Yoga Teacher Confidential: Secrets of Becoming a Great Yoga Teacher

Have you ever had a student freeze in tree pose and apologize for wobbling? In this episode, I'm rethinking how we teach balance so every body in the room—regardless of age, injury history, or experience—can work the skill without feeling like they're failing.I walk through the four systems that keep us upright (vestibular, proprioception, vision, and musculoskeletal), why the brain's plasticity means balance can improve at any age, and why fear has a mechanical effect on your students' ability to stabilize.Then I share five concrete shifts you can make in your very next class: weaving balance through every quarter of class, using the 6–4–2 to teach across all three planes, offering a sweeter-to-spicier spectrum instead of one "right" pose, cueing the system (not just the shape), and changing the language that surrounds wobbling so students stay with the practice.If you want to go deeper, I'm hosting a free Comfort Zone Conversation on Thursday, May 21, called Balance for Every Body. And the full self-paced course, Fundamentals of Teaching Balance, is open for enrollment now.Listen now!RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

For over a decade I taught private yoga to Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams, and somewhere along the way I realized I'd been teaching privates wrong. Not because I didn't know yoga. Because nobody had ever sat me down and said, A private is a different craft. Here's how.In this episode I walk through the three shifts that turn a group-class-with-one-student into an actual private lesson: sequencing for one body (not the whole room) by applying 6–4–2 as a checklist, slowing your pace about thirty percent so the quiet can land, and treating consent as an ongoing conversation rather than a one-time opt-in.I also cover the two pieces your training probably skipped: how to hold your scope so you don't drift into PT, psychotherapy, or yoga therapy, and how to price privates so your students take them seriously and you build a sustainable income. My starting-line recommendation is $75 an hour, scaling up five to ten dollars per year of experience. Two privates a week at a fair rate can out-earn four studio classes.This episode builds on three earlier ones, E23 (Confidence in Private Lessons), E35 (How to Prepare for a Private Lesson), and E36 (During a Private Lesson). Listen to those for the foundation. Today's conversation is the full craft in one place.If you want the complete kit, The Private Lesson Playbook has six lessons, seventeen templates, and three ways to consume it (video, private podcast feed, or written). Launch sale $57 through May 31st at comfortzoneyoga.com/private.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

If you've ever spent hours creating a brand-new yoga sequence every week, only to wonder if your students even noticed the difference, this episode is for you.I spent over a decade coaching endurance athletes to age group world championships and podium finishes at ultramarathons. In all those years, I never once gave an athlete a completely different workout every single day. That's not how the body adapts. That's not how performance improves. And yet, that's exactly what many yoga teachers do in their classes—treating lesson plans like a Netflix queue of fresh content when what students actually need is a training plan.In this episode, I'm breaking down two foundational principles from exercise physiology—progressive overload and diminishing returns—and showing you exactly how to apply them to your yoga teaching. You'll learn about the FITT variables (Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type) and how tweaking just one variable at a time creates the progressive challenge your students' bodies need to adapt and grow. I'll also explain why pouring hours into a fresh lesson plan every Sunday night is costing you more than it's benefiting your students.This episode builds on Episode 7—Consistency over Variety—with the exercise science to back up why your students need repetition with small, intentional increases over time. Your students' bodies are smarter than your boredom. Trust that. Trust the repetition. Trust the process.If you want to dive deeper into the sequencing frameworks I describe—the chunk model, the capsule wardrobe approach, the FITT variables, and week-to-week progression—all of it is in my book The Art of Yoga Sequencing: Contemporary Approaches and Inclusive Practices for Teachers and Practitioners. Check the show notes for a direct link.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

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/newsletterRSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

"Will I fit in?" In over a decade of personal conversations with prospective students, that question came up nearly every time. In this episode, I answer it honestly—along with everything else you'd want to know before enrolling in a 200-hour yoga teacher training.This is a full guided tour of the Comfort Zone Yoga 200-hour YTT: the teaching frameworks you'll learn (including 6–4–2 and the S.E.R.V.E. Method), how the fully online program is structured, what the live cohort experience looks like, and what post-graduation support is included. I also break down the cost in real terms—comparing it to in-person programs, destination trainings, and the $11 end of the spectrum.If you're wondering whether this training is right for you, I give a clear answer—including who it is and isn't for, and three concrete steps to take if you're curious but not yet ready to commit.Live open houses are scheduled for April 18 and May 16 at noon Eastern. Sign up at https://www.comfortzoneyoga.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=e81-ytt-tour. To learn more about the program and register: https://sagerountree.com/200-hour-online-yoga-teacher-training/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=e81-ytt-tourRSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

"Get out of your comfort zone." It's practically a bumper sticker. But here's the definition I keep coming back to: the place where you can operate without fear of failure. That's not a limitation. That's a superpower.In this episode, I share the story behind the name Comfort Zone Yoga—what it actually means for your teaching, your confidence, and the kind of teacher you're becoming. We cover what happens in the room when you're teaching at the edge of your comfort zone, why most teacher trainings leave new teachers underprepared for real students, and how repetition (not novelty) builds the confidence that lasts.Your backstory isn't baggage—it's your curriculum. The obstacle you overcame gives you the authority to teach the very students who share that challenge. We unpack why this is true and what it means practically for how you show up.We also dig into the two sides of comfort: getting comfortable with discomfort (the growth edge most teachers know) and getting comfortable with comfort—the harder edge for athletes and high-achievers who already know how to push.Close out with the frameworks that make it all possible: the 6–4–2 checklist for balanced movement and the S.E.R.V.E. Method. Free live open houses April 18 & May 16, both at noon Eastern—sign up at comfortzoneyoga.com/c/comfort-zone-conversations.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Think about the last time you sat down to plan a themed yoga class. Did you freeze—staring at your notebook, wondering whether to use a Sanskrit concept, a seasonal metaphor, or a quote from a book you half-remember? You're not alone, and you're probably overthinking it.In this episode, Sage Rountree breaks down what a yoga class theme actually is—and what it isn't. A theme is simply a thread: one idea that gives your students something to hold onto from centering to closing. Sage shares practical methods for choosing a theme in five minutes or less and demonstrates how to weave it through your class naturally.Drawing from both volumes of Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses—the books Sage co-authored with Alexandra DeSiato—this episode gives you access to 108 ready-made themes and a template you can use to create your own. Whether you use the observation method (demoed in full), inquiry, or borrowed wisdom, you'll walk away with a simple system that makes your classes feel cohesive and intentional.Sage also previews the free Comfort Zone Conversation on April 9th, where all three methods will be walked through live. Join the Zone at comfortzoneyoga.com to RSVP—it's free, and the recording will be available afterward.For the full class-arc framework and S.E.R.V.E. Method, visit sagerountree.com/mentorship.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

I was teaching my regular Monday night balance class when I realized something: the centering I've been guiding for years—body, breath, mind, intention—is a walkthrough of the koshas. I just never called it that.In this episode, I break down the five koshas (body, breath, brain, belly, bliss—the five B's) and show you how this ancient model from the Taittiriya Upanishad is already woven into every class you teach. From your opening centering to your final savasana, you've been guiding students through these layers all along.I also walk through how the koshas come alive in yoga nidra, why understanding them gives you a teaching tool no app or NSDR clip can replicate, and how to use the "specific to general" dial to guide deeper relaxation. Plus, the one thing you absolutely cannot do: force your students to relax.Whether you teach vinyasa, restorative, or anything in between, this episode will change the way you think about centering, savasana, and everything that happens between them. I share a personal practice example, a practical challenge you can try this week, and resources for going deeper—including my forthcoming book Yoga Off the Mat and my 20-CEU course Teaching Yoga Nidra at Comfort Zone Yoga.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Website copywriter Sara Joelle joins me to talk about something every yoga teacher needs—storytelling. Whether you're theming a class, writing a newsletter, or trying to tell people about your workshop without cringing, Sara has practical methods to make it easier.We dig into the mindset around selling and why the voice in your head telling you you're annoying is one you made up. Sara shares her approach to breaking the fourth wall during a launch and why believing in what you're offering makes everything else click.Sara walks through two storytelling methods—starting with the point and working backward to a story, or starting with a story and connecting it to a message. Her Cards Against Humanity game night example is worth the listen on its own.We also talk about what actually belongs on a yoga teacher's website (hint: logistics first, credentials last) and why conversational copy beats esoteric language every time. Sara closes with a powerful reminder to stop blocking your own blessings.Listen now!RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Have you ever noticed how even your most loyal yoga students eventually drift away? Life happens—schedules change, people move—and without a way to stay in touch between classes, those connections fade.In this episode of Yoga Teacher Confidential, Sage Rountree breaks down why a newsletter is one of the simplest, most ethical tools yoga teachers have for building lasting relationships with students. You'll learn what permission-based marketing actually means (and why it should make you feel good, not guilty), how often to send your newsletter, and what to offer as a lead magnet to grow your list—using things you're probably already creating.Sage also covers the ethics of collecting email addresses, including how to get explicit consent and why unsubscribes are a feature, not a failure. Plus, she tackles the often-overlooked topic of studio non-solicitation policies and how to navigate them professionally.Ready to get started? Join Sage on March 19 at 2 p.m. Eastern for the Newsletter Launch Pad—a free live call inside Comfort Zone Conversations where you'll walk through choosing a platform, collecting addresses, and planning content without the overwhelm. RSVP at the link in the episode, and if you can't make it live, you'll get the recording.Next week on Yoga Teacher Confidential: copywriter Sara Joelle joins Sage to talk about storytelling for yoga teachers—because once you have a newsletter, you need to know what to put in it.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

A vivid dream about teaching Spinning brought me face to face with something I've known for years but never quite articulated: teaching yoga is fundamentally different from every other kind of teaching I've done.In this episode, I'm drawing on my background in Spinning instruction, university English literature, and public radio to show exactly where those skills help in the yoga room—and where they actively work against your students' experience. From the constant monologuing of radio to the performance energy of Spinning, I had to unlearn a lot to become an effective yoga teacher.I'm also sharing the surprising overlaps—like helping students find comfort in their setup, using breath as an anchor, and navigating students' desire for intensity. These are transferable skills that serve you beautifully when you know how to adapt them.If you've come to yoga teaching from fitness, academics, broadcasting, or any profession where you were trained to fill space and hold attention, this episode will help you identify the habits you're carrying and give you concrete steps to shift from performing to witnessing.Listen now!RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Classes end in a variety of ways. Last episode, we talked about choosing to drop a class on your own terms. But what happens when the decision isn't yours?Maybe the studio cut your class. Maybe an illness or injury forced you to step away. Maybe life circumstances made it impossible to keep showing up. This is a different kind of loss—and it deserves its own conversation.I'm coming at this from both sides: over 20 years as a yoga teacher and 15 years as a yoga studio owner. I've had classes that didn't work out, and I've been on the other side of that conversation too. Studio ownership is hard, y'all.In this episode, I'm walking through the different scenarios, validating the emotions that come with each one, offering reframes that might help, and sharing practical steps for moving forward. I'm also getting honest about what studio ownership looks like from the inside—because understanding the other perspective can take some of the sting away.Listen now!RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

I recently dropped a class I'd been teaching for nearly 23 years. Monday nights at 6 p.m.—since the literal day when the studio opened in 2004. Walking away from that class was one of the most bittersweet decisions I've ever made.In this episode, I'm sharing the full story of how I came to that decision, along with the signs that it might be time for you to let go of a class: declining numbers, a gut sense that the chapter is complete, burnout, the math not adding up, or a change in your life circumstances.I'm also sharing practical advice for walking away with grace—how to calculate your real hourly rate, how and when to tell your students (including the approach my friend Lisa recommended that worked beautifully), and what to do about the class after you leave.Whether you've been teaching a class for two months or two decades, the process is the same: pay attention to the signs, trust your gut, and give yourself permission to make a change.Listen now!RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

I was teaching a free yoga class at an outdoor gear store in Edmonton when a woman walked in with a toddler and an infant. Not a sleeping infant in a carrier: these children were alert, wandering, making noise. And if you've ever taught yoga, you know exactly what happens to your nervous system in that moment.In this episode, I'm sharing what I've learned about staying composed—and student-centered—when you truly don't know who's going to show up. From the student who took my breath cues so literally she thought she wasn't allowed to exhale, to people showing up in jeans because they wandered in from the hiking boot section, teaching in unpredictable environments tests everything you think you know about holding space.Here's what saved me in Edmonton: I teach in chunks. When you structure your classes with clear segments-warmup, standing, floor, finishing—you create natural transition points that give you flexibility to redirect, check in, or offer someone a graceful exit.You'll learn why structure is actually what gives you freedom, how to stay student-centered when everything goes sideways, and when to be more explicit with your cues than you think you need to be.Listen now!RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

I once sat next to the drummer from Loverboy on a plane, and we realized our lives were almost identical: city to city, same performance, different crowd, trying to find a salad somewhere. Except he was an actual rock star, and I was coming back from teaching yoga at an REI store in Minneapolis.In this episode, I'm sharing what sponsorships and brand ambassador deals actually look like from the inside. I'll walk you through my journey from cold-pitching Athleta in 2008 to a multi-year, five-figure deal with prAna that sent me touring REI and MEC stores across North America.You'll hear about the wonderful moments—meeting colleagues' parents, visiting cities I never would have seen otherwise, even writing most of my book Racing Wisely during airport downtime. But I'm also honest about the reality: most of the time wasn't spent teaching. It was logistics, travel, and trying to find fiber.If sponsorships aren't on your horizon yet, I've got something practical for you. I'm breaking down the discount programs that major yoga apparel brands offer teachers right now, including 50% off at prAna, 25% off at Lululemon, and 25% off at Athleta. These aren't sponsorships; they're perks of being in this profession.Listen now!RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

If you've ever spent three hours planning a sixty-minute yoga class—or shown up with nothing but vibes and hoped for the best—this episode is for you. I'm unpacking what I call the Planning-Confidence Cycle: the exhausting trap that keeps yoga teachers bouncing between meticulous overpreparation and chronic underpreparing.Here's the thing: neither extreme gives you what you actually want. Overplanning leaves you too in your head to see your students. Winging it leaves you uncertain whether your class is even balanced. And both feed the anxiety that keeps the cycle spinning.The ancient yoga teachers understood this tension deeply. In this episode, I'm exploring how sthira and sukha (steadiness and ease) and abhyasa and vairagya (practice and nonattachment) offer us a framework for finding the middle path—where preparation enables responsiveness instead of rigidity.You'll learn practical steps for breaking the cycle: recognizing your tendency, embracing the power of repetition, developing a framework you trust, and experiencing your sequences before you teach them.Plus, I'm inviting you to join the February Lesson Plan Challenge inside The Prep Station—four weeks, four complete lesson plans, practiced in your body and ready to teach.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Instagram can feel like a second job-especially when you became a yoga teacher to teach, not to perform online.In this episode, I share a simple reframe that takes the pressure down fast: your job on social media is not to entertain the algorithm. Your job is to help the right students find the next step into yoga with you.I walk through three struggles I hear from yoga teachers all the time: hating social media and feeling guilty, spending lots of time on Instagram without seeing fuller classes, and feeling confused about what Instagram is even for if you teach locally.You'll leave with a clear, minimalist way to treat Instagram like a calm little "foyer"-a reassuring business card for the nervous beginner who has already heard your name.Listen now!RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

When I started teaching yoga at the UNC Wellness Center, I had to complete hospital safety training about bloodborne pathogens and biohazard spills. I was teaching yoga in a gym. The odds of encountering a biohazard during downward-facing dog were essentially zero. But they paid me for that training time, and there were snacks at the meetings—so I wasn't complaining.Teaching at gyms and YMCAs isn't a consolation prize for yoga teachers who can't get hired at studios. It's one of the best possible training grounds for becoming a skilled, adaptable teacher. In this episode, I'm sharing why those six years at the UNC Wellness Center made me a dramatically better teacher than I would have been starting in a boutique studio.You'll learn why the straightforward application process, surprising benefits like free childcare and gym memberships, and exposure to large diverse classes build skills you can't get anywhere else. I'm also covering the real challenges—fluorescent lighting, multipurpose rooms, limited equipment—and how those constraints actually make you a more versatile teacher.Whether you're a new teacher looking for your first position or an experienced teacher considering a gym opportunity, this episode will help you see why teaching in less-than-perfect conditions creates the strongest foundation for your teaching career.LINKS:🎙️ Listen to all episodes: https://sagerountree.com/podcast?utm_source=buzzsprout&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=e64_gyms🧘 Join The Zone: https://www.comfortzoneyoga.com?utm_source=buzzsprout&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=e64_gyms📚 The Professional Yoga Teacher's Handbook: https://sagerountree.com/the-professional-yoga-teachers-handbook?utm_source=buzzsprout&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=e64_gymsRSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Most new yoga teachers approach studios completely wrong. They send generic emails, mention how much they need the work, and haven't taken a single class at the studio they're asking to teach at. Some even copy-paste so carelessly that they mention the wrong studio's name.In this episode, I'm sharing the exact approach that gets yoga teachers hired—the one that makes you stand out from the hundreds of other applicants studio owners receive every year. This isn't about luck or connections. It's about professionalism and intentionality.I walk you through the seven-step process I teach in The Professional Yoga Teacher's Handbook: from choosing your studio strategically, to becoming a student first, to writing an email that actually gets read, to following up professionally without being pushy. I also share what NOT to say in your initial approach—the red flags that get your email deleted immediately.Whether you're a newly certified teacher looking for your first gig or an experienced teacher relocating to a new area, this episode gives you the roadmap for approaching studios in a way that demonstrates you understand you're entering both a community and a business.Resources mentioned:The Professional Yoga Teacher's Handbook by Sage Rountree: https://amzn.to/3X7XknBRSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

I've spent twenty years watching yoga teachers struggle with the same pattern. They finish their training, start teaching, and then something happens. They're standing in front of three students wondering what they're doing wrong. They're scrambling every Sunday night to plan Monday's class. Or they never start teaching at all because the imposter syndrome is too loud.Here's what most teacher trainings won't tell you: more knowledge doesn't cure imposter syndrome. Clear, confident teaching cures imposter syndrome. That comes from having practical systems you can actually use.In this episode, I'm walking through how we can work together in 2026—not what trainings you should collect, but how working together could actually transform your teaching. Whether you're the teacher staring at a blank page every Sunday night, ready to master core sequencing skills, drawn to specialization, or not even a teacher yet—there's a pathway designed for exactly where you are right now.You'll learn about the Yoga Class Prep Station for immediate help, Mastering the Art of Yoga Sequencing mentorship, specialization programs that build toward your 300-hour advanced training, and the 200-hour training I'm co-teaching with Amy Boerner in Dominica this May.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Most yoga teachers feel secretly terrified about teaching meditation. You know how to cue a vinyasa, but when it comes to that moment where you ask students to sit still and turn inward, the panic sets in. Who am I to guide someone's meditation practice?In this conversation with Gabrielle Harris—author of Lessons in Meditation, The Language of Yin, and The Inspired Yoga Teacher—we unpack why teachers struggle with imposter syndrome and what to do about it. Gabrielle shares her evolution from hot power yoga to yin, how her daily writing practice informs her teaching, and why the simplest meditation techniques often go the deepest.We talk about the difference between mindfulness and meditation (yes, there is one), the Daoist principle of the middle way, and why your students came for the movement but are staying for the stillness. Gabrielle also shares the Navy Seals research on optimal meditation time—spoiler: it's only seven minutes.If you've ever wanted to bring more meditation into your classes but felt unsure where to start, this episode will give you permission to begin simply and trust what you already know.Resources:Gabrielle Harris: https://gabrielleharrisyoga.comGabrielle on Instagram: @gabrielleharrisyogaLessons in Meditation: https://amzn.to/4pJuo0VThe Inspired Yoga Teacher: https://amzn.to/4rDHU8bThe Language of Yin: https://amzn.to/4rDHU8bRSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

When Lana Boone first started teaching formats beyond her familiar Baptiste sequence, she was terrified. Today, she's the lead teacher at Yoga Six in Potomac, Maryland, confidently teaching everything from power to restorative to sound bath—and her classes are filling up.In this conversation, Lana shares how the 6-4-2 framework and chunking approach completely transformed her lesson planning. She went from spending hours trying to memorize set sequences to creating balanced classes in fifteen minutes. And her students? They love the consistency of practicing the same sequence for a full month.We also talk about Jenny Rawlings' biomechanics work and why it pairs so perfectly with what I teach. Lana shares how understanding the "why" behind alignment gave her the confidence to answer student questions she never could have addressed before—including the moment a student declared her "the only one who understands biomechanics" in the entire studio.If you've ever felt stuck in a teaching rut, scared to branch out into new formats, or overwhelmed by lesson planning, this episode will show you what's possible when you have the right frameworks in place.Resources Mentioned:Jenni Rawlings' Biomechanics Courses: https://jennirawlingsyoga.comFind Lana at lanaboone.comMMM Open House Private Podcast: https://podcasts.helloaudio.fm/subscribe/f6d50821-7933-49f6-9c1c-c8b2c16160d2/Jgbbr1r0b5MMM Open House YouTube Course: Watch on YouTubeRSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Most 200-hour yoga teacher trainings teach you how to do yoga—but they don't teach you how to teach yoga. If you've been through a training yourself, you know exactly what I mean. You spent weeks learning Sanskrit names, memorizing muscles, and perfecting your own poses. Then they handed you a certificate and said you're a yoga teacher now. Except you didn't really feel like one.In this episode, I'm taking you back to 2003 when I chose my own 200-hour training by looking through the printed pages of Yoga Journal. I'm sharing what made that training brilliant, what I learned from watching my business partner go through a different program, and how running our own training for nearly a decade taught me what works and what doesn't.Then I'm telling you about the 200-hour training I'm building right now with my colleague Amy Boerner. It's designed to teach you how to teach first—giving you the pedagogical foundation most trainings skip—and then lets you practice teaching real humans at a gorgeous eco-resort in Dominica. The online portion opens January 1, 2026, and the on-the-ground intensive runs May 12 through 26, 2026.If you've been thinking about becoming a yoga teacher, or if you've already done a 200-hour and know something was missing, this episode will show you what's possible when a training prioritizes teaching skills over pose knowledge.Listen now.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Most yoga teachers end the year measuring what they didn't accomplish. The workshops they didn't lead, the certifications they didn't finish, the Instagram following that didn't grow. But here's what I've learned after two decades of teaching: you're probably measuring the wrong things.In this episode, I'm walking you through the reflection framework I use in my mentorship—roses, thorns, and buds—and showing you how to create a Bridge Statement that turns your 2025 lessons into clear 2026 intentions. You'll learn about the Four Dimensions of Teaching Growth (consistency, connection, competence, and confidence) and discover why most teachers only measure one of them.I'll show you how to identify what you're keeping, dropping, and adding in 2026, and how to turn that reflection into sustainable intentions instead of resolutions that fizzle by February. We'll cover the Three-Part Intention Framework: your structural intention, your skill intention, and your self-care intention.If you want to do this work together, I'm hosting two free live calls in The Zone:December 18th at 2 p.m. Eastern: Your 2025 Teaching Year in Review (152)January 15th at 2 p.m. Eastern: Designing Your 2026 Teaching (153)Both calls include workbooks, community discussion, and replays.You're already a better teacher than you were a year ago. You just might not be measuring the right things.Listen now!RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

The most awkward yoga class I ever taught? When my husband raised his hand mid-class like a third grader to ask if he was doing it right. If you're teaching through the holidays, you're probably about to experience your own version of this—friends, family, and visiting relatives showing up to your class.In this episode, we're diving into one of the most complex dynamics in yoga teaching: what happens when people who know you outside the yoga room show up to your class, and what it means when your students bring their loved ones to practice with you.We'll explore why teaching friends and family is uniquely challenging (hint: it's about competing relationship dynamics, not respect), how to navigate these situations gracefully, and why a student bringing someone to your class is actually one of the highest compliments you can receive as a teacher.You'll learn practical strategies for setting expectations, maintaining boundaries while staying warm, welcoming guests effectively, and handling those inevitable awkward moments when things don't go as planned. Plus, we'll touch on the ethics of romantic relationships in yoga teaching—because someone needs to say it.Whether you're a new teacher worried about your mom showing up or an experienced teacher preparing for holiday visitors, this episode gives you the frameworks you need to turn these complex situations into opportunities for deeper connection and better teaching.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

I've been creating yoga video content since the DVD era—and I've made just about every mistake you can make along the way. From losing the rights to my own videos to stress-recording live classes while trying to serve paying students, my journey with video has been full of hard-won lessons.In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on 20+ years of creating yoga videos. I'll share what worked, what didn't, and the one mistake I will never make again. Whether you're thinking about recording your first workshop video or building an entire online library, this episode will save you years of trial and error.You'll learn my biggest regrets (hello, contract nightmares), the "two masters" problem of recording live classes, how to start with minimal equipment, and which platforms actually work for yoga teachers. I'll also share why I didn't pivot online during the pandemic—and why that decision was right for my studio.Teaching yoga on video can be one of the most sustainable, scalable revenue streams for yoga teachers. But you need to know what you're getting into first. Let me help you avoid the mistakes that cost me time, money, and peace of mind.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Most yoga teachers avoid watching themselves teach. The cringe factor is real. But self-assessment through video recording is the single most effective—and completely free—tool you have for evolving as a teacher.In this episode, we're diving deep into the second E in my S.E.R.V.E. Method: Evolve Your Voice. I'm sharing the complete framework I teach in Module One of Mastering the Art of Yoga Sequencing—the multi-pass review system, reflection techniques, and advanced strategies that transform video self-assessment from a painful one-time exercise into a sustainable practice for continuous growth.You'll learn how to set clear intentions before recording, use the structured observation system to identify both strengths and growth areas, close the loop with actionable next steps, and track your evolution over time. Plus, I'm sharing advanced techniques like embodied review (practicing along with your own recording) and linguistic analysis that reveal patterns you'd never notice just by watching.This isn't about perfection—it's about becoming more fully, more skillfully, more authentically yourself in service of your students. If you're ready to commit to your evolution as a teacher, this episode will show you exactly how.Resources mentioned:Mastering the Art of Yoga Sequencing mentorship at https://sagerountree.com/mentorship?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=e59_self_assessmentThe Professional Yoga Teacher's Handbook: https://amzn.to/3X7XknBJoin the Zone free community at https://comfortzoneyoga.com/c/the-zone?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=e59_self_assessmentDescript (affiliate): https://get.descript.com/ug54o2d6yfaqRSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

After two decades of teaching yoga and training teachers, I've noticed something profound: some of my most meaningful moments happen when I visit the teacher trainees of my former students. These metaphorical grandchildren—students of my students—represent what Phase 5 of the Yoga Teacher Success Timeline is truly about.Phase 5 isn't about age or years of experience. It's about the depth of your impact and your readiness to share what you've learned with the next generation of teachers. In this episode, I'm exploring the signs that you're entering this Mastery and Legacy Zone, from having significant recognition in your specialty to feeling teaching become effortless and joyful.I'm also sharing what I've learned about the tricky ego dynamics that can emerge when people start looking to you as an expert, the responsibilities that come with holding master's knowledge while maintaining beginner's mind, and how your impact multiplies when you shift from being a great teacher to becoming a teacher of teachers.Whether you're already in Phase 5 or steering toward it, this episode offers a vision of what's possible when your growth serves not just yourself, but everyone around you.After two decades of teaching yoga and training teachers, I've noticed something profound: some of my most meaningful moments happen when I visit the teacher trainees of my former students. These metaphorical grandchildren—students of my students—represent what Phase 5 of the Yoga Teacher Success Timeline is truly about.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

There's a phase that happens before yoga teacher training even begins—a liminal space where you're no longer just a student, but you're not yet ready to call yourself a teacher. I call it Phase Zero.Maybe you find yourself mentally teaching along during class, wondering why the teacher chose that particular sequence. Maybe people keep telling you that you should be a teacher, or you're naturally the one helping other students find their way. Maybe you feel called to share yoga with specific populations—your stressed coworkers, your athletic friends, your aging parents.In this episode, I'm breaking down the eight signs of Phase Zero, why this awakening period is actually necessary, and how to navigate the doubts and fears that come up. I'm also sharing practical steps you can take right now to honor this calling and prepare thoughtfully for what comes next.If you've been secretly wondering whether you could teach yoga, or if you're feeling drawn to teaching but aren't sure you're qualified, this episode will help you understand what you're experiencing and how to move forward with confidence.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

I used to think teaching yin and restorative yoga were niche skills—nice to have if you wanted to teach those specific classes, but not essential to your development as a yoga teacher. I was completely wrong.After 20+ years of teaching and training teachers, I've discovered that learning to teach yin and restorative might be the most transformative thing you can do for your teaching—no matter what style you teach. These aren't specialty skills for specialty classes. They're foundational skills that make you better at teaching everything.In this episode, we explore eight ways that yin and restorative training transforms your teaching: understanding what's happening at the tissue level, developing functional anatomy knowledge, getting radically comfortable with silence, mastering the deluxe savasana, developing precision in your language, learning to read the room at a deeper level, working with props as tools (not theater), and developing patience with your students and yourself.If you're ready to become the teacher who creates transcendent savasanas, who knows exactly when to speak and when to stay silent, who can read a room at the level of the nervous system—join me in the Fundamentals of Teaching Yin Yoga or Fundamentals of Teaching Restorative Yoga. Both courses are self-paced with video, audio, and reading formats, complete pose libraries, done-for-you lesson plans, and 20 CEUs. Visit comfortzoneyoga.com/yin or comfortzoneyoga.com/restorative to learn more.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

In this episode, I explore what it really means to thrive as a yoga teacher. Phase Four of the Yoga Teacher Success Timeline—the Thriving Teacher Zone—is where teaching becomes intuitive, fulfilling, and sustainable.I share the signs that you’ve reached this stage, from having loyal students and diversified income to teaching from intuition rather than fear. I also unpack how thriving doesn’t mean being overbooked or burned out—it means working with joy, confidence, and clarity.You’ll hear stories from my own teaching career, including what it feels like to teach two classes at once to a football team, why setting boundaries is a hallmark of professional maturity, and how mentorship and legacy naturally emerge from years of consistent quality.If you’re catching up on the Yoga Teacher Success Timeline, you can revisit:Episode 44: The OverviewEpisode 45: Phase One: The Post-YTT Overwhelm ZoneEpisode 50: Phase Two: The Identity Formation ZoneIf you recognize yourself in this phase, now’s the time to refine your systems and deepen your influence. Inside Mastering the Art of Yoga Sequencing, we’ll work together to develop your signature sequences, strengthen your teaching voice, and help you mentor the next generation with confidence and grace.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Have you ever felt like your teaching has hit a plateau? In this episode of Yoga Teacher Confidential, I dive into Phase Three of the Yoga Teacher Success Timeline: the Professional Development Zone.This is the stage where teaching starts to feel sustainable but can also begin to feel routine. I share the hallmarks of Phase Three, including confidence in delivery, steady students, and a desire to specialize or increase income—but also the risks of stagnation.You’ll learn how to embrace plateaus as launching pads, take strategic risks, monetize your expertise, and market yourself authentically without feeling salesy. I’ll also walk you through actionable steps to help you build workshops, set pricing, and start developing passive income streams.Whether you’re considering specialization, seeking better business systems, or looking for inspiration to take your teaching to the next level, this episode will help you strategically focus for long-term success.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

After 52 weekly episodes—a full year of this show!—one truth has emerged: the teachers who struggle most are still practicing yoga while trying to teach it. In this anniversary episode, I explore the irony at the core of our profession: yoga is an inward practice, but teaching yoga demands we look outward.I share my personal journey, the common struggles I see in teachers, and the shift that changes everything: moving from practitioner to teacher. You’ll learn practical ways to reframe your pre-class rituals, simplify sequencing, practice pausing, and redefine your success metrics.By the end of this conversation, you’ll see why confidence doesn’t come from more certifications or perfecting your practice. It comes from service, from focusing fully on your students, and from letting go of the pressure to be perfect.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Emergencies happen in yoga class—and sometimes the emergency is mine. In this third installment of the series, I share practical steps for handling sudden illness, a coughing fit or lost voice, migraines, or a panic spike while I’m teaching. You’ll hear real stories, what I say to students in the moment, and how I decide whether to simplify, deputize help, or end early. The goal: care for myself so I can care for others, while modeling the self-management we teach.This episode completes our three-part series on medical situations in class:E34: Medical Emergencies in Class, Part 1 — Class-Stopping IssuesE40: Medical Emergencies in Class, Part 2 — Handling Minor Issues without Stopping ClassE52: Part 3 — When the Emergency Is Yours (this episode)Listen in for:A grounding reminder: it’s just yogaQuick triage questions to guide your next moveLanguage to be transparent without oversharingSimple ways to keep students safe while you stabilizeWhy if/then planning helps you stay calm and professionalEmergencies are never easy, but with preparation and perspective, we can meet them with grace and keep our community safe.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Leading a yoga retreat isn’t just a vacation with yoga—it’s a business, a service, and a deep commitment to your students. In this episode of Yoga Teacher Confidential, I talk with retreat leader Amy Boerner about what really goes into hosting successful retreats. From requiring deposits that “hurt to lose” to learning the hard way why you should never cook for your participants, Amy shares both the challenges and rewards of creating transformative retreat experiences.We cover how to set clear expectations, manage daily schedules, and beta-test your first offering, plus the importance of financial planning. Amy also highlights Jungle Bay in Dominica as her dream retreat venue and shares exciting news about our upcoming 200-hour teacher training partnership.If you’ve ever dreamed of hosting a retreat—or want to avoid costly mistakes—this conversation is full of wisdom you won’t find in glossy Instagram ads.Additional Resources Mentioned in This Episode:Join Amy’s live Comfort Zone Conversations call: https://www.comfortzoneyoga.com/c/comfort-zone-conversations/hosting-yoga-retreats-101?utm_source=buzzsprout&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=ep51Learn more about our hybrid 200-hour teacher training: https://carrboroyoga.com/destination200ytt/?utm_source=buzzsprout&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=ep51RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Five years into teaching, I realized I was sounding just like one of my mentors—same words, same tone, same everything. It made me wonder: who am I as a teacher when I’m not imitating someone else?In this episode, we’re diving into Phase Two of the Yoga Teacher Success Timeline: the Identity Formation Zone. This is where you’ve moved past the overwhelm of Phase One and into regular teaching—but still feel like an imposter.We’ll unpack:Why imposter syndrome can be a sign of growth.How to set clear boundaries with students.Ways to streamline your planning using the S.E.R.V.E. Method.Tips for building a niche and marketing yourself authentically.Phase Two is all about finding your voice, teaching with confidence, and laying the foundation for a sustainable career. Let’s navigate it together.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Teaching yoga in a big space with dozens of students can be daunting—how do you connect with everyone and keep the class flowing? In this episode, I share practical strategies for managing large rooms so every student feels included. You’ll learn how to set up your space, move with intention, project your voice, and adapt to challenges without losing your connection to the whole group. These tips will help you feel confident in any teaching setting, whether you’re leading a festival crowd, a sports team, or a packed studio class.We’ll cover:Pre-class space setup for maximum flow and accessibilityUsing voice, movement, and visual cues to connect with the whole roomStrategies for handling technical issues and distractionsCreating a sense of intimacy in a large groupSimple habits to refine your space management skills over timeIf you’ve ever wished for a toolkit to make big classes feel intimate and connected, this episode is for you!RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

If you’ve ever found yourself spending hours on Sunday night scrolling Instagram for yoga class ideas, this episode is for you. I share the real struggle teachers face with planning: the overwhelm, the blank-page anxiety, or the temptation to just wing it.After 20+ years of teaching, I’ve discovered that the most successful teachers aren’t the most creative or the most flexible. They’re the ones who reliably deliver balanced classes week after week. That’s why I created the Yoga Class Prep Station: a resource designed to end the Sunday night scramble once and for all.In this episode, I walk you through what the Prep Station offers—from the Movement Library to the monthly yoga snacks, theme seeds, and live calls—and how it follows the S.E.R.V.E. Method in bite-sized, practical ways.You’ll also hear how the Prep Station differs from my deeper mentorship program, Mastering the Art of Yoga Sequencing, and why both exist to serve you at different points in your teaching journey.By the end, you’ll see that great teaching isn’t about reinventing the wheel every week. It’s about being consistent, reliable, and nourished as a teacher. The Prep Station gives you the tools to do just that.Pull up a seat at the counter: Join the Prep Station here!RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Teaching private yoga lessons can be one of the most rewarding parts of your teaching career—both financially and in the depth of connection you create. But finding clients who truly value your teaching can be a challenge.In this episode, I share exactly how I’ve built a roster of private clients who commit to regular sessions, respect my expertise, and pay my full rate without constant negotiation. You’ll learn how to identify your ideal clients, where to find them, how to communicate your value, and how to turn first-time students into long-term teaching relationships.Whether you’re just exploring private teaching or ready to upgrade your current client list, these strategies will help you create a sustainable, fulfilling private teaching practice that honors your expertise and supports your business.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

What makes students keep coming back to your classes? It’s not just your cueing or sequencing—it’s the sense of connection you cultivate.In this episode, I break down the art of building community in your yoga classes—not in a forced, overly social way, but in a grounded, intentional way that supports all types of students. You’ll learn what to do before, during, and after class to foster belonging, how to navigate common challenges like oversharing or cliques, and how to hold strong boundaries while still creating connection.You don’t need to be an extrovert to lead a welcoming, connected class. Whether you’re teaching regulars, athletes, or a one-off workshop, these techniques will help your students feel like they belong—and help you feel more confident and fulfilled as a teacher.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

You finished your 200-hour training, certificate in hand . . . but your class plan is blank and your brain is fried. Sound familiar?In this episode, I walk you through Phase 1 of the Yoga Teacher Success Timeline: what I call post-training overwhelm. It’s that panicky season where you feel like you should be ready, but instead, you’re second-guessing every pose, bouncing between over-planning and winging it, and constantly reinventing sequences that never seem to stick.I’ll share:The most common symptoms of Phase 1 (and why they’re totally normal)The one mistake that keeps new teachers stuck for yearsWhy teaching the same sequence multiple times isn’t lazy—it’s liberatingHow the 6-4-2 Framework cuts your planning time in halfWhat it really means to build confidence as a yoga teacherIf you’re tired of feeling like your training didn’t actually prepare you for real-life teaching, you’re not alone—and you’re not failing. You’re just in Phase 1. And this episode is here to help you move through it consciously and confidently.For more support, check out Mastering the Art of Yoga Sequencing, my mentorship program where we turn the overwhelm into a steady, adaptable system you can grow with.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

“I’ve been teaching for years and I still feel like I’m faking it.”If that sounds familiar, I'm here to reassure you: you’re not alone, and you’re not behind.In this episode, I share the Yoga Teacher Success Timeline, a five-phase framework that helps you name where you are in your growth as a yoga teacher—and understand what’s coming next.Whether you’re fresh out of teacher training or you’ve been leading classes for years, this roadmap gives you language, perspective, and permission. You’ll learn:The five distinct phases yoga teachers move throughWhy it’s completely normal to revisit early phases again and againThe most common mistake that keeps teachers stuckHow to build a class around what you already know how to teachA free resource that helps you move forward with more ease and confidence🎧 Plus, I’ll share one practical homework assignment to help you apply this right away.Links from the episode:→ Join the free mini course: Fundamentals of Confident TeachingRSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

What if the secret to confidence wasn’t doing something new—but doing the same thing, over and over again?In this episode, I talk with Nyisha Rylander, who teaches yoga in three very different contexts on the island of Kauai: at a local gym with regular students, at resorts with one-time guests, and online as part of her health coaching business. You’ll hear how she used one master sequence—what she calls her “resort yoga”—as a template that built her fluency and freed up her attention for her students.We talk about how her planning process has evolved, how she overcame the impulse to change everything all the time, and what finally clicked to help her feel like a real teacher instead of just an instructor.You’ll also hear how being part of my mentorship program, Mastering the Art of Yoga Sequencing (MMM), gave her structure, inspiration, and access to a community of fellow teachers walking the same path.If you’re a new teacher, a part-time teacher, or someone transitioning between platforms, this conversation will remind you that confidence comes not from complexity—but from clarity and consistency.In this episode:How Nyisha moved from cosmetology to yoga teaching in a pandemic pivotWhat changed when she taught the same class repeatedly to new studentsHow she built a personal practice library and online video platformThe value of vignettes, structure, and learning to trust your memoryHow MMM gave her tools and support for sustainable growthWhy repetition isn’t just okay—it’s the path to creative, embodied teachingLinks:Mastering the Art of Yoga Sequencing (MMM): https://sagerountree.com/mentorshipNyisha’s website: https://nyishayogakauai.comNyisha's podcast: Sacred SoulsRSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Whether you love crafting playlists or prefer teaching in silence, this episode helps you make thoughtful, legally sound, and energetically aware choices about music in yoga classes. I walk you through:the legal requirements most teachers overlooknuts-and-bolts tech tips to avoid disruptionand the nuanced ways sound shapes student experience.You’ll also get guiding principles and practical options for building your confidence and versatility—so your class can thrive with or without music.Links mentioned:YogiTunesEpidemic SoundCreative Commons RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Corporate yoga might just be the hidden gem of your teaching business. In this episode, I share everything you need to know to succeed in this unique environment—from landing gigs to crafting office-friendly sequences.You’ll learn how to approach HR and wellness directors, price your sessions with confidence, and teach diverse groups who may never have stepped foot in a studio. I break down exactly how to adapt your teaching whether your students are in skirts or in steel-toed boots—and why the CEO might be your student.We also explore logistical tips to make your classes smooth and professional, how to build your credibility with documentation and feedback, and why teaching in corporate settings can help you evolve into a more confident, versatile teacher.Whether you’re seeking a more stable income stream or looking to expand your reach beyond the studio, corporate classes offer tremendous growth potential when approached strategically.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

As yoga teachers, we’re often prepared for the flow—but what about the unexpected? From nosebleeds and nausea to cramps and emotional releases, minor medical situations happen more often than we expect. In this episode, I share practical, professional ways to respond to these common classroom incidents without derailing your teaching or unsettling your students.You’ll learn how to recognize early signs of trouble, maintain class momentum while tending to individual needs, and communicate clearly and compassionately—no drama required. These stories and strategies will help you create a classroom culture where both self-care and safety are normalized.I also share the general principles I use to handle these situations with skill and composure, so you’re never caught off guard.We cover:What to do when a student gets dizzy, nauseous, or emotionalHow to handle nosebleeds, cramps, or cuts without disrupting the classTips for preventing minor issues before they startHow to build a culture where rest and modification are welcomeThe quiet power of professional, compassionate leadershipRSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

NB: I fixed the audio glitch—thanks for listening to this better version!Tight rooms, big challenges—and even bigger opportunities!In this episode, I share lessons from years of teaching yoga in spaces that may have seemed too small on paper but that turned out to be perfectly intimate in practice.You’ll hear my go-to strategies for mat arrangements, movement economy, managing props, and creating a powerful group energy, even when everyone’s elbow-to-elbow. Plus, I offer a fresh perspective on the hidden gifts that small spaces bring to your teaching practice.If you’re working in gyms, multipurpose rooms, or cozy studios, this episode will help you turn limitations into teaching strengths.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

My second-ever yoga class as a teacher is one I showed up to take but wound up subbing unexpectedly. I learned a lesson I’ve carried ever since: you don’t have to be the regular teacher, you just have to be you.In this episode of Yoga Teacher Confidential, I’ll walk you through how to:navigate the challenges of subbing someone else’s classcommunicate effectivelyset the right tonehonor class culturebalance familiarity with your own styleand handle mixed student reactions!Whether you’re stepping in as a sub or preparing for someone to cover your class, you’ll learn how to turn subbing into a growth opportunity—for both you and your students.Join me as we explore how to evolve your voice and embrace subbing as a vital part of your teaching journey.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

In Episode 37, I dive deep into the essential yet often uncomfortable topic of boundaries in yoga teaching. I share insights from over two decades of experience, covering:the teacher-student dynamicethical considerationsthe tricky terrain of transference and projectionYou’ll learn practical tips on maintaining professional and personal limits, communicating clearly, and recognizing when your boundaries are slipping. Most importantly, we’ll reframe boundaries not as barriers but as powerful containers that allow you to serve your students with clarity and care.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.

The most transformative yoga moments I’ve had didn’t come in packed studios—they happened one-on-one. In this episode, we dive deep into how to craft meaningful, student-centered private yoga sessions. I walk you through welcoming students, providing tailored feedback, managing pacing and flow, adapting on the fly, and creating a safe, empowering space.We’ll cover how to read subtle cues, when to pivot your plan, and how to conclude each session with clear next steps. Whether you’re new to private teaching or looking to deepen your approach, you’ll leave with actionable strategies to elevate your work and your students’ experience.Want to keep evolving your private teaching? Join me in The Zone, our free teaching community, or explore deeper learning through my mentorships and courses.RSVP for the open house—we meet at noon EDT on Saturday, May 16. I'll send a replay to all registrants after the event! Join here: Find Your Teaching Voice Live + 200YTT Open HouseWant to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:InstagramFacebookThreadsPinterestAnd come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 200/300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at sagerountree.com.