Deepen Your Yoga Practice

What comes after your 200-hour yoga teacher training? Maybe you've been teaching for years and are ready to deepen your knowledge. Maybe you're feeling a little stagnant in your practice, craving inspiration, or wondering how to expand your offerings. Or perhaps you're simply ready to immerse yourself in yoga again, this time with a little more experience and a lot more curiosity. In this special replay of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren revisits the question: Is advanced yoga teacher training right for you? Originally recorded before True Love Yoga launched its first 300-hour program, this conversation feels especially meaningful now that Lauren has spent nearly a full year mentoring its inaugural cohort. She reflects on her own experience completing advanced training and explores how a 300-hour YTT can help teachers move beyond foundational knowledge toward greater confidence, depth, authenticity, and leadership. In this episode, you'll explore: How a 300-hour training differs from a foundational 200-hour YTT Deepening your personal practice through philosophy, subtle anatomy, and energetic awareness Refining your teaching through advanced sequencing, cueing, assists, and class design Reconnecting with inspiration when teaching begins to feel routine Building confidence in your unique teaching voice Expanding into workshops, retreats, private lessons, mentorship, and leadership Creating sustainable offerings rooted in yogic values The importance of continued study, community, and collaboration How advanced training can help you grow without abandoning who you already are Lauren also shares what inspired her to create True Love Yoga's 300-Hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training and how her first year leading the program has reinforced her belief in lifelong learning. 2027 300-Hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Applications are open for True Love Yoga's next cohort, beginning January 2027. This year-long hybrid program combines self-paced online learning, monthly in-person immersions, live office hours, individual mentorship, and a full year of True Love Yoga membership. Save $1,000 with early enrollment through November 11, 2026! Explore the curriculum, schedule, tuition, and application: https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/yoga-teacher-training/ This episode is a replay of an earlier recording. Some references to the original 2026 training launch are historical. The new introduction and outro contain current information about the 2027 program. Advanced training isn't about collecting more certifications. It's about developing a deeper relationship with yoga and discovering how much more there is to learn.

Have you ever wondered if you might be ready for yoga teacher training? Maybe you've fallen in love with your practice and feel a quiet calling to share it. Maybe your favorite teacher has encouraged you to take the leap. Or perhaps you simply want to deepen your understanding of yoga, even if you never plan to teach a class. In this special replay of episode 9 of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren explores what it really means to be ready for yoga teacher training—and why readiness has very little to do with how flexible you are, how long you've practiced, or whether you can do a handstand. Drawing from her own journey as a yoga teacher and teacher trainer, Lauren shares the questions, qualities, and considerations that can help you decide whether this next step is right for you. In this episode, you'll explore: Understanding your personal why for pursuing yoga teacher training Committing to your own practice, both on and off the mat Developing a passion for lifelong learning and svādhyāya (self-study) The importance of compassion, emotional intelligence, and holding space for others The realities of teaching yoga beyond the Instagram highlights Navigating imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and the fear of not being "good enough" Finding your authentic teaching voice and personal style The transformative power of mentorship and community Why yoga teacher training can be meaningful even if you never intend to teach professionally Lauren also reflects on her own experience entering yoga teacher training with plenty of fear and uncertainty—and how listening to that persistent inner calling ultimately changed the direction of her life. 2027 Yoga Teacher Training enrollment opens November 11! True Love Yoga's 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training is designed to build a strong foundation in yoga philosophy, anatomy, asana, sequencing, meditation, pranayama, and compassionate, trauma-aware teaching. Whether your goal is to become a confident yoga teacher or simply deepen your personal practice, this training offers an opportunity for meaningful growth, community, and self-discovery. Learn more: https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/yoga-teacher-training/ Note: This episode was originally recorded in 2024. Some dates and program details mentioned in the original recording have changed. Visit the website for current information about our 2027 training.

Have you ever wondered how the chakras, koshas, gunas, vayus, nadis, and five elements all fit together? Are they parts of one unified system, or are they different ways of understanding the human experience? This week on Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren is doing something a little different: sharing an actual recording from inside True Love Yoga's inaugural 300-hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training. Inspired by a thoughtful question from one of her students, this mini-lecture explores the historical development of yoga's philosophical and subtle-body systems, revealing how ideas that emerged across centuries eventually became woven together in modern yoga. From early Vedic thought and the Upanishads to Sāṃkhya philosophy, Patañjali's Yoga Sūtras, Tantra, and Haṭha Yoga, Lauren traces the evolution of these frameworks and explains why understanding their distinct origins matters. In this episode, you'll explore: The guṇas: Sattva, rajas, and tamas as qualities of nature and experience The five elements: The building blocks of manifestation in Sāṃkhya cosmology The kośas: Five layers or sheaths of embodied experience The vāyus: Five directional expressions of prāṇa The nāḍīs: Subtle pathways through which prāṇa is understood to flow The chakras: Transformational centers developed within Tantric traditions How these systems became integrated through later Haṭha Yoga and modern yoga Practical ways to use these frameworks for sequencing, cueing, meditation, theming, and trauma-aware teaching Rather than treating these concepts as a single ancient map or rigid hierarchy, Lauren invites us to appreciate them as different lenses through which we can explore the same human experience. Plus, a peek inside True Love Yoga's 300-Hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training! Applications are open for the 2027 program, a year-long hybrid training designed for yoga teachers who want to deepen their knowledge, refine their teaching, and continue growing as students of yoga. Explore the program: https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/yoga-teacher-training/ Because the more we learn about yoga, the more we discover there is to explore.

Pregnancy and postpartum change far more than the physical body. They transform our relationship with movement, identity, strength, and what it means to care for ourselves. Yet so much of the conversation around this season still centers on restrictions, recovery timelines, and the pressure to "bounce back." What if we approached it differently? In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren welcomes back Melody Butler, E-RYT 500, YACEP, RPYT teacher trainer, functional movement educator, trauma-aware yoga educator, and creator of Mom Bod Yoga. Together, they explore what it really means to support people through pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond—and why perinatal yoga is so much more than modifying poses to accommodate a growing belly. They discuss: Why postpartum recovery doesn't end at six or twelve weeks Moving beyond bounce-back culture toward strength, self-acceptance, and care How pregnancy and postpartum affect the whole person—not just anatomy Why yoga teachers often feel unprepared to support pregnant students The importance of core and pelvic floor awareness, nervous system support, and trauma-aware teaching How yoga philosophy can support the emotional and identity shifts of parenthood Why movement should be about nurturing ourselves rather than fixing ourselves Lauren and Melody also announce True Love Yoga's new 85-Hour Perinatal Yoga Teacher Training, launching in 2027 with Melody as lead facilitator. This five-month hybrid or fully virtual program explores perinatal anatomy and physiology, functional movement, core and pelvic floor health, yoga philosophy, pranayama, meditation, trauma-aware teaching, and intelligent adaptations for pregnancy and postpartum. Designed for yoga teachers, fitness professionals, doulas, birth workers, and other professionals who support people through this extraordinary season, the training offers a comprehensive foundation for compassionate, knowledgeable perinatal movement education. 2027 Perinatal Yoga Teacher Training March–August 2027 Hybrid or fully virtual participation Tuition: $2,000 Early enrollment: $300 off through January 15 Payment plans and limited $500 BIPOC scholarships available Applications are now open! Explore the training and apply: https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/yoga-teacher-training/ Connect with Melody: Melody Butler Yoga Because pregnancy and postpartum aren't problems to fix. They're extraordinary transitions that deserve knowledgeable, compassionate support.

As the light changes, temperatures drop, and leaves begin to fall, nature makes one thing very clear: we are entering a new season. And yet, we often expect ourselves to operate exactly the same way all year long. In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren explores autumn through the lens of yoga and its sister science, Ayurveda. Traditionally associated with vata dosha and the qualities of air and space, autumn can feel cool, dry, light, mobile, and changeable—qualities we may notice reflected in our bodies and minds, too. Rather than completely changing your routine, what if your practice simply responded to the season? Lauren shares approachable ways to bring more warmth, steadiness, rhythm, and nourishment into your yoga practice and daily life—from slower transitions and grounding postures to restorative practices, warming foods, consistent routines, and simple sensory rituals. You'll also explore autumn as an invitation to turn inward and consider: What am I ready to release? What do I want to carry forward into this season? Lauren also shares an invitation to Vairāgya: Release & Return, an autumn practice at True Love Yoga on October 18 featuring myofascial release, Yin Yoga, breathwork, reflection, and Yoga Nidra. You don't have to overhaul your life when the seasons change. Maybe you simply become a little warmer, a little slower, a little more grounded—and a little more willing to listen.

After a month away—and her first real break from the podcast in more than two years—Lauren is back for episode 108, an auspicious number in the yoga tradition. And a lot has changed. In this personal episode, Lauren shares what’s been unfolding behind the scenes: celebrating 11 years of True Love Yoga, graduating the ninth 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training class, moving through the final months of TLY’s first 300-hour training, watching Abhyāsa evolve from an experiment into a beloved weekly practice, and unexpectedly becoming the owner of a women’s athletic club. With BarBelle Athletic Club in the middle of its messy, exciting birth, Lauren reflects on what yoga looks like when life is anything but calm. Through abhyāsa (consistent practice), vairāgya (non-attachment), sthira and sukha (effort and ease), and aparigraha (non-grasping), she explores how yoga can help us navigate uncertainty—not by making change disappear, but by changing the way we meet it. This episode is an invitation to consider: What is changing in your life right now? What helps you stay rooted when things feel uncertain? And what might it look like to keep showing up without needing to control exactly how everything unfolds? Because your practice doesn’t have to make the wind stop. It can teach you how to stand inside it.

You completed your 200-hour yoga teacher training. Maybe you've been teaching for years—or perhaps your certification has been sitting quietly while you wondered what comes next. So…is a 300-hour yoga teacher training right for you? In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren Leduc takes you inside True Love Yoga's 300-Hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training and explores what advanced study actually looks like. Unlike a foundational 200-hour training, a 300-hour isn't simply about accumulating more information. It's about refinement: developing discernment, finding your authentic teaching voice, understanding the why behind what you teach, and becoming a more confident, responsive, knowledgeable, and compassionate teacher. Lauren shares what students actually study, how the year-long program works, what makes True Love Yoga's approach unique, and answers some of the most common questions prospective students ask. Whether you're actively considering advanced training or simply curious about what comes after 200 hours, this episode offers a clear look at the next layer of yoga education. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN How a 300-hour training differs from a 200-hour training Who advanced yoga teacher training is—and isn't—for Why advanced study is about refinement rather than collecting certifications How to develop your own authentic teaching voice What advanced asana study really means How philosophy can become a through line in your teaching Why business, leadership, and professional development matter for yoga teachers How mentoring supports your evolution as a teacher How True Love Yoga's flexible year-long training works Whether you need to currently teach to enroll How much weekly time to expect Why you don't need to feel "advanced" before beginning IN THIS EPISODE Beyond the 200-Hour A 200-hour training provides a foundation for teaching yoga safely and effectively. A 300-hour training asks a different set of questions. Who are you as a teacher? Why do you teach what you teach? How do you respond when a student or situation doesn't fit the script? What do you uniquely have to offer? Advanced training moves beyond simply following the map and develops the discernment to navigate when there isn't one. Refining Your Teaching Students explore advanced cueing, voice, presence, reading the room, energetic awareness, adaptive teaching, trauma awareness, and responsive teaching. The goal isn't to create teachers who sound like Lauren. It's to help each student uncover and trust their own voice. Advanced Asana + Additional Modalities Advanced doesn't always mean physically difficult. Students explore intelligent progressions, arm balances, inversions, backbends, modifications, chair adaptations, hands-on assists, therapeutic applications, advanced vinyasa sequencing, Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, myofascial release, and Yoga Nidra. Philosophy as a Through Line The Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, chakras, subtle anatomy, ethics, and other philosophical teachings aren't treated as separate academic subjects. They're integrated into sequencing, anatomy, asana, workshops, retreats, teaching decisions, and leadership. The Business of Yoga Advanced teachers also need practical tools to build sustainable careers. Students explore branding, marketing, pricing, private sessions, workshops, retreats, legal considerations, financial literacy, podcasting, public speaking, community building, and sustainable professional development. Throughout it all, students clarify their unique value, whom they want to serve, and how to communicate their work authentically. Leadership One of the biggest shifts...

Many yoga teachers finish their 200-hour training wondering, "What's next?" In this heartfelt conversation, Lauren sits down with Annalyssa Broderson, a 200-hour graduate of True Love Yoga's 2020 training and current student in the studio's inaugural 300-hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training. Together they discuss how yoga evolves over a lifetime, what happens after teacher training, and why continuing to study often brings more questions than answers. Annalyssa shares her journey from runner to therapist to yoga teacher, how yoga has supported her work with eating disorder recovery and mental health, and how returning to advanced study has helped her integrate movement, philosophy, mindfulness, and professional purpose. Whether you're a yoga teacher, considering teacher training, or simply someone who loves learning, this episode is a reminder that yoga isn't something we master—it's a relationship that continues to unfold. In this episode you'll learn: • How Annalyssa fell in love with yoga • What yoga teacher training was like during 2020 • The biggest differences between a 200-hour and 300-hour training • Why advanced yoga isn't about advanced poses • The role curiosity plays in lifelong practice • How yoga supports therapists, helpers, and caregivers • What students can expect from Annalyssa's Friday Hatha Flow classes • Why community makes continued education so powerful Interested in our 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training? Enrollment opens September 1, 2026 for our January 2027 cohort. ✨ Download our free guide: "Is a 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Right for You?" Learn more, join the interest list, and download the guide: https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/yoga-teacher-training/ Early enrollment pricing includes $1,000 off tuition through November 11. Learn more: https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/yoga-teacher-training/ Connect with Annalyssa: Instagram: @wildemberkc

What does it mean to truly know yoga? When Lauren began her first 200-hour yoga teacher training, she imagined she might finish with a firm grasp on the practice. Instead, the opposite happened: yoga became bigger, the questions became deeper, and the path of learning expanded. In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren explores the beginner’s mind and the paradox of mastery. The more we learn about yoga, the more we begin to recognize how much remains unknown. She discusses why certificates do not automatically equal wisdom, why advanced yoga is about much more than advanced postures, and how lifelong study can cultivate humility, curiosity, discernment, and openness. This episode is an invitation to release the pressure to arrive and embrace yoga as an unfolding relationship—one that continues to reveal new layers through movement, anatomy, philosophy, meditation, teaching, service, and life itself. Mentioned in This Episode True Love Yoga 300-Hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Enrollment for the next True Love Yoga 300-hour teacher training opens September 1. This program is designed for 200-hour graduates who want more than another certificate. It offers a place to ask deeper questions, refine teaching skills, expand knowledge, and continue growing within a thoughtful community of dedicated teachers and practitioners. The training is open to graduates of any 200-hour yoga teacher training program. Learn more: https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/yoga-teacher-training/

Why do yogis practice arm balances and inversions? Are these postures ancient traditions, modern inventions, or simply social media-worthy poses? In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren Leduc explores the fascinating history and deeper purpose of arm balances and inversions in modern yoga. While many of these postures became popular through the influence of gymnastics and physical culture in the 20th century, their value extends far beyond the physical challenge. Lauren discusses how balancing on our hands teaches resilience, patience, body awareness, and self-study. Rather than focusing on mastering impressive shapes, these postures invite us to develop a growth mindset, cultivate courage, and discover the joy of play. Whether you've been practicing inversions for years or your feet have never left the floor, this episode offers a fresh perspective on why the process matters far more than the pose itself. Mentioned in This Episode Abhyāsa Posture Clinic: Balances, Arm Balances & Inversions Sunday, August 16 12:30–2:30 PM True Love Yoga We'll spend two hours exploring balancing postures, arm balances, and inversions through intelligent progressions that help you build strength, confidence, body awareness, and stability—regardless of your experience level. ✨ $30 ✨ TLY Members save $5 with code WORKSHOP ✨ Free for current Yoga Teacher Trainees Learn more: https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/