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Episodes
Lessons, stories and interviews designed to help you feel more confident as a yoga teacher. Music used with artist permission: https://johnbartmann.com/faq
Episodes
Apr 6, 2026
Apr 6, 2026
33 min
Many yoga teachers leave their training with a lot of information — anatomy, alignment cues, sequencing ideas — but still feel unsure when it comes to actually teaching.
Why does that happen?
In this episode, I break down one of the most common learning mistakes yoga teachers make, based on a concept I’ve been talking about: the difference between Building knowledge and Applying knowledge. I heard this idea referenced on the Huberman Lab podcast, where it was framed a little differently but the concept is the same:
• declarative learning — understanding information
• procedural learning — knowing how to apply it in real time
And why most teacher trainings focus heavily on the first, but not enough on the second.
I’ll share how this shows up in areas like anatomy, cueing, and sequencing — and why it can leave teachers feeling like they “know” things but still struggle to teach with confidence.
If you’ve ever felt like you understand the material but can’t quite translate it into your teaching, this episode will help you see why — and what actually helps things start to click.
I also share a short training on how to create a Signature Sequence, which is one of the simplest ways to start applying what you know and feel more confident in your classes:
Mar 30, 2026
Mar 30, 2026
40 min
Mar 23, 2026
Mar 23, 2026
26 min
In this episode, we shift the conversation toward what actually helps teachers feel more confident.
Instead of focusing on accumulating more information or taking more trainings, confidence often grows from developing a few key teaching skills and simplifying what you focus on when you teach.
In this episode, I talk about:
• a clear format for cueing you can use to make things feel more natural
• how teaching a Signature Sequence can dramatically reduce the stress of planning classes
• why understanding movement is more useful than memorizing anatomy terms
• and how shifting your mindset about your role as a teacher can change how you show up in class
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed or unsure, this episode will help you start focusing on the things that actually move the needle.
I also share a short training that walks you through how to create your own Signature Sequence so you can spend less time planning classes and feel more confident teaching.
You can access that here:
Mar 16, 2026
Mar 16, 2026
32 min
In this episode, I talk about a pattern I’ve seen after working with many yoga teachers: the gap between completing a training and actually feeling confident leading a class.
We explore some of the reasons this happens — including how many trainings emphasize accumulating knowledge rather than developing the practical teaching skills that help classes feel easier and more natural to lead.
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why teaching still feels harder than you expected, this episode will help you see that you’re not alone — and that the issue often has more to do with how teachers are trained than with your ability to teach.
In Part 2, I’ll share what actually builds confidence for yoga teachers and the key things you can focus on if you want teaching to feel simpler and more grounded.
Mar 9, 2026
Mar 9, 2026
40 min
Many yoga teachers hear cues or “rules” about certain poses — things like “don’t put your foot on the side of your knee in Tree Pose” or “you shouldn’t square your hips in Warrior 1 because that forces the hips into an uncomfortable position.” But often these statements aren’t well grounded in anatomy or movement science. Instead, they reflect a particular teacher’s style, preference, or interpretation of how a pose should be taught. Or, they might simply reflect a lack of anatomical knowledge on the part of the teacher.
In this episode, I share why it’s important to distinguish between evidence-based anatomy principles and teaching methodology, and why asking “why?” is one of the most powerful tools a teacher can use when evaluating cues and alignment advice.
If you’ve ever heard conflicting guidance about poses and wondered what’s actually true, this episode will help you think about anatomy, movement, and cueing with more clarity and confidence.
Mar 2, 2026
Mar 2, 2026
34 min
Feb 23, 2026
Feb 23, 2026
41 min
Feb 16, 2026
Feb 16, 2026
25 min
Feb 9, 2026
Feb 9, 2026
33 min
Feb 2, 2026
Feb 2, 2026
28 min
