Conversations for Yoga Teachers

Meet MaKenzie Fly (EP.352)

Have you ever wanted to try something different in your classes that would allow you to elevate your teaching to a new level? On today’s show, you’ll discover a new technique that will not only transform you as a teacher but also transform your students. MaKenzie Fly shares a teaching methodology called “Theme Weaving,” and once you hear more about it, you’ll be hooked! MaKenzie not only walks you through the logic behind it; she also shares the huge opportunity for you as a teacher to step beyond teaching from action and start sharing themes that inspire you and will inspire your students. 

 

In this episode you’ll discover:

 

What theme weaving is from a sequencing perspective

How to begin to experiment with it in your classes

What’s possible for you as a teacher when you challenge yourself to begin to teach in this way

Possible “themes” you can use with this teaching model

How to give yourself the support you might need to get started and move past any feelings of fear around trying it.

 

Once you listen to the episode, be sure to connect with MaKenzie on Instagram @masteryouryogateaching

 

MaKenzie also hosts the podcast called “Master Your Yoga Teaching” which you can catch on iTunes or Spotify using this link:

 

https://masteryouryogateaching.com/

 

She also mentions in the episode a great resource for teachers on sequencing. Find out more about it here:

 

https://inspiredflowmonthly.com/

 

At the start of the episode, I share that I have a few spots left in the Yoga Anatomy Accelerator Program. DM me or email me for your discount code. To check out the program, see this link:

 

https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

 

Workshop on Confidence (EP.351)

Listen in to a workshop held on May 21, 2025 on the four pillars of confidence teaching.

 

At the end of the workshop, you’ll hear an offer. Here’s the link:

 

https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

 

Authentic Yoga Teaching (EP.350)

In this episode, you’ll uncover how to teach authentically by listening to my conversation with yoga teacher Avi Gordon. 

 

Avi Gordon serves as the Director of the Integral Yoga Teachers Association (IYTA), a global network of over 10,000 yoga teachers dedicated to spreading the timeless teachings of Integral Yoga. As the host of the Integral Yoga podcast, Avi creates meaningful conversations on personal growth, spirituality, and the yogic lifestyle.

 

A devoted father of two, Avi is passionate about integrating the principles of Yoga into the practice of parenting, creating compassionate and mindful family environments. His journey has also taken him around the globe, teaching in Taiwan, South Korea, Israel, and the United States.

Avi is the author of A Light in the Tunnel, a visionary novel that inspires hope for a harmonious future for humanity and the planet. He is also the founder of Story Recorded, a professional interviewing service that helps people capture their life stories. His love for silence, nature, writing, and self-care practices underscores his commitment to mindful living.

In this conversation, we talk about the struggles that teachers have saying and doing things in their classes that feel authentic to them. Avi shares his thoughts born from years of teaching experience to help you discover how to uncover your most authentic way of teaching. 

 

Here’s how you can connect with Avi:

 

 

Links:

Podcast: https://iyta.org/podcast/

Website: https://www.life-chronicles.com/

X: https://x.com/media_rest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyrecorded/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@storyrecorded

 

In the beginning of the episode, I share how you can enroll in my new program, The Yoga Anatomy Accelerator. Here’s the link:

 

 

https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

Meet Ann Swanson (EP.349)

There’s no denying that when you’re teaching yoga, the better you understand anatomy, the more confident you’ll feel. In this episode, you’ll meet Ann Swanson, author and yoga teacher with a wealth of experience in anatomy, yoga, yoga therapy and training teachers. 

 

She's the author of Science of Yoga which has sold over half a million copies worldwide and has been translated into 15+ languages. She also recently announced the newly updated second edition just released this year (2025). 

She’s spent the last 15 years sharing yoga research with the intention of making the practice more inclusive and accessible, especially to people with health conditions. Ann’s background includes LMT, C-IAYT and ERTY-500. 

 

Ann and I discuss not only the anatomy of muscles, bones and joints but also other systems of the body and how to apply it to your teaching and your own health. You’ll find Ann engaging, smart and she has a way of making these topics easy to understand. 

 

You can find her book here:

 

https://www.scienceof.yoga/

 

She is on Instagram at: 

 

https://www.instagram.com/annswansonwellness/

 

You can connect with me via my website, www.barebonesyoga.com

 

Anatomy of Backbends (EP.348)

Have you ever wondered why backbends can be hard for your students to master? It has to do with the actual movement of spinal extension and that we often don’t move in that direction during the day. In this episode, you’ll learn more about the anatomy of backbends, how to teach them and clear cues to use. This will help you feel more confident as you’re teaching your classes. 

 

At the end of the episode, I share a special offer with you for my new Yoga Anatomy Accelerator Program. You can use the discount code I share in the episode to enroll by using this link here:

 

https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

 

The code to get the $50 off is “yaa” making your investment just $347! I can’t wait to see your enrollment come through!

 

Meet Jeremy Devens (EP.347)

Yoga teachers don’t often get a chance to have live conversations and that’s one of the reasons I love having fellow yoga teachers on my podcast. In this episode, you’ll meet Jeremy Devens, yoga teacher, teacher trainer and podcast host, producing the Yoga Teacher Training Podcast. Jeremy has a special skill for building community, especially online, and he shares lessons he’s learned in teaching and also building a yoga business. 

 

He’s shared some key resources you can download so be sure to check out the links below. 

 

One more thing: At the start of the episode, I offer you a chance to enroll in my new program, The Yoga Anatomy Accelerator. To check it out, click here: 

 

https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

 

 

Here’s the links we talked about in the episode: 

90: Yoga Sequences For Beginners
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3FmO9eJFHqdAYo9zTJibp2?si=OUMTu4raS0CV41z0pLegHw

Beginners Yoga Sequence [Free Download]
https://www.quietmind.yoga/beginnersequence

Quietmind Astrology
https://www.quietmindastrology.com

Meet Joanna Sapir (EP.346)

Have you ever wondered how you can build up a thriving one on one private yoga session business? Imagine helping people transform their health in ways that are most meaningful to them and being a part of that process by teaching yoga, meditation and any other modality you feel is a good match for their vision. This is all possible when you create an offer you can share with people for private yoga programming. 

 

In today’s show, business strategist Joanna Sapir, walks you through how to do this in a way that allows you to share what you love and what you’re passionate about and by helping people reach their wellness goals. Even for newer teachers, or yoga teachers who are working a full time “regular” job, creating a robust one on one offer can be something that not only brings in revenue but allows you to share what you love in a meaningful way. 

 

Here’s more about Joanna:

 

Joanna Sapir is a business strategist for holistic practitioners, particularly those that integrate multiple modalities.

Joanna's special ability is in helping practitioners set up repeatable systems and processes in their businesses to serve their clients more powerfully, enroll committed long-term clients, and create steady income and cash flow.

She has been a teacher and trainer for more than twenty years, from the classroom to the gym floor and now to wellness practices across the world.

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, she is a mother of two, a USA Masters National Champion in Olympic-style Weightlifting, and the host of the Business Revolution for Practitioners podcast. Learn more at http://joannasapir.com

 

Joanna talks about a free resource she’s sharing with you that’ll help you get started. To get your copy, use this link: 

 

https://joannasapir.com/lp/systems/

 

At the start of the episode, I share an opportunity for you if you’re ready and looking for an easy way to learn anatomy so you can feel more confident when you teach. To get a special podcast offer, DM me the word “Accelerator” to my Instagram @barebonesyoga for your offer.

Meet Laurie James (EP.345)

Have you ever had a physical reaction to an emotion you feel? What about as a yoga teacher.. have you ever asked your students to “notice how you feel?”

 

Noticing how we feel and managing our emotions and the reactions to them in our physical body is part of the study of somatics. 

 

This is part of what you’ll learn about when you listen to my conversation with coach, author and podcast host, Laurie James. 

 

Laurie shares her story as well as the work she does with clients, helping them to find more freedom, peace and joy in their lives. 

 

We take time to relate the topic to teaching yoga too so if you’re a teacher, you’ll find quite a bit in this episode for you. 

 

Here is more about Laurie:

 

Laurie James is a mother, divorcée, recovering caregiver turned author, somatic relationship coach, and podcaster. Laurie’s podcast, Confessions of a Freebird, was inspired by her youngest of four children leaving the nest and is the sequel to her book, Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go.

 

Laurie’s book is about her journey from loneliness to finding belonging during a time when she was raising four teenage daughters, her mother had a heart attack and needed care, all while her marriage began to crumble.

 

Now Laurie coaches’ women in midlife. Through blending her somatic training into her coaching she helps women divorce, heal, and date differently so they can find the inner freedom to experience more happiness and joy and create the life they desire.

 

She primarily works with women who are going through a divorce and supports them through dating and beyond. She blends her coaching and somatic training to help her clients develop a better relationship with their bodies and nervous system. And to work through their unresolved past so they can find more freedom and love in all their relationships.

 

When she is not coaching clients or podcasting, she can be found nurturing her free spirit by walking her dog, skiing, sailing, hiking, spending time with close friends and partner or planning her next adventure. 

Laurie has a free download you can get right now that will help you learn more about somatic healing techniques:

 

https://laurieejames.myflodesk.com/bgtsh

 

One more thing:

 

At the start of the episode, I shared a little bit with you about my new program, The Yoga Anatomy Accelerator. 

 

You can watch a preview and if it’s a good fit for you, enroll here:

 

 

https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

 

Meet Billy Wynne (EP.344)

When you hear the phrase “you are whole and complete” what comes up for you? Well, if you’re like author Billy Wynne, you ponder how to help people understand the essence of what this really means AND live like this. 

 

Billy is the author of “The Empty Path: Finding Fulfillment through the Radical Art of Lessening,” and we talk about the profound and at the same time, essential and timeless concepts of what is means to live like this. Billy is a student of Buddhism and mindfulness for 30 years and he’s received his meditation certification under well-known teachers Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. He received his lay Zen Buddhist ordination from the Zen Center of Denver, where he teaches classes and serves on the board. 

 

Once you listen to the episode, here’s how you can find out more about Billy:

 

Visit him online at  https://billywynne.com.

Here’s a link to the book’s product page on Amazon: https://a.co/d/auPWvgx 

And here are his social media links:

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/billywynneauthor  

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/billywynneauthor  

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/billywynne_   

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billywynne  

 

 

For me, a great place to connect is on my instagram:

 

https://www.instagram.com/barebonesyoga/

 

Also, get my free e book for all things yoga teaching related:

 

https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/the-bare-bones-yoga-guide-to-incredible-yoga-teaching/

Meet Reema Datta (EP.343)

In today’s episode, you’re going to meet an amazing guest, Reema Datta, who’ll be sharing about her life, her yoga teaching and all about her new book. 

 

Here is more about Reema:

 

Reema Datta is the author of The Yogi’s Way: Transform Your Mind, Health, and Reality. Datta first learned yoga and Ayurveda from her mother and grandmothers as well as her grandfather, who wrote several books on Vedic philosophy. After receiving her master’s from the London School of Economics, Datta worked for the United Nations before leaving to study ancient yogic wisdom and practice. Since 2002, she has taught yoga and Ayurveda workshops, retreats, and trainings in twenty countries across five continents. Her students include Sting, Paul Simon, Edie Brickell, Zainab Salbi, Sujatha Baliga, and thousands of other practitioners globally. Visit her online at http://www.ReemaYoga.com.

Here’s a Q&A about the book:  https://youtu.be/Jg9BYEat8Lo 

Here are her social media links:

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/reemayoga  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reema.datta.9  

X/Twitter: https://x.com/reemadatta 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reema-datta-332023b  

 

I love sharing these interview episodes with you! After you listen, please share a message with Reema and I with any thoughts you had about the conversation! You can DM her on her Instagram and use mine as well: @barebonesyoga