The Mentor Sessions

There is no cookie-cutter approach to private yoga teaching. The most effective private teachers learn to listen carefully, think critically, stay curious, and trust their ability to adapt. Private teaching is not about giving someone a customized version of a group class. It's about creating a collaborative practice that responds to who they are, what they need, and where they are right now. That requires both clarity of intention and flexibility of method. In today's episode we are looking back at one of the foundational ideas behind my work as a private yoga teacher: how to create a yoga practice that actually meets the needs of the person in front of you. We'll walk through four key principles for tailoring a private yoga session, including building trust, questioning the idea of a well-rounded practice, understanding the intended benefit of a pose, and staying creative and flexible in your teaching. In this episode, you'll hear: Why teaching private yoga lessons requires a different skill set than teaching group classes The difference between a teacher-driven group class and a student-driven private lesson How to distinguish between what a student wants and what they may actually need How to maintain the depth and heart of yoga while adapting the way you teach it Why students who appear "easy" to teach may actually require more creativity and attention How understanding the intended benefit of a pose can transform individualized teaching Helping students develop discernment about whether a practice is actually useful to them Creative alternatives to traditional centering practices at the beginning of a private lesson This episode is brought to you by OfferingTree, an easy-to-use, all-in-one online platform for yoga teachers that provides a personal website, booking, payment, blogging, and many other great features. If you sign up at www.offeringtree.com/mentor , you'll get 50% off your first three months or 15% off any annual plan!

In this episode of The Mentor Sessions, Francesca talks with Andrew Tanner, founder and CEO of the American Yoga Council (AYC), about his vision for creating a healthier, more sustainable yoga ecosystem. Andrew brings more than 20 years of experience as a yoga teacher, studio owner, business consultant, technology leader, and former Yoga Alliance executive. His career has taken him from teaching and owning multiple yoga studios to working at Kripalu and Yoga Alliance, co-founding the Berkshire Yoga Festival, and now building a new credentialing and professional organization for yoga teachers. The conversation goes far beyond the American Yoga Council itself. Francesca and Andrew explore the problems with the current yoga teacher credentialing system, why yoga teachers need better business education, how mentorship can transform professional development, and why Andrew believes the yoga industry needs to "grow up." They also have an unusually candid conversation about Andrew's experience leaving a high-demand spiritual organization, the power dynamics that can exist within yoga communities, institutional resistance to change, and why transparency is one of AYC's core values. In this episode, you'll hear: The challenges of power, money, loyalty, and authority within spiritual communities About Andrew's work at Kripalu and his belief that institutions heal by creating something new rather than remaining stuck in the past Andrew's work at Yoga Alliance and the Standards Review Project Why he became disillusioned with the existing credentialing and accreditation model The creation and mission of the American Yoga Council Why AYC operates as a public benefit corporation rather than a nonprofit Why Andrew believes yoga studios should be viewed as "third places" and hospitality businesses Andrew's vision for the future of yoga and the American Yoga Council Resources Mentioned: www.americanyogacouncil.com Listeners can use the code FRANCESCA30 for 30% off an AYC membership. This episode is brought to you by OfferingTree, an easy-to-use, all-in-one online platform for yoga teachers that provides a personal website, booking, payment, blogging, and many other great features. As an added bonus, If you sign up at www.offeringtree.com/mentor , you'll get 50% off your first three months (or 15% off any annual plan)! I'm proud to be supported by a public benefit company whose mission is to further wellness access and education for everyone.

If you've ever felt like building a successful yoga career means becoming an influencer, constantly creating content, or perfecting your personal brand, this episode is for you. Today I'm sharing a different perspective—one that's rooted in the way I believe sustainable yoga careers are actually built. While marketing and visibility have their place, the longest-lasting teaching careers aren't created through algorithms or viral moments. They're built through relationships, trust, referrals, collaboration, and genuine participation in community. I explore the difference between building an audience and cultivating an ecosystem, and why focusing on your local yoga community, complementary professionals, mentorship, and authentic connections will serve your teaching career far better than chasing online attention. If your goal is to spend more time teaching and less time performing online, this episode offers a practical and deeply encouraging roadmap. In this episode, you'll hear: Why social media has encouraged yoga teachers to think like influencers The limitations of personal branding in a relationship-based profession How referrals become the foundation of long-term private yoga teaching The role teacher friendships and mentorship play in career longevity Creative ways to collaborate with studios and local businesses How building relationships with physical therapists and other practitioners can grow your private practice Why content creation should support your teaching—not replace it How community, reciprocity, and collaboration create a resilient yoga career Resources Mentioned: Mentorship for yoga teachers This episode is sponsored by OfferingTree! Sign up at www.offeringtree.com/mentor to get 50% off your first three months (or 15% off any annual plan). With OfferingTree, yoga teachers put their schedule on a personally branded website where students can book classes and even pay or donate online.

Many yoga teachers are intrigued by the idea of teaching private clients but feel held back by self-doubt, uncertainty, or the practical realities of self-employment. In this episode, I unpack the most common concerns I hear from teachers who want to teach one-on-one but don't yet feel confident enough to begin. Drawing from more than two decades of experience teaching private yoga clients, I explore why confidence isn't something you achieve before you start—it's something you build through experience, observation, relationships, systems, and practice. We talk about the difference between technical knowledge and relational skill, how vulnerability shows up in private teaching, and why teaching one-on-one can actually accelerate your growth as a teacher. I also address concerns about safety, imposter syndrome, and the administrative side of running a private yoga practice. Throughout the episode, I offer practical strategies and mindset shifts that can help you move from hesitation to action. If you've been waiting until you feel "ready" to teach private clients, this conversation is for you. In this episode, you'll hear: The difference between knowledge, expertise, and teaching capacity How vulnerability shows up in private yoga teaching Why relational skills matter more than having all the answers Why more certifications don't automatically lead to better private teaching Practical safety systems for working with new private clients How consultation calls help establish trust and assess fit The realities of self-employment and administrative labor Financial systems that simplify private yoga teaching Boundaries and communication practices that reduce overwhelm Resources Mentioned: The Science of the Private Lesson Previous episode: The Hidden Labor of Yoga Teaching OfferingTree is a proud sponsor of this episode and I am honored to be an affiliate. Visit OfferingTree at www.offeringtree.com/mentor and you'll get 50% off your first three months (or 15% off any annual plan).

Teaching yoga involves far more than the hours we spend with our yoga students. Behind every yoga class we teach there is a significant amount of planning, relationship-building, scheduling, administration, marketing, and financial management. In this episode, I share the practical systems that have helped me build a sustainable yoga teaching career over the last two decades. Following up on our recent conversation about the hidden labor of yoga teaching, this episode focuses on solutions. While we absolutely need collective action and systemic change to better support yoga teachers (and other freelance workers), there are also concrete systems we can put in place right now to make our work feel more manageable, organized, and sustainable. I walk you through six essential systems every yoga teacher should consider implementing, whether you're brand new to teaching or have years of experience. In this episode, you'll hear: Why sustainability requires both personal systems and collective advocacy The financial systems that create consistency and reduce stress My approach to managing a yoga teaching schedule without burnout Two proven strategies for finding new private clients How to simplify class planning while improving the student experience Why an email list is one of the most valuable marketing assets you can build The six systems every yoga teacher needs Resources Mentioned: Book Private Clients OfferingTree You Need A Budget (YNAB) Monarch Money QuickBooks Wave Bill.com Stripe Square Calendly YouCanBookMe Acuity Scheduling ConvertKit is now Kit Flodesk Mailchimp Working Families Party This episode is brought to you by OfferingTree, an easy-to-use, all-in-one online platform for yoga teachers that provides a personal website, booking, payment, blogging, and many other great features. If you sign up at www.offeringtree.com/mentor , you'll get 50% off your first three months (or 15% off any annual plan)!

As yoga teachers, we spend a lot of time talking about teaching techniques, sequencing, cueing, and professional growth. But there's another side of this work that often goes unnamed: the hidden labor of teaching yoga. In this episode, I explore the physical, emotional, mental, and administrative work that happens behind the scenes of a yoga teaching career. From building a business one class at a time to managing finances, marketing, commuting, continuing education, and emotional boundaries, much of the work that sustains a teaching career is invisible to students—and often unacknowledged within the industry itself. My goal isn't to complain about the profession or discourage new teachers. Instead, I want to name some of the uniquely challenging aspects of yoga teaching so that if you've struggled with them, you know you're not alone. I also share why I believe sustainable yoga teaching is possible, what has helped me maintain a full-time career in yoga for more than two decades, and the three essential ingredients I believe every teacher needs to thrive long-term. In this episode, you'll hear: Why yoga teachers are essentially automatically entrepreneurs The hidden administrative work of managing taxes, finances, insurance, and policies Why networking and relationship-building require patience and resilience How commuting, class planning, and continuing education add to a teacher's workload The importance of energetic boundaries and why yoga teachers often lack adequate support systems The pressure many teachers feel to be constantly available Why loving yoga and loving teaching yoga are not the same thing What makes a long-term yoga teaching career sustainable The role that systems, structure, and social support play in teacher wellbeing What's Coming Next This episode is the first part of a larger conversation. In the next episode, I'll share practical systems and strategies that can help make yoga teaching more sustainable, including: A group class planning system A private client acquisition system A community engagement system A money management system A scheduling system If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the hidden demands of teaching yoga, I hope this conversation helps you feel seen, understood, and supported. Resources Mentioned: Yoga for Cancer and Tari Prinster The Mentor Session Sangha Working Families Party This episode is brought to you by OfferingTree, an easy-to-use, all-in-one online platform for yoga teachers that provides a personal website, booking, payment, blogging, and many other great features. The best thing about OfferingTree is you can get up and running in 10 minutes with no tech skills needed. As an added bonus, If you sign up at www.offeringtree.com/mentor , you'll get 50% off your first three months (or 15% off any annual plan)!

Have you ever been in a yoga class where the yoga teacher gives a long dharma talk about ahimsa, and then when the movement practice begins the teaching style feels very aggressive? Or maybe you have been that teacher yourself. I know I have! I think there are really subtle and beautiful ways to teach the movement part of yoga in a way that has the deeper philosophical teachings embedded within it, but most of us were not taught to do that, and it is more challenging to do than you might think! Also, many of us claim that yoga movement can be healing, but a performative style of teaching doesn't allow for that. In this episode, I explore an idea that has become central to my work as a yoga teacher and educator: the disconnect between how yoga is often marketed as a healing practice and how it is frequently taught as a performative one. I dive into the ways traditional teaching frameworks—especially the language of "regressions," "progressions," "safe," "unsafe," "full expression," "modifcation"—can unintentionally reinforce hierarchy, competition, and performance-based thinking. If our goal is to help students feel better in their bodies, develop agency, and cultivate discernment, I believe we need a different approach. Throughout the episode, I share practical tools for teaching movement in a way that aligns more closely with healing-centered values. We explore how to move beyond visual ideals, teach from intended benefit rather than aesthetic outcomes, and help students make informed choices based on their unique experiences rather than universal standards. I also discuss the role of teacher authority, student agency, movement literacy, and why teaching in a more nuanced, non-hierarchical way is both more challenging and ultimately more effective. In this episode, you'll hear: Why yoga cannot simultaneously be a healing practice and a performance-based achievement system The hidden hierarchy embedded in common yoga teaching language Why regressions and progressions are not universal How movement experiences vary from body to body The difference between teaching shapes and teaching movement experiences Student agency, teacher authority, and finding the middle path between control and abdication Why "harder" and "easier" are often misleading descriptors Alternative frameworks for cueing movement, including active vs. passive, symmetrical vs. asymmetrical, and stability vs. mobility How to identify the intended benefit of a pose or movement The importance of sensation-based and function-based cueing Common compensation patterns and how to work with them Why nonlinear movement teaching requires more observation, education, and nuance Helping students develop movement literacy and discernment Practical examples from tabletop, lunges, Warrior III, Extended Side Angle, and more Resources Mentioned: Episode 165: The Intended Benefit + Removing Linear Hierarchy The Sangha This episode is sponsored by OfferingTree! Sign up at www.offeringtree.com/mentor to get 50% off your first three months (or 15% off any annual plan). With OfferingTree, yoga teachers put their schedule on a personally branded website where students can book classes and even pay or donate online. All of this can be set up in 10 minutes or less.

In this solo episode of The Mentor Sessions, I'm sharing a more personal, behind-the-scenes look at my life right now and the things that are genuinely helping me stay grounded, connected, and functional during a very full season of teaching, parenting, and activism. After asking on Instagram what kinds of episodes you wanted more of, one request came up again and again: more real-life context about how I make all of this work. So in this episode, I'm walking you through the practices, systems, apps, routines, communities, and relationships that are "saving my life" right now. I talk honestly about balancing a full teaching schedule with motherhood, creating sustainable routines that support my nervous system, deepening my activism work, and building a life that feels aligned with my values—even when it's imperfect. From romance novels on my Kindle to strength training at 5:30 a.m. to building community through the The Mentor Session Sangha, this episode is a candid snapshot of what's supporting me in this season of life. In this episode, you'll hear: Why the Libby app completely changed my reading habits How the iPhone "send later" text feature helps me communicate without feeling constantly available The way I structure my work schedule around my family priorities Why having a clear shutdown routine before picking up my son makes such a big difference How activism has become one of the most meaningful parts of my life Why I use ScreenZen to limit social media access The political podcasts helping me stay informed without completely burning out How keeping a running list of things to look forward to boosts my mood and perspective The consistency of my movement and meditation practices Why the The Mentor Session Sangha continues to challenge and support me as a teacher Resources Mentioned: Libby App Emily Henry Ali Hazelwood Christina Lauren Kate Clayborn ScreenZen Pod Save America Chamber of Mothers Singing Resistance Indivisible Kearsten Lyon of Toronto Movement Therapy Susan Piver Habit Tracker App The Mentor Sessions Sangha OfferingTree is a proud sponsor of this episode and I am honored to be an affiliate. Visit OfferingTree at www.offeringtree.com/mentor and you'll get 50% off your first three months (or 15% off any annual plan). OfferingTree supports me with each sign-up and I'm proud to be supported by a public benefit company whose mission is to further wellness access and education for everyone.

You may not have known it, but if you teach public yoga classes you have taught someone who's life has been touched by cancer. In this episode, I'm joined by Tari Prinster, a true pioneer in the field of oncology yoga. Tari is a cancer survivor, author, and founder of Yoga for Cancer (Y4C), a methodology that has trained thousands of yoga and healthcare professionals around the world. We go deep into what it really means to teach yoga in the context of cancer, and how this work has evolved over the past few decades. Cancer is not going away, and with survival rates increasing, the need for informed, compassionate yoga teachers is greater than ever. In this episode, you'll hear: The origins of Yoga for Cancer and how what began as a personal practice quickly evolved into a groundbreaking methodology—at a time when oncology yoga didn't exist. How the cancer landscape has changed including the major shift from cancer being seen as a death sentence to a condition where the majority of people now survive. The huge implications for yoga teachers and the role we play in long-term wellness now that there are 20 million cancer survivors in the US. The physiology behind Yoga for Cancer, including: The role of the lymphatic system in detoxification and immunity How breath and movement support lymph flow Why inversions and specific movements can either help—or hinder—recovery The impact of cancer treatments on bones, fatigue, and overall health About yoga4cancer (y4c) yoga4cancer (y4c) is a specialized oncology yoga methodology founded by cancer survivor and master yoga teacher Tari Prinster. With more than 3,000 certified teachers trained across 30+ countries, y4c is the leading oncology yoga certification and training organization in the world. The program equips yoga teachers, therapists, and healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to safely support cancer patients and survivors — from active treatment through long-term survivorship. Courses mentioned in this episode: 5-Hour Oncology Yoga Course: An accessible entry point into Oncology y\Yoga. Learn the foundations of the y4c methodology, the unique needs of cancer survivors, and how to begin adapting your practice or teaching. 75-Hour Certificate Program: The gold-standard Oncology Yoga certification. A rigorous, evidence-informed curriculum covering cancer biology, treatment side effects, the y4c methodology, and supervised practice. Graduates join a global directory of certified oncology yoga professionals. Use code cervero20% for 20% off Click here to register. More From Tari: Yoga for Cancer by Tari Prinster Schmitz et al. (2021) — ACSM Moving Through Cancer Guidelines This episode is brought to you by OfferingTree, an easy-to-use, all-in-one online platform for yoga teachers that provides a personal website, booking, payment, blogging, and many other great features. If you sign up at www.offeringtree.com/mentor , you'll get 50% off your first three months (or 15% off any annual plan)! OfferingTree supports me with each sign-up. I'm proud to be supported by a public benefit company whose mission is to further wellness access and education for everyone.

Yess Yoga is a yoga studio in Minneapolis one block from where Alex Pretti was murdered by Border Patrol agents in January of this year. In this episode, I'm joined by Minneapolis-based yoga teacher and studio owner Lucia Yess. Our conversation is both heartbreaking and deeply inspiring as we explore what it means to truly live our yoga off the mat, especially in moments of crisis. Lucia shares her experience running Yess Yoga during a recent ICE surge in Minneapolis, where her neighborhood became a site of fear, violence, and profound uncertainty. As community members were being detained and families were afraid to leave their homes, Lucia and her team stepped into action, transforming their studio into a hub for mutual aid, care, and refuge. What stands out most to me in this conversation is Lucia's clarity: this wasn't a question of whether to help, but how. When our neighbors are suffering, yoga calls us to respond. In this episode, you'll hear: What it was like to be on the ground in a city under siege by the federal government Why yoga must extend beyond personal practice into collective care How staying grounded in our values helps us take meaningful action How to get looped into the communities that need support How Yess Yoga became a center for mutual aid—providing medical supplies, food, communication tools, and more How the studio remained open during crisis by offering free and sliding-scale classes, supported by community fundraising Practical ways yoga teachers and studio owners can prepare to support their own communities Learn More From Lucia: Visit Yes Yoga Studio's online home Follow Yes Yoga Studio on Instagram Mutual Aid Yes' GoFundMe Call your representatives Book recommendations: Emergent Strategy by Adrienne Maree Brown Service Berry by Robin Wall Kimmer (Growth Economy) Embrace Yoga's Roots by Susanna Barkataki Skill in Action by Michelle Cassandra Johnson This episode is brought to you by OfferingTree, an easy-to-use, all-in-one online platform for yoga teachers that provides a personal website, booking, payment, blogging, and many other great features. The best thing about OfferingTree is you can get up and running in 10 minutes with no tech skills needed. As an added bonus, If you sign up at www.offeringtree.com/mentor , you'll get 50% off your first three months (or 15% off any annual plan)! OfferingTree supports me with each sign-up. I'm proud to be supported by a public benefit company whose mission is to further wellness access and education for everyone.

In this solo episode, I'm zooming out from the quick, in-the-moment burnout strategies I shared in Episode 171 and looking at the bigger picture. I want to talk about why so many yoga teachers are burning out—and what I've seen actually work instead. My core premise is simple: the career model most of us were trained into doesn't work for most people anymore. If you're exhausted, underpaid, and questioning how sustainable this path really is, I want you to hear this clearly—it's not you. It's the model. I'll walk you through the structural issues I see over and over again, help you look honestly at the math of your teaching schedule, and introduce a shift that has made a huge difference for me and for so many teachers I've worked with: integrating private clients into your practice. In this episode, you'll hear: Why the traditional yoga career path isn't working The real reason so many teachers feel exhausted and why it's not your fault The importance of doing the math: I'll invite you to look at your actual hourly rate How private clients can change everything and what makes private teaching different The most common concerns I hear about teaching private clients The different skills you need, and why they are learnable skills! 🎉 You're Invited! If you want to build a thriving private yoga practice, you need a slightly different skill set than most teacher trainings cover. Teaching one-on-one requires you to think on your feet, build deep trust with students, hold strong professional boundaries, and manage the business side of your work with confidence. That's exactly what we focus on inside The Science of the Private Lesson™ . 👉🏻 You missed the sale... You missed the sale but no worries! Email support@francescacervero.com for the coupon code. This episode is sponsored by OfferingTree! Sign up at www.offeringtree.com/mentor to get 50% off your first three months (or 15% off any annual plan). With OfferingTree, yoga teachers put their schedule on a personally branded website where students can book classes and even pay or donate online. All of this can be set up in 10 minutes or less. OfferingTree supports me with each sign-up.

If you are feeling stretched thin by endless group classes, long hours, and low pay you are not alone. In this episode, I share six simple, actionable things you can do this week to start shifting out of overwhelm. These are not big, life-changing plans—just small, powerful adjustments that can immediately help you feel calmer, clearer, and more grounded in your teaching life. Burnout doesn't always mean you need a total career overhaul. Sometimes, a few well-chosen shifts—better boundaries, a balanced schedule, and new ways of connecting with students—can bring back clarity, confidence, and joy in your teaching. If you try some of these steps, I would love to hear how it goes. Reach out with your reflections, questions, or feedback—I'm walking this path right beside you. In this episode, you'll hear: why burnout is so common among yoga teachers right now how to refresh your energy and focus using simple daily habits practical ways to plan smarter, promote your classes, and boost income—without hustling harder six realistic steps to feel better fast without overhauling your career including things like: why downloading a social media blocking app has to be your first step why you should set aside one hour to plan all your classes for the week how to start start planting seeds to connect with new private clients Also, a heads up!!! One of the best things you can do for your career is to learn the art of teaching private lessons. Private teaching can transform your income and impact—but it's a different skill set than teaching group classes. My online training, The Science of the Private Lesson , teaches you those skills and STAY TUNED for a 50% discount code releasing April 6 for one week only! Resources Mentioned: Screen Zen App Opal App Group Class Planning Method Episode Free Private Client Email Templates The Science of the Private Lesson Online Training OfferingTree is a proud sponsor of this episode and I am honored to be an affiliate. Visit OfferingTree at www.offeringtree.com/mentor and you'll get 50% off your first three months (or 15% off any annual plan). OfferingTree supports me with each sign-up and I'm proud to be supported by a public benefit company whose mission is to further wellness access and education for everyone.

In this expansive conversation, I got a chance to talk to yoga and Ayurveda teacher, mentor, and author Indu Aurora to explore what yoga truly is — and what it is not. We started by unpacking one of Indu's powerful statements: "The goal of yoga is yoga. Everything else is a side benefit." This conversation invites teachers to look beyond flexibility, strength, and stress relief — and into yoga as a state of realization. Indu draws from classical teachings and the commentary on the Yoga Sutras to clarify that yoga is not simply a practice — it is a state of samadhi, a realization of the unchanging self beneath the ever-changing body, mind, and emotions. We take a deep dive into one of Indu's main areas of wisdom, Yoga Nidra and then finish the conversation with some salient pieces of wisdom for all yoga teachers. In this episode you'll hear: why modern practitioners and teachers get stuck focusing on the "fix" why Yoga Nidra is both powerful and accessible how to keep Yoga Nidra from becoming robotic why you should make nature your guru the power of unlearning how to choose a teacher why we both love confusion and doubt Learn More From Indu www.yogsadhna.com https://www.instagram.com/induaroraofficial/ This episode is brought to you by OfferingTree, an easy-to-use, all-in-one online platform for yoga teachers that provides a personal website, booking, payment, blogging, and many other great features. If you sign up at www.offeringtree.com/mentor , you'll get 50% off your first three months (or 15% off any annual plan)! OfferingTree supports me with each sign-up. I'm proud to be supported by a public benefit company whose mission is to further wellness access and education for everyone.

In today's podcast epsiode, I sat down with a yoga therapist, teacher, spiritual caregiver and a good friend of mine, Sarah Capua. We explored what it means to practice—and teach—yoga in a time of political upheaval, climate crisis, and cultural fragmentation. In this conversation, we reflect on power, misperception, collective responsibility, spiritual bypassing, and the role of yoga teachers in supporting students who feel overwhelmed or powerless. As she always does, my friend Sarah brings deep wisdom on the topics of agency, ethics, community, and the radical nourishment of staying awake. Sarah Capua (she/her) is a dedicated student, teacher, Yoga Therapist, and spiritual caregiver. Her work is rooted in the tradition of T.Krishnamacharya and TKV Desikachar, Zen Buddhist contemplative practice and caregiving, and her experience as a chaplain for people in trauma and end of life. Her hope is to be a compassionate and curious support for others on the path, to bear witness and make meaning, and to hold a mirror up to our embodied wisdom which can be a companion no matter where life takes us. In this episode, you'll hear: why studying the ethical foundations of yoga deeply is the most important thing you can do why you shouldn't assume your students want avoidance how to create space for conversation and integration why you should take care of your own energy and support system first how to practice expanding your heart rather than narrowing it Sarah hosted a Yoga Sūtra-s workshop inside The Mentor Sessions Sangha on Friday, March 6, 2026. To listen and watch the recording of the workshop, join the Sangha for one month right here . Introduction to the Yoga Sūtra-s: What is Yoga? To understand yoga as more than just a set of tools, we must go to the heart of its teachings. The Yoga Sūtra-s of Patanjali, teachings compiled in Sanskrit nearly 1,700 years ago, is a manual for understanding the mind and its role in our lives, and is as relevant today as ever. In this workshop we will explore the first four sūtra-s, essential teachings for understanding what yoga is, what it involves, and why we practice. Learn More From Sarah Visit Sarah's online home Follow Sarah on Instagram This episode is brought to you by OfferingTree, an easy-to-use, all-in-one online platform for yoga teachers that provides a personal website, booking, payment, blogging, and many other great features. The best thing about OfferingTree is you can get up and running in 10 minutes with no tech skills needed. As an added bonus, If you sign up at www.offeringtree.com/mentor , you'll get 50% off your first three months (or 15% off any annual plan)! OfferingTree supports me with each sign-up. I'm proud to be supported by a public benefit company whose mission is to further wellness access and education for everyone.

American yoga teachers have a unique role in fighting fascism. We are deeply practiced in the tools that help us (and our students) feel clear, steady, focused, calm and resilient. And if you read the teachings the way I do, we have a powerful directive to engage in direct social action. Lovingkindness meditation says, "May All Beings Be Safe And Free" and that is not just a nice idea, but a mandate to work for change. As you can plainly see with your eyes, all beings are not safe. But there is so much we can do! There is incredible work being done and all we have to do is plug into it. In this episode, you'll hear: the dharma teachings I am depending on and teaching how I recommend you address current events in your yoga classes all the organizations I am following and working with how I balance activism work with full time working parenting Lots of Resources! Episode 143: Should You Talk About Current Events In Yoga Classes?? Episode 163: The Four Reminders (It's A Pep Talk!) A sharable google doc with my list of orgs to follow The 5Calls App Website (with links to app store) Instagram Follow for: an extremely user friendly app to help you choose topics, get phone numbers for your reps and suggested call scripts Indivisible Website Instagram There are lots of local chapters in cities and small towns across the country. Follow for: clear directions on small but impactful actions (cancel Dsiney and Spotify) Information on big, peaceful protests Electoral directions (what member of congress to call when about what) Sunrise Movement Website Instagram Follow for: A more radical approach as it is run by young people Less electoral focus, more direct action 50501 National Website National Instagram There are local chapters in most states! Follow for: Large scale protests (they work closely with Indivisable) Local actions ( this one is important this week!! ) https://www.standwithminnesota.com/ Follow For: Tons of on the ground, grassroots orgs to support in MN Refuse Fascism Website Instagram Follow For: Daily protests to attend in DC This episode is sponsored by OfferingTree! Sign up at www.offeringtree.com/mentor to get 50% off your first three months (or 15% off any annual plan). With OfferingTree, yoga teachers put their schedule on a personally branded website where students can book classes and even pay or donate online. All of this can be set up in 10 minutes or less. OfferingTree supports me with each sign-up.

I am so honored to be joined on the podcast by my teacher Cyndi Lee. As a senior yoga teacher, author, and Buddhist chaplain—Cyndi talks to us about what's being gained, lost, and misunderstood as artificial intelligence enters yoga, writing, and teaching spaces. Cyndi reflects on her five decades of practice and teaching. As the founder of Om Yoga Center in New York City, a global hub for yogis from 1998 to 2012, she has witnessed firsthand how yoga has shifted under the pressures of capitalism, scalability, and speed. In this episode, you'll hear: a discussion of two growing trends: students using AI as a "yoga teacher" and yoga teachers using AI for emails, sequencing, and social media why Cyndi chooses not to use AI in her writing or teaching why lineage is vital—not as rigidity or hierarchy, but as continuity, care, and accountability a hopeful message for yoga teachers about the fast changes in our word Learn More From Cyndi: Follow Cyndi on Instagram Visit Cyndi's online home Follow Cyndi on Substack: Drip, Drip, Drip OfferingTree is a proud sponsor of this episode, and I am honored to be an affiliate. Visit OfferingTree at www.offeringtree.com/mentor and you'll get 50% off your first three months (or 15% off any annual plan). OfferingTree supports me with each sign-up and I'm proud to be supported by a public benefit company whose mission is to further wellness access and education for everyone.

In this episode of The Mentor Sessions, I'm joined by Lizzie Lasseter for a wide-ranging conversation about teaching yoga in a rapidly evolving world. Lizzie is a designer, educator, and second-generation yoga teacher with over 20 years of experience. As the daughter of Judith Hanson Lasseter, Lizzie grew up immersed in the Iyengar lineage, while also carving out her own path as a teacher, business owner, and working parent of six-year-old twins. Together, we explore lineage, embodiment, and the increasingly complex role AI is playing in the yoga world. In this episode, you'll hear: how Lizzie's work is intentionally structured around the rhythms of family life and nervous system regulation the realities of parenting young children while teaching yoga our discussion of hypermobility, joint stability, and the ways dogmatic alignment language can contribute to pain rather than healing all about Lizzie's use of AI in her business including how AI supports her writing process and assists with course notes and student learning a discussion of what gets lost when editing is outsourced, the difference between processing ideas and producing content and the risk of generic, "flattened" language some concerns about the future of AI and yoga Learn More From Lizzie Visit Lizzie's website Follow Lizzie on Instagram Enjoy Lizzie's YouTube Channel This episode is brought to you by OfferingTree, an easy-to-use, all-in-one online platform for yoga teachers that provides a personal website, booking, payment, blogging, and many other great features. If you sign up at www.offeringtree.com/mentor , you'll get 50% off your first three months (or 15% off any annual plan)! OfferingTree supports me with each sign-up.

In this episode, we dive into a concept that is absolutely transformative for yoga teachers: the idea that yoga cannot be both healing and performative at the same time. If we're still teaching from a linear, hierarchical, aesthetic-based model of asana, we're unintentionally blocking the very healing we hope to support. This conversation focuses on how teachers can shift toward a non-linear, person-centered approach grounded in the intended benefit of each pose. Francesca offers a co-creative teaching model where the teacher brings clarity, knowledge, and intention — without assuming universal "right" shapes. In this episode, you'll hear: the foundational framework that helps teachers move away from aesthetic evaluation and toward meaningful, individualized movement experiences pose case studies including child's pose, downward facing dog, plank and warrior two a deep dive into the idea that each pose is a container of possible movement nutrients how to incorporate all these ideas into your teaching right away an invitation to get some feedback from Francesca Resources Mentioned: 15 Downward Dog Prep Sequences: 15sequences.com The Science Of The Private Lesson The Mentor Sessions Sangha Episode 164: Taking Movement Patterns Down To The Studs with Geneva Jimreivat This episode is brought to you by OfferingTree, an easy-to-use, all-in-one online platform for yoga teachers that provides a personal website, booking, payment, blogging, and many other great features. The best thing about OfferingTree is you can get up and running in 10 minutes with no tech skills needed. As an added bonus, If you sign up at www.offeringtree.com/mentor , you'll get 50% off your first three months (or 15% off any annual plan)!

Today's conversation is a deeply layered one. I'm joined by my friend, colleague, mentee, and private student Geneva Jimreivat for a nuanced exploration of how I work with private clients who experience persistent, subclinical pain and hard-to-pinpoint movement challenges. Geneva is truly a multi-hyphenate in the movement world—she's been practicing yoga since childhood, completed her 200-hour training in 2019, taught in my studio, mentored with me, coached CrossFit and private strength clients, and is currently completing her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Her background in yoga, strength training, biomechanics, and manual therapy gives her a uniquely rich perspective on the kind of work we dive into together. We also get into the big question Geneva brought from her PT clinic experiences: How do you know when someone needs very specific, movement-pattern reconstruction versus when general strength and conditioning is enough? This conversation is such a real look at the messy, subtle, deeply personal work of helping people move and feel better in their bodies—especially when the answers aren't straightforward. In this episode, you'll hear: how years of yoga, strength training, CrossFit, and manual therapy shaped Geneva's movement identity the chronic discomfort that led her to reach out to me—especially neck, pec, elbow, and wrist pain that didn't resolve with typical PT approaches why highly trained movers sometimes perform their way around dysfunctional patterns for years—until the body finally says "no more." the emotional experience of being a movement professional who is also navigating pain that won't go away why pathoanatomy can be empowering for some students—and anxiety-producing for others—and how to share information responsibly without fear-mongering what Geneva and I are actually doing in her sessions now: slowing everything down, locating deep core support, identifying compensations, and rebuilding foundational patterns Learn More From Geneva: Visit Geneva's website Follow Geneva on Instagram OfferingTree is a proud sponsor of this episode and I am honored to be an affiliate. Visit OfferingTree at www.offeringtree.com/mentor and you'll get 50% off your first three months (or 15% off any annual plan). OfferingTree supports me with each sign-up and I'm proud to be supported by a public benefit company whose mission is to further wellness access and education for everyone. Click here for the Studio Success Checklist.

In this episode of The Mentor Sessions , I share something a little different: a Dharma talk I recently offered in my monthly class for yoga teachers. These monthly gatherings are one of my favorite places to teach—intimate, thoughtful, and deeply rooted in practice—and this particular talk felt important to bring to the podcast. Over the last several months, as the political situation in the United States has become more extreme and more frightening, I've been turning again and again to a Buddhist teaching known as The Four Reminders . These contemplations come from the Tibetan Buddhist lineage, and while they are simple, they cut right to the heart of what matters most. They have become the anchor of my own personal practice during this time of rising fascism, fear, and widespread suffering. In this episode, I share how I came back to these teachings—interestingly, prompted not by the worst harm being done in this country, but by the moment Jimmy Fallon was taken off the air for criticizing the administration. Watching someone with so much privilege get silenced instantly made me realize that we weren't sliding toward fascism. We were already living inside it. And from that moment, I knew I didn't want to get stuck in despair. I wanted to stay awake, engaged, loving, and grounded. The Four Reminders helped me do that. In this episode, you'll hear: Why these four contemplations feel so powerful and clarifying How reflecting on the preciousness of human life expands our compassion for ourselves, each other, and the planet The truth of impermanence — and how it can become a liberatory force rather than a source of fear The reality of karma and interdependence, and why even the smallest actions matter The universality of suffering, and why it is not inevitable How these teachings help me hold a vision of a world where every being is safe, free, and fed Why joy is not a luxury but an essential part of practice—especially in oppressive times The role of protest, collective action, and tiny daily choices in shaping the world we believe is possible After the Dharma talk, I share some of the reflections and questions that came up in conversation with the teachers in class. One theme that surfaced again and again was how grounding it feels to hold a positive vision—not in a naïve or spiritually bypassing way, but as a guiding truth that helps us stay resourced, energized, and committed. I talk about the small actions I take to stay connected to this vision, like calling my representatives or supporting my local food bank, and why these seemingly insignificant acts matter. We may not see the fruits of our labor in our lifetime, but as the Gita reminds us, that doesn't mean the work isn't ours to do. If you're feeling overwhelmed right now… I hope this episode reminds you that your life is precious, your presence matters, and your choices—however small—ripple outward. I hope it gives you permission to feel your grief and to feel joy. And I hope it encourages you to stay rooted in your own vision of what is possible for humanity. Thank you for being on this path with me. Resources Mentioned: Studio Success Checklist OfferingTree is a proud sponsor of this episode and I am honored to be an affiliate. Visit OfferingTree at www.offeringtree.com/mentor and you'll get 50% off your first three months (or 15% off any annual plan). OfferingTree supports me with each sign-up and I'm proud to be supported by a public benefit company whose mission is to further wellness access and education for everyone.