Yogaland Podcast

Mobilizing your hip-flexors and quadriceps is the most essential preparation for backbending. Learn Jason’s 5-favorite yoga poses to prep for backbends — and where you can easily include these postures in your sequences. These are creative preparations — his own variations on essential poses like Anajaneyasana and Natarajasana but with a unique spin. Enjoy!Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Should you tilt your pelvis toward your thighs or away from your thighs when you backbend in yoga? The answer depends on the body-type of the student. Learn how tilting your pelvis can change your backbend -- and which option is best for you and your students.I will put links to our backbend sequences on the shownotes page, here: www.yogalandpodcast.com/ytc-ep2Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Learn 5 simple, commonly-overlooked ways to help your students create greater comfort, depth, and space in their Wheel Pose.Hint: you DON'T need to make your students keep their feet hip-width apart. And, yes, you can even let your students turn their feet out slightly.Learn about these options and more.For video visit: https://youtu.be/MqIZvwOSVRYSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When life gets busy and demanding, it's easy to fall into the trap of feeling like you've got to work harder to "get it all done." But what if you simply made the decision not to get it all done? Can you let go of something on your to-do list and give yourself some time to slow down right now? This episode is all about why it's important to slow down as yoga teachers, students, and content creators. It's your permission to let go (even if just a little) and return to your sources of inspiration.Quick announcement! Jason is hosting a free live webinar next Wednesday, 12/15/22 all about balancing flexibility & mobility. Go save yourself a seat at jasonyoga.com/webinarShownotes: You can find them at www.yogalandpodcast.com/episode248Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When the holiday mania hits, it's all too easy for your yoga practice to fall by the wayside. This week Jason and I challenge you to do the opposite -- prioritize your practice so that you've got the energy and attention you need to truly enjoy this season! If it were easy, we wouldn't have to have this conversation, so we offer our time-tested strategies for keeping your yoga practice a continuous thread that supports and nourishes you.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tis the season! It's the official start of the holiday season in the United States this week. And while there is much to love about the holidays, there’s no denying that this time of year can also be really difficult for many people. In this episode, we’re talking about how yoga and mindfulness can help you handle the toughest holiday situations--from challenging family dynamics and loneliness to unmet expectations.Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode246Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, which we first published earlier this year, Jason and I tackle yoga injuries. There may not be a way to completely prevent all injuries, but we’re sharing some best practices that teachers and students can practice to minimize the risk.We cover a lot of ground, but here are a few top-level points:* Why there’s no one “right” way to approach any pose in order to prevent injury.* The four key things you should consider in regards to injury prevention* The types of hands-on adjustments that Jason advocates against* How to find equilibrium and balance in yoga posesShow notes: http://www.yogaland.com/episode245Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

According to the CDC, lower back pain causes more global disability than any other condition. In one study, 25% of U.S. adults reported back pain in the previous 3 months. Given these harrowing stats, yoga teachers are bound to have students with back pain come to class seeking relief. On this episode, Jason succinctly shares the two most important principles for yoga teachers to know when trying to help students both stave off back pain and work with it while practicing.Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode244Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today, my guest is Marcia Mercier, a fellow breast cancer survivor and yoga teacher in the U.K. More than two decades ago, Marcia found that the methodical approach of an Iyengar Yoga class was incredibly grounding in the aftermath of breast cancer treatment. Studies corroborate Marcia's experience: Yoga offers a broad array of benefits for breast cancer survivors, from reducing cancer-related fatigue to building bone density, from easing insomnia to improving overall emotional well-being. Marcia shares her story as well as how she developed a a unique system for reaching women in need of yoga for breast cancer during the pandemic. Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode243Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, we continue our conversation about the big picture WHY -- that is, why we practice yoga. We muse over the magic of consistency, the power of agency, and how we all need community even if the way that we show up looks different from each other. -->> Go check out our freshly redesigned website complete with podcast collections for easier binging! www.jasonyoga.com Also, to join the waitlist for Jason's Preventing Injuries course, click here.Shownotes: www.jasonyoga.com/yogaland-podcast/episode242Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It’s hard to believe that Jason and I have been practicing yoga for about 25 years—that’s a quarter of a century! You’d think that in that amount of time we would have gotten what we need from our practice—and you’d be right. But yoga isn’t the type of practice where you learn what you need and move on. It continues to meet your needs as your circumstances shift and change. That’s what we’re talking about on today’s episode: All the reasons we keep showing up for our yoga practice after all these years.Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode241Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

“There’s more than one right.” This is something that Jason says often during his trainings. It applies to many different types of yoga postures (and many life circumstances, too!). For today’s episode, we’re talking about how it applies to backbending. Do you really have to keep your feet hip distance apart and parallel to each other? And what’s the risk of playing with different types of alignment?Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode240Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jason has recorded hundreds (if not thousands!) of hours of asana and lecture videos in the last few years. And yet, it might surprise you to learn that he’s still a little self conscious about how he looks on video.Everyone has insecurities—even yoga teachers who have been getting in front of students for decades. So, on today's episode we're talking about some of our insecurities. We hope the conversation helps you feel less alone if you've ever felt this way and inspires you to keep showing up for your students anyway.Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode239Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On last week's episode Jason shared why consistency is key when it comes to class planning and sequencing. This week he shares how to actual implement a consistent class curriculum with four different approaches or templates to crafting great yoga classes that keep your students coming back. Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode238Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When it comes to sequencing, there are a few things that trip yoga teachers up time and time again. Jason’s back on the podcast today to talk about several of the mistakes he’s made himself through the years and how he’s shifted his approach to sequencing to overcome these challenges.Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode237Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ninety minutes is a really long time to stand in front of a group and talk, no matter how much you know about the topic! That's why having a clear plan is key for yoga teachers. (Because, as Jason points out, if you don't have some sort of plan, you'll either go off on random tangents or run out of things to say.) Today, Jason shares how he plans his yoga class sequences so his students are engaged and learning something meaningful every time. Plus, he addresses one of the most common objections yoga teachers give for not planning (creativity) and why he believes having a structure actually gives teachers more room to be creative, not less.Show notes:.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode236 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What do you hope to teach your students when you teach yoga? Is it to make shapes with their bodies? How about your teacher trainees -- is it to memorize and repeat your sequences and study only with you? This week, Jason shares the foundational values that inform his educational style, namely helping students become clear, critical, and independent thinkers that value context and understand different perspectives.Teaching this way means that you welcome questions, you allow a diversity of opinions, you encourage students to -- gasp! -- have more than one teacher or modality, and yet you still hold a container for so that your teaching is clear and accessible. ⁠Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode235 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today, we return to Patanjali's Yoga Sutra and Jason shares three models for applying the eight-limb path to life -- The Step-by-Step Model, The Integrated Model, and The Single Limb Model. Plus, stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear 5th anniversary messages from listeners!Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode234 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Can you believe we've been podcasting about yoga for 5 years!? For this special anniversary episode of Yogaland, Jason and I reflect on lessons we’ve learned through the years and the things that have surprised us most about our podcasting. Thanks for being a part of the journey.Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode233 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

I'm so happy to have Sarah Kadel on the podcast today. Sarah is an Austin-based yoga teacher who is serving as a mentor teacher in Jason’s online advanced teacher training this year. I wanted to share her story with you because I think the world needs to hear her message about how yoga can be so helpful for those who have suffered with trauma in their lives. Sarah shares:* How yoga helped her understand and move past addiction* What the newest body of research says about the neurobiology of trauma* Helpful tips for yoga teachers who hope to make their classes trauma-informed or more friendly for students with all types of trauma* What to look for (and what to avoid) when you are looking for a trauma-informed yoga teacherShow notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode232 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.