The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 398: Closing This Chapter with Rebecca Sebastian Description: Change is a natural part of every process and sometimes, that means ending things and stepping away. For the Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast, it is almost time to close this chapter - this is the second-last episode of the podcast. Rebecca Sebastian joins Shannon Crow in this episode to reflect on the process of making big shifts and transitions in business. Rebecca Sebastian is a long-time yoga teacher and 11-year yoga therapist. She formerly owned an accessible and inclusivity-focused yoga studio which she recently sold, and is the host of the Working In Yoga Podcast. Rebecca is a passionate writer on yoga topics and she participates and loves all things yoga and the yoga industry. She believes that through writing and communication, we can all lift each other up and share what lights us up with the world. In this episode, Shannon and Rebecca talk about the big shifts each of them are making in their yoga businesses. They share their process, their reflections, and the challenges that have accompanied each of them in this journey. Shannon and Rebecca also discuss how they have navigated the complexities of making the decision to "break up" with their business and what has sustained and supported them through the process. Key Takeaways: [0:05] Shannon makes a big announcement about the podcast: This is the 2nd last episode of the podcast. [3:14] Shannon gives a shout out to the sponsor - OfferingTree. [3:42] Shannon checks in with Rebecca Sebastian, her guest for this episode. [5:23] Shannon talks about the decision to officially end the podcast and how it happened. [6:33] Rebecca shares a little bit of context and her own update of the big changes in her business. [8:56] What are some of the feelings that came up for Rebecca when she was thinking about closing her studio? [12:38] Rebecca and Shannon discuss some of the challenges of being an entrepreneur. [17:56] What is Rebecca working on now? What has been her process since selling the studio? [20:30] Rebecca and Shannon share the goals they had when they started their yoga-related businesses and how it has been to transition away. [25:11] Shannon and Rebecca reflect on some of the hard things that guided them in making the decision to "break up" with their businesses. [30:17] If you are doing the work of changing the world, the first step is to lean into your community, especially when you're feeling despair. [32:28] Quitting something, even if it's ultimately the right decision, is hard and complicated. [33:49] Shannon shares a quick message about the sponsor, OfferingTree. [36:45] It's not breaking up with everything -- it's choosing what's in alignment with you. [40:34] Rebecca and Shannon discuss the idea of taking care of self. [41:32] How are Rebecca and Shannon feeling in this moment, in the middle of their shifts in business? [50:02] Shannon and Rebecca share some of their thoughts and reflections about the closing of this chapter. [59:05] Shannon shares some final, closing thoughts. Links: Rebecca Sebastian Rebecca Sebastian on Instagram Working in Yoga Podcast with Rebecca Sebastian The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 382: Having Tough Conversations with Rebecca Sebastian The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 304: How Are We Still here? with Rebecca Sebastian The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 297: Yoga Philosophy & Business with Rebecca Sebastian Creativity, Inc., by Edwin Catmull and Amy Wallace Jivana Heyman The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group Shannon Crow on Instagram Gratitude to our Sponsor, OfferingTree Quotes from this episode: "How do you quit something when it's going well? [There are] lots of complicated feelings." - Shannon "Breaking up with things is hard." - Rebecca "You just don't have to do the same thing forever, and if you have the skills of entrepreneurship, you can build whatever business you want to." - Rebecca "The first step is to lean into your community, especially when you're feeling despair." - Rebecca "Some people get caught up in the idea that they have to justify ending something." - Rebecca "Building something and having it be a thing that people appreciate is so humbling and gratifying, and it's also ... time for me to build something different." - Rebecca

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 397: How to Suck at Marketing with Brea Johnson Description: Do you feel overwhelmed by marketing your yoga? It is something that many yoga teachers struggle with - especially when it feels like the world often prioritizes being polished over showing up authentically. Brea Johnson shares her insights about how to suck at marketing – and why that can work for your yoga business. Brea Johnson is the founder of Heart + Bones Yoga, a globally recognized online platform for anatomy-informed yoga, mobility and inclusive practices for both yoga teachers and everyday people. She has been teaching yoga, anatomy and movement since 2003 and regularly teaches workshops and trainings around the world. At Heart + Bones, Brea offers online yoga, education and teacher training where functional and inclusive practices are celebrated and encouraged. In this episode, Brea shares what inspired her to start talking about marketing and what we can do when we suck at it. She highlights some common marketing practices that do not align with her values and belief systems and how she navigates the changing social media and online marketing landscape. Brea and Shannon also discuss showing up honestly, imperfectly, and authentically, what motivates them to keep posting about topics that may bring pushback, and much more. If you feel like your marketing is not "enough" to make a meaningful impact, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways: [1:59] Shannon introduces her topic for this episode, marketing, and her guest - Brea Johnson. [3:45] This episode is sponsored by OfferingTree. [5:37] What does Brea do and who does she do it for? [8:07] What inspired Brea to start talking about marketing and what to do when we suck at it? [13:38] What are some things that Brea doesn't do in marketing because they don't align with her? [17:29] How does Brea turn things that irk her about the yoga world into playful content that educates? [20:46] How has social media shifted for Brea in the past few years? What are some new trends and changes she is noticing? [27:10] Shannon and Brea discuss how social media can be a place to let your authentic self shine through. [34:44] Shannon gives a shout out to sponsor, OfferingTree. [36:08] What is Brea's advice for when your inner critic shows up to discourage you from marketing your yoga? [45:54] When we show up and share our values and opinions online, we might get back a lot of hate or pushback. How does Brea deal with that? [55:27] What keeps Brea posting about "controversial" topics or social justice issues? [58:42] Shannon and Brea discuss the importance of small actions, even when it feels like those actions may not be making a difference. [65:49] Learn more from Brea via her website and social media. [67:08] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Brea. Links: Brea Johnson, Heart + Bones Yoga Heart + Bones Yoga on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 078: Creating an Online Yoga Studio with Brea Johnson The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 375: Why Marketing is Different Now with Tristan Katz & Brooke Monaghan - The Connected Yoga Teacher The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group Shannon Crow on Instagram Gratitude to our Sponsor, OfferingTree Quotes from this episode: "How do I promote what I share, what I do, how I know I can help people, and how my business can help people without falling into that trap of playing to the algorithm?" "There's something about the consistency and letting go of The so-called vanity metrics and seeing that more broad view of how social media can help connect us." "What is my why? Why am I even doing this? What is my who? Who am I helping? And what is my how? How am I helping?" "How can you show up in the way that works for you?" "This isn't about you. You've got to see the fear and the imposter syndrome and the insecurity and do it anyway."

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 396: Yoga for Abortion Care with Sasha Sigel Description: We live in a time when access to abortion care is increasingly under threat and attacks on reproductive health are intensifying. What does yoga have to do with abortion care and how can yoga teachers support people going through abortion care before, during, and after the process? Sasha Sigel shares her insights. Sasha Sigel is a pelvic floor yoga teacher, Reiki practitioner, and abortion doula. Sasha is also a cofounder of a queer yoga collective called Be Queer Now, which offers virtual and in-person programming for the queer community. In her work, Sasha focuses on folks in the LGBTQIA+ community seeking pelvic health support as well as offering trauma-informed, gender-affirming practices. When Roe v Wade was overturned in 2022, she trained to be an abortion doula where she supports folks going through abortion care with accurate information and practical, emotional, and physical support. In this episode, Sasha shares more how how yoga intersects with reproductive justice and how we can lean on the foundational values of yoga to guide us in supporting people through their reproductive choices. Sasha also explains how yoga is more than just movement – it is a liberatory practice that can offer space for validation, rest, and healing, especially for those who've experienced abortion or miscarriage. Tune in to learn more about the barriers many people face when accessing care, how community doulas and yoga teachers can safely show up, and why normalizing abortion as a part of human healthcare is a crucial part of our work as compassionate spaceholders. Key Takeaways: [2:20] Shannon gives a shout out to sponsor, OfferingTree. [2:46] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Sasha Sigel. [4:51] What does Sasha do and who does she do it for? [8:37] What does abortion have to do with yoga? [10:03] What are some quick-bites that Sasha shares with people who may not have considered that abortion is healthcare? [15:43] How does yoga help people through the journey of abortion care? [21:42] How can yoga teachers support their students going through an abortion or post-abortion emotionally and with their language? [23:38] What are some words or phrases that are unhelpful to a person after abortion? What are some ways yoga teachers can reassure them? [27:51] What has Sasha's experience been with yoga offerings that support people who have received abortion care? [30:05] Shannon pops in with a message about OfferingTree. [32:09] What is Sasha's advice about looking up information online and resources for people who live in a place where abortion care isn't available? [36:45] How does Sasha approach marketing her services as an abortion doula and making sure that people know support is available? [40:09] Does Sasha have to deal with online hate or misinformation? [41:32] Where does Sasha suggest a yoga teacher start if they are wanting to get more involved in offering abortion care and support?\ [45:06] What would Sasha say to someone who has gone through abortion care or are considering it? [47:24] Shannon shares a book that has resonated with her on the topic. [48:48] Learn more about Sasha and her work via her website or social media. [50:26] Sasha shares some final thoughts for yoga teachers about abortion care. [54:29] Shannon and Sasha discuss how people might think that certain things would never happen in their country or state and that's an assumption worth challenging. [56:52] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation. Links: Sasha Sigel Sasha Sigel on Instagram Aborsh — A podcast about abortion in Canada Guttmacher Institute Center for Reproductive Rights Signal DuckDuckGo Shout Your Abortion AbortionFinder.org New York Abortion Access Fund National Network of Abortion Funds The Great Simplification Podcast - Jeremy Grantham: "The Baby Bust: How The Toxicity Crisis Could Cause the Next Economic Crash" Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings Looking for Jane, by Heather Marshall The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group Shannon Crow on Instagram Gratitude to our Sponsor, OfferingTree Quotes from this episode: "Yoga is a liberatory practice and reproductive justice and healthcare is something that's under attack right now in terms of folks having agency over their own body." "Use non-assumptive, non-judgmental language. We don't know why this person got an abortion. We don't know what their experience was. So our main role is going to be listening to whatever information they do give us." "How people report their experience after an abortion is often mixed and complicated, but very seldom is the main emotion or experience regret." "This is not new. This is something that we have the right to, and our bodies have been doing since the beginning of humans being alive."

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 395: Anticolonial Philosophy & Yoga with Shyam Ranganathan Description: Yoga philosophy can sometimes feel overwhelming, inapplicable to the modern problems we face today, or just too abstract. Dr. Shyam Ranganathan, a repeat guest on the podcast, has a gift for breaking philosophy down in a way that we can relate to. Dr. Shyam Ranganathan is a philosopher, author, researcher, and leading voice in anti-colonial philosophy, as well as the founder of the Yoga Philosophy Institute. He specializes in the study and translation of philosophy, especially South Asian philosophy and Yoga. In his recent book, Yoga — AntiColonial Philosophy, Shyam explores yoga as a decolonial tradition and how we can reconnect to that legacy in our modern practice. In this episode, Shyam explains how colonialism shows up even in yoga philosophy, and how we can apply the practice of yoga and yoga philosophy to the many social justice issues we face in the world. He shares more about Ishvara Pranidhana (devotion to sovereignty), samskaras (rituals and practices), and how we might apply them to our daily lives to take back agency and practice yogic behavior. Tune into this conversation if you are seeking to be inspired by how philosophy can be a tool for liberation. Key Takeaways: [2:04] Shannon gives a shout-out to sponsor, OfferingTree. [3:08] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Dr. Shyam Ranganathan. [6:20] What does Shyam do and who does he do it for? [8:06] How did Shyam choose the title of his book, Yoga — AntiColonial Philosophy? [9:27] Why is it that yoga philosophy does not often give a platform to the voices of South Asian yoga teachers and authors? [13:35] Shyam reflects on how education is not really about learning but about training people to follow instructions. [16:39] How does the practice of yoga and yoga philosophy apply to the many social justice issues we are facing in the world? [21:40] Shyam explains the concept of Ishvara Pranidhana (devotion to sovereignty) in more concrete terms with some examples. [24:19] What is the practice to get out of being stuck in our own prejudices? [26:23] What are samskaras in yoga and how do they affect us? [29:55] Shyam shares how we can take back and redeploy our agency instead of getting stuck in loops and patterns. [31:58] Shannon pops in to give a shout-out of thanks to OfferingTree. [33:25] Simply practicing yoga is the easiest way to disrupt the harm of colonialism. [34:47] Shannon and Shyam discuss how challenging certain laws may be a part of resisting colonialism and is yogic behavior. [39:47] Shyam explains what he means by "the real philosophical practice is what one does where one already is in relationship to the people that are already in one's life." [44:51] What is a practice that can be a first baby step for someone who has not explored much of yoga philosophy? [46:57] What might the first moment of conscious thought look like when we are showing up as an ally for ourselves? Shyam talks about what the practice of yoga can look like in our daily lives. [51:31] Shannon and Shyam discuss the future of (de)colonization. [57:35] Shannon and Shyam chat about how he felt writing the book and how Shannon felt reading it. [58:49] Connect with Shyam via his website or on Instagram to learn more. [59:18] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation. Links: Dr. Shyam Ranganathan Dr. Shyam Ranganathan on Instagram Yoga AntiColonial Philosophy by Dr. Shyam Ranganathan The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 269: Yoga Philosophy and Colonialism with Shyam Ranganathan The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group Shannon Crow on Instagram Gratitude to our Sponsor, OfferingTree Quotes from this episode: "The fact that people do self-select in this way speaks to a kind of an actual fear of learning." "What we call education, especially in the West, is not really education. It's geared to getting us to follow instructions." "Every kind of bigotry or small-mindedness is part of just not being free from those past experiences." "What happens is we don't see our agency when we're in these patterns and loops because our agency is hidden by these patterns, but our agency is what's powering it. So we have to find a way to redeploy our agency." "You can't be working on your autonomy and also being colonized at the same time."

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 394: A Pep Talk to Share Your Yoga with Shannon Crow Description: Taking a big leap can feel scary and overwhelming, and you may be filled with doubt and hesitation. You may feel imposter syndrome creeping in, start procrastinating, or simply feel unable to take the first (or next) step. In this episode, Shannon shares her pep talk to motivate you (and herself) to make the leap. Shannon has been considering the idea of starting a farmer's market for some time now, but is also struggling with taking the heap. She shares how she knew it was the right time to start taking baby steps towards making her dream a reality and what that might look like for you. Shannon also shares some advice on overcoming doubts and fears that creep in, explains why connection and collaboration can help move you forward, and tips to stay motivated and take action. If you are feeling nervous or overwhelmed and are procrastinating on launching something new in your yoga business, this is the perfect episode for you. Key Takeaways: [0:32] Shannon shares something she learned while working at M'Wikwedong Indigenous Friendship Center. [8:15] Shannon gives a shout out to the podcast sponsor, OfferingTree. [9:42] The inspiration for this episode came from Shannon's own fears and hesitation. [13:58] How do you know when it's the right time to take a big leap or launch something new? [17:15] It can feel comfortable to stay in the dreaming, planning, and wishing stage, but when you're constantly thinking about it, it's time to start taking baby steps towards making it happen. [19:13] Once you have the motivation to do the thing, where do you start? [20:57] If it starts to feel overwhelming, think back to all the things you've already done to prepare for this moment. [24:36] If you are feeling overwhelmed about not having a website or not knowing how to set up the tech side of things, OfferingTree can be a great solution. [26:36] How can you deal with the fears and doubts that creep in? [31:31] Consider collaborating and building connections with others to help you along the journey. [33:10] Mark and celebrate your wins and successes along the way. [33:28] Are you launching something new? Share in the comments, the Facebook group, or send Shannon a voice message. Links: M'Wikwedong Indigenous Friendship Centre Bannock Recipe The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 319: Do I Need Another Yoga Training? with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 392: Concussion Recovery & Yoga with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group Shannon Crow on Instagram Gratitude to our Sponsor, OfferingTree Quotes from this episode: "I have ideas all the time. ... But when they really stick and they just keep coming back, that's when I know, OK, this is one that I really have to listen to." "When your message gets bigger than your fears, it's time." "Think back to what you've already done to prepare for this moment." "Because failure or being wrong on something is literally just feedback. It's just more learning so we can do better."