On Air by Yoga For First Responders

What happens when you walk into a room full of first responders and nobody asked for yoga? That's the question at the heart of this week's Quickcast. When Olivia first began bringing yoga into firehouses, police departments, academies, and other public safety spaces, she quickly learned that teaching yoga wasn't the hardest part. The real challenge was earning the trust of a room that might be skeptical, resistant, or simply wondering why they were there in the first place. In this episode, Olivia shares what more than a decade and 40+ Instructor Schools have taught her about teaching first responders — and why effective YFFR instruction requires much more than knowing yoga poses. She talks about learning to understand first responder culture, translating yoga into tools that address problems people already care about, and why credibility, communication, adaptability, and the ability to read the room can matter just as much as the protocol itself. Whether you're an experienced yoga instructor wondering how to work with first responders, or a first responder considering bringing YFFR into your own agency, this episode offers a look at what Instructor School is really designed to teach. In this episode: Why teaching yoga to first responders is fundamentally different from teaching in a traditional yoga studio What it means to "earn the room" Why first responder credibility and existing relationships are such a powerful asset What to expect from YFFR Instructor School Interested in Instructor School? Public registration for our 2027 open Instructor School opens October 1, 2026. The in-person school will take place March 1–5, 2027, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Learn more at yogaforfirstresponders.org/instructor-school For more information and resources, visit yogaforfirstresponders.org . Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a review to support our mission!

What happens when the skills you train actually show up when you need them most? In this episode of Yoga for First Responders On Air, Olivia sits down with longtime YFFR instructor, trainer, board member, veteran, and former U.S. Marshal John Wojtowicz for a conversation recorded on the 25th anniversary of 9/11. John’s path to yoga didn’t start with a desire to become a yoga instructor. It started with a problem many first responders know all too well: he couldn’t sleep. After losing a close friend and teammate to suicide, John spent several years struggling with sleep before eventually walking into his first yoga class in 2009. What happened at the end of that class changed the trajectory of his practice — and eventually led him to YFFR. More than 15 years later, John has taken those practices far beyond the yoga studio. He now incorporates breathwork into peer support, Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), work with veterans, and his own approach to recovery and performance. In this conversation, Olivia and John explore what it means to train the nervous system the same way we train any other operational skill — until the response becomes automatic. In this episode, we talk about: The yoga class that finally helped John sleep Why first responders are often skeptical of anything that doesn’t immediately demonstrate practical value The tactical applications of breathwork, movement, and nervous system regulation Why John starts with just two minutes when introducing breathwork The idea of “autonomic fitness” and what it could look like in public safety training Why the goal isn't to make difficult situations easy, but to become more capable within them John’s story is a powerful reminder that the goal of this work isn't to make life stress-free. It's to train ourselves so that when life gets hard, we have more tools available to meet it. *One factual correction from the conversation: John referred to Mohamed Atta as the “20th hijacker” in discussing a high-threat trial in Alexandria, Virginia. Atta was actually the lead hijacker and one of the 19 men who carried out the September 11 attacks. The individual tried in Alexandria in connection with the 9/11 conspiracy was Zacarias Moussaoui, who was later sentenced to life in prison. We’re including this clarification here to ensure the historical record is accurately represented.* Don't forget to follow us on social media and subscribe to our podcast: yogaforfirstresponders.org Instagram: @yogaforfirstresponders Facebook: www.facebook.com/YogaForFirstResponders/

CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes discussion of suicide, grief, and addiction. Please take care of yourself while listening. In honor of September being Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we're bringing an important conversation back from the YFFR On Air archive. Originally released in early 2024, this From-the-Vault episode features highlights from a longer conversation with Joe Spector, a former police officer and firefighter who shares the story of a moment he never saw coming—and how one breath helped change what happened next. Together with Eric, Joe talks openly about career-ending injury, the loss of identity that can come with leaving the fire service, cumulative grief, the pressure to keep pushing through, and the importance of having people in your corner when things become overwhelming. Years later, Joe's story remains a powerful reminder of why awareness, connection, and nervous system regulation matter—and how creating just a little space in a difficult moment can change the trajectory of a life. In this episode: Joe on losing his career and redefining his identity The cumulative impact of grief and loss Why first responders can become so good at pushing through The moment one breath interrupted a crisis The power of connection, empathy, and asking for help If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7. Learn more about Yoga For First Responders at yogaforfirstresponders.org.

Linzie is officially headed to the fire academy! After months of preparation, training, and wondering, “What have I gotten myself into?”, Linzie has made it to the next chapter of her journey into the fire service. In this week's podcast episode, Olivia and Linzie sit down to talk about what happened at first orders, what Linzie’s 28-week academy schedule looks like, the physical and mental challenges she’s already encountering, and how the tools she’s learned through YFFR are becoming part of her everyday training. Linzie also shares how she’s approaching the pressure of being the only woman in a class of 25 cadets—and the reminder she’s gotten from female firefighters that she doesn’t have to be the strongest, fastest, or fittest person in the academy. She just has to keep going. And there’s one BIG podcast announcement: while Olivia and Linzie will continue recording throughout Linzie’s academy and probationary year, the episodes won't go live until she completes probation next year. So this isn’t goodbye to Linzie. It’s just a little pause. We’ll be continuing our engaging podcast conversations every week with new experts and YFFR Instructors, all while following Linzie’s journey behind the scenes—and when she returns, we’ll get to hear what the experience was really like. In This Episode: What happened during Linzie's first orders and orientation Preparing physically for the demands of the academy The importance of perseverance over being the “strongest” or “fastest” Using breathwork and nervous system regulation under stress Bringing YFFR tools into the academy What’s next for Linzie—and for the podcast Listen now and follow along as she goes from recruit to firefighter. Don't forget to follow us on social media and subscribe to our podcast: yogaforfirstresponders.org Instagram: @yogaforfirstresponders Facebook: www.facebook.com/YogaForFirstResponders/ Mentioned in this episode: LUMEBOX: $260 Off of Lumebox click the link and use code:yogaforfirstresponders https://thelumebox.com/pages/lb68/?_ef_transaction_id=&oid=3&affid=4521&discount=yogaforfirstresponders

Deciding to change is easy. Becoming the person you decided to be takes repetition — and life will hand you the reps whether you're ready or not. In this week's Quickcast episode of YFFR On Air, Olivia unpacks "personal policies" (the boundaries, standards, and non-negotiables you've set for how you operate now) and why establishing one seems to invite the exact situation that tests it. She shares a personal example — a lease renewal that arrived with an unexpected rent increase — and walks through what it looked like to practice sovereignty instead of reacting from old scarcity and safety patterns. The episode connects this directly to the yoga mat: shaky legs, a wobbly foundation, and the urge to compare yourself to the person next to you are all training grounds for the same muscles you need out in the world. In this episode: What "personal policies" are and why life tests them immediately Why deciding to change and becoming that person are two different things How yoga poses become rehearsal for real-life boundaries, foundation, and self-worth How to turn your next hard moment into "a rep" instead of a setback Listen and learn about the ways your mindset can change your routine. Don't forget to follow us on social media and subscribe to our podcast: yogaforfirstresponders.org Instagram: @yogaforfirstresponders Facebook: www.facebook.com/YogaForFirstResponders/ Mentioned in this episode: YFFR Virtual Instructor School Sign up for YFFR Virtual Instructor School now through August 31st and enroll for the coaching track ($250 Value) at no additional cost! https://www.yogaforfirstresponders.org/virtual-instructor-school