Yoga Teacher Training Podcast: Learn Anatomy, Philosophy, Business and More

In this episode, I’m sharing one of the most essential foundations of yoga practice and teaching — Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar). Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced teacher, understanding how to cue, pace, and embody the right tempo and intention can completely change your experience on the mat.I break down four variations of Surya Namaskar: the Half Sun Salutation, Full with Lunge, Standard (without Lunge), and Surya B. I’ll walk you through how to teach each one, what to look for in your students, and how to bring back the feeling and awareness that make this sequence so powerful.One of the biggest mistakes I still see teachers make is rushing through Sun Salutations so fast that it becomes hard to actually breathe and move together. In this episode, I’ll show you how to use a metronome to find a natural pace (around 65 bpm), how to match the breath with the movement, and how to adapt these variations for different levels and body types.I also talk about the traditional roots — like why Sun Salutations were originally practiced facing east at sunrise — and how that intention connects you to the rhythm of nature. You’ll learn when to use Surya A vs. Surya B, and how to work with your own energy instead of against it.This is one of those core practices that can feel brand new again when you approach it with awareness and rhythm. Whether you’re practicing at home or teaching others, I think you’ll find a lot of useful, practical insights here.Key Quotes:“Your words are the bridge between your students and their own awareness.”“Sun Salutations are not just poses — they’re a rhythm of breath and movement.”“If you rush through it, you don’t really feel anything.”“We can enter a sympathetic state through yoga, but from a relaxed place.”“If you’re not a teenage boy, you might not need so many Surya B’s in your life.”Subscribe for Free to “Self Care Sunday” (Weekly Updates & Exclusive Offers):https://www.quietmind.yoga/selfcaresundayInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/quietmind.yogaYouTube: http://www.quietmind.yoga/youtubeQuietmind Yoga Membership (800+ Classes): https://www.quietmind.yogaQuietmind Astrology Podcast: https://www.quietmindastrology.comKeywords:surya namaskar, sun salutation, yoga teacher training, yoga sequencing, teaching yoga, vinyasa flow, yoga cueing, yoga alignment, yoga anatomy, yoga pacing, metronome for yoga, breath and movement, yoga practice, yin vs yang yoga, Surya A, Surya B, hatha yoga, teaching beginners, yoga tradition

Last day to join the Yoga & Ayurveda Mentorship at https://www.quietmind.yoga/mentorshipToday and every day this year, people will spend about $50 million on antidepressants—and much more on health and wellness. In this episode, I share how meditation, mindfulness, breath, and simple tools let you be your own pharmacy. If sitting still makes you more anxious, good news: the point isn’t how it looks on the outside. It’s about attention training—choosing a point of focus (dharana), letting it carry you into absorption (dhyana), and touching that quiet equanimity (samadhi) you can return to anytime.We get practical: longer exhales you can do in line at the store, walking meditations with no headphones, Yoga Nidra/NSDR when the mind won’t settle, and how to pick the right level of “challenge” so your attention muscle actually grows. We also dig into why HRV matters, how to ride daily sympathetic/parasympathetic waves, what nostril dominance says about brain hemispheres, and why five minutes a day beats waiting until crisis.You’ll learn:— The real definition of meditation and why “I can’t quiet my mind” means you’re already practicing— How to choose your dharana (breath, mantra, mudra, movement, sound) so it fits your nervous system today— A dead-simple breathing protocol to lower heart rate fast— Why guided Yoga Nidra/NSDR works when sitting doesn’t— How short daily reps rewire prefrontal circuits for focus, calm, and better choicesFive key lines from this episode:— Just noticing your mind wander and returning to the breath is the work.— Pick a focus that meets you where you’re at so the attention muscle actually grows.— Longer exhales are the fastest way to drop into parasympathetic.— Touch the bottom of the pool every day, then come back up.— Be your own pharmacy with five to ten minutes a day.Try this today: set a 10-minute timer and breathe in through the nose and out longer than you inhale. If sitting spikes anxiety, walk without podcasts and feel your steps, breath, and the breeze. If you’re exhausted, do Yoga Nidra/NSDR and let the point of focus move through the body.Want to go deeper and actually live and teach this work? Join the Yoga & Ayurveda Mentorship at quietmind.yoga/mentorship. Practices and guided sessions are inside the Quietmind Yoga Membership at quietmind.yoga.Subscribe for Free to “Self Care Sunday” (Free Weekly Updates & Exclusive Offers): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.quietmind.yoga/selfcaresundayInstagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.instagram.com/quietmind.yoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.quietmind.yoga/youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quietmind Yoga Membership (800+ Classes)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.quietmind.yoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quietmind Astrology Podcast: https://www.quietmindastrology.com/podcastKeywords: meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, dharana, dhyana, samadhi, parasympathetic, HRV, hippocampus, gray matter, yoga nidra, NSDR, mudra, mantra, pranayama, alternate nostril, ida, pingala, attention training, equanimity

RSVP for FREE to the Deepen Your Practice workshopThere's a saying that only 2 things are guaranteed in life: death and taxes. This is a modern version of the Buddhist teaching that pain and suffering are a guaranteed part of life. None of us are exempt. In this episode I share what’s actually helping me through one of the most intense seasons of my life. We go beyond surface fixes like scheduling and “just go for a walk” and get to the root of it, as lead out in many Eastern traditions, but especially in the Yoga Sutra.I'll share about- The one thing helping me the most through a difficult season- The root cause of suffering- The risk of spiritual bypassing- How the ego is formed- PAIN = Pay Attention Inside Now- The essential role of mentors in yoga.- Non-Dual vs Dual philosophy (Vedanta vs Advaita)- The Kleshas (afflictions)- How the ego leads to addiction- The path from suffering to liberationWant to go deeper into the practices missing from most classes and YTTs? I’m hosting a free live workshop at https://www.quietmind.yoga/deepen (replay available).Subscribe for Free to “Self Care Sunday” (Free Weekly Updates & Exclusive Offers): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.quietmind.yoga/selfcaresundayInstagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/quietmind.yoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.quietmind.yoga/youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quietmind Yoga Membership (800+ Classes) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.quietmind.yoga/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quietmind Astrology Podcast: https://www.quietmindastrology.com/podcastKeywords: avidya dukkha asmita kleshas raga dvesha abhinivesha viveka kaivalya abhyasa shraddha atman purusha prakriti nondual dual Yoga Sutra witness-consciousness anxiety

Learn the sister science of Yoga: Vedic Astrology at the free Become Your Own Astrologer workshop: https://www.quietmindastrology.com/workshopGet Mark's free ebook on longevity here: http://fmidr.com/hhfWhat if you could live to 120—and feel healthy, vibrant, and purposeful the whole time? In this episode, I talk with longevity expert Mark Sherwood about the intersection of ancient wisdom and modern science around aging, lifespan, and healthspan. We explore how yoga, Ayurveda, and Vedic astrology align with cutting-edge biohacking and functional medicine practices, revealing that the real secret to longevity may be much simpler than we think.Mark shares practical tools to live not just longer, but better: from stress management and nutrition to connection, mindset, and the curiosity that keeps the mind youthful. We also dive into fascinating longevity frontiers like peptides, stem cells, molecular hydrogen, and the 120-year life cycle reflected in both human history and the Vedic Dasha system.You’ll hear about the real keys to vitality—not pills, not quick fixes, but consistent practices of self-responsibility, nourishment, and resilience. Whether you’re passionate about yoga, astrology, or simply want to live a healthier life, this conversation will inspire you to take small but powerful steps toward longevity.5 Key Ideas from the Episode: 1. “We’re not trying to live longer, we’re trying to live better—and that’s what healthspan is all about.” 2. “History shows us the maximum lifespan is around 120 years. Fascinatingly, Vedic astrology mapped that out thousands of years ago.” 3. “Stress is not a noun—it’s a verb. It’s the action or response we choose in life’s unexpected moments.” 4. “Hard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life.” 5. “Curiosity heals the human. The more you keep learning, the more you keep your mind young.”---Subscribe for Free to “Self Care Sunday” (Free Weekly Updates & Exclusive Offers): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.quietmind.yoga/selfcaresundayInstagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.instagram.com/quietmind.yoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.quietmind.yoga/youtubeQuietmind Yoga Membership (800+ Classes) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.quietmind.yoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quietmind Astrology Podcast: https://www.quietmindastrology.com/podcast---Keywords: longevity, healthspan, lifespan, Ayurveda, biohacking, peptides, stem cells, molecular hydrogen, functional medicine, yoga, Vedic astrology, Jyotish, Dasha system, stress management, blue zones, healthy aging, biological age, resilience, nutrition, mindset, curiosity

Somatic movement teacher and author Colleen Wahl is an expert in embodied knowing—the wisdom and guidance our bodies hold when we take the time to listen. Colleen shares how sensation is the foundation of embodiment, why slowing down before labeling an experience opens up new possibilities, and how this awareness can transform both yoga teaching and personal practice.We dive into the gap between sensation and analysis, the power of staying present with discomfort, and how embodiment can help us navigate life changes and decisions with greater clarity. You’ll hear stories of chronic pain resolution and learn practical ways to explore sensation in movement—tools you can bring right into your classes to help students connect more deeply to themselves.If you’ve ever felt out of touch with your body’s signals or wanted to teach in a way that truly honors each student’s unique inner experience, this conversation will give you inspiration and clear, practical insight you can use right away.5 Key Ideas:Sensation is the foundation of embodied knowing—it’s how we remember that we have a body.When you stay with sensation before labeling it, you open space for possibility.Discomfort is often the signal that gets us to change.Your body’s wisdom can’t be rushed—the knowing arrives in its own time.As yoga teachers, our job is to point students toward their own inner experience, not tell them what they should feel. Want to learn Vedic Astrology - The Sister Science of Yoga?My most popular astrology event every year - with an amazing new workbook and training designed to help you start reading your chart like an experienced astrologer. RSVP for FREE To the Become Your Own Astrologer workshop Hear Colleen interview me on her Embodied People podcast. We had a great talk about the big questions of life. Click to hear me on the Embodied People PodcastSubscribe for Free to “Self Care Sunday” (Weekly Updates & Exclusive Offers): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.quietmind.yoga/selfcaresundayInstagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.instagram.com/quietmind.yoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.quietmind.yoga/youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quietmind Yoga Membership (800+ Classes): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.quietmind.yoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quietmind Astrology Podcast: https://www.quietmindastrology.com/podcastKeywords: embodiment, embodied knowing, somatic movement, yoga philosophy, sensation in yoga, somatic awareness, yoga teaching skills, embodied yoga, listening to your body, body wisdom, chronic pain and yoga, somatics in teaching, yoga beyond alignment, sensory awareness, somatic decision-making, embodied movement, yoga teacher tools, intuition in yoga, self-awareness practices, yoga teacher growth