373 episodes

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast is a place where yoga teachers can tune in each week to learn, connect with community and gain inspiration. After a yoga teacher training it can feel like being left out in the wilderness for yoga teacher entrepreneurs. The business side of yoga is often not talked about as much as philosophy, anatomy and other topics covered in a yoga teacher training. This podcast addresses the questions and challenges that yoga teachers face. Hear interviews with yoga teachers and other professionals on a variety of topics.

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Shannon Crow (she/her)

    • Health & Fitness
    • 4.8 • 142 Ratings

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast is a place where yoga teachers can tune in each week to learn, connect with community and gain inspiration. After a yoga teacher training it can feel like being left out in the wilderness for yoga teacher entrepreneurs. The business side of yoga is often not talked about as much as philosophy, anatomy and other topics covered in a yoga teacher training. This podcast addresses the questions and challenges that yoga teachers face. Hear interviews with yoga teachers and other professionals on a variety of topics.

    Money Matters & Budgeting with Jenifer Parker

    Money Matters & Budgeting with Jenifer Parker

    The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
    367: Money Matters & Budgeting with Jenifer Parker 
     
    Description: How do you feel about budgeting and money as a yoga teacher? What is your system for tracking income and expenses – is it working? How can you decrease your expenses and/or increase your income? These are some questions Jennifer Parker answers in this insightful money conversation.
     
    Jenifer Parker has been a yoga teacher for more than 21 years and is a qualified instructor in 4 lineages: Kripalu, Sivananda, Krishnamacharya, and Thai Yoga. She meets students where they are, teaching a traditional, integrated approach. In general she teaches within the Krishnamacharya lineage, but offers a unique insight into the similarities and differences in practice across lineages. Currently, she offers private lessons, corporate and private group classes, and a few public community classes in Te-Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa (Wellington, New Zealand).
     
    In this episode, Shannon and Jennifer dive deeper into money matters and budgeting for yoga teachers. Jennifer explains how to get consistent with our budgeting, how to adapt it to our needs and our yoga business, and why it’s so important for yoga teachers. She also shares some ideas on how to make more money as a yoga teacher and tackles some big mindset blocks yoga teachers may face when it comes to money issues.
     
    Key Takeaways: [0:28] Shannon takes a moment to recognize the harm that is taking place in Palestine right now.
    [4:13] Shannon briefly talks about her topic and guest for the episode.
    [5:15] Shannon introduces herself and gives a shout out to the sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.
    [8:47] Kathleen Pratt shares a little about the ongoing online yoga series, Nourish Your Nervous System.
    [10:13] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Jennifer Parker.
    [15:49] What does Jennifer do and who does she do it for?
    [18:36] Jennifer shares a little about where she is located.
    [19:44] Why is Jennifer so passionate about talking about money in relation to teaching yoga and being a yoga teacher?
    [25:47] What are Jennifer's thoughts on budgets?
    [32:04] What kind of tools does Jennifer use when it comes to creating a budget?
    [34:08] What actions does Jennifer take when she's looking at her budget every week?
    [37:26] Jennifer shares some tips that can help with the mindset part of creating and following a budget.
    [40:34] What are some ideas for yoga teachers to make more money?
    [46:49] Having a clear goal in mind will help you move in the right direction.
    [48:23] Shannon pops in to give a shout out of thanks to sponsor, OfferingTree.
    [51:21] What are some other ideas for making money within yoga?
    [58:17] Jennifer recommends talking to your landlord about subdividing the physical space you are using for yoga classes if the rent has gone up.
    [62:23] We have to get comfortable talking about money!
    [0:00] undefined
    [63:18] Jennifer's advice is to tap into your networks.
    [74:37] Shannon shares some reflection questions you can journal on.
    [75:37 - 75:50] Questions:
    [78:42] Shannon shares an audio message from a podcast listener.
    [81:11] Support the podcast by making a donation or signing up for one of the offerings!
     
    Links: Jennifer Parker
    Previous Podcast Episodes on Money
    366: Get Okay with Making Money with Chioma Njoku 
    330: Connect with Your Money with Shannon Crow
    295: Make Money Teaching Yoga with Betty Welsh
    280: Get Paid as a Yoga Teacher with Shannon Simmons
    141: Let’s Talk Money with Katie Brauer
    042: Money Mindset with Geraldine Carter
    154: Bookkeeping for Yoga Teachers with Kelly Christian
    329: Why Separate Bank Accounts? with Shannon Crow
    Mint: Budget Tracker & Planner
    Nourish Your Nervous System, 6-Week Online Series with Kathleen Pratt in Pelvic Health Professionals
    Guest Speakers in P

    • 1 hr 25 min
    Get Okay with Making Money with Chioma Njoku

    Get Okay with Making Money with Chioma Njoku

    The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
    366: Get Okay with Making Money with Chioma Njoku
     
    Description: Is making money yoga-like? How is making money aligned with the principles of yoga? How do you balance making money as a yoga teacher with keeping your offerings financially accessible to people? Chioma Njoku shares her insights on these questions and more.
     
    Chioma is the owner and Chief Mindful Operator at the Mindful Bookkeeper, and host of the Cheers to Your Prosperity podcast. By integrating the lessons she has learned from her own financial struggles and her professional experience as an Accountant of 18 years and Financial Coach, Chioma helps entrepreneurs and small business owners keep more of their hard-earned money in the bank without sacrificing the things that make life enjoyable.
     
    In this episode, Chioma dives into the nitty gritty details of the money and finances aspect of running a yoga business. She talks about how bookkeeping software can help us with our finances, how to track payment fees, how to check your financial reports with intention, and why creating money practices is like practicing yoga. Tune in for Chioma’s tips on how to be consistent with money and shift your money mindset.
     
    Key Takeaways: [2:23] This episode is powered by OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.
    [3:58] Kathleen Pratt shares a little about the upcoming yoga series: Nourish Your Nervous System.
    [5:12] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Chioma Njoku.
    [9:49] What does Chioma do and who does she do it for?
    [10:42] What does it look like when Chioma works with someone?
    [12:47] Chioma addresses the idea that making money is yoga. It's okay to make money.
    [15:24] How can yoga teachers balance the need to get paid with keeping their yoga classes accessible to people with limited funds?
    [17:54] Chioma shares a little about the saviorism she encountered in 2020, when people invited her to attend their yoga classes for free because she is Black.
    [21:09] Chioma talks about bookkeeping and what that means for yoga businesses.
    [22:11] How often should we be looking at our money?
    [24:34] What's a good starting point for yoga teachers who are not tracking their income or their expenses?
    [29:06] Shannon pops in to share a great article that Sinead from the Connected Yoga Teacher Team wrote for OfferingTree.
    [31:02] Shannon and Chioma chat about different software that is available for bookkeeping and tracking income and expenses.
    [33:25] How does Chioma recommend yoga teachers look at their reports?
    [35:18] What are some things yoga teachers can do to cut their expenses or increase their income?
    [39:34] What are some other roadblocks yoga teachers often run into around mindset?
    [42:57] How can yoga teachers work on their money mindset and get comfortable with money?
    [46:33] Chioma shares some final thoughts for yoga teachers around money and running their own yoga business.
    [47:56] Check out Chioma's podcast to learn more, and visit her website to connect.
    [49:19] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Chioma.
     
    Links: Chioma Njoku
    Cheers to Your Prosperity Podcast
    Previous Podcast Episodes on Money
    330: Connect with Your Money with Shannon Crow
    295: Make Money Teaching Yoga with Betty Welsh
    280: Get Paid as a Yoga Teacher with Shannon Simmons
    141: Let’s Talk Money with Katie Brauer
    042: Money Mindset with Geraldine Carter
    154: Bookkeeping for Yoga Teachers with Kelly Christian
    329: Why Separate Bank Accounts? with Shannon Crow
    The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 305: Kicked Out of Yoga [Part 2] with Chioma Njoku
    Quickbooks
    Xero
    Freshbooks
    Paypal
    Stripe
    How to Keep Customers Coming Back and Build a Loyal Base by Sinead O'Connor for OfferingTree
    HubDoc
    The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 318: Questions to Ask

    • 54 min
    How to Teach Accessible Yoga with Jivana Heyman

    How to Teach Accessible Yoga with Jivana Heyman

    The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
    365: How to Teach Accessible Yoga with Jivana Heyman
     
    Description: How can we make yoga more accessible? From financial accessibility to the language we use in teaching, from offering modifications to supporting students who don’t follow our lesson plans, making yoga accessible encompasses many different things. Jivana Heyman shares his insights.
     
    Making yoga accessible is at the core of the work Jivana does. He is the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, an international non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings for people of all abilities and backgrounds. He is also an author, and his latest book, The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga, was recently released (listen in to find out how you can enter to win a copy!).
     
    In this episode, Jivana shares how we communicate yoga has evolved over the years, although yoga philosophy remains unchanged, and how accessibility is a part of that.  He also talks about figuring things out as new teachers, overcoming imposter syndrome and why maybe a little bit of imposter syndrome is not a bad thing, and many other aspects of making yoga accessible, including how to maintain a yoga practice even when we don’t have time!
     
    Key Takeaways: [3:52] This episode is powered by OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.
    [4:52] Kathleen Pratt shares a little about the upcoming yoga series: Nourish Your Nervous System.
    [5:58] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Jivana Heyman.
    [10:05] What is the work that Jivana does and who does he do it for?
    [11:15] How can yoga teachers find that balance between being paid for their work enough to make a living and making sure people can access their classes financially?
    [13:56] Pay-what-you-can models and tiered pricing models are some options to increase financial accessibility.
    [15:36] What are some other main things Jivana covers in his new book?
    [18:43] Shannon and Jivana discuss the idea that there is one best/correct way of doing a pose in yoga. This is not true!
    [20:13] The general public has a very different idea of what yoga is than how it can actually be practiced.
    [24:30] What are some new things Jivana has learned recently about making yoga more accessible?
    [27:31] How does Jivana address situations in his classes where a student gives another student a hands-on assist?
    [30:20] Jivana is giving away two of his books! Leave a comment in the show notes to stand a chance to win a copy!
    [30:40] Are you signed up for the OfferingTree newsletter? They offer a free workshop or webinar every month for teachers!
    [31:53] It can sometimes feel that as we learn more about making yoga accessible, there is always yet more to learn.
    [34:36] Yoga has remained the same for millennia but how we interpret, communicate, and share it with people has changed and evolved over time.
    [38:40] How yoga is taught has evolved over time but the yoga philosophy has not.
    [42:13] It can be tempting to want our yoga practice to be perfect, like we experience at a yoga retreat, but how can we apply yoga to our real day-to-day?
    [46:38] What are some tools we can use to bring yoga into our lives?
    [50:28] Shannon and Jivana discuss other ways we can bring yoga into our busy lives.
    [53:50] We can hold opposing things as true at the same time.
    [56:05] Jivana shares the ABCs of yoga: Agency, Boundaries, Collaboration.
    [62:27] How does Jivana handle situations where students don't do what everyone else is doing?
    [68:08] Many yoga teachers deal with imposter syndrome. Jivana addresses this.
    [74:08] Join the giveaway for Jivana's books by leaving a comment and find out more about his work and the books at his website and on Instagram.
    [75:43] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this episode.
    [79:08] Shannon shares some of the upcoming events in Pelvic Health Professionals, including Nourish

    • 1 hr 23 min
    7 Years of Podcasting with Shannon Crow

    7 Years of Podcasting with Shannon Crow

    The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
    364: 7 Years of Podcasting with Shannon Crow
     
    Description: It has been 7 years of podcasts on the Connected Yoga Teacher podcast with Shannon Crow. While it is a time of celebrating the consistency and the amazing connections that have come from the podcast, Shannon shares some of her reflections about her recent situation, both personal and on a broader scale.
     
    Shannon has been dealing with emotional heaviness, sadness, and heartbreak, on top of a cold. She shares how current events like what’s happening in Gaza have been affecting her emotions, especially because of the silence of many people in the health and wellness world. She talks about some things that are helping her through this time and how she is working through the anger and emotions she is feeling. Shannon also invites us to explore how we can start seeing the connections between us and how we can support ourselves as we navigate these challenging times.
     
    Key Takeaways: [0:02] It's the 7th year anniversary of the Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast!
    [4:23] This episode is supported by OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals, but you can chip in to keep the podcast going too!
    [7:05] Kathleen Pratt shares a little about the upcoming Yoga Series she is hosting in Pelvic Health Professionals - Nourish Your Nervous System.
    [9:26] Shannon guides a short breath exercise.
    [10:22] Shannon checks in with herself. In addition to dealing with a cold she has been feeling some heaviness, sadness, and heartbreak.
    [15:14] Shannon has also been feeling angry about the silence from many people in the health and wellness world.
    [18:13] One thing that has made a difference for Shannon is seeing the yoga teachers who are speaking up and supporting the Palestinian cause.
    [21:06] Shannon talks about some ways she is working on processing her anger.
    [25:10] Shannon shares two messages that have held her and kept her steady.
    [27:39] Shannon gives a shout out to Jivana Heyman's upcoming collaboration with OfferingTree - Chair Yoga is Real Yoga.
    [29:22] Shannon reads another message she received after sharing Rula's episode.
    [34:14] How can we start seeing the connections between us?
    [37:08] The upcoming yoga series, Nourish Your Nervous System, is a great course for anyone who has been feeling stressed.
    [38:33] Shannon shares some other upcoming events and offerings you can check out.
     
    Links: Support the podcast
    The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 277: Yoga and Land Acknowledgement with Jessica Barudin & Emmy Chahal
    The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 361: Connect to Nature and Your Roots with Tracee Stanley
    OfferingTree Webinar - Chair Yoga is Real Yoga: Integrating Chairs into Your Classes with Jivana Heyman
    The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast: Yoga for Peace with Shannon Crow [BONUS EPISODE]
    The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 359: Ahimsa in Times of Conflict with Rula Wardeh
    Nourish Your Nervous System, 6-Week Online Series with Kathleen Pratt in Pelvic Health Professionals
    Guest Speakers in Pelvic Health Professionals
    Shannon Crow on Instagram
    The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group
    Pelvic Health Professionals
     
    Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.
     
    Quotes from this episode: "I am so grateful to those of you who listen to multiple episodes. It's really a complete honor and the podcast exists because of you."
     
    "I want to be able to speak up against harm and oppression because I feel like that's part of yoga."
     
    "We can speak up and make mistakes and be in community."
     
    "In society, we are not taught to get comfortable with anger."
     
    "I am just so grateful when I see a comment on a post that we've made or a podcast that we've done or a message in support of the work that we're doing here on the podcast."
     
    "In these connections,

    • 42 min
    Build a Full-Time Private Yoga Career with Mary Reddinger

    Build a Full-Time Private Yoga Career with Mary Reddinger

    The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
    363: Build a Full-Time Yoga Career with Mary Reddinger
     
    Description: Teaching private yoga is a topic that often comes among yoga teachers. Questions like about finding and retaining private students, the difference between group classes and private sessions, and how to make sure private students are getting what they need are common. Mary Reddinger shares her insights.
     
    Mary is a full-time yoga teacher and mother to two boys, ages 9 and 5. Mary has practiced yoga on and off for many years, but integrated it into her life after her first pregnancy when she started really seeing the benefits of yoga. Mary also shares a little about her journey to working with perinatal students – she currently teaches prenatal yoga, postnatal yoga and private lessons. In addition to her yoga teacher training, Mary has also studied under Francesca Cervero about The Science of the Private Lesson.
     
    In this episode, Mary gives us a detailed look at her full-time yoga career as a private yoga teacher. She shares how she got started teaching private yoga lessons, what helped her retain her students, how she structures classes with private students and how she manages her schedule as a mother and yoga teacher. Tune in to learn all about the art of teaching private yoga lessons.
     
    Key Takeaways: [0:17] Hang out with this episode's guest, Mary Reddinger, in Pelvic Health Professionals!
    [3:08] This episode is sponsored by OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals!
    [3:44] Check out the upcoming yoga series with Kathleen Pratt - Nourish Your Nervous System.
    [6:16] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Mary Reddinger.
    [10:53] What does Mary do and who does she do it for?
    [11:55] How did Mary build up her private classes as her main business? How did private students find her?
    [14:37] What challenges did Mary face after she completed her yoga teacher training in teaching 1:1?
    [16:43] What did Mary find were the best ways to get the initial few students booked?
    [17:44] How has Mary managed client retention after the initial set of sessions with a student?
    [21:49] Does Mary do mostly online or in-person classes?
    [22:47] What makes Mary's private sessions different from the group classes?
    [26:02] Shannon pops in to share some exciting news about OfferingTree.
    [27:59] Does Mary take notes when she is teaching 1:1?
    [29:13] Mary explains why she goes to the student's home rather than having them come to her or meeting at a studio.
    [34:00] What kind of responses or feedback does Mary get from her students about private sessions?
    [38:03] How does Mary manage her schedule and find balance between teaching yoga and showing up for her family?
    [43:06] Find out more about Mary and her work via her website.
    [43:06] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Mary.
    [50:15] If you would like to support the podcast, do leave a review or make a financial contribution!
     
    Links: Mary Reddinger
    Previous Podcast Episodes about Private Yoga:
    206: Get More Private Yoga Clients with Megan Spears
    132: Marketing to Increase Private Bookings with Amanda Mays [Consultation Call]
    131: How I Structure Private Yoga with Shannon Crow
    130: Make a Profit Teaching Private Yoga with Emily Sussell
    120: Teach Private Yoga Online with Yael Oppenheim
    081: Set Up to Teach Private Yoga [Consultation Call] with Stephanie Brunson
    014: Build Your Private Yoga Business with Kate Connell Potts
    Francesca Cervero
    Nourish Your Nervous System, 6-Week Online Series with Kathleen Pratt in Pelvic Health Professionals
    Support the podcast
    Guest Speakers in Pelvic Health Professionals
    Shannon Crow on Instagram
    The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group
    Pelvic Health Professionals
     
    Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.
     
    Quotes from

    • 53 min
    Yoga in Times of War & Violence with Molly Nixon

    Yoga in Times of War & Violence with Molly Nixon

    The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
    362: Yoga in Times of War & Violence with Molly Nixon
     
    Description: Over 110 million individuals have been forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations. As yoga teachers, we might be seeing people who are refugees in our yoga classes — and we need to know how we can support them, even if we don’t know their status. Molly Nixon shares her perspective and experience about how yoga can support us in times of war & violence.
     
    Molly Nixon is the Director and Trainer for Yoga Mandala Project, a grassroots initiative cultivating a community of care among refugees and those serving them around the world while providing tools to support mental-health through yoga and other embodied modalities. As a trauma-informed yoga teacher and teacher trainer, Molly believes yoga is an effective way to support the well-being of refugee communities, and can help to foster dignity, compassion and a sense of a shared humanity. She has spent the past eight years weaving together her passions for yoga, travel and service in the heart of the humanitarian sector while co-creating sustainable projects in Greece, Turkey, Jordan and Iraq.
     
    In this episode, Molly shares her experience of losing her closest friend to violence in the Middle East and how yoga not only supported her in dealing with the grief and trauma in that moment, but also moved her to bring the healing tools of yoga to refugees, genocide survivors, and aid workers. She explains how supporting refugee communities is part of yoga and how we can help, even if we don’t have plans to move to a refugee community and start teaching yoga. Tune in to find out how you can support the work of the Yoga Mandala Project and more.
     
    Key Takeaways: [0:07] This episode goes beyond just teaching yoga in refugee communities.
    [4:54] Shannon introduces herself and gives a shout out to sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.
    [7:32] Kathleen Pratt shares about the upcoming yoga series in Pelvic Health Professionals: Nourish Your Nervous System
    [8:50] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Molly Nixon.
    [10:45] What does Molly do and who does she do it for?
    [12:12] What does it look like when Molly goes to a refugee camp?
    [14:11] Molly shares a little about how she started doing this work.
    [16:09] Yoga supported Molly through the grief and trauma of losing her friend to violence in Syria.
    [16:58] How did Molly deal with people in her life who were discouraging her from doing this work?
    [18:42] Molly provides some context about how yoga teachers partner with the Yoga Mandala Project.
    [23:20] Connections can be really powerful. Molly shares a little about why connection is a part of the mission of Yoga Mandala Project.
    [26:44] In light of what is happening in Gaza, Palestine, what is Molly's response to people who are saying that we should be focusing more on the hostages instead of what the people of Gaza are experiencing?
    [30:50] How is all of this related to yoga?
    [33:30] Shannon pops in with a quick message about OfferingTree - especially if you dread updating or working on your website!
    [34:53] How can you sign up for a trauma-informed training? How relevant is it to yoga teachers?
    [39:08] Shannon and Molly discuss what people who are menstruating in Gaza are going through now with no access to menstruation products.
    [41:15] What would Molly say to someone who says all this information about Gaza is triggering?
    [46:39] What was one thing from yoga that helped Molly in the aftermath of her friend being taken?
    [50:42] Connect with Molly via the Yoga Mandala Project website or email.
    [52:45] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Molly.
    [54:58] Come hang out in real time in the Pelvic Health Professionals membership!
     
    Links: Molly Nixon, Yoga Mandala Project
    Ema

    • 59 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
142 Ratings

142 Ratings

dcook61 ,

Feeling connected

Shannon’s podcast keeps me telling connected-no joke! I enjoy her guests, topics, questions and overall approach to presenting updated information that yoga teachers need.

embowlden77 ,

beautiful, intentional

Shannn's mix of guests with personal reflection provides so many strategies for enhancing the way we live our yoga practice--intentional, intersectional, challenging, and powerful.

evanssara ,

Episode 332

I loved this episode ! It’s exactly what I needed to hear today bc I woke up this morning so emotional about how I have zero confidence in teaching right now and I honestly feel like I haven’t found my authenticity to add to a class yet . That is important and what stands out the most to me when I take a class . It’s the little things that makes the class memorable. I personally need to find my voice and my little thing that makes me shine and remembered.

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