82. Studenthood Is the Bedrock of Your Teaching

The best yoga teachers never stop being students—but the longer you teach, the harder that becomes. In this episode, Sage Rountree shares how selling her yoga studio after fifteen years unexpectedly gave her back something she'd been missing: the freedom to simply be a student again.Sage explores the difference between continuing education and true studenthood—the kind where you sit in the seat of not knowing and let someone else lead. She gets honest about why studio ownership, local reputation, and a teacher's analytical brain can all make genuine studenthood complicated, and how online classes and complementary modalities like Pilates helped her reconnect with beginner's mind.You'll hear practical strategies for protecting your studenthood: taking other yoga teachers' classes regularly (even with your camera off), exploring complementary movement practices, budgeting time and money for being a student, and learning to say "this is just for me" when the business brain kicks in.Whether you're a brand-new yoga teacher or you've been at the front of the room for decades, this episode is a reminder that your studenthood isn't a luxury—it's the foundation your teaching stands on.Mentioned in this episode: The Professional Yoga Teacher's Handbook by Sage Rountree, the Prep Station Movement Library at https://www.comfortzoneyoga.com/prep, and the free Zone community at https://www.comfortzoneyoga.com.And join my newsletter: https://sagerountree.com/newsletterJoin the Comfort Zone Yoga 200-hour yoga teacher training—curriculum is open now and our live cohort runs September through November 2026. Be sure to tell your students who are interested in teaching, too!Read all about it here.Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Join Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsAnd come explore my mentorship program, Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com....