gives people an opportunity to build 'know, like and trust' with you." - Alicia   "People can connect with human and flawed better than they can connect with perfect and polished." - Alicia   "We're just better face-to-face." - Alicia

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 178: Tired of Social Media? [Consultation Call] with Devon Pelto   Description: Are you feeling frustrated with social media? If you've been posting on social media but not getting engagement, or you're spending so much time on social media and are wondering where else you can focus on to create connections - you are not alone. Devon Pelto was recently feeling the same and posted in The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook group, which led to this consultation call to dig into social media.   Devon Pelto found yoga, tarot and meditation in 2012 as a new mother in need of tranquility and balance. Through these practices, she discovered a new depth of healing from her own childhood trauma in addition to support and mental stability. Today, these practices guide her in her life and the way she shares yoga and life coaching. Devon focuses on self-care, mental/emotional health and community in her corporate and 1:1  yoga classes and life coaching sessions.   Social media has become a key way of connecting with others, particularly during this pandemic, but it doesn’t have to take over your life. Shannon and Devon dig into how she can connect with clients and potential students via email, alternative channels for building connections, and tapping into her network. It can also be a real challenge to teach niche yoga, and they work through some of the difficulties of sharing the benefit of your offering as a coach or wellness advocate.   Whether you’ve mastered social media for your yoga business or are looking for other ways to connect in this time, this episode with Devon Pelto will be really enlightening.   Key Takeaways: [4:56] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Devon Pelto. [8:10] Devon shared a post in The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook group about how to step away from social media but still be actively marketing to prospects and staying connected with current clients. [11:35] What does Devon do? Shannon and Devon discuss the core elements of her messaging around her work. [18:27] Do you have to be on social media? [21:31] Devon is trying to do some email marketing. Shannon digs into how effective her email newsletters are in generating clients. [24:38] Shannon shares about a test she did in her own business about email marketing vs social media. [27:07] Tapping into your network and leveraging word-of-mouth can be an effective way to reach more people. [31:38] Devon and Shannon discuss niching down in her business. [34:15] Schedulicity has a tip for you! [35:20] The pandemic has taken away the usual channels in which we connect with others. Shannon encourages Devon to explore other avenues that she could use instead. [40:39] Shannon explains how she uses videos to connect with clients virtually. [41:54] What are some other ways that in her community that Devon could connect with her ideal clients? [44:57] Shannon brainstorms some ideas for Devon to get visibility for her business while getting paid. [48:12] Devon has an upcoming event - Shannon helps her walk through how she can fill the event. [54:30] Devon brings up some of her hesitations and misgivings with social media. [1:00:39] Shannon and Devon talk about some other ways she can share her personality and knowledge with others. [1:03:27] Get in touch with Devon to work with her via her website or email newsletter. [1:04:32] Shannon shares her biggest takeaway from this consultation call with Devon.   Links: Devon Pelto  Devon Pelto on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook Consultation Call with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 177: How to Connect (aka Network) with Natalie Eckdahl The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 176: Email Marketing Strategy with Jessica Stansberry Devon's Post in Facebook Loom BombBomb 5 Day Content Challenge Pitch Perfect: Be a great pitcher and podcast guest   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode: "You do not have to be on social media every day." - Shannon   "People take emails more seriously." - Devon   "You can always try a niche on for a while." - Shannon   "That's exactly how I want to use social media - is having it there for the beautiful tool that it is, but not relying on it in any way at all. It's just an accessible way to connect." - Devon

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 177: How to Connect (aka Network) with Natalie Eckdahl   Description: No matter where you are in your yoga teacher journey, one of the things we need to run a successful business is a good network of connections. Thankfully, networking doesn’t have  to be awkward, or boring, and Natalie Eckdahl has just the tips on how to manage networking online.   Natalie Eckdahl is the founder of BizChix, Inc, and a business strategist and coach. She is dedicated to helping high performing women build, grow, and scale their businesses while avoiding overwhelm. As the host of the BizChix Podcast, Natalie showcases the expertise of hundreds of industry experts, and shares actionable tips and strategies to help her listeners and clients grow their businesses.   We often jump straight to getting on social media to get in front of people or building our email list, but on this episode we're going right back to the basics of networking. Natalie explains why it’s so important to connect with others and grow our network, and how to make the whole process less awkward and more authentic. She also shares more about how to track whether our networking efforts are paying off, and how networking can work for you even virtually.   If you are struggling to get yoga students to your classes, workshops or trainings, this episode is sure to be a helpful resource.   Key Takeaways: [5:54] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Natalie Eckdahl. [7:39] What does Natalie do and who does she do it for? [9:08] What is networking? [13:03] How can we connect and network online? [17:51] How can we ease the awkwardness and reduce the "weird" factor? [21:05] This is a good time to start reaching out to your students to see how they are doing. [22:30] How can we measure or track whether our networking efforts are paying off? [26:37] Shannon and Natalie discuss how being in conversation with someone can help "make the sale". [30:02] Natalie shares a little tip around mindset and being paid. [31:31] It is important for us to hold boundaries during our networking sessions as well. [35:10] Reframe the word 'networking' to connecting. How can you connect with people in your network? Natalie shares some of her tips and strategies, especially using video! [41:09] Yoga teachers, people are looking for you - make it easy to be found, and make it easy for them to connect with you. [43:05] Natalie highlights the importance of connecting with complementary service providers. [0044:59] Shannon shares her biggest takeaway from this interview with Natalie. Links: Natalie Echdahl, Biz Chix, Inc. BizChix Podcast Stacking Your Team Podcast Live and Online Yoga Class Directory The Connected Yoga Teacher on Instagram The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 160: Milestones of My Yoga Business with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 041: Generating Profit with Natalie Eckdahl The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode005: Set and Achieve Big Goals with Natalie Eckdahl    Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode:   "What I see networking being is something that helps your network know what you're doing, and having visibility in your network." - Natalie   "If our network doesn't know what we do and who we do it for, then the people that they're connected to cannot work with us or find out about us." - Natalie   "We can seek to create community virtually." - Natalie   "Circle back with old clients. It's never too late to pull someone back in." - Natalie   "Video is one of the best ways to connect." - Natalie

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast BONUS: Anti-Racism & Yoga with Michelle Johnson   Description: In light of everything that has been happening in the US and across the world with the Black Lives Matter social justice movement and calls for anti-racism, how does yoga fit in? What can yoga teachers do to hold space for these conversations that need to happen and how do yoga and anti-racism really work together? This special bonus episode is a Live Q&A session with Michelle Johnson to tackle these questions.   Michelle Johnson is a social justice warrior, author, dismantling racism trainer, empath, yoga teacher and practitioner, and an intuitive healer. She has over 20 years of experience leading dismantling racism work and working with clients as a licensed clinical social worker. With her deep understanding of how trauma impacts the mind, body, spirit, and heart and her awareness of the world through her own experience as a black woman, she helps others understand how privilege and power operate. Her book Skill in Action: Radicalizing Your Yoga Practice to Create a Just World was published in 2017 and addresses these specific topics.   As yoga teachers (and studios), how can we move into the realm of social justice? What  can we do to create businesses that promote anti-racism, and create inclusive spaces in yoga? Michelle shares her insights about these topics, as well as privilege, dealing with white guilt, and addressing cultural trauma, and so much more.   This rich conversation with Michelle may make you feel uncomfortable, but it is important to sit with our discomfort to learn and grow, and start doing the work in this space.   Special thanks to Offering Tree, for sponsoring this bonus Q&A session.   Key Takeaways: [1:19] This episode was originally done as a Facebook Live video in The Connected Yoga Teacher Group. [00:05:23] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Michelle Johnson. [8:48] Michelle has been doing this work for a long time. What has her experience been like in the past few weeks with so much new interest in her work? [11:40] How does anti-racism relate to yoga teachers and yoga studios? [14:08] What are some ways in which we can continue doing this work? [17:42] Yoga teachers may think they are already doing the work, but it is also a matter of seeing what they couldn't see before. Michelle shares an example of how capitalism may be showing up in our yoga businesses as a form of oppression. [21:14] How can we go about creating real inclusion without falling to tokenism? Michelle speaks to the importance of balancing mindfulness and urgency. [26:54] What is Michelle's advice for people who want to do the right thing, but are afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing? [30:56] Some yoga teachers are finding it difficult to hold space for others, and are struggling with dealing with their own white guilt. What are Michelle's thoughts on that? [36:55] How does yoga specifically address guilt and shame? [40:26] What can the yoga teacher community offer in terms of speaking to cultural trauma? [43:26] A yoga teacher asks about adding a social justice component to her YTT. Is it appropriate for them to do so, or should they invite someone else to facilitate the conversation? [46:25] Michelle explains the term BIPOC. [51:09] Michelle shares more about how biracial people who has not felt connected to any community can participate in these conversations about race. [54:50] Where can yoga teachers begin? [58:16] What are some beneficiaries you can donate to? [58:58] Get in touch with Michelle and find out more about her trainings via her website. [1:00:44] How do you think we can hold space for these conversations that need to happen, and move more into a space of social justice? Links: Offering Tree Where to Donate, How to Help — George Floyd, by Offering Tree Michelle Johnson book club Skill in Action: Radicalizing Your Yoga Practice to Create a Just World, by Michelle Johnson Work with Michelle Johnson: Race Equity, Dismantling Racism, & Social Change Consultant Live Interview with Michelle Johnson - What can we as yoga teachers do to help with anti-racism? DismantlingRacism.org Love the Life You Live Podcast    Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode: "We're coming to this space with different emotions, feelings, lived experiences that define how we show up in this particular moment." - Michelle   "Racism is also connected to every other form of oppression, and ... any system of supremacy, they're all interlinked." - Michelle   "I lead with race as a way to deepen our lens and understand how systems of oppression work, with an awareness that really what I'm talking about is how power works, and that is similar with every other form of oppression." - Michelle   "Creating an inclusive space is different than making it look like it's a space that's inclusive." - Michelle   "Black, indigenous and people of color need white people to do their work, and that guilt can get in the way of doing work." - Michelle   "The language shifts, and language when it shifts, is an indication that culture is shifting." - Michelle

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 176: Email Marketing Strategy with Jessica Stansberry   Description: As an entrepreneur and business owner, you never stop learning. There are so many strategies for running a successful business, and different approaches work for different people. There’s always something new that we could learn and implement in our business that could really make a difference. On this episode, we get to hear from another expert on email marketing, Jessica Stansberry.   Jessica Stansberry is the Founder and CEO of Hey Jessica, LLC. She is a personal and business development strategist dedicated to helping women create and grow online businesses. Apart from hosting the weekly podcast Grit, she runs an extremely popular YouTube channel with over 80,000 subscribers. Through free content on her blog and online courses that teach #allthethings about starting and running a business, Jessica helps women “turn their dreams into dolla bills”.   Email marketing is powerful, and you can harness it in your yoga business. Jessica shares her tips about which email platform you should be using, how to create a nurturing sequence, and how to set up emails so students open them. We also discuss why having a huge email list is not as important as an engaged audience (which is why we need to trim our lists) and why you need to “make the ask” in your emails!   Email marketing is another handy tool to have in your arsenal to reach your ideal clients, so tune in to hear Jessica break it down in a way that’s easy to approach and implement.   Key Takeaways: [7:02] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Jessica Stansberry. [8:25] What does Jessica do and who does she do it for? [9:31] What is the importance of email? [13:00] Jessica addresses the concern of yoga teachers who feel their students may get tired of hearing from them. [14:41] Shannon and Jessica discuss "scrubbing your list". [16:46] What are Jessica's tips for building your email list? [18:32] When it comes to email service providers, what are Jessica's recommendations? [27:10] What is something people aren't talking about enough with regards to email? [30:10] Should you include images in your emails? [31:47] How long should your email be? [33:56] We need to make the ask in our emails! [35:36] Shannon and Jessica discuss nurture sequences for new subscribers. [37:40] Find out more about Jessica on her YouTube channel, Instagram, or listen to her podcast. [38:46] What is one thing you learned that you want to bring into your own business?   Links: Jessica Stansberry Jessica Stansberry on YouTube and Instagram Grit Podcast hosted by Jessica Stansberry The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 139: Grow Your Yoga Business via Email with Tarzan Kay The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 072: Email & Content Strategy [Consultation Call] with Kristen Boyle The Connected Yoga Teacher Live Show Episode 9: Create and Grow Your Yoga Student Email List  MailerLite vs MailChimp and ConvertKit, by Jessica Stansberry Schedulicity Town Hall Schedulicity Cares Grant ConvertKit ActiveCampaign Mailchimp AWeber MailerLite Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook, by Gary Vaynerchuk   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode: "The only thing you actually own is your email list." - Jessica   "Conversion rates from emails are higher, sales rates from emails are higher." - Jessica   "They want to get on your email list because you gave them some piece of value for free to get there." - Jessica   "You want to land in their inbox, and to do that, you need to be writing emails like you're writing an email to a friend." - Jessica   "[Email] is a place for you to nurture your people so when you're ready to sell, they're there and they're ready." - Jessica

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 175: Coping During a Crisis with Diane Liska   Description: Since the start of 2020, so many things have happened, including the COVID-19 global pandemic. Physical distancing is being enforced in many places, many businesses have been shuttered, and many of our yoga businesses have been impacted in one way or another. We may be feeling like we're in a state of crisis, and we may not know how best to cope in this time. Diane Liska returns to the podcast to share with us some strategies for coping during a crisis.    Diane is a Registered Psychotherapist with over 10 years of experience in the mental health field, specializing in the areas of trauma, attachment and neuroscience. She focuses on combining her expertise in yoga and psychotherapy to help clients navigate personal challenges and connect with their inner resources. Diane runs a private practice in Canada offering her Yoga-Informed Psychotherapy and regularly provides consultation and education services to healing professionals.   How does a being in a crisis affect our minds and bodies? Diane explains more about the brain science behind it, and some techniques on how we can effectively manage the stress and strain that comes with being in crisis-mode. We dig into how specifically the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting us, and how we can look at opening and creating that safe space for our students.   This episode is full of great tips and strategies to help you navigate any crisis or time of great stress, so be sure to tune in.   Key Takeaways: [6:44] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Diane Liska. [9:13] What does Diane do and who does she do it for? [9:51] How would Diane describe our collective experience right now with the COVID-19 pandemic? [11:50] As yoga teachers, how can we cope so that we can serve our students? [13:30] Diane shares more about the different states our brain can be in. [19:12] Diane explains more about the "resources" people might need to create a felt sense of safety. [21:27] Each of our scenarios is unique, but there is also collective connection in these circumstances. [23:18] The next tier of safety has to do with relationships and feeling loved or connected. [25:01] How is the prefrontal cortex coping with the current situation? [29:30] What are some practices that are working in terms of addressing younger wounds? [31:22] Why are we feeling so much more on edge in the current situation, and what might we do to address that? [34:49] Shannon shares her experience in dealing with a crisis situation. [38:39] What is Diane's advice for people who are looking at creating safe spaces? [42:55] How can we deal with some of the restlessness that we might feel, and how can we address it when we see it in others? [48:00] Get in touch with Diane to find out how you can work with her further. [48:34] Shannon shares her reflections from this session with Diane.   Links: Diane Liska Diane Liska on Facebook Diane Liska on Instagram How are you Coping with Everything COVID? (YouTube Live Video with Diane Liska) The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 114: Compassion Fatigue with Diane Liska hand model The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group Work with Shannon Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode:   "We need to take care of ourselves first." - Diane   "It is important to be able to try and identify, What is it that's making me feel or causing me to feel unsafe right now." - Diane   "There is a whole lot of very real stress going on right now in current circumstances." - Diane   "It's just essential to try and lead with compassion for everyone and their experience, because everyone is struggling in their own unique way." - Diane  

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 174: Time for a Break with Shannon Crow   Description: Are you feeling overwhelmed, tired and uninspired right now? It may be a sign that you may need to take a break. If this feels like an impossible task, that’s exactly why you should take a break and, on this episode, Shannon walks us through this process.   Taking breaks is essential to us as business owners. We may feel like it is impossible because we are always thinking about our business, but there are many reasons why taking breaks is beneficial to your business, those you work with and you.    Building breaks into our schedules can help us be more mindful about taking breaks, and are an effective way to ensure that you take regular breaks. Shannon shares more about how she usually organizes time in her business so that she can take breaks and not miss a beat, what she has learned from a recent unplanned break, and why we need to give ourselves grace when our plans for breaks don’t work out.   Whether you’re struggling with overwhelm, lack of motivation, or just feeling tired, this episode is a must-listen.   Key Takeaways: [1:12] Shannon is talking about how she plans to take breaks in her business on this episode. [4:11] Schedulicity has paused payments till September 1st, 2020! [5:40] Do you feel like you need a break today? There are times when we feel like we are dragging our feet to do something, or putting off doing a certain task. These are signs that you may need a break. [7:16] How long of a break do you need right now? [10:38] Shannon shares why it might be a good idea to look at your own yoga practice if you are feeling uninspired or unmotivated to teach. [12:20] Are you planning for a break? Sometimes, taking a break is an unexpected event. Shannon had to take an unplanned break recently, and shares some of the things she learned from it. [16:22] If you do not have any vacation time blocked off in your calendar, Shannon challenges you to explore that. [18:40] Shannon has been working on the break at the end of her day. [20:23] A break that Shannon loves to take is with an app that reminds her to take breaks. [22:09] What feels right for you in terms of taking a break?   Links: The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 001: Avoid Yoga Teacher Burnout with Erin Aquin The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 114: Compassion Fatigue with Diane Liska The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 123: Habits for Health & Business with James Clear The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 122: Productivity for Yoga Teachers with Amber De La Garza The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 096: How to Create a Yoga Practice Habit with Matt Kowald Rest Ap   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode: "Productivity-wise, we actually do better when we have these breaks." - Shannon   "Taking a break really serves your business. It serves the people that you work with, and it serves you. It's a win-win." - Shannon   "How can we plan ahead, and also, how can we have grace with ourselves when we don't plan ahead perfectly?" - Shannon

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 173: Social Justice, Politics & Yoga with Chara Caruthers and Maria Kirsten   Description: What is the role that yoga plays in social justice and politics? As yoga teachers, we may shy away from such divisive and sensitive topics, but given the current global situation, we need to be engaged. Shannon shares the interview she did for the Live Like You Love Yourself Podcast, hosted by Chara Caruthers and Maria Kirsten, discussing how yoga is interwoven into social justice and politics.   Chara is a registered yoga teacher and certified yoga therapist who has been practicing yoga since 1993. She is also an ayurveda practitioner and  the founder of Bliss Body & Soul, where she offers ayurveda Courses, workshops, and an Ayurvedic living Community. Maria has been teaching accessible yoga to grownups and beginners since 2000. She is the founder of Yoga for Grownups, and is committed to principles of inclusion and to making yoga safe and accessible for everyone. Together, Chara and Maria host the Live Like You Love Yourself Podcast, where they discuss how to live, age, parent, and “grow up” in a way that feels balanced and authentic.    This was a very open and vulnerable conversation about the connection between yoga and politics and social justice, as well as the challenge of knowing how to support communities of color and ALL communities through these challenging times. Shannon, Chara and Maria dig into what it means to hold “brave space” for the difficult conversation we are having, the role of the yoga community at this time, and how we can “do the work” necessary to be a part of the antiracism movement.   It’s time to do better.   Key Takeaways: [1:19] Shannon introduces Chara Caruthers and Maria Kirsten, hosts of the Live Like You Love Yourself Podcast, where this episode was first aired. [7:33] Chara shares a little about the current climate that is creating a lot of discomfort, and how yoga prepares us to deal with it. [8:27] Chara introduces Shannon and the content they will be discussing in the interview. [12:06] How did Shannon decide to create a community for yoga teachers? [15:50] What has Shannon observed about the conversations in The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook group through the pandemic situation? [20:46] How has Shannon felt about holding "brave space" for the difficult conversations that need to be happening now? [23:07] Talking about politics is always scary because of the divided opinions everyone holds. [26:22] Maria and Chara discuss who should be responsible for the learning and education around these issues. [29:07] Shannon reflects on some of her key takeaways from a training she attended. [34:08] Shannon shares some of her struggles of wanting to showcase more diversity on her podcast but not wanting to be accused of tokenism. [39:00] What are some ways in which we can all work to share the work of people of color who might not otherwise be heard or seen? [43:22] What is the role of the yoga community right now? [50:09] Shannon decided not to promote her launch during this period. Chara and Shannon discuss what "doing the work" as a part of the antiracism movement and as an ally means. [55:40] What is equal parts powerful and dangerous about social media that it requires very little time or involvement to share a post. Maria highlights why that isn't the real work of yoga, and what is. [1:02:58] How are we approaching conversations with our children about this topic? [1:07:59] How do yoga and politics fit together? [1:15:39] Chara sums up the conversation calling attention to the importance of having a safe community and holding brave space to tackle the issues we face today. [1:18:50] Chara and Maria will be sharing more about yoga and politics with The Connected Yoga Teacher community soon. [1:21:03] What are your thoughts about this interview and the issues raised? Share them with Shannon. Links: Chara Caruthers Maria Kirsten Live Like You Love Yourself Podcast Eat Like You Love Yourself, by Chara Caruthers Trudi Lebron Trudi Lebron: Emergency Workshop for White Coaches CBC - The World This Hour The NewsWorthy with Erica Mandy What's the Connection between Your Yoga and Politics? - Discussion in The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group Jivannah Heyman The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 138: Accessible Yoga Beyond Asana with Jivana Heyman Mado Hesselink on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource, and The Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast Mado hesselink - yoga is antiracism live video Shunta Grant Business Life & Joy Podcast with Shunta Grant Episode 161: What You Can Do About Racism  Allison Rissel The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 172: Checking In with the Team During COVID-19   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Pelvic Health Professionals   Quotes from this episode: "You have to do your inner work, and I think it should be uncomfortable, and we should lean into the discomfort." - Maria   "Don't be defensive, just do better." - Shannon   "The more people of color that you engage with and that you hear from and that you look into and that you feature and talk with, the more, for lack of a better term, normal it will become." - Chara   "If we're moving towards a society that is more fair, that is more unbiased, then we do have to be willing to hear and process and integrate all of these different voices." - Chara   "Really what we're all doing is trying to offer space for healing, and it looks a lot of different ways." - Chara   "If no one is willing to step a toe outside of their comfort zone, then we'll never get to a place where we can start to even understand each other." - Chara   "It's very easy when you're in a position of privilege to think that everyone has an equal chance." - Chara

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 172: Checking In with the Team During COVID-19   Description: This is a special check-in episode with the team behind The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast and community during the COVID-19 pandemic.    The Connected Yoga Teacher team is based in different parts of the world, and Shannon checks in with the main team members: podcast editor SuZen Marie, community managers Nyk Danu and Sinead O’Connor, and show notes writer Crunch Ranjani. She also shares updates from Michael from Schedulicity, Shelly Aaron who helps with video production, and Kelly Christian who helps with accounting.    This series of interviews was recorded back at the end of April 2020, a few weeks after the global pandemic was first declared. We get a glimpse into the lives of the people who make The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast and community possible, the situation where they are based, and some of the challenges they are facing right now.   Key Takeaways: [:39] Shannon introduces SuZen Marie, the editor of the podcast. [1:41] SuZen explains why she had to opt out of doing a live chat with Shannon. [2:20] SuZen shares how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted her and her family. [6:19] Shannon shares some context around when these interviews were recorded. [6:46] Shannon checks in with Nyk Danu, who shares more about how she has transitioned to sharing yoga online. [9:11] How has life changed for Nyk since the coronavirus hit? [11:28] Nyk and Shannon discuss how her community might be reopening soon. [13:22] What looks different in Nyk's day-to-day life? [17:21] What does Nyk foresee for yoga teachers and studios? [21:13] Shannon checks in with Sinead O'Connor. [26:10] Sinead shares more about the switch of going from pre-coronavirus to everything being shut down. [27:56] Sinead gives an update on her family and the COVID situation. [31:40] What is the biggest difference for Sinead? She shares how she has been managing life at home with her children. [35:24] Shannon and Sinead discuss the transition to virtual classes for studios and students. [38:44] Shannon introduces Crunch Ranjani, who writes the show notes for the podcast. [40:50] Crunch shares what it's like to be in one place after being used to traveling. [42:20] Shannon gives an update on her situation. [44:32] Crunch gives some insight into the day-to-day situation in Singapore, and what happened when the coronavirus was first detected in Singapore. [48:17] Crunch shares her routines and tips to help with working from home. [55:30] Shannon gives a quick update from Schedulicity. [57:01] Shannon introduces Shelly Aaron, who does some video editing for Pelvic Health Professionals. [1:02:56] Shannon gets an update from Kelly Christian, who handles the accounting and books of the business. [1:08:13] Shannon gives some final shout outs.   Links: SuZen Marie, Podcast Editor - Email Nyk Danu, Yoga Teacher & Community Manager - Facebook Sinead O'Connor, Yoga Teacher & Community Manager - Instagram, Kula Mama Yoga Pelvic Health Professionals The Body Coach TV - PE with Joe Crunch Ranjani, Show Notes Writer - Website, Instagram, Facebook  Slack Voxer Trello Shelly Aaron, Video Production Kelly Christian, Accounting & Bookkeeping The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 154: Bookkeeping for Yoga Teachers with Kelly Christian   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity    

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 171: Pelvic Health & Movement Goals with Antony Lo   Description: When people are experiencing pelvic health issues, they may be told to give up exercise or that certain movements are not appropriate or suitable for them to do. However, exercise may be important to clients beyond pelvic health issues, and there may be social and emotional impacts that restricting access to their usual exercise regime might have. This episode features a section of the interview with guest expert for the Pelvic Health Professionals membership site, Anthony Lo, which explores this topic.   Antony Lo is a physiotherapist from Australia who runs The Physio Detective, and has been in practice for over 21 years. His specialty is Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, and he is a certified CrossFit Trainer and Football Coach/Consultant, who has been involved with treating CrossFit athletes for 7 years. Through his participation in CrossFit and his work as a Physiotherapist, he has developed a model of treatment that provides a realistic, holistic model of care.   Pelvic health and movement and exercise are the focus of this episode. Anthony shares his approach to treating clients with pelvic health issues who want to get back into movement and exercise, as well as how he helps people he's working 1:1 with as a physiotherapist. He also has some tips to help clients make necessary changes, and how we can empower them to continue their exercises outside their sessions with us. Shannon and Anthony also discuss why it’s important to have the connections to refer clients to the right professionals who can help them in a more specific and personalized way.   * This episode features a section of an interview from the Pelvic Health Professionals Membership site.  If you would like access to the full interview, doors are open from now till June 12 2020 for the membership site where you can access this interview and others with other guest experts.   Key Takeaways: [5:32] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Anthony. [6:59] What does Anthony do and who does he do it for? [8:12] Anthony shares his thoughts on how people with pelvic health concerns should approach movement and exercise. [13:31] Shannon and Anthony discuss some options when helping a client who has certain symptoms of a pelvic health issue. [17:29] What are some considerations to keep in mind for someone getting back to the gym postpartum? [21:29] How does Anthony think about approaching clients with very specific concerns e.g. someone with pelvic health issues who wants to get back into running? [28:01] What is Anthony's advice for dealing with clients who don't do their "homework"? [34:31] What was your key takeaway? [34:59] Shannon explains a little more about how calls are set up in the Pelvic Health Professionals membership.   Links: Anthony Lo, The Physio Detective CrossFit Pelvic Health Podcast Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Pelvic Health Professionals   Quotes from this episode: "When we think of pelvic health, why are we only thinking about the pelvis?" - Antony   "My default answer will be 'Yes, you can go back to the gym. But it's going to look different to what you might expect straight away.'" - Antony   "If you want them to have a sustainable, long-term result, where you keep them safe and healthy and happy, then learn how to ask questions so that they can come up with those answers." - Antony   "It really isn't about us. It's about helping other people achieve their goals." - Antony

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 170: Is this Movement Safe? with Shannon Crow   Description: A question that comes up time and time again, both from yoga students and teachers, especially those dealing with pelvic health issues such as lower back pain, urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, infertility etc. is “Is this movement safe?”.    The truth is, there isn’t a list of movements that are safe or unsafe for a body, and it really varies depending on each person, and the movement itself. A lot of us teach yoga to women, and more specifically, women who have given birth at some point in their life. As such, the likelihood is high that we may have someone dealing with pelvic health issues in our class, but they may not be comfortable speaking about it, or may not be aware of it.   So how can we ensure that the movements and poses that we are offering in our classes are safe for each and every student? Shannon has four questions that can guide you in determining which movements are safe for your clients.   Key Takeaways: [9:45] How can we check if a movement is "safe"? If you have other questions that you would like to add to this list, leave a comment! [11:09] Question #1: Do I enjoy this movement and can I maintain it with ease? Shannon highlights the challenge of finding the balance between something you love but are afraid of doing, or something you hate but think is good for you. [15:18] Question #2: Is my breath continuous? [16:35] Shannon explains intra-abdominal pressure and how it relates to ensuring if a movement is "safe". [18:56] Question #3: Is there doming or reverse doming (invagination) at the linea alba? [22:53] Shannon brings up the example of her client who was struggling with plank pose. [25:33] Question #4: Am I bearing down on the pelvic floor? [29:24] Every body is different. Why is this so important to keep in mind? [32:23] If you'd like to learn more about this topic, join the Pelvic Health Professionals membership. Doors are open till June 12, 2020.   Links: The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 121: Yoga for Pelvic Health with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 069: Yoga with Pelvic Organ Prolapse with Dr. Sarah Duvall The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 033: A New Perspective on Diastasis Recti with Dr. Sinead Dufour The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 129: Pelvic Floor 101 with Marie-Josée Forget The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 009: Kegels, Mula Bandha and Pelvic Health with Shelly Prosko The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 008: Core Breath and Pelvic Health with Kim Vopni The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 007: Breath and Pelvic Health with Trista Zinn Side Plank Pose The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 116: 116: Pain Language with Shelly Prosko (Part 1) The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 162: Fill Your Yoga Workshop with Mado Hesselink Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Pelvic Health Professionals   Quotes from this episode: "Find variations of movement that bring you joy." - Shannon   "What is happening if we are unable to keep a continuous and steady breath?" - Shannon   "It's not like there's this list of movements that are safe and unsafe for a body. There's this list of questions to ask." - Shannon

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 169: Integrating Pelvic Health into Yoga with Shannon Crow & Mado Hesselink   Description: Lots of people who do yoga may be dealing with pelvic health issues, but there has traditionally been very little focus on integrating pelvic health and yoga. Shannon is extremely passionate about the importance of pelvic health, so this episode features an interview Shannon did on Mado Hesselink’s Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast on the topic.   Third-time guest Mado Hesselink has been teaching yoga since 2005 and training yoga teachers since 2010. She is the creator of Yoga Teacher Resource, created to fill the gaps between what is taught in YTT and what it takes to be a successful and effective teacher. She also hosts the Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast, where this episode was first aired.   With Mado in the interviewer’s seat, Shannon dives into the basics of what every yoga teacher needs to know about pelvic health, why Kegels and Mula Bandha aren’t appropriate for all (or even most) yoga students, and why pelvic health can be a fantastic niche for yoga teachers. Find out more about how how Shannon built up my 1:1 pelvic health business and how yoga teachers can work cooperatively with pelvic health PTs to grow in this niche.   Key Takeaways: [8:44] Shannon introduces Mado Hesselink who conducts the interview on this episode. [10:13] How did Shannon get interested in pelvic health and what has her experience been with it? [14:13] What are some commonly taught and practiced yoga techniques that specifically could be detrimental to people with pelvic health conditions? [16:05] Mado and Shannon address the idea that the pose that you hate the most is the one that you need the most. [19:16] Shannon highlights the importance of addressing specific concerns like doming or invagination. [21:36] Shannon speaks about three other things to look out for when teaching poses that may be contraindicated. [24:18] What are some cues that students may interpret in the wrong way? [27:36] Mado and Shannon discuss the importance of providing students with information about the exercises and techniques that could help them. [31:34] Reminder - there are PTs that specialize in pelvic health. If you or your student suspect you might have a pelvic health issue, approach them directly. [34:43] Having access to the right information around pelvic health can help a lot of practitioners of yoga. [37:02] Taking the shame away from the conversation around pelvic health can really help. [37:47] Shannon talks about the business aspects of niching down into pelvic health in yoga. [44:37] Mado highlights some strategies for connecting and building relationahips with PTs. [48:45] You can't make a success of a yoga niche that you're not actually passionate about. [51:24] Shannon shares some final bits of information about pelvic health in yoga. [53:19] Check out Pelvic Health Professionals for more resources around pelvic health. Links: Mado Hesselink, Yoga Teacher Resource Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast Mado Hesselink on Instagram Yoga Teacher Resources Podcast Episode 93: Shannon Crow on Pelvic Health  The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 091: 100 Conversations with Yoga Teachers with Mado Hesselink The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 162: Fill Your Yoga Workshop with Mado Hesselink Mini Training on Setting up a Peer Mastermind Smart Passive Income with Pat Flynn - Online Business ToolKit Study - yoga helps incontinence Yoga Teacher Resources Podcast Episode 6: How to succeed as a yoga teacher by focusing on cooperation over competition with Shannon Crow Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Pelvic Health Professionals   Quotes from this episode:   "Lots of people deal with different pelvic health issues, and there's no part in a yoga teacher training that covers it." - Shannon   "Movement and variation in movement, and finding things that challenge the body are also beneficial." - Shannon   "We know that overall, most people are holding quite a bit of tension in the pelvic floor." - Shannon   "You can't make a success of a yoga niche that you're not actually passionate about." - Mado  

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 168: Social Media Marketing Strategy with Andrea Jones   Description: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Twitter, … With all these social media platforms available, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out which one to be active on and what to post. That’s why we need to have a social media marketing strategy that helps us to be intentional with our actions on social media.   Andrea Jones is a social media strategist who is committed to helping businesses build profitable communities online through simple social media solutions. As the host of the Savvy Social Podcast and the creator of SavvySocialSchool.com, Andrea simplifies social media through easy-to-follow courses, professional guidance, and community support. Andrea’s mission is to make social media fun, reduce the feeling of overwhelm with strategy that works for her clients.   There isn’t a best way to approach a social media strategy, but Andrea has some insight into key questions such as how much time we should be spending on creating content for social media, how often we need to check in, and how to grow our audience. She also explains how we can ensure that our actions on social media are having a positive impact on our main marketing goals.   If you have ever wondered what you should be posting on social media, or what platform you should be on, you are going to love this episode.   Key Takeaways: [6:19] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Andrea Jones. [8:20] What does Andrea do and how did she get into doing it? [10:01] How did Andrea meet her husband on YouTube? [11:51] How do you turn a marketing goal or objective into a social media strategy? [13:46] How should yoga teachers figure out what they should post on social media? [16:43] Andrea shares more about her 5 Pillars of Content - Promotional, Educational, Community, Entertainment & Engagement. [17:47] How should you think about scheduling out posts in relation to the 5 Pillars? [19:47] How many different platforms should you be focusing on, and which platforms should they be? [21:57] What are some of Andrea's favorite tools for scheduling? [25:07] What tips does Andrea have around planning content for Instagram stories? [26:52] How can we get our posts out to more people? Andrea shares her tips for boosting engagement. [33:29] Check out Andrea's free course, and do connect with her on social media. [35:25] Shannon has a personal update to share. Links: Andrea Jones Andrea Jones on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn Savvy Social Podcast SavvySocialSchool.com Social Media Success Framework - Free Course The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 152: Simplifying Facebook Ads with Claire Pelletreau The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 031: Facebook Marketing for Yoga Teachers with Amanda Bond The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 083: Instagram for Your Yoga Business with Daniel McIntire, The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 094: Instagram Content Strategy and Stories with Tyler McCall The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 113: Pinterest to Promote Your Yoga with Kate Ahl Canva Facebook Creator Studio Later.com Social Report Tailwind Pelvic Health Professionals   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and The Connected Yoga Teacher Collective   Quotes from this episode:   "You want to think of social media as dating."   "You're not going to get your class completely booked by posting one time."   "Instead of just posting about the fact that there is a class available, really think about why someone would join."   "I recommend having the same content on multiple platforms."

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 167: How to Make a Recruiting Plan with Reneé Clair   Description: One of the best parts of growing your team is that it frees you up to have more time to work on the parts of your business that you love. However, it can be tricky to know how and where to start offloading tasks to other team members, and where to look for your ideal candidates. That’s where Reneé Clair comes in.   Reneé Clair is the founder of Clair de Lune Yoga, and has been teaching yoga since 2015. Apart from being a yoga and meditation teacher, she is passionate about helping yoga teachers build their teams in order to offload tasks and make their business run more efficiently. She’s a yoga teacher who works for yoga teachers by recruiting multi-talented yogis!   Recruiting is a multi-step process (ten, in fact!) and it may feel overwhelming to know where to start. Reneé takes us through this process and guides us on where we can start, how to know who you should recruit, and tips on interviewing. She also has some strategies to make the recruiting process easier through automation, and insights about other aspects of crafting a recruiting plan.   If you are hiring or thinking about hiring, this episode is full of great nuggets for you. If you’re on the other side of the recruiting process, Reneé also has some advice for you, so be sure to tune in.   Key Takeaways: [8:53] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Reneé Clair. [10:41] What does Reneé do and who does she do it for? [11:46] Once you decide to hire someone, what is the next step? [12:51] What are some of Reneé's tips for writing a job description? [14:30] What are some ways to put together the application aspect of recruiting? [16:09] Reneé shares some strategies for automating processes around the application stage of recruiting. [18:13] How does Reneé sort through the applications received? [21:35] What does Reneé do to make the sorting process easier? [23:54] What is Reneé's opinion on addressing pay rate in the application? [26:34] The next step of the process is the interview. Reneé and Shannon share how they worked on this stage. [28:53] What are the top three questions to ask during interviews? [34:22] Why was it so important for Shannon to narrow down the pool of candidates to her top 3? [36:20] Shannon did some test tasks with her potential candidates to see how they would be a fit for the role. [39:53] What are some questions Reneé recommends for the final stage of the recruiting process? [42:21] Reneé shares some tips for people who are going through the final stage interview, which can be nerve wracking! [44:17] Reneé helped Shannon with rejecting unsuitable candidates. [47:08] How do personality tests fit into the recruiting process? [50:53] Reneé has some last tips for people going through the hiring process. [52:52] Check out Reneé's podcast, Light Me Up. [54:45] Get in touch to Reneé on Instagram, LinkedIn or her website to find out more about her work! [55:56] Shannon does a recap of the steps in the recruiting process.   Links: Reneé Clair - Clair de Lune Yoga Reneé Clair on Instagram and LinkedIn Light Me Up Podcast The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 166: When & How to Hire a VA (virtual assistant) with Sandra Booker Numbered list of each and every point of the recruiting process Indeed LinkedIn Typeform Google Forms SurveyMonkey Shannon's Typeform Application DiSC Meyers-Briggs Enneagram Kolbe Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training Pelvic Health Professionals   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and The Connected Yoga Teacher Collective   Quotes from this episode:   "I really encourage you to start [where your audience is] because those are the people who are interested in what you have to offer and most likely, those are the people who are going to want to give back and to work with you."   "If we can automate things, we're going to really save ourselves some time, and that's even true within your own recruiting process."   "It is so important to talk about and be okay with setting a salary range that you're happy with."   "It is always important not to just see a candidate for where they are right now, but how could they grow with you in your business."   "I encourage you to be mindful of your time and their time as you go through this process."  

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 166: When & How to Hire a VA (virtual assistant) with Sandra Booker   Description: Running a yoga business is more than just teaching yoga classes. From scheduling and collecting payments, to sales and marketing, to promotion and logistics, we may find ourselves needing help with different elements of running a business. That’s where a Virtual Assistant (VA) can come in handy, but where do we start?   Sandra Booker is the founder of Any Old Task, where she provides small business owners with Business Support and Assistant Services. She specializes in workflow and process review, and helps streamline business processes and develop efficient workflows to keep things organized and on track. She also helps startup VAs generate the same kind of raving clientele she enjoys in her own business as part of her work at VA Studio.    Do you really need a VA or you need to look at your own productivity? What should you look at before hiring a VA? How much would a VA cost? Where can you find them, and what are some questions you should ask before hiring? Sandra answers all of our questions about bringing a VA onto your team, and shares some of the benefits that having a VA on your team could provide.   If you’ve ever thought about bringing in help into your business but aren’t sure what that would look like, this episode will be an eye-opener.   Key Takeaways: [10:33] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Sandra Booker. [12:05] What is the work that Sandra does and who does she do it for? [14:22] How can yoga business owners tell when they need to hire a VA? [16:49] Sandra clarifies when someone might need an OBM vs a VA. [18:09] How much do VAs charge? [21:08] Sandra also teaches VAs how to build up their own practice. [23:39] How specialized should your VA be? [26:44] How can we prepare to hire a VA? [29:31] It can be hard to give up tasks that we're so used to doing. How can we decide what to keep and what to give up? [32:55] Shannon and Sandra discuss some of the benefits of having a VA on your team. [39:15] What are some things we need to do prior to hiring a VA? [43:31] Sandra has some tips around when you might start looking for a VA. [47:50] Your job posting can include some screening questions to filter out applicants to hire. [50:07] Sandra offers her prospective clients a call to assess if they are a fit for her VA services. [52:43] How else can you find a VA? Sandra has some suggestions about how to find a VA who is a fit for you and your business. [55:06] Sandra has a few final tips for anyone thinking about hiring a VA. [59:08] Get in touch with Sandra via her website or email. [59:38] Shannon shares her key takeaways from this episode. Links: Sandra Booker anyoldtask.ca Email Sandra Booker VA Studio TCYT Collective - Facebook Live The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 167 Zoom Demo  $500 Grants for Businesses in Need - Schedulicity The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 139: Grow Your Yoga Business via Email with Tarzan Kay Zoom  News Feed Eradicator for Facebook Atomic Habits, by James Clear The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 123: Habits for Health & Business with James Clear The Ideal Team Player: How to Recognize and Cultivate The Three Essential Virtues, by Patrick M. Lencioni  Loom The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 122: Productivity for Yoga Teachers with Amber De La Garza Slack Voxer Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training TCYT Collective - Market Research Find a Live and Online Yoga Class   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode:   "What goals are you working towards right now? What do you need in order to achieve those goals? And what are you missing, what's holding you back?"   "Always be aware of what the goals of the person you're about to hire are."   "All-in-ones don't work. They don't work with shampoo, they don't work with VAs."   "If you have anything less than 10 hrs of work to hand off to somebody a month, you probably don't really need a VA yet."  

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 165: Offer Online Yoga Masterclass with Shannon Crow & Amanda McKinney   Description: Living in this crisis state of the global COVID-19 pandemic is becoming our new normal, and as yoga teachers, we are all trying to adapt. More of us are switching to offering yoga online, and this can be a challenge to most, if not all of us. Recently, Shannon got together with her biz bestie Amanda McKinney to host a masterclass on the topic of offering online yoga.   This is a replay of that masterclass in which Shannon and Amanda answer some of the questions they were receiving from yoga teachers who wanted to know how to get online and teach online in a really quick way. On this episode, Shannon and Amanda outline the first steps to get started in taking your yoga online and offering yoga to your students virtually.   Regardless of whether you’ve never done a live video on a social media platform or you’ve had some experience on video and want to offer group or 1:1 lessons on Zoom, or you want to go to the next level by putting your videos on YouTube - this episode is for you.   Key Takeaways: [7:35] Shannon introduces the topic for this episode - a masterclass about offering yoga online. [9:12] Offering yoga online is all about taking it step-by-step, starting with what you have. [10:16] Level 1 - If you've never worked with video before, this is where you can start. [11:24] Where should you start? Amanda recommends starting with live videos for a variety of reasons. [13:06] Shannon has some tips about going live. [16:56] Level 2 - You've worked with video before and are more comfortable with it, but you're looking for an option to work with students either 1:1 or in a group setting. This is where you can use Zoom. [18:36] Shannon highlights how useful having a recording of your classes can be. [21:50] How can you use Apple TV with Zoom? [25:10] Should you be offering yoga for free or charging the same? [28:01] Amanda suggests finding a partner to practice with Zoom before launching it to your students. [31:50] What tech should you use to take your yoga classes online? Use what you have! [33:59] The next level is using YouTube, which can be a fantastic resource. [37:58] There are many benefits to YouTube but you have to decide what's best for your students right now. [39:16] Shannon shares some of the feedback from yoga teachers who have started teaching online after this Masterclass. [41:50] Shannon shares more about her new idea, The Connected Yoga Teacher Collective (TCYT Collective). Links: Amanda McKinney Voxer Teach Online Yoga - Full Replay of Zoom Masterclasses + PDF Downloads 5 Day Video Challenge The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 086: Live Video for Yoga Teachers with Ian Gray list of resources Zoom Zoom Demo video Q&A About Zoom Resource page from Amanda's website - Marketing: Email to Students 161: Get Your Yoga Online in 48 Hours with Jennie MacGoy Marketing Yoga with Confidence Podcast Ep. 20: How to build a YouTube audience - with Trena Little The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 164: Deepen Your Yoga Practice with Barrie Risman TCYT Collective - Facebook Live TCYT Collective - Market Research Find a Live and Online Yoga Class   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode:   "Start free, and start where you're comfortable." - Shannon   "What people really want is connection." - Shannon   "Don't assume that your students don't know anything about technology." - Amanda   "We do things for free all the time, but make sure that you are also taking care of your business as well." - Amanda   "Use what you have to figure out what you need." - Amanda

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 164: Deepen Your Yoga Practice with Barrie Risman   Description: As yoga teachers, how can we deepen our own yoga practice so that we can teach from a place of authenticity? In between juggling our many commitments and responsibilities, particularly in this challenging time in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, we can often fall away from our own practice of yoga. However, we all know that there are so many benefits to having a regular yoga practice, and deepening it. Barrie Risman shares her new book, Evolving Your Yoga: Ten Principles for Enlightened Practice, on how to take your yoga practice deeper.   Barrie Risman has been a dedicated student of Iyengar Yoga for more than 25 years, and teaching for almost 2 decades. As the creator of The Skillful Yogi, an online practice and study community of yoga students and teachers from around the globe, Barrie offers a uniquely accessible, authentic and integrated approach to yoga. Her book, Evolving Your Yoga is a guide for teachers and students to deepen, expand, and integrate the benefits of yoga in their lives.    We can go deeper in our practice without necessarily doing more or working harder, or even achieving more difficult poses. Barrie talks to us about how to stay interested in our practice, how to make time for personal practice and why that’s so important to being a yoga teacher. She also shares some tips on how to take your practice deeper, and really highlights that it's not just about doing more trainings and getting more certifications.   As all of us grapple with this current situation, this episode could provide some guidance on how to stick to and deepen your yoga practice.   Key Takeaways: [7:06] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode. [8:29] How did Barrie get started with yoga? [10:52] What is the work that Barrie does now and who does she do it for? [15:23] What is something that helps Barrie propel her yoga business forward? [17:36] How can we deepen our yoga practice? [21:41] Barrie recommends going back to what made you fall in love with yoga in the first place. [24:00] Shannon shares how she incorporates self-reflection into her own daily practice. [24:57] What are Barrie's thoughts on yoga teachers always reaching for the next training to feel like they're adequate enough? [31:05] What did it look like when Barrie was a full time yoga teacher, and what brought in the biggest portion of her income? [33:18] Barrie shares more about the membership aspect of her business. [38:02] There is something for everyone in Barrie's membership - it's not exclusively for yoga teachers. [39:40] What does it look like behind the scenes for Barrie in terms of making content? [41:35] How do people in Barrie's group connect with each other? [42:53] What helps Barrie make so much content? [45:01] Barrie walks us through what a day and week look like in terms of her routine. [47:14] Creating content is a lot about discipline and less about creativity - like yoga. [51:40] What are some other tips that Barrie has for yoga teacher trying to grow their business? [53:38] What are your key takeaways about how you can deepen your own yoga practice?   Links: #SchedulicityCares ($500 Grants for Businesses in Need) FB Live with Barrie Risman COVID-19 Community Conversations 1/4 2/4 3/4 4/4 The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 148: Stress Incontinence and Yoga with Melissa Dessaulles148: Stress Incontinence and Yoga with Melissa Dessaulles Yogi's Journal The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 096: How to Create a Yoga Practice Habit with Matt Kowald The Curious Case of The Over-Qualified And Under-Confident Yoga Teacher, by Barrie Risman Find a Live and Online Yoga Class Consultation with Shannon   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode:   "I really dedicated and prioritized time to going deeper into my own experience of yoga and learning from that, and trusting that as a source of wisdom."   "We can go deeper in our practice without necessarily doing more or working harder, or achieving more difficult poses."   "We need to really expand our ideas of what practice looks like, and just doing that helps us deepen our practice."   "The prerequisite for being a student of yoga is the willingness to begin again."   "The question is not if we're going to get disconnected from our practice, it's when, and how are we going to bring ourselves back once we've done that."   "Yoga is not just what we do. It's how we reflect and learn from what we do."  

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 163: Collective Yoga Studio Model with Jenifer Parker   Description: Yoga studios are run in many different ways, from a single owner who may or may not be a yoga teacher, to partnerships between different yoga teachers, and even franchises. On this episode, we’re exploring a different model for yoga studios with Jenifer Parker - the collective yoga studio model.   Jenifer Parker is the Director of Healium, a yoga studio within the context of a holistic health collective in Wellington, New Zealand that she has been running for 10 years. She has been a full time yoga teacher for about 20 years, and has run multiple collective yoga studios with different yoga teachers in different parts of the world in her yoga career.   A collective yoga studio is a unique model that Jenifer found worked best to address the challenges she was facing as a yoga professional. Through her experiences, she has collected a wealth of information on the legality and logistics of setting up and running a collective. She explains how a collective works, what you need to form it, as well as some of the details of the operations and what it really takes to run a yoga studio in this way.   Challenges help us think outside the box, and Jenifer’s experience is testament to that. If you have been looking for creative ways to think outside the box and create a very different yoga studio model, perhaps even something that could be applied online, this episode is for you.   Key Takeaways: [7:30] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Jenifer Parker. [8:47] What does Jenifer do and who does she do it for? [12:23] What is Jenifer's current model with her yoga studio and why did she choose it? [18:55] There is sometimes a fear around yoga teachers working together, but there is more room for collaboration than we might think. [21:59] Jenifer shares some of the details of her collective. [27:15] A special message from our sponsor, Yomassage. [29:29] Jenifer highlights some of the benefits of the collective yoga studio model to both students and the teachers. [33:12] Jenifer eventually moved to New Zealand and had to sell her yoga businesses. [35:01] The legal structure of a collective is very different. Jenifer shares some of her challenges in setting up the collective yoga studio model when she moved to New Zealand. [40:40] Jenifer explains how she started her collective in New Zealand with one other yoga teacher, and how that model has evolved since it started a year ago. [44:06] What has Jenifer's experience been as a yoga studio without premises? [52:19] Being transparent with her community has helped ease the transition for Jenifer. She shares how the community has responded to the changes she's implementing going forward.  [55:45] What are some of Jennifer's tips for yoga teachers who are considering starting a collective? [59:10] How did Jenifer manage the legal side of running a collective yoga studio? [1:01:24] You can always hire experts to help with the legal and accounting side of running a collective. [1:04:52] Find out more about Jenifer's collective yoga studio by visiting her website. [1:07:10] Shannon shares a few things that are helping her right now.   Links: Find a Live and Online Yoga Class Jenifer Parker, Healium How to work virtually with your massage clients, Yomassage Consultation with Shannon Offer Yoga Online Masterclass (Replay) COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Resources   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Yomassage   Quotes from this episode:   "The collective model ... creates less administrative work and more opportunity for people to work together and to have the outreach that they want." ~ Jenifer Parker   "We need everyone to solve the problems. We need all the generations of yoga teachers to solve problems." ~ Jenifer Parker   "The hardest thing is making sure that you have really clear communication with the people that you're working with." ~ Jenifer Parker

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 162: Fill Your Yoga Workshop with Mado Hesselink   Description: Have you ever struggled to put on a yoga workshop? Maybe you’re hesitant to put on a yoga workshop because you’re worried about how to fill it. Perhaps you're excited to offer a workshop and just want to get started. Mado Hesselink, repeat guest on the podcast, is just the person with the insights on this topic.   Mado Hesselink has been teaching yoga since 2005, and training yoga teachers since 2010. She is the creator of Yoga Teacher Resource, and host of the Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast. Her focus is the places where business and yoga principles overlap, so that yoga teachers make a bigger impact with their teaching, and her mission is to help yoga teachers stay true to their values as they create their own definition of success.    We may have toyed with the idea of teaching a yoga workshop, or attended a workshop ourselves that has inspired us to create our own, but it can be tricky to know when we're ready to teach a workshop. Mado shares more about the four categories of workshops and how to know if people are going to sign up for the workshop. Mado explains how to choose a workshop topic and title that will get people to sign up, her advice for yoga teachers scrambling to fill their workshops, and what we need to focus on to run a successful and effective workshop.   Workshops can be a fun and engaging way to connect with our students on a different level beyond just a yoga class - Mado has insights about how to make the most of it for everyone!   Key Takeaways: [7:19] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Mado Hesselink. [9:06] Why would yoga teachers even want to teach workshops? [11:42] Depending on how you market the workshop, the perceived value can be a lot higher than a class that's more general and not marketed to a specific audience. [13:31] Workshops helps deepen your connection with your most dedicated students. [14:55] How can yoga teachers tell if they are ready to lead a workshop? [17:25] What are some workshops that work really well? Mado highlights four that work really well - the Intro workshops, the 'Yoga +' workshops, the Deep Dives and the Experience / Celebration workshops. [21:50] Shannon and Mado discuss which category Shannon's workshop falls into. [22:36] How can we choose the topic for our workshops and determine what the title should be? [26:54] How can we fill our yoga workshop and ensure that it works? [30:12] What can you do if you take all the right steps and your workshop still doesn't fill? [34:00] What are some other tips Mado has for yoga teachers trying to market their yoga workshop. [39:19] Mado shares some tips for yoga teachers who are scrambling to fill their yoga workshops, and for people who want to call it quits after a 'failed' attempt. [42:45] What does Mado have to say to yoga teachers who think that they 'really, really need to' fill a workshop? [44:36] Mado shares more about her course for filling yoga workshops. [46:21] Mado has a list of 100 yoga class themes and 100 yoga workshop ideas available. [47:32] Mado leaves us with some final thoughts about workshops. [48:52] What were your biggest takeaways? Shannon shares what has really impacted her from this interview.   Links: Mado Hesselink, Yoga Teacher Resource Yoga Teacher Resource Podcast Mado Hesselink on Instagram The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 091: 100 Conversations with Yoga Teachers with Mado Hesselink The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 140: Plan Your Yoga Workshop with Shannon Crow Shannon Crow on Instagram Amanda Kingsmith Amanda McKinney 100 Yoga Class Themes 100 Yoga Workshop Ideas Consultation with Shannon Offer Yoga Online Masterclass (Replay) COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Resources   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity   Quotes from this episode:   "We need to really switch our mindset in this time. Instead of thinking 'can I offer this online?' to switching to 'how can I offer this online?'." - Shannon   "If you hit on a topic that really resonates with the people that you're trying to teach, it can end up being a lot more per hour." - Mado   "Depending on how you market the workshop, the perceived value can be a lot higher than a class that's more general and not marketed to a specific audience?" - Mado   "Not every single person who would benefit from your workshop, not every single person who fits into your target audience is going to be able to attend." - Mado   "You have to go back to who is this for, and where do they spend their time?" - Mado  

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast  161: Get Your Yoga Online in 48 Hours with Jennie MacGoy   Description: The situation with COVID-19, the novel coronavirus that is spreading quickly across the world, is rapidly changing. Many places are on complete lockdown, with many more people practicing social distancing in the interest of safeguarding their health and that of everyone around them. In this context, in-person yoga classes may not be feasible or safe for the moment.   Jennie MacGoy has taken her yoga business online in just 48 hours, and on this episode she shares her experience and the insights she has gained from it. Jennie is a Yoga and Functional Movement instructor and an Accessible Yoga ambassador who specializes in working with people who are dealing with chronic pain. She typically offers in-studio classes, but in light of the recent coronavirus outbreak, she made the decision to start offering all of her classes virtually.   Transitioning from in-person classes to 100% online classes is not easy, but Jennie has managed it in just 48 hours. She explains how she made the first decision to switch to virtual classes, some of the technology that she is using in her classes, and the logistics of running online yoga classes.   We all need to change and adapt to this new situation - this episode is a great introduction to how to make the switch from in-person to online classes. Be sure to also check out the other resources around how to manage the COVID-19 situation in the links below.   Key Takeaways: [2:47] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Jennie MacGoy. [5:52] Last week, Jennie sent out an email to her students saying they weren't going to be using any props. How did her students receive that, and how did Jennie manage her classes without props? [10:05] Jennie's students weren't skipping the class because they were afraid. What made Jennie decide to move her classes online? [12:55] How are Jennie's students' reacting to the Zoom classes? [14:17] Jennie explains some of the tech behind running her classes virtually. [20:48] How does attendance work for Jennie's classes? [23:17] Schedulicity is waiving all fees for 3 months! [26:13] Shannon and Jennie discuss how taking her yoga classes online is impacting her students, and her business. [33:20] Where can you sign up for one of Jennie's classes? [34:15] Shannon and Jennie brainstorm some ideas to create a sense of community in a virtual class. [35:41] Is Jennie recording her virtual classes? [37:25] Jennie shares some of the challenges she has faced in getting her yoga online. [40:04] Shannon and Jennie share some of their thoughts around the evolving situation and how taking your yoga online may play out. [42:19] Shannon reflects on this interview with Jennie, and the current situation.   Links: Jennie MacGoy, Breathe with Jennie Jennie MacGoy on Instagram and Facebook Book a class with Jennie MacGoy Zoom Zoom Demo Airpods Apple Music Offer Yoga Online Masterclass (Replay) COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Resources Consultation with Shannon Gratitude to our Sponsors Schedulicity, Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training, and Yomassage   Quotes from this episode: "How can I, in good conscience, continue to bring people together?"   "[My students] look forward to eventually all of us coming back together in person, but for now, it's fine."   "We have to go virtual."    "I thought it was just much more important to jump in and start doing it."

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 160: Milestones of My Yoga Business with Shannon Crow   Description: Where were you when you first began your business, and where are you now? Looking back on your journey as an entrepreneur and business owner is a great reflection exercise, and on this episode, Shannon shares her reflections and thoughts about her yoga business, and the milestones she reached along the way.   In doing this reflection exercise, Shannon goes to a time way back before the podcast was started. Even as a child, she had an entrepreneurial streak in her, and she shares some of the early lessons she learned from her first forays into entrepreneurship, as well as her first successes as a business owner running a garden market. She reveals how she eventually transitioned into becoming a yoga teacher, and subsequently a podcast host as well.   Shannon highlights some of the key milestones she reached (including some that she’s still working on!) along her business journey, including stepping into a business mindset, creating systems and processes, and even finding a niche and specializing. Shannon also reflects that none of it was ever a clear path, but everything has contributed to the business she has today.   This is an inside look into Shannon’s road map to creating her yoga business, but remember - everyone’s journey will be different. Special thanks to Isabel for asking this question that prompted the reflection!   Key Takeaways: [2:51] Isabel asked: How do you know that your business has grown to certain levels or reached certain milestones? What are the different pieces that make your entire business, and how long did it take you to put them all together? [3:35] Shannon's business journey began way before the podcast. [6:14] Shannon gives a shout out to a few people. [9:33] Take a moment to reflect on your own yoga journey. Where were you when you began, and where are you now? [10:43] Shannon shares her backstory of how and why she became an entrepreneur, and her first business ventures. [18:27] Shannon describes how she became a yoga teacher. [21:04] Shannon's grandfather gave her some words of wisdom about saving, that have stuck with her. [27:08] This episode is sponsored by YoMassage. [28:19] The first milestone in Shannon's business is her business mindset. [34:12] Another part of the business mindset is the money mindset. [40:00] Milestone #2: Know your why. [41:37] Milestone #3: Systems, processes and planning. [43:07] For Shannon, accepting and asking for help was her fourth milestone. [44:28] The last milestone is specializing and niche work. [47:15] You're not alone in your journey as a yoga teacher and entrepreneur!   Links: The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 130: Make a Profit Teaching Private Yoga with Emily Sussell Shannon Crow on Instagram WWOOF Natalie Eckdahl, BizChix Podcast The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 154: Bookkeeping for Yoga Teachers with Kelly Christian The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 044: Accounting for Yoga Teachers with Hannah Smolinski Amanda Kingsmith, M.B.Om Podcast The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 042: Money Mindset with Geraldine Carter The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 141: Let’s Talk Money with Katie Brauer Stories in Small Business Podcast with Abby Herman: Learn the Story Your Financials are Telling with Danielle Hayden The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 005: Set and Achieve Big Goals with Natalie Eckdahl Trello The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 095: Making a CEO Business Plan with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 150: Start a Membership Site with Amanda McKinney The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode: 112: Niche Down to Market Your Yoga with Amanda McKinney Pelvic Health Professionals Toronto Yoga Conference April 2020 Consultation with Shannon Gratitude to our Sponsors Schedulicity, Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training, and Yomassage   Quotes from this episode:   "I had this lightbulb moment thinking, 'There are no other teachers in the world that can share yoga like I can'." - Shannon   "You are here to offer a type of yoga that no one else can." - Shannon   "It doesn’t matter what you make - it matters what you save." - Shannon   "Your message needs to be louder than all of the fears and roadblocks and learning that you need to do." - Shannon

I wanted to check in with all of you today and tell you about what we are working on to support you. There is a free masterclass to help you to take your yoga online. I also wanted to share why we are self-isolating now in our home. http://www.theconnectedyogateacher.com/covid-19-check-in

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 159: Mindful Touch and Yoga with Tiffany Ryan & Katherine Parker   Description: Do you incorporate touch into your yoga classes? Or do you enjoy touch in your classes but aren’t sure how to go about introducing it in your classes? Yomassage may be the answer you are looking for. This unique offering fills a niche in the health and wellness space, and seeks to combine the principles of yoga and yogic philosophy with the benefits of massage.    Tiffany Ryan and Katherine Parker are co-founders of Yomassage, and they offer an innovative approach to wellness that combines yoga and massage therapy. Tiffany and Katherine come from very different backgrounds, but their paths crossed by chance and Yomassage was born. The classes they offered at the studio became so popular that they decided to offer trainings to other wellness professionals. Today, they offer a variety of Yomassage classes and trainings across the US to create affordable options for self-care through bodywork.   Tiffany and Katherine Parker join me to share more about how they came to discover this as their niche, how they serve their clients, and the benefits of Yomassage. They also highlight how yoga teachers can incorporate this area into their current yoga offerings to students and how mindful touch is different than a yoga teacher providing adjustments and assists.   If you’ve ever thought about incorporating more touch into your classes, or are interested in finding out more about how mindful touch can benefit your students, this episode is for you.   Key Takeaways: [5:13] Shannon introduces her guests for this episode - Tiffany Ryan and Katherine Parker. [7:32] What is Yomassage and how did Tiffany and Katherine create it? Tiffany shares a bit about her journey that led to Yomassage. [11:27] Where did Katherine's yoga journey begin, and how did her work tie in with touch and massage? [14:34] Katherine shares more about the trainings on Yomassage that they offer massage therapists and yoga teachers. [15:12] There has been a lot of discussion in the yoga world about why it might be better not to incorporate touch into classes. What are Tiffany's thoughts on this? [20:06] How does Katherine, as the studio owner, safeguard the interests of students coming in with regards to who wants touch and who doesn't? [23:27] What is the process when students sign up for a Yomassage class? [26:15] The training for mindful touch provides teachers with a framework for what is acceptable and what isn't. [28:31] A word from our sponsor - Yomassage. [29:43] What are some of the the recommendations, do's and don'ts for Yomassage? [31:28] For a yoga teacher who would like to incorporate touch into their classes, what would be the best way to go about it? [35:15] People need 10-15 minutes of touch daily, and Yomassage classes aims to provide this. How are the classes organized to do this? [39:15] Katherine shares some of the details about the Yomassage and mindful touch classes. [42:36] How much touch do people receive in a Yomassage session vs a mindful touch class? [44:44] What are the training sessions like for Yomassage and mindful touch, for practitioners who want to include these as a part of their offering? [48:17] Connect with Katherine and Tiffany via their social media pages to learn more about Yomassage. [49:07] Shannon, Katherine and Tiffany discuss the importance of touch. [51:28] Shannon shares her biggest takeaway from this interview.   Links:   Tiffany Ryan on LinkedIn Katherine Parker on LinkedIn Yomassage Yomassage on Instagram and Facebook Yomassage Facebook Group The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 036: Thai Yoga Massage with Shai Plonski National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) Toronto Yoga Conference April 2020 The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 150: Start a Membership Site with Amanda McKinney The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode: 112: Niche Down to Market Your Yoga with Amanda McKinney Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training  Consultation with Shannon Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Yomassage   Quotes from this episode:   "The combination of the touch and the restorative yoga would be almost like receiving that savasana / feel-good touch throughout the whole class." - Katherine   "Touch is known and proven to help the body enter into the parasympathetic nervous system." - Tiffany   "Touch is so impactful, and it really can help people heal." - Tiffany   "It's really important to have this additional training that teaches you about touch, how to touch and to do it with consent." - Tiffany

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 158: Yoga Nidra with Kaya Mindlin   Description: Something that is said to be as old as yoga itself, but which is less well-known and not as widely practiced is yoga nidra. Sometimes described as “yogic sleep”, yoga nidra can be a powerful healing technique. Kaya Mindlin, an expert on the topic of yoga nidra, shares more about this fascinating aspect of yoga on this interview.   Kaya Mindlin is a Yoga Therapist and Ayurvedic Practitioner with 18 years of experience teaching yoga and nine years of experience training and mentoring yoga teachers. She is the co-Founder and director of Emeryville Yoga Therapy Center, and has created multiple programs for yoga teachers. She is passionate about the soft, slow, inward-oriented side of yoga that holds the purpose of yoga at its heart. Today, Kaya teaches yoga teachers in-person and online, through training courses, mentoring and private sessions in yoga therapy and ayurveda.   What does yoga nidra offer that other practices may not? Why is it especially needed in our modern society? What kinds of things can come up for students during yoga nidra, and how can we as yoga teachers hold space for that? These are just a few of the topics Kaya shares more about. She also talks about the best positions for yoga nidra, what a good yoga nidra script should include, and even has some special resources for you.   This is an excellent episode for anyone curious about the practice and benefits of yoga nidra, both as a teacher of yoga and to use in your own practice.   Key Takeaways: [6:55] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Kaya Mindlin. [8:43] Where did Kaya's yoga journey begin? [11:17] What is Kaya's specialty now, and how did she find her focus? [12:35] Kaya explains the pronunciation of 'nidra' and why the pronunciation matters. [15:50] What is yoga nidra? [17:24] What happens when people fall asleep during yoga nidra? [18:17] How do we know when we've reached the state of yoga nidra? [21:29] When can we access the yoga nidra state? [22:40] Why is yoga nidra so important? [24:35] What are some of the other benefits of the yoga nidra state? [29:15] What are some things we might experience in a state of yoga nidra? [32:46] Where would Kaya recommend that yoga teachers try out yoga nidra? [34:56] Kaya has some resources available on yoga nidra. [35:41] Kaya shares more about her offerings both online and in person. [40:39] A lot of problems we see in people in modern society are related to sleep. [45:10] What does Kaya wish yoga teachers knew about yoga nidra? [47:24] Find out more about Kaya and her work at her website. [48:33] Shannon shares her key takeaways from this episode.   Links: Kaya Mindlin Kaya Mindlin on Instagram Emeryville Yoga Therapy Center Nectar of Nidra (Discount Code: ConnectedYoga20) The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 149: Yoga for Anxiety with Amanda Whiting Rodney Yee Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training  Consultation with Shannon Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Toronto Yoga Conference April 2020   Quotes from this episode:   "Yoga nidra is an inner state. It is the deep sleep state with awareness retained."   "I train [yoga teachers] in techniques to open the doorway to that state, but there's no guarantee that it will happen, but whatever happens will be beneficial."   "We feel only ignorance, and simultaneously that ignorance is described as a mass of bliss."   "At a deep level, it's very appealing to us because we are starved for rest and relaxation, and we're really starved for sleep."   "Yoga nidra works at the subconscious level to resolve problematic patterns of thinking and habits, and it also goes all the way to the unconscious level."  

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 157: Horse Wisdom Yoga with Fotini Chandrika Walton   Description: You may have noticed that there has been a trend in recent years surrounding yoga and animals - puppy yoga, cat yoga and even goat yoga. These are variations of yoga where animals are present during the yoga  practice. Fotini Chandrika Walton offers her clients something unique - Horse Wisdom Yoga.    Fotini Chandrika Walton is the Founder of the Big Red Barn Creativity and Wellness Centre Inc., a non-profit organization in Ontario, Canada where she offers an Equine Guided Wellness modality, Horse Wisdom Yoga®. Fotini was introduced to the Yogic lifestyle at 6, and officially began her yoga practice in 2004. Through a journey of personal transformation, Fotini uncovered the power of yoga in combination with the ancestral wisdom of Horses, where the non-predatory nature of the Horse and the principles of Yoga bring to life the ancient history of horse-human connection.   This is a very specialized form of combining time with horses and yoga. Fotini shares how it is more than just doing yoga with horses grazing in the practice area, and explains what a session with her and the herd might look like. We also dig into the challenges around describing what your unique yoga offering is to someone who has not experienced it before, and how Fotini approaches marketing in a very novel way.   This was a fascinating interview to learn more about how one yoga teacher is incorporating unique elements into their offering of yoga, and finding a niche that sets them apart.   Key Takeaways: [5:55] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Fotini Chandrika Walton. [7:21] Where did Fotini's yoga journey begin? [10:42] What is the work that Fotini does now, and who does she do it for? [14:40] How did Fotini really start working with horses and yoga in the same modality? [16:45] It is difficult to describe the experience that Fotini offers and to explain what she does to someone. She shares more about how she explains it to others. [19:34] How does Fotini explain her special niche in yoga to others? [24:14] What "structured" marketing does Fotini do to get the word out about her business? [28:10] How do Fotini and her horses work with clients? [32:33] Fotini shares more about the training sessions she has lined up. [33:02] Fotini outlines what an initial session would be like for a client.  [37:57] Shannon and Fotini discuss what could come out of a session of Horse Wisdom Yoga. [40:31] How often do clients work with Fotini? [42:02] What are Fotini's prices like? [43:52] What is Fotini's recommendation for yoga teachers who are interested in learning to facilitate Horse Wisdom Yoga? [46:19] Learn more about Fotini and her work at her website. [47:30] Shannon shares her experience with Horse Wisdom Yoga.   Links: Horse Wisdom Yoga Fotini Chandrika Walton on Instagram Big Red Barn Creativity and Wellness Centre Inc. Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training  Consultation with Shannon Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Toronto Yoga Conference April 2020   Quotes from this episode:   "I feel like everything is yoga."   "I am really authentic in how I present myself to the world, and I think that has been my greatest asset when it comes to 'marketing' my business."   "Your biggest job is to take care of you."   "Abundance is not always going to show up in the form of a monetary exchange."    "I do believe that people become more intuitive the more they listen."

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 156: Define Your Brand with Rachael Kay Albers   Description: What is your brand? Hint, it’s not just about the colors or images on your website. Figuring out what your brand is all about can be confusing, and it can be hard to think about how to differentiate yourself from other yoga teachers (especially if you don’t feel you serve a very specific niche). Branding expert Rachael Kay Albers has some tips on how to define your brand and stand out with your branding.   Rachael is a digital strategist, and Founder and Creative Director of RKA Ink, a branding, web design and digital marketing studio based outside Chicago. She helps thought leaders and visionary entrepreneurs all over the world stand out online with unforgettable brands. Apart from her work crafting epic brands, Rachael also hosts Awkward Marketing, a business comedy show blending fun-sized business advice with storytelling and sketch comedy. From what your brand actually means, to why yoga teachers may struggle with a branding problem, Rachael has a wealth of information on finding, defining and sharing your brand. She also talks about the concept of reverse niching, how we can use that to find our ideal yoga students and how to stand out by taking a stand.   Whether you have a clearly defined brand identity or your brand is still a work-in-progress, this episode has lots of strategies to help you craft and refine your brand.   Key Takeaways: [6:13] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Rachael Kay Albers. [7:55] What does Rachael do and who does she do it for? [10:26] Rachael describes herself as a rule-breaker - even when she got married! [11:41] Why do "woo businesses" need to work on their branding? Rachael explains what branding means for yoga teachers. [14:06] Where do "woo businesses" have a problem with their branding? [19:34] How can yoga teachers deal with having to sell people what they want without being slimy or salesy? [23:02] Rachael shares an example of how she helped her client figure out her ideal client and how that relates to the messaging and copy. [26:46] Shannon and Rachael walk through an example of an ideal client for a teacher offering restorative yoga. [30:58] How would knowing the ideal client translate into copy for social media or on a website? [33:17] Rachael addresses the worry and concern that many business owners have about writing copy for specific people. [35:20] Rachael recommends using your copy to direct your design. [38:49] What is reverse niching? [44:23] Branding has two jobs - to attract your ideal clients, but also to push away the wrong people. [46:57] What other aspects of branding should yoga teachers think about to stand out? [51:16] Rachael shares an example of how to turn a complaint or a pain point into positive content that serves your audience. [54:35] The brands that really stand out are the ones that are willing to ruffle feathers and take a stand. [1:00:45] Shannon and Rachael discuss the idea that there's a market out there for every kind of yoga teacher. [1:02:51] Find out more about Rachael and the work that she does at her website. [1:03:55] Shannon shares her takeaways from the interview. What was your biggest takeaway?   Links: Rachael Kay Albers on Instagram and YouTube RKA Ink Awkward Marketing One Year Wedding That One Time Jimmy Fallon Made Fun Of Our Wedding + Our Video Response Facebook Algorithm Change: What It Means And What To Do About It - Awkward Marketing Let's Do Launch 2020.com Content Creation: 5-Day Challenge for Yoga Teachers Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training  Consultation with Shannon Leave a Review! Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Toronto Yoga Conference April 2020   Quotes from this episode:   "At its heart, your brand is how your customers remember you and experience you."   "At the end of the day, you don't get to say what your brand is. Your audience says what your brand is."   "The cardinal rule of branding and marketing: Sell them what they want, give them what they need!"   "Who am I not a good fit for?"  

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 155: Yoga Teacher Q&A with Shannon Crow Description: This podcast was created to serve you, and to help you connect to information and feel supported as you navigate being a yoga teacher and an entrepreneur. On this special episode, Shannon answers some of the questions YOU have asked!   Courtney Butler Robinson has a question about burnout. Despite loving what she does, she feels like her schedule is overfilled and she is approaching a state of burnout. Shannon shares her own experiences with burnout, as well as some strategies to manage and avoid it.   Jessica Saunders has chosen to focus on growing her online yoga business. However, she needs some help in figuring out how to effectively engage her online audience, as well as how niching down can help her stand out online. Shannon has some tips on specialization, why the online space can be tricky to navigate, and some strategies to set yourself apart.   Do you have a question for Shannon? Leave her a voice message or send her an email!   Key Takeaways: [1:39] This episode is a Q&A based on questions asked by yoga teachers from the community. [7:44] Courtney Butler Robinson asks what Shannon's experience is with burnout and how she manages it. [11:19] Shannon shares some strategies that can help avoid burnout. [17:12] Check out Schedulicity's hot tip of the week. [17:57] Jessica Saunders asks: What techniques are effective in engaging an online audience? Shannon shares more about how niching down can help you stand out. [22:29] Marketing yourself online means that you have access to more people, but it doesn't necessarily mean that it's easy. That's why specializing is particularly useful. [25:40] Ask yourself: What do you want to be known for - for now, not forever? [28:59] Shannon would love to hear your feedback on this type of episode.   Links: Nicole Knauer Marcy, Calm Center The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 089: Yoga for Stress Management with Courtney Butler-Robinson The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 001: Avoid Yoga Teacher Burnout with Erin Aquin The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 114: Compassion Fatigue with Diane Liska The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 096: How to Create a Yoga Practice Habit with Matt Kowald The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 123: Habits for Health & Business with James Clear The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 065: Create Your Ideal Yoga Schedule with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 021: Refine Your Core Message with Carol Cox The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 084: Yoga for Scoliosis with Christine Jaureguiberry The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 019: Restorative Yoga with Andrea Peloso The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 022: LinkedIn Marketing for Yoga Teachers with Chrissie Wywrot The 5 Koshas Content Creation: 5-Day Challenge for Yoga Teachers Toronto Yoga Conference April 2020 Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Consultation with Shannon   Quotes from this episode:   "One thing to remember as the entrepreneur, as the yoga teacher - you are designing your own business."   "Start before you feel 100% ready to go."   "We are so much more likely to give a referral when someone is specialized."   "We have to really feel connected to something to make that our niche."  

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 154: Bookkeeping for Yoga Teachers with Kelly Christian   Description: It’s the middle of the tax season in the US and Canada, and it can be intimidating to think about getting your books in order, filing your taxes correctly, or choosing the right people to help you with this aspect of running your business! Bookkeeping and tax preparation expert Kelly Christian has some helpful information, tips, and tricks to manage some of the finer aspects of bookkeeping.    Kelly is the owner of Kelly Christian & Company, and a Certified Professional Bookkeeper and Tax Preparer. She has over 18 years experience working with all types of small business owners and focuses on helping them create custom technology systems around their money to get their “money system” in place and their books under control. With a variety of packages from step-by-step help to custom set up, training and guidance, Kelly and her team help clients forget about their bookkeeping so they can focus on their business.   We dive into where to get started with sales taxes, what expenses you can write off in your business, and even the difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant. Kelly also has some easy ways you can use technology to simplify and streamline the money side of your business, and some of the software you can use to make this aspect of running a yoga business easier.   Whether you already have your books in order and taxes filed, or if you’re worrying about how to get started on them, this episode will be a good resource.   Key Takeaways: [5:44] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Kelly Christian. [7:28] What got Kelly started in the bookkeeping industry? [9:54] What does Kelly's business look like now? She shares a bit more about her team. [11:13] What is the difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant? [15:44] What are some things yoga teachers can do on their own to get their bookkeeping under control? [18:50] When do you need to start charging HST (Harmonized Sales Tax for Canada) or GST (Goods & Services Tax for USA)? [21:03] It is important to keep track of online payment methods to ensure payments, taxes and fees do not "get lost". [25:07] Kelly shares her recommendations for Canadians looking for alternatives to Quickbooks, as well as some free options. [29:57] What are the expenses yoga teachers should be tracking? [34:16] What counts as expenses and what doesn't? Shannon and Kelly dig into some common expenses that yoga teachers ask about including yoga clothing, fuel for travel and home office expenses. [42:54] It is important to find a bookkeeper or accountant who will be able to work with you in your particular business. [46:11] Get in touch with Kelly via her website. [47:44] Kelly has some final words of advice for yoga teachers thinking about their accounting and bookkeeping. [49:25] Shannon shares an update on what she changed in her business regarding accounting and bookkeeping.   Links: Kelly Christian The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 044: Accounting for Yoga Teachers with Hannah Smolinski QuickBooks Xero Wave Accounting FreshBooks Hubdoc Receipt Bank DropBox Google Drive Toronto Yoga Conference April 2020 Consultation with Shannon Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training   Quotes from this episode: "That's what you're ideally looking for - someone that has a bit more breadth than just someone that's just doing data entry. But if not, make sure you've got a really good relationship with your accountant or tax preparer."   "I would rather people use [a simple software] than nothing, but know that as you grow, you're going to outgrow it."   "Tracking is better than nothing."   "Get some solid systems. Don't unnecessarily move into a piece of software, a good spreadsheet works great."

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Ep 153: Licensing a Yoga Teacher Training with Aruna Kathy Humphrys & Claire Matthews   Description: As our yoga business grows and expands, one of the things that we may consider offering is yoga teacher training programs. However, it can be challenging to create your own curriculum and and there are many different aspects to consider. Aruna Kathy Humphrys and Claire Matthews have some insights to share on this topic and their unique business model.Aruna and Claire are the founders of Ambassador Yoga. They have created and licensed a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training program that provides teachers with manuals and lesson plans to run their own YTTs in their own homes or studios. In addition to their work at Ambassador Yoga, Aruna and Claire both run their own yoga business. Aruna has been a certified yoga instructor since 1998, and is the Co-Founder, Director and Lead Teacher Trainer at Young Yoga Masters Registered Children’s Yoga School. Claire’s yoga journey began in 2002, and she is the Co-Founder and Director of Yoga Truly Studios where she teaches guided classes & restorative therapies. Aruna and Claire share more about who can become a yoga teacher trainer, why you might want to register with Yoga Alliance and the requirements for that, and how licensing a training program works for them and the yoga teachers trainers they serve. They also have some advice on writing the curriculum for a yoga teacher training program and some resources around that..If you have a yoga teacher training program, or have wondered what it takes to create a yoga teacher training - this episode will be a useful one. Key Takeaways: [8:14] Shannon introduces her guests for this episode - Aruna Kathy Humphrys & Claire Matthews. [9:29] What is the work that Aruna and Claire do and who do they do it for? [11:15] Claire runs her yoga teacher trainings on a different schedule than the usual system. She explains how it works. [14:16] How did Claire and Aruna first meet and decide to put together a yoga teacher training? [15:48] How does the licensing work in terms of other yoga teachers wanting to run their own yoga teacher trainings? [18:10] How are yoga teachers screened for their suitability to run a yoga teacher training? Claire and Aruna discuss how the changes in the requirements of Yoga Alliance could impact the screening process. [23:58] When yoga teachers buy the licensing program from Yoga Ambassador, how do they execute it? [25:03] What are some things that Aruna and Claire learned when they first started licensing out their program? [29:15] Aruna and Claire have had a few "Beautiful Mind" moments and share the experience of that. [32:59] What were some things that were surprising to Aruna and Claire when delivering their teacher trainings? [35:37] What is Claire and Aruna's advice to want to license their own teacher training programs? [42:00] What are Claire and Aruna's thoughts on selling their manuals? [43:32] How does the licensing work in terms of a yoga school's business name? [46:28] How do Claire and Aruna deal with updating the manual? [48:46] Claire and Aruna do a lot of the work behind the scenes for teacher trainers. [50:34] What is Claire and Aruna's #1 tip about putting together a teacher training? [54:03] There are plans for a 300-hr training in the works. Claire and Aruna share some of the considerations they have to deal with. [57:10] Get in touch with Claire and Aruna via their website to find out more about their licensing program.   Links: Ambassador Yoga Aruna Kathy Humphrys Claire Matthews The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Bonus Episode: New Standards for Yoga Schools with Shannon Roche MamaNurture Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training Toronto Yoga Conference April 2020   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training   Quotes from this episode: "If you qualify with Yoga Alliance, then you would qualify with us." - Aruna   "They choose their price, they choose their schedule. What they do have to stick to is the trainer lesson plans, just making sure the right amount of time is spent in each educational category but how they deliver that is really up to them." - Claire   "I think the big learning was how to make the training experiential." - Aruna   "Use the thing to teach the thing." - Aruna   "Editing the manual - it is an ongoing process, also because there is always new information about yoga." - Aruna  

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Ep 152: Simplifying Facebook Ads with Claire Pelletreau   Description: Facebook ads can be an incredibly powerful tool, if done well, but it can be tricky to navigate. What kinds of ads are effective? How can you target your audience effectively? How much should you spend on ads? Claire Pelletreau has the answers to these questions and more. Claire is a Facebook and Instagram ads consultant, and host of the Get Paid Podcast where she asks tough money questions. By using a process of data gathering, analysis, strategy, and experimentation, Claire helps clients get real results from Facebook ads, and prides herself on simplifying the complex Facebook and Instagram advertising for her clients. She offers clients Done-For-You Ad Management and in-depth consultations, as well as FB ads courses and other resources for those looking to DIY their Facebook ads.In this deep-dive interview about Facebook ads, Claire shares her expertise on how to use Facebook ads to target a location specific audience, the difference between doing ads yourself and hiring someone, and why video ads may be the most effective type of ads for yoga teachers.  This episode is perfect for everyone, from someone who’s been dabbling in FB ads and wants to make the most of their ad dollars to the beginner who wants to know how to use paid advertising to boost their business. Key Takeaways: [7:09] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Claire Pelletreau. [10:19] Claire makes a case for why Facebook ads are not just a good way to get new clients, but also to get back time. [13:25] Claire walks through the process of re-targeting visitors to your website. [16:09] Why are there dips and peaks in terms of site traffic and conversions and leads? [18:18] How can yoga teachers get started with Facebook ads? [21:42] Claire and Shannon discuss what a video ad would look like with an example. [26:26] What are some of Claire's tips for what makes a good video ad? [29:10] What are some of Shannon's hesitations when it comes to putting out Facebook ads? Claire addresses some of her concerns. [32:32] Does Claire recommend doing ads for freebies? [33:58] Claire and Shannon dive into how Shannon's podcast makes her money, and how to track different lead magnets from podcast episodes. [39:57] What is Claire's recommendation for a video ad strategy? [43:05] What should your budget be for Facebook ads, and how do you choose your audience? [47:05] Claire highlights some of the things that Facebook doesn't allow in ads. [49:28] Step 1: Get a tracking pixel on your website! [50:23] What are some of Claire's offerings to help people with Facebook ads? [55:04] Shannon shares her one action step from this interview. What's yours?   Links: Claire Pelletreau The Get Paid Podcast Claire Pelletreau on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube Nanaco on Instagram Consultation Call with Shannon Useful Resources from Claire How to Set Up Facebook's Pixel on Wordpress/Squarespace How to Set Up Facebook Retargeting Ads How to Target Facebook Ads (Set up Pixels) Conversion Tracking Pixels vs. Retargeting Pixels 5-Part Ad Formula Facebook Ad Copy: 5 Steps to More Conversions Absolute FB Ads Roadmap Instagram Story Ads: Why I'm Obsessed + How to Set Them Up Toronto Yoga Conference April 2020   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training   Quotes from this episode: "It's so funny how a bigger investment just makes us think that something's going to be better." - Claire   "You're working really hard to get in front of people, then let Facebook and Instagram ads repeatedly put you in front of them." - Claire   "One of the best ways to really spend a small budget is by putting video ads in front of brand new audiences." - Claire   "I think video is probably THE tactic to do for 1:1s in particular." - Claire   "If you're struggling to get people to buy to begin with, Facebook ads is not going to fix that." - Claire   "Identify the objections, and then create content that helps people get over them." - Claire

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 151: Male Pelvic Health & Yoga with Dr. Susie Gronski   Description: Pelvic health is a recurring topic on this podcast, but most of the time, it is about pelvic health in general or particular to female-bodied people. However, pelvic health is something important to male-bodied people too, so on this episode Dr. Susie Gronski sheds some light on male pelvic health and the issues surrounding that.   Dr. Susie Gronski describes herself as “the physiotherapist for your privates”. She is a licensed doctor of physical therapy, board certified pelvic rehabilitation practitioner, and a certified health coach. On her podcast In Your Pants, Dr. Susie approaches the topic of pain, pelvic health, and sexuality with open and transparent conversations. Apart from providing 1:1 hands-on consultations with her patients to teach them how to be the expert in treating their pelvic pain, Dr. Susie is also a Registered Yoga Teacher, and brings that aspect into her work.   What are some of the concerns that male-bodied people have regarding their pelvic health, and how can yoga or PT help? In this interview, Dr. Susie addresses a variety of topics - from pelvic pain, to urinary issues, from how pelvic health relates to sexual function, to myths around pelvic health.    If you know someone who is male-bodied, or are a male-bodied person yourself - this episode has great information that will be beneficial in understanding more about male pelvic health.   Key Takeaways: [6:55] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Dr. Susie Gronski. [7:53] What is the work that Dr. Susie does and who does she do it for? [8:38] What has the challenge been as a female-bodied person addressing male body part issues? [12:58] Be aware of the language and terms you use around the topic of pelvic health! [14:27] What are some of the main issues that male-bodied people face with regard to pelvic health? [19:10] Dr. Susie shares an anecdote of a patient she is working with. [22:15] Pain is a very personal experience that varies greatly from person to person, and particularly with men, there is a lot of stigma around how they should act or seek help. [23:50] Lower back pain can also be related to pelvic health. Dr. Susie explains how. [26:29] How does the male pelvic floor function differently from the female pelvic floor? [30:50] What is the relationship between between pelvic pain and stressful images or experiences? [35:47] What are the benefits of going to see your pelvic health PT or going to yoga class for some of these issues? [40:33] It is important to not always be focused on engaging the pelvic floor muscles but to maintain some balance to optimize function. [45:52] How can we encourage men to attend a pelvic health class or a yoga class? [47:50] When should men see a pelvic health PT for any issues they're experiencing? [53:53] Dr. Susie recommends that people should see a PT who specializes in male pelvic health, and she explains why. [56:19] What are some resources Dr. Susie recommends to find a male pelvic health specialist? [58:13] What is Dr. Susie's podcast about? [58:38] What is the biggest myth or misconception men have about their pelvic health? [1:01:59] What are Dr. Susie's thoughts on hernias and exercise in male bodies? [1:05:53] What were your key takeaways from this episode?   Links: Dr. Susie Gronski In Your Pants Podcast with Dr. Susie Gronski The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 150: Start a Membership Site with Amanda McKinney Other resources on Pelvic Health Mayday! Mayday! My Pelvic Floor Is Malfunctioning…, By Dr. Susie Gronski Pattern of activation of pelvic floor muscles in men differs with verbal instructions: Pattern of Activation of Pelvic Floor Muscles, by Paul Hodges et. al.  Study of stress and relation to pelvic floor Pelvic Pain Support Program The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 009: Kegels, Mula Bandha and Pelvic Health with Shelly Prosko The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 129: Pelvic Floor 101 with Marie-Josée Forget Find a pelvic health PT: Pelvic Guru - Global Pelvic Health Solutions - Canada American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Sex is a Funny Word: A Book about Bodies, Feelings, and YOU, by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Pelvic Health Professionals   Quotes from this episode:   "There's a lot of isolation and stigmatization and taboo around helping male-bodies."   "The prostate has been blamed for a lot of male pain issues, but if you look at the research and the literature, the stats are about 95-97% of them have no correlation to an infection at all."   "Part of my role is to help them to be aware of that protective response, and question whether or not that's necessary for them in that moment."   "Sexual health issues, they often are intertwined with psychological or psychogenic components as well."

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 150: Start a Membership Site with Amanda McKinney   Description: Have you been thinking about starting a membership site? Perhaps you’ve heard of membership sites and you’re wondering how you can start one as a yoga teacher. Shannon and Amanda McKinney both started their own membership sites in 2019 and dive into what it takes to start and run a successful membership site.   Amanda is a marketing coach for yoga teachers with a membership site, Marketing Yoga with Confidence, which focuses on helping yoga teachers to market themselves and their businesses authentically, without slimy, sales-y marketing. Shannon’s membership site, Pelvic Health Professionals, provides pelvic health advocates including physiotherapists, yoga teachers, fitness professionals and more, with updated information surrounding pelvic health.   Starting a membership site is not something either of them had considered, but eventually they did. They share their journey of why they started their membership sites, and what they have learned along the process. Amanda and Shannon also discuss some of the finer details of running a membership site, from doing launches, the technology and methods for content creation, and how to get started.   If you are wondering how this can be used by yoga teachers wanting to focus on more online offerings, or you’ve wanted to learn more about the inner workings of starting and running a membership site, this episode is for you.   Key Takeaways: [5:28] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Amanda McKinney. [7:19] What is Amanda's membership site and what got her started on that? [11:56] Amanda was familiar with the technology for her membership site when she launched, but didn't have any of the content ready. [13:16] Amanda and Shannon had the idea for a membership site at the same time. Shannon shares her journey of starting her membership site. [15:45] Both Amanda and Shannon initially opened their membership sites and let their founding members guide the direction for the content. [17:48] What is a membership site and how does it apply to yoga teachers? [20:30] A yoga membership site has been called an "online yoga studio". Does this mean that students will no longer be going to classes? [23:12] What are some of the different decisions Shannon and Amanda have made in creating content? They share some of their techniques and methods for conveying content. [27:43] Shannon and Amanda discuss their platforms for their membership sites. [29:26] Let's talk tech. What are some of the tech that Amanda and Shannon use? [35:06] One of the things to manage is people feeling like they're getting left behind with the amount of content available on membership sites. Be careful with that! [37:10] Another option is making your own customized platform for your membership site, but be sure not to go off on a tangent or invest too much before you need to. [40:44] What's the best way to gather information from ideal clients? [44:29] Be open to the possibilities of what your idea could become! [49:31] Churn (people leaving) is a natural part of running a membership site. Do not become heartbroken or discouraged! [54:12] Both Amanda and Shannon open and close the doors to their membership sites at certain times. Why have they chosen to go this route? [1:00:57] Share your ideas for membership sites for yoga teachers or your own membership site in the comments!   Links: Schedulicity on Instagram and Facebook Amanda McKinney The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode: 112: Niche Down to Market Your Yoga with Amanda McKinney Marketing Yoga with Confidence Membership Site Teachable Pixel Wireless Video Microphone Review - Yoga Teacher Review! by Shelly Aaron iMovie Kajabi MemberVault Thinkific Mac Amanda's webcam The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 078: Creating an Online Yoga Studio with Brea Johnson Heart + Bones Yoga Amanda's behind the scenes podcast episodes: Episode 9 Episode 11 Episode 12 Episode 13 The Membership Guys Podcast The Membership Guys - Behind the Membership It's a TRIBE Thing Podcast Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Pelvic Health Professionals   Quotes from this episode:   "Listen to what your audience says." - Amanda   "The idea that my audience was asking for it was reason enough for me to figure it out." - Amanda   "If anyone's thinking about creating a membership site, in and of itself, think about who you want in there. ... At the beginning, it is really important to have quality." - Amanda   "I really try and help yoga teachers understand the power of online classes, because yes, it's different, but it's so impactful." - Amanda   "Use what you have, and figure out what you need." - Amanda

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 149: Yoga for Anxiety with Amanda Whiting   Description: Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental illnesses in the world, with almost 300 million people globally dealing with an anxiety disorder. This means there is a chance that one or more of your students may be dealing with anxiety, or even coming to yoga to help with their anxiety. How can you, as a yoga teacher, help them and what are some of the things to be aware of? Amanda Whiting has some insights on this topic.   As someone who has been managing her own anxiety since she was two years old, Amanda is no stranger to anxiety. Yoga has taught Amanda that through asana, breathwork, and meditation, anxiety can be more manageable, and an overall sense of wellbeing is inevitable. Today, Amanda helps others work through and manage their own anxiety and mental health conditions through a variety of yoga classes, workshops and retreats, as well as free meditations, yin classes and yoga nidra.   Amanda explains what having an anxiety attack feels like, and anxiety is a uniquely personal experience for each person. She shares how yoga can be a part of the prescription for mental health, why loving kindness and self-compassion is so important, and even what happens if someone has a panic attack in your class. Amanda approaches this sensitive topic with openness and heart, and this episode is full of so much useful information that all yoga teachers can use.   Key Takeaways: [5:22] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Amanda Whiting. [6:49] What is the work Amanda does now, and how did she get there? [9:57] What does having an anxiety attack feel like? [12:28] Amanda shares her thoughts about why anxiety exists. [16:20] How has Amanda's experience with anxiety from such a young age informed the work that she does now? [17:50] Amanda and Shannon discuss why "love yourself" is so difficult in practice. [19:25] What are some ways we can change the neural pathways that make it difficult to love and connect with ourselves? [23:51] Amanda shares her spin on the loving kindness meditation. [25:51] How does loving kindness and self-compassion come in when dealing with anxiety? [31:27] How can yoga teachers go about offering yoga for anxiety? [34:11] Anxiety is a uniquely personal experience for everyone who has it, and it can manifest in different ways and forms. [37:24] Why is yoga helpful for anxiety, and what are the other prescriptions for anxiety? [43:20] What can yoga teachers do if someone has a panic attack in class? [49:49] For the majority of people, anxiety is not something that can be fixed or cured or that goes away entirely, but something they live with and manage. [52:20] Connect with Amanda via her website or social media to find out more or learn how you can work with her. [53:14] Shannon shares some of the upcoming things to look out for.   Links: Yoga Anytime with Shannon Crow (Promo Code: CROW)  Amanda Whiting Amanda Whiting on Instagram, Facebook Loving Kindness, by Sharon Salzberg Self-Compassion, by Kristin Neff Dan Siegel John Kabat-Zinn The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 128: Ayurveda, Doshas & Yoga with Angela Glaz The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 116: Pain Language with Shelly Prosko (Part 1)   Loving Kindness Meditation: Bring your attention to yourself - without any parameters or exceptions - you as you are in this moment. With this awareness of you, repeat to yourself: May I be at ease. May I open to what arises. May I know that I am enough. May I love myself just as I am.   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Pelvic Health Professionals   Quotes from this episode:   "[Anxiety] can be a byproduct of everything."   "We live in this right-away society, and I think that's really a blessing and a curse."   "We have so much ability to love others and have compassion for others, and yet, somewhere along the way, it's become that that's not okay for us to have for ourselves."   "If you are someone who is struggling with accepting and loving yourself and having compassion for yourself, you need to focus on you."   "Even though anxiety has become way more noticeable, it is still really not understood."    "I don't allow the anxiety anymore to control my life, but that doesn't mean that it's not part of my life."  

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 148: Stress Incontinence and Yoga with Melissa Dessaulles   Description: Something that affects 33 million Americans, 3.3 million Canadians and almost 400 million people worldwide is a topic a lot of people aren't talking about - urinary incontinence. That’s a shocking statistic, and all the more reason to address this issue - expert Melissa Desssaulles is just the person to talk about it.   Melissa Dessaulles is a registered physiotherapist with extensive training in the management and treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction and perinatal health. Melissa is also the founder of Mommy Berries, which offers a postpartum program to guide new mums through the early healing phase in a way that promotes healing and recovery of the pelvic floor and core muscles. Apart from her physiotherapy work, Melissa also  dedicates time to raising awareness about common pelvic floor issues such as prolapse and incontinence through informative sessions.   Urinary incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction is something that affects a lot more people than we think. Melissa explains the difference between stress and urge incontinence, why leaking occurs, abdominal weakness postpartum, and how yoga during and after pregnancy can help in addressing some of these issues. Stay tuned to the end to find out more about Melissa’s free resource for pregnant people, as well as for a very special discount on Melissa’s postpartum program, just for listeners!   Key Takeaways: [5:00] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Melissa Dessaulles. [6:45] Who is Melissa and what is the work that she does? [9:18] Urinary incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction is something that affects a lot more people than we think. [11:37] Urinary incontinence or leaking is common, but it's not normal. Mellissa explains how she approaches the topic without making people feel bad. [14:33] What is the difference between stress incontinence and urge incontinence? [17:15] Melissa highlights some of the options available to people who have stress incontinence. [20:51] How can yoga and the tools of yoga help someone who is dealing with stress incontinence? [23:43] Listen to Schedulicity's hot tip of the week. [24:48] What is Melissa's advice for people who are doing Kegels exercises and are still leaking? [28:59] What are some circumstances when people might be more likely to experience stress incontinence? Melissa explains why stress incontinence in pregnant people or just after having a baby is normal. [32:50] Men also experience incontinence issues. [33:32] What happens to the pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy and delivery should be treated like an injury and addressed accordingly. [35:20] Who can Melissa help from the standpoint of physical therapy, and when would she refer them to other options? [38:34] Yoga can be a powerful tool to help with body awareness and empowering people on their healing journey. [43:15] Find out more about this topic and Melissa's work on her website, Instagram or join her online program. [48:17] What were your key takeaways from this episode?   Links: Pelvic Health Professionals Resources Melissa Dessaulles Melissa Dessaulles on Instagram Online Program for Postpartum Mums: From the Inside Out™ (Use the code CONNECTEDYOGA15 for a 15% discount) Stress Incontinence by Mommy Berries on YouTube The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 129: Pelvic Floor 101 with Marie-Josée Forget Yoga And Incontinence Study How Yoga Can Help with Urinary Incontinence - Yoga Anytime Yoga for Urinary Incontinence with Shannon Crow [Use Promo Code CROW]   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Pelvic Health Professionals   Quotes from this episode:   "It's common, but it's not normal." - Shannon   "Every muscle needs to be able to move to do its job well." - Melissa   "What we work on is we find out why YOU are leaking so we can tell you what your muscles are doing and see what your habits are, and then maybe give suggestions." - Melissa   "I don't think we would see so much incontinence persisting if we just acknowledged that those muscles have been through something." -Melissa

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast  Ep 147: Core Myths with Lauren Ohayon   Description: At some point, either as a student or teacher, we have heard the phrase "engage your core". Some people are even conditioned to think that they should do this all the time! In actual fact, doing this is not as beneficial as we think it is, and it can be limiting to function and movement. Lauren Ohayon is an expert on the topic of core and pelvic floor issues, and on this episode, she busts through some of the common myths about core strength.   Lauren Ohayon is the founder of Restore Your Core, an online program addressing pelvic floor and core dysfunction, and helps thousands of women globally through her online programs, and Facebook groups. Lauren is internationally recognized for specializing in core and pelvic floor issues, and has 20 years of experience teaching yoga, pilates and functional movement. With her comprehensive exercise programs that are designed to be effective, safe and sustainable, Lauren focuses on helping people exercise well and move efficiently to gain core strength and ideal pelvic floor function.    When it comes to the core, many people assume that all core exercises are created equal, but this isn’t the case. Lauren reveals the differences between different core exercises, and busts through some other myths around building core strength. She also explains what the core really should be doing and when, and dives into the issue of intra abdominal pressure, and conditions like prolapse and diastasis.   This is a hot topic that will benefit all yoga teachers, both in your own practice and in cueing certain poses, so be sure to tune in.   Key Takeaways: [5:53] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Lauren Ohayon. [7:22] What does Lauren do and who does she do it for? [8:42] When did Lauren start focusing on pelvic health and the core? [10:58] What is the core, and what is the core not? [13:08] Shannon and Lauren discuss their interpretations of the Core Four. [19:46] It is not always important to name muscles or dive into the anatomy to help people. [21:45] We often hear the phrase "engage your core". Lauren explains why this is not always helpful, and sometimes it can even be limiting to function. [25:10] Lauren explains the specific type of breath that engages the core, and why it engages the core. [27:57] Lauren highlights the difference between engaging your core and bracing your core. [30:54] Why have we gone so off track with our breath and how the core is working? [34:41] Lauren shares an analogy that she has learned. [36:46] What are some of Lauren's favorite core strengthening movements and poses? [40:04] Lauren shares some of her variations for boat pose [44:24] What are the three Bs that Lauren brings attention to? [47:22] What is something Lauren wishes yoga teachers would know about the core? [51:27] Connect with Laura on her websites or her Facebook groups to learn more. [52:21] What was something you picked up from this interview? Shannon would love to know.   Links: Pelvic Health Professionals Resources Lauren Ohayon Restore Your Core.com Restore Your Core Facebook Group Leslie Kaminoff Gratitude to our Sponsors Schedulicity and Pelvic Health Professionals.   Quotes from this episode: "Your core is really the integrated function of your whole body."   "In core function, one of the main elements of core function is that our core is designed like any other muscle in our body, to be reflexive, automated."   "If your core is not kicking in, ...whatever it's not doing, ... tightening it is not going to teach it to get there."   "To me, "engage your core" means to do a very specific type of breath. Your core will naturally pull in with that."   "We don't want excessive tone anywhere in our body. ... More tone is not always better."  

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast  Ep 146: How to Empower Your Yoga Students with Yonnie Fung   Description: As yoga teachers, we want our classrooms to be safe spaces that empower our students and maximise their choice, but this may not always be the case. People may come to our classes wanting us to tell them what to do and trust that it's our job to know better, and also, some practices in yoga may erode empowerment, take away student agency, and undermine safety.   Yonnie Fung recently wrote an article on this topic, and what it means to teach inclusive, safe and ethical yoga. She is the founder of Yoga with Yonnie, an award winning yoga and movement space in Beijing that focuses on small classes, non-commercialism, integrity and cultivating real human connections. Yonnie values a collaborative learning environment over an authoritative styles, and seeks to help students and clients in discovering what they need to feel well and whole.    Some common practices in modern yoga fall short of what we want to achieve. Yonnie and Shannon dive into why replicating inherited behaviours and practices from past generations may not necessarily be appropriate, and how yoga teachers can move away from dis-empowering their students.   This episode is in no way about shame and blame. We often look back at the things we could have done differently as newer yoga teachers, and that work is sometimes uncomfortable. Listen in if you would like to learn more about how we can move forward as yoga teachers to empower our students and increase their agency in our classrooms.   Key Takeaways: [4:59] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Yonnie Fung. [6:15] Where did Yonnie's journey with yoga begin? [9:44] What made Yonnie decide to become a yoga teacher? [12:05] What is the work that Yonnie does now? [18:53] What prompted Yonnie to write her list of how we might be unintentionally harming our yoga students? [23:16] Did Yonnie expect her article to go viral? She shares her experience with publishing her article. [25:36] How did Yonnie develop her list? [26:21] Shannon highlights some of the things that stood out to her from Yonnie's list. [26:43] One of the items on Yonnie's list is participating in power structures. Shannon and Yonnie discuss the power dynamic that exists in a yoga class. [34:06] Yonnie shares a powerful experience she had during her yoga teacher training that has influenced her way of teaching yoga. [37:37] It is a common thread in many settings where the teacher is expected to know the student better than the student knows themselves! [38:26] This week's hot top from Schedulicity! [39:15] Yonnie highlights how teachers making adjustments to students' postures is not empowering. [41:28] What are some of the ways that yoga teachers can move away from dis-empowering their students? Yonnie highlights how the language that we use can be the simplest place to start changing. [48:37] What is Yonnie's response to yoga teachers who want to say as few words as possible in their classes? [50:10] It can be challenging for students to learn how to listen to their body. Yonnie explains more about interoception and how this ties in with trauma and yoga. [53:45] Yonnie and Shannon talk through an example of how this might play out in a class. [57:19] It takes a lot of pressure off the teacher if we understand and accept that the students are the experts of their own bodies. [1:02:01] Yonnie has subsequent follow-up articles that she has written on this topic. [1:05:26] Get in touch with Yonnie via her website or on Facebook. [1:06:18] What are some techniques you have learned to empower your yoga students? Share them with Shannon!   Links: Pelvic Health Professionals Resources Yonnie Fung  Yonnie Fung on Facebook Teaching Inclusive, Safe And Ethical Yoga – Part 1: Empowerment, By Yonnie Fung How We Can Unintentionally Harm our Students List by Yonnie Fung Yoga is Dead / Gurus Killed Yoga Teaching Inclusive, Safe And Ethical Yoga – Part 2: Safety And Trust, by Yonnie Fung Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training Mama Nurture Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training in Meaford, Ontario Work with Shannon 1:1 Gratitude to our Sponsors Schedulicity and Pelvic Health Professionals.   Quotes from this episode: "There wasn't one single incident. You could say that there were lots of little incidents and it happened very steadily over a period of time that suddenly hit critical mass."    "It was encouraging to know that I wasn't alone, and that other people had these frustrations and concerns."   "Yoga at its best is an empowering path."   "We're practicing disembodiment from a really young age."   "I think it's very important to distinguish the promise of yoga and the potential, from the actual delivery as it plays out."   "It doesn't matter how good your intentions are as a teacher."   "You can have all the best intentions in the world, but if you are not empowering them to make choices for themselves, you will have impeded their recovery."   "We are actually experts of ourselves."   "Having the question is so much more valuable than having the answers all the time. Answers are just easy ways to shorten the lifespan of the inquiry."  

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 145: Before You Open a Yoga Studio with Shannon Crow   Description: Have you always dreamed of opening your own yoga studio? Or are you tired of never being able to set your schedule exactly how you want it, and think that opening your own studio would solve those challenges? Perhaps, you’ve already made up your mind to open a yoga studio and are looking for guidance on how to go about it. Shannon Crow dives into all these and more, on this episode.   Having managed multiple yoga studios in the past, and been approached by two yoga studios to purchase a yoga studio, Shannon has no stranger to the topic of opening, running and managing a yoga studio. She has used a 3-stage process to ask herself if this path is right for her, and on this episode, shares exactly how you can walk through the process too.   This episode is meant for anyone who has dreamed of opening a yoga studio or anyone who is currently "living the dream" of running a yoga studio. Touching on everything related to opening a yoga studio from what your dream of an ideal yoga studio looks like, to the various models of yoga studios that you can consider, to the questions you should be asking yourself, this episode is a great place to start if being a yoga studio owner is on your bucket list.   Key Takeaways: [2:05] This episode is all about opening a yoga studio. [2:35] If your dream is to open a yoga studio, start by defining what that looks like. [3:41] Another way to approach this is to ask yourself what are the things that are really bugging you about your current situation. [5:09] Check out the hot tip of the week from Schedulicity. [6:55] Shannon shares some ideas for yoga studios and invites you to think outside the box! [11:48] Shannon does a quick recap, and reveals a little bit of her background with yoga studios before diving into some tough questions. [14:41] Do you like the administrative side of running a yoga business? [16:44] Do you love managing people? [20:32] Do you love competition and collaboration? [22:27] Do you love being responsible for a whole group of people? [24:55] How much do you love thinking about the smallest details? [27:02] Your yoga teachers are your brand, but the entire yoga studio also has a brand. [28:28] Having a yoga studio means that you're tied to a place. Are you ready for that? [29:57] As a yoga studio owner, you have to take into account legal and insurance considerations. [32:45] The last consideration Shannon would like to highlight is around schedule. [34:51] How does listening to this episode make you feel about opening a yoga studio? [37:48] Share your thoughts with Shannon!   Links: The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 93: How to Build a Home Studio with Jo Stewart & Rane Bowen The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 78: Creating an Online Yoga Studio with Brea Johnson The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 143: Should I Start a Non-Profit? with Jessica Kinsey The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 44: Accounting for Yoga Teachers with Hannah Smolinski  The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 101: What I Learned as a Yoga Studio Manager with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 103: Hiring and Nurturing Your Team with Shelli Warren The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 64: Getting Hired by a Yoga Studio with Kristen Sweeney The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 057: Feng Shui Your Yoga Space with Marina V Umali Yoga Studio Etiquette: Getting Along in the Yoga Studio The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 128: Ayurveda, Doshas & Yoga with Angela Glaz The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 104: Legal Answers for Your Yoga Business with Saerin Ally Cho The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 105: Insurance for Yoga Teachers with Beth McVeigh The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 102: Mission Statements & Core Values with Steve Hart Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Pelvic Health Professionals   Quotes from this episode: "If your dream is to open a yoga studio, let's first define what does that look like."   "At the beginning, we opened with that dreaming part, and now, I want to hit home some reality pieces that come in when managing a yoga studio, when owning a yoga studio, when running a yoga studio."   "When we have responsibilities, we have to set those healthy boundaries."   "With a yoga studio, you are tied to a location."  

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Ep 144: Get More Website Visitors with SEO with Meg Casebolt   Description:   These days, it has become a necessity for any business, including yoga businesses, to have a website. However, it's not enough to just have a website. We need to make sure that our websites get found by people who are looking for what we offer, and that’s where SEO comes in. It sounds scary and intimidating, but is so critical to getting more visitors to your website, and Meg Casebolt breaks down just how you can get started with making your website more SEO-friendly.   Meg Casebolt is an SEO strategist, Google Ads consultant, and (currently inactive) certified yoga teacher. She came to yoga in 2001 as an exercise routine, and has been practicing ever since. After receiving her certification in Bhakti Yoga, she taught yoga for 2 years from 2014 to 2016, before transitioning into her current role, so she has a unique and intimate understanding of yoga businesses. Meg describes herself as the “Supergirl to your SEO strategy stress”, and since 2013, has been helping business owners show up in search results, get more leads & sell more products with intentional, strategic content.   It's important to start with the basics, so Meg explains what SEO is, and why optimizing your website for search engines is so important. She shares how to set up your website to help you get found on Google (both as an industry expert and a local teacher), as well as why Google Analytics and Google Search Console can be such powerful tools. Meg also has some insight into specializing and niching down, and how that can help your website rank in Google.   If you are looking for some great advice on steps you can take immediately to update your website and make it Google-friendly, this is the episode for you.   Key Takeaways: [5:36] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Meg Casebolt. [7:20] Who is Meg and what is the work that she does? [8:15] When did Meg become an SEO specialist? [12:37] What do yoga teachers need to do to help their websites get found? Set up a Google My Business profile! [17:03] Another thing you can do to stand out is to get reviews! [19:05] Meg explains why it is so beneficial to have a Google My Business account, regardless of whether you have a physical location or not. [22:36] The next thing to look at is your website. Meg recommends Google Analytics and some other handy tools to help you get started. [25:36] What is the difference between Google Analytics and Google Search Console and what kind of information goes Google Search Console provide? [29:10] How often should you be checking in on your Google Analytics and Google Search Console? [30:39] Shannon shares some details about the things that surprised her when Meg did an analysis of The Connected Yoga Teacher website. [34:18] How can you put out content that is SEO-friendly so that people can find your website? [37:32] What are some tips for tailoring your content to boost your page ranking in search results? [42:52] It is important for you to list the location of where you are teaching yoga on your website! [44:33] What are some things that Meg has noticed about how yoga teachers can improve their SEO? [46:23] Tip: You have to be found for one thing, before you can be found for everything. [48:17] Start small and work on these aspects that Meg has covered before diving in more to avoid overwhelm! [52:56] Meg and Shannon discuss outsourcing SEO to a professional. [55:35] Get in touch with Meg via her website or Instagram. [56:10] What is the action step that you are going to take to improve your SEO?   Links: Meg Casebolt, Megabolt Digital Meg’s Resources: Set Up Google My Business Add Google Analytics Install Google Search Console Beginner's Guide to Keyword Research How to write SEO friendly blog posts Where to Start with SEO Meg Casebolt on Instagram The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode: 107: Launch & Promote Your Yoga Offering with Abby Herman Google My Business Profile Set Up Google My Business with Helena Spears (Facebook Live Video) Google Analytics Google Search Console Aqua Yoga with Christa UberSuggest.io Yoast SEO All-in-one SEO Pack Pelvic Health Professionals    Gratitude to our Sponsors Schedulicity and Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training   Quotes from this episode:   "How do you make sure that the traffic that is coming to you is converting into a subscriber, or a sale, or in your case, a student?"   "I'm going to start again with looking at what's working. That's always what I do first."   "One big component of Search Engine Optimization that Google's really concerned about is making sure that your website runs smoothly, that it's mobile responsive."   "Google looks at your site on a phone before it looks at it on a desktop."   "The first thing that you need to do is know what people are searching for."   "The best place to start for SEO content is with keyword research."   "When it comes to writing for search, I want you to focus on being clear, and not on being clever."   "Let your geography be your superpower!"   "Nobody goes out of their way to write reviews unless they're mad at you."   "We're really quick to complain, and we're not so great to share praise, but when you ask for the review, people will give it to you."  

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Ep 143: Should I Start a Non-Profit? with Jessica Kinsey   Description: In your journey of starting your yoga business, you may have asked yourself, “Should I start a nonprofit or for-profit?” There are certain differences between running a yoga non-profit and a yoga business for-profit, and certain things to consider that can help you decide which would be a better fit for your aims and goals. Jessica Kinsey is an expert in the area of nonprofits and social enterprises, and has some insights to share.   Jessica Kinsey is the Founder, CEO and Social Impact Strategist at Prodigy & Co, a company dedicated to helping impact-driven organizations create business strategies that will help them achieve their mission. A serial entrepreneur who has founded multiple companies, Jessica now partners with non-profit and for-profit organizations to help them develop their services, expand their reach, scale their impact, and build sustainable revenue streams.    Some yoga teachers want to start a nonprofit because they don't want to take people's money or market themselves. Jessica explains why sales and marketing are still essential parts of a non-profit organization, and some of the key differences you need to consider in structuring your yoga organization. She also shares ideas on how to get more donations, and ways to make the biggest positive impact on your community, whether you have a for-profit business or non-profit organization.   This episode is a great listen for anyone who is interested in starting a non-profit yoga organization, or if you’re just looking for ideas on how to better serve your community while running a sustainable business.   Key Takeaways: [5:03] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Jessica Kinsey. [7:12] What does Jessica do? [8:34] Jessica also works with for-profits to help them figure out how to build social good into what they're doing. [12:29] Jessica and Shannon discuss the situation of yoga teachers wanting to start a nonprofit because they don't want to take people's money or market themselves. [15:55] What are the benefits of having a nonprofit? [18:54] Nonprofits need to have a board of directors who do have a significant say in the decisions concerning the organization. [21:21] Jessica raises a few more considerations when it comes to starting a nonprofit. [22:53] What are some of the questions Jessica would ask a yoga teacher who is interested in starting a nonprofit? [26:23] Shannon and Jessica work through a specific example from Shannon's experience about helping others in need. [31:12] Two things to keep in mind: 1) The money needs to come from somewhere, 2) The person / organization providing the money is often thinking 'what's in it for me?'. [34:59] What are some questions yoga teachers or yoga studios should ask themselves if they're thinking of starting a nonprofit? [37:51] What are some of Jessica's suggestions for yoga teachers who have a for-profit business and want to give back to the community? [43:13] How does Jessica recommend that yoga teachers maintain a balance between sustaining their business and themselves vs. giving back to society? [46:46] Get in touch with Jessica via her website, social media or email to find out more about her work. [48:55] Shannon shares her key takeaways and would love to hear yours!   Links: Prodigy & Co. Jessica M Kinsey on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn Email Jessica Kinsey  Tim Hortons Donuts Newman's Own Salad Dressing   Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training   Quotes from this episode:   "I believe that people who are doing good in the world deserve to do well, and that more money means that you get to do more good."   "More often than not, you're asking somebody to give money for something that just makes them feel good, and they're not really getting tangible value out of it."   "You're still selling something or asking for money, it's just in a different kind of way."   "You still have to get the word out about what you're doing, whether or not your class is free."   "Not everything that is putting social good out into the world is 100% sustainable on its own."   "You've got to take care of yourself first and you have to be able to pay your bills and make a living, otherwise you can't do this work at all."

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Ep 142: Living the Sutras with Kelly DiNardo   Description: The Yoga Sutras are an essential framework in yoga, but the reality is that it can be difficult to incorporate the sutras into our teachings, our own practice of yoga, or even into our own lives. Kelly DiNardo has some practical strategies to help us apply the teachings of the sutras to our modern lives.   Kelly DiNardo is the owner of Past Tense Yoga Studio opened in 2009, host of the Living It Podcast, which focuses on the realities of living your yoga practice, author of several books, and freelance journalist who contributes to various popular publications. Her most recent book, co-authored with Amy Pearce-Hayden, Living the Sutras: A Guide to Yoga Wisdom beyond the Mat aims to make the other aspects of yoga as approachable and accessible as the asana is today.    To many of us, the sutras can seem intimidating and inaccessible, but Kelly’s book presents them in a way that is engaging and easy to understand. Kelly shares what sparked her interest in the sutrats, and her inspiration to write the book. She also provides some insights into how best to translate the ancient wisdom found in the sutras into something accessible and relevant to today’s world, and how to cultivate the mindsets, habits and practices needed to live a joyful and purposeful life.   If you’ve ever wondered how to bring more of yoga philosophy into your life, or wanted a more practical application of the sutras, this episode is a great starting point.   Key Takeaways: [5:38] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Kelly DiNardo [6:39] Kelly has been a yoga studio owner for 10 years! What got her into yoga in the first place? [8:12] When did Kelly's interest in the sutras develop? [9:43] Kelly shares more about her inspiration and experience with writing Living the Sutras: A Guide to Yoga Wisdom beyond the Mat. [10:47] Shannon and Kelly discuss how her book is presented in a way that makes the sutras easy to understand. [12:18] What are the sutras? [15:04] Yoga is a work in, not just a workout. What has Kelly's experience been in people not wanting to work on themselves? [18:00] Kelly's book is divided into three books. She explains the different sections and what they represent. [21:20] Kelly shares the insight that you can work all of the practices of the eight limbs at the same time. [23:22] What does Kelly mean when she says "everything is yoga"? [26:44] What message is Kelly trying to convey to yoga teachers and yoga practitioners? [28:15] Kelly has a list of resources that she has included in her book. [28:50] What are Kelly's thoughts on the Sanskrit? [32:12] Shannon and Kelly discuss why it is okay to admit when you don't know or struggle with things. [33:10] Kelly talks about some of her experiences in the process of writing the book. [34:54] How have the sutras informed how Kelly runs her yoga studio and her yoga business? [38:41] What are some tips and tricks Kelly would share with yoga teachers who are thinking about opening a yoga studio? [42:06] Kelly shares some insight for people who are struggling with marketing and selling in their yoga business because it feels against all the yoga principles. [46:04] Kelly is doing a card deck as a supplement to the book. [47:13] What kind of feedback has Kelly received on her book? [49:54] What is Kelly's advice for people who want to write and publish articles? [52:36] Get in touch with Kelly via her website, check out her podcast and connect with her on social media.  [53:38] How are you living your yoga? Shannon would love to hear from you!   Links: Kelly DiNardo Kelly DiNardo on Instagram Living the Sutras: A Guide to Yoga Wisdom beyond the Mat, by Kelly DiNardo and Amy Pearce-Hayden Past Tense Yoga Studio Living It Podcast Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg The Language of Yoga: Complete A-to-Y Guide to Asana Names, Sanskrit Terms, and Chants, by Nicolai Bachman  The Four Desires, by Rod Stryker  Living It Podcast Episode 1: Living with Purpose with Rod Stryker Contact Kelly for Course Info (Mention The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast for a 20% coupon code!) Namastream Mediabistro Freelance Success Gratitude to our Sponsors Schedulicity and Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training.   Quotes from this episode:   "If we're living our practice off the mat, then yoga is everywhere for us."   "Yoga is both the goal, the means and the end."   "One of those limbs is our asana, or physical practice, but what I find really interesting is that it's actually less than 2% of the yoga sutras."   "What happens on the mat is a reflection of what's happening off the mat."   "There is an opportunity for yoga or a yoga mindset in every moment."   "You can do yoga and never do asana. Or you could do asana and never do yoga."   "I think understanding the language is an opportunity to go deeper into the practice."   "So few of us think about our breath until there's something wrong with it."   "I think it's important to have a business / professional mindset if you're going to run a studio and I don't think there's any shame in that."   "You physically cannot do what you do if you are not making an actual living."