Conversations for Yoga Teachers

What do you say when a student asks you a question? Do you feel on the hot seat, like you have to have the correct answer?  In this episode, I'm exploring five common questions yoga teachers hear from their students and how to approach answering them with a better understanding of anatomy, movement, and individual experience. We'll look at the following questions:  What should I be feeling in this pose?  Why do my wrists hurt in Downward Dog?  Why do I feel tightness in my hip when stepping forward in Warrior 1?  What muscles am I supposed to be using when I hear the cue to engage my core? how many times a week should I be practicing?    I'm not giving you scripted answers to memorize. Instead, we'll explore the anatomy behind each question and the follow-up questions you can ask to better understand what your students are experiencing.   I share in the episode that I’m hosting a live event on December 5 in Boston. Here’s the invite:     https://karen-fabian.lpcontent.net/podcast-live-event   I also talk about the two programs I have that can help you if you’re ready to get some support:   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/blueprint-learning-program   I also started offering Sequence Solution Sessions, where you can get help building or updating a sequence you have:     https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Sequence-Solution-Session  

In this episode, we’ll talk about applying anatomy to movement and in a specific way: the student who is out of alignment. This can be something that raises alarm bells for teachers and it’s often a mask for a lack of understanding anatomy.  In this episode, I break down four common yoga alignment scenarios and explore why we need to look beyond whether a position appears right or wrong. You’ll learn how to evaluate the actual demands of a pose, understand when an alignment issue requires action on your part and we’ll take a look at the common fear and worry associated with students who are out of alignment.  I mention in the beginning of the episode that I recently updated my 3 main training videos on the following:   How to do the Walk and Talk   https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-do-the-walk-and-talk   How to share effective cues   https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-share-clear-yoga-cues   How to create a Signature Sequence   https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-create-a-signature-sequence   I also share a new way you can work with me to get some help to craft or update your Signature Sequence. You can now sign up for a Sequence Solution Session where I’ll help you craft aa sequence you love and can confidently teach. Sessions are just $29 and you can book one here:   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Sequence-Solution-Session   I also mention how I can help you learn anatomy and how to apply it to your cues and sequences in my program, The Yoga Anatomy Accelerator:   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator  

It’s common to spend time worrying about things when you’re teaching. But just because it’s common, doesn’t mean that you need to be worrying about these things. In fact, when you spend your time worrying while teaching, it feels pretty uncomfortable. The fact that teachers worry about so much is an unfortunate result of a lot of the beliefs that are common in the yoga industry. This episode is a chance to see through a lot of those beliefs, move past them and in the process, drop the worry you might have for different things that might show up.  In this episode, I share 5 common things that yoga teachers worry about and underneath each one is a core feeling, which is fear, and that fear is driven by a belief they picked up from talking to another teacher or maybe one they created themselves. You’ll hear about the scenario of the beginner in class, the person who says they’re injured and even the situation when a person leaves your class early.  We'll explore the difference between being overly attached, or attached in an unhealthy way, to the students versus taking responsibility for things that are within your professional scope of practice.. meaning, the things that are on your plate to worry about versus the things that are not. And, when I say “worry” what I really mean is the things that are your’s to know how to do.  There are a few links that go along with this episode, which you can find below:   https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/the-5-day-confidence-challenge   https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-create-a-signature-sequence   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

Feeling confident and like teaching yoga is easy and natural isn't about trying to control everything that happens in your classes. But often, teachers try to do that because they think some things are theirs to control when they’re really not.  In this episode, I'm sharing 6 essentials that can help you become a more confident, intentional yoga teacher while letting go of the worry and pressure around the things you can't control. We'll talk about creating a signature sequence, understanding the cues you share, learning the essentials of anatomy, adopting a walk-and-talk teaching style, shifting from attachment to agency, and finding a grounded approach to yoga philosophy. You'll also discover how to focus your energy on what matters most: understanding what you're teaching, knowing why you're teaching it, and taking responsibility for your own growth as a teacher. Resources mentioned in this episode are:  https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/ten-steps-to-learning-anatomy   https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-create-a-signature-sequence   https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-do-the-walk-and-talk   https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-share-clear-yoga-cues     https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator  

“I don’t teach that in my classes because my students can’t do it.” I hear teachers say this all the time. But how do you actually know what people can and can’t do? In this episode, I take a deeper look at the assumptions that can sit behind this belief—from our own experiences and limitations, to assumptions about older, newer, or deconditioned students, to things we’ve simply been told by other teachers. We’ll also look at the fear that offering a challenging movement might somehow put our students at risk, and how our attachment to having students “do it right” can actually get in the way of teaching objectively. Using High-to-low push-up as an example, you’ll discover why understanding anatomy changes the way you teach. When you understand what a movement is asking the body to do, you can observe what’s actually happening, offer modifications and useful cues, and help students develop the strength and skill they need to progress. Because sometimes, when we decide a student “can’t do it,” we’re actually denying them the opportunity to discover what they can do. And this is one of the reasons learning anatomy is so important for yoga teachers. It’s not about memorizing muscles and bones, it’s more about filling in the knowledge gaps so that you can trust what you teach.  You’ll hear more about this in the episode and here it is:  Download my free guide, 10 Key Steps to Learning Anatomy:    https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/ten-steps-to-learning-anatomy   Here’s the link to the Accelerator Program, where I’ll show you how to use the blueprint to learn anatomy:      https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

What happens when the way you want to teach is different from the way you were trained to teach? In this episode, I’m exploring the tension between following the script and actually responding to the people in front of you. We’ll use Child’s Pose as a case study: a pose we’re often told is restful and accessible, yet one that can be surprisingly uncomfortable for many people. What happens when teachers can see that discomfort but don’t have the anatomical understanding or tools to know what to do about it? This is a conversation about moving beyond memorized cues, learning to observe what’s actually happening, and developing the confidence to teach from understanding rather than simply repeating what we were taught.   Here is a video on social media that I created that partners with this episode:     https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dd9oYV0PM46/   Here is the link to the Accelerator Program:   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

Have you ever given a cue in class and wondered, “What does this really mean?" Many yoga teachers learn cues by hearing them in teacher training, taking classes or watching other teachers. But when you don’t understand the WHY behind a cue, it can be hard to trust what you’re saying—or know what to do when a student is out of alignment.  In this episode, I’ll walk you through a simple framework for creating cues from an understanding of anatomy rather than relying on memorization. We’ll look at how to start with the pose, identify the major joint movements, determine which muscles are creating those movements and then turn that understanding into something you can actually say to your students. I’ll also share my 3 action cues + 1 anatomy cue approach and explain why I always say, “Say the cue, see what they do.” Because the goal isn’t to memorize more cues. It’s to understand the WHY behind what you say so you can adjust, reframe and teach in your own voice. That’s how you begin to trust your cues—and trust what you teach.   Here’s the video I referred to in the episode:   https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdozrvOMQC2/   Here is the link to the Yoga Anatomy Accelerator. You get a $50 discount for being a podcast listener ( let me know you’re ready to enroll and I’ll share the code)   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator     Here’s the link to the 90 day coaching program:   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/blueprint-learning-program  

Have you ever walked into teach your class, started teaching and something triggered you to feel nervous or anxious? In this episode, we’ll talk about why this can happen even after you’ve completed your 200-hour teacher training and feel like you “should” be getting it by now.  I’ll share how overcomplicated sequences, complex cues and the pressure to please or take care of your students can make teaching feel harder than it needs to be. You’ll learn simple strategies to help you stay grounded, including using a signature sequence, simplifying your cueing with action cues, and what to do in the moment when anxiety starts to take over. The other piece of the episode that will really shift your perspective is the section on mindset. The mindset you have about your role as a teacher, especially as it relates to you and the people in your class, is a huge part of how you feel when you teach This rarely gets discussed in teacher training and that’s why so many teachers end up feeling nervous when they teach.  Trusting yourself as a yoga teacher doesn’t mean you’ll never feel nervous. It means having a clear approach you can rely on when you do. Here’s a download on how to create a Signature Sequence:    https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-create-a-signature-sequence   And if you’re looking to get support to pull this all together, here’s how we can work on it together:   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator  

How can anatomy actually help you build a yoga sequence? In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of a recent hip-focused Movement Lab and share the simple framework I used to create a 30-minute sequence leading to Half Pigeon. You’ll learn how starting with an objective, creating the structure of your class, and using movement to guide your pose choices can make sequencing feel simpler and more intentional. I’ll also show you how understanding the anatomy behind your sequence can help you create clearer, more effective cues.   Links:       https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-build-a-yoga-sequence-lead-page     https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator  

When you went to teacher training, how much “real life” support did you get around scenarios that come up when you’re teaching? If you’re like a lot of teachers I talk with, you didn’t get much. Now that you’re teaching weekly classes, you might feel like  every class there’s a new situation that comes up where you’re not exactly sure how to handle it. In today’s episode, I cover 7 scenarios that arise and an approach to each.    The conversation covers both the technical aspects of teaching, meaning cues and sequences, the anatomical aspect of teaching, meaning how you apply anatomy to movement as well as the mindset piece that can impact how you feel when you teach.    As you listen, you’ll hear me refer to The Yoga Anatomy Accelerator. If you’re curious to find out more, here’s the link:     https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator     If you have questions or are wondering if it’s a good fit for you, just reach out to me in my Instagram DM’s and let’s talk.