Your yoga mat isn’t just a raft keeping you safe—it’s a tool for connecting with your students. In this episode, you'll learn how to balance demonstrating poses with stepping off the mat to observe and connect. Hear ways to create a more engaging, student-centered class, from beginner-friendly cues to trauma-sensitive strategies.

Whether you’re wondering when or even whether to demo, how to confidently observe, or how to create meaningful student connections, this episode has you covered.

Join me and Joe-Paul Naughton-Travers for “A Framework for Teaching Trauma-Sensitive Yoga” at Carrboro Yoga in May 2025: https://www.wellnessliving.com/rs/event/carolinayogacompany?k_business=130621&k_class_tab=33774&uid=0&id_class_tab=2

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Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Explore my continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Have you ever launched a project that didn’t go as planned? In this episode, I get honest about how my Plan a Month in an Hour workshop fell short—and how it inspired me to create something even better. I share what went wrong, the lessons I learned, and how listening to feedback led to my new mentorship program: Mastering the Art of Yoga Sequencing.

You’ll hear:

• Why clear communication is key for workshops and classes

• How to shift from “winging it” to confident lesson planning

• How I learned that you want done-for-you resources (I should have known, so do I!)

• The exciting details of my new six-month mentorship program

Affirmation for this episode:

“There’s no failure, just feedback.”

👉 Learn more and join my newsletter for updates: sagerountree.com/newsletter
👉 Design workshops that sell out with confidence (avoid flops like mine): free five-day email course on workshops

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Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Explore my continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Developing confidence on camera is essential for yoga teachers looking to grow their careers. Whether it’s creating short promotional videos or teaching full-length online classes, on-camera teaching can open up new opportunities for impact and income. But it can be intimidating to get started!

In this episode, guest Jenni Rawlings and I explore how yoga teachers can improve their on-camera presence. Jenni shares her journey from creating DVDs to managing her online platform and offers tips for building connection and community in asynchronous settings.

💡 Affirmation: “Your message is what matters.”

📌 Explore Jenni’s classes and continuing education:

https://www.jennirawlings.com

🎧 Listen to this episode and explore more at:

https://sagerountree.com/the-yoga-teacher-confidential-podcast-with-sage-rountree/

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Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Explore my continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs. It's all at sagerountree.com.

sequencing. With this approach, you’ll think big and small at the same time, creating balanced, engaging classes with ease.

Chapters:

1.[00:00:00] Don’t Start at the Pose Level
Why starting your planning with individual poses is like spinning your own thread—it’s inefficient and unnecessary.
2.[00:01:24] Get Granular: Think Through Planes of Movement
How breaking poses into forward-back, side-to-side, and rotational movements simplifies planning and creates balance.
3.[00:07:02] Go Big: Sequence in Chunks
How to create modular class segments, like putting together outfits or meals, to streamline planning and save time.
4.[00:11:20] Modular Planning Helps Everything
Why modular sequencing gives students the consistency they crave and helps you teach with confidence.
5.[00:12:05] Affirmation
“I don’t make things harder than they need to be.”
6.[00:12:22] Resources to Help You
Books, tools, and mentorship opportunities to deepen your understanding of modular sequencing.

Links and Resources Mentioned

• My book The Art of Yoga Sequencing
• Sign up for my newsletter to get a sample lesson plan
• Join the waitlist for Mastering the Art of Yoga Sequencing

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Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Explore my continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Want to become (almost) everyone’s favorite yoga teacher? The secret to thriving as a teacher is to specialize—teach your niche. When you focus on what you love, your enthusiasm shines, your confidence grows, and you connect deeply with your students.

Chapters:

1.[00:00:00] Why Niche Teaching Matters

Teaching a niche helps you stand out and serve your students better.

2.[00:01:00] Passion Shines When You Teach What You Love

Learn how enthusiasm for your niche builds trust and connection with your students.

3.[00:01:59] My Niche: Teaching Yoga to Athletes

I talk about my own niche and how focusing on recovery and mental presence has shaped my teaching.

4.[00:06:06] Find Your Blue Ocean

How to create a unique space in a crowded yoga field with “blue ocean” thinking.

5.[00:06:48] Yoga for Athletes Is Not Athletic Yoga

Why athletes—and most students—benefit from restorative yoga focused on recovery and mindfulness.

6.[00:07:40] Comfort Zone Yoga

Why finding comfort with comfort is transformative for students and teachers alike.

7.[00:09:00] Affirmation: Teach Your Niche with Enthusiasm

Embrace your niche with this reminder of the value you bring to your students.

👉 Learn how to specialize and thrive as a yoga teacher with my free workshop: Double Your Income Teaching Yoga to Athletes

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Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Explore my continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs. It's all at sagerountree.com.

What’s the best way to improve your yoga teaching? It’s using the tool you may be holding right now: your phone. It’s simple, free—and yes, a bit painful. In this episode, I walk you through how recording and reviewing your classes can help you identify areas for growth and fast-track your teaching improvement.

Chapters:

1.[00:00:00] The Best Thing You Can Do for Your Teaching

The uncomfortable but transformative habit that will elevate your teaching.

2.[00:02:09] The Power of Video for Self-Evaluation

Video recordings can help you spot verbal tics, unclear cues, and pacing issues.

3.[00:06:29] How to Use Video for Growth

I walk you through the steps for recording your classes and reviewing them effectively.

4.[00:09:00] Bonus Exercises for Deeper Insights

Discover next-level techniques like transcribing your teaching or following your own class to evaluate pacing and clarity.

5.[00:11:00] Affirmation: I Self-Evaluate for Growth

Remind yourself why self-assessment is a vital tool for serving your students.

👉 Ready to improve your teaching? Check out my books and mentorship opportunities:

Resources Mentioned:

• The Art of Yoga Sequencing

• Mentorship waitlist: sagerountree.com/live-online/

• Descript app

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Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Explore my continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Feeling burnt out as a yoga teacher? You’re not alone. Teaching yoga is rewarding, but it can also be draining if we don’t care for ourselves. In this episode, I explore what burnout looks like, where it comes from, and, most importantly, how to manage it so you can find joy in teaching again.

Chapters:

1.[00:00:00] Introduction to Burnout

I explain why burnout is common among yoga teachers and how to identify its signs.

2.[00:00:33] Burnout vs. Nerves

Learn how to differentiate between healthy pre-class jitters and true burnout.

3.[00:02:03] What Stress and Rest Teach Us

Lessons from exercise physiology about balancing effort and recovery and how this applies to your teaching.

4.[00:05:56] Tips for Managing Burnout

Discover practical strategies for self-care, building consistency, and setting boundaries in your schedule.

5.[00:07:26] Structuring Your Teaching Schedule

Smart scheduling and optimizing your classes can help prevent burnout.

6.[00:11:03] Streamlining Systems for Longevity

Learn how simplifying your teaching process can help preserve energy and keep you inspired.

7.[00:18:13] Affirmation: I Refill My Well

Use this affirmation to remind yourself of the importance of self-care and balance.

👉 Ready to reclaim your energy and joy in teaching? Check out my books and mentorship program to support your teaching journey:

• The Art of Yoga Sequencing

• The Workshop Workbook

• The Athlete’s Guide to Recovery

• Mastering The Art of Yoga Sequencing Mentorship Membership

For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:

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Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Explore my continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs. It's all at sagerountree.com.

Your yoga class isn’t a monologue—it’s a conversation. While you only get to hear your side of it, your students hear both. Becoming a great yoga teacher means giving them the time and space to contribute their side of the conversation, even if it’s silent.

In this episode, I explain how teaching yoga is about fostering connection—even when you can’t hear the other side of the dialogue.

Chapters:

1.[00:00:00] Teaching Yoga Is a Conversation

I share why your yoga class is more than just you giving cues—it’s about fostering a two-way connection.

2.[00:01:26] Hearing Only One Side

Here’s how to understand and embrace the one-sided nature of teaching yoga.

3.[00:04:36] How to Be a Good Conversationalist

Practical ways to make your teaching feel more connected, even when students don’t speak aloud.

4.[00:06:45] Listening Before and After Class

Your students’ voices matter! I explain why listening to them outside of class is just as important as giving cues during it.

5.[00:07:33] Affirmation: I Am in a Healthy Relationship with My Students

Use this affirmation to remind yourself to prioritize connection and care in your teaching.

Resources Mentioned:

•Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses, Volume 2 (coming March 2025—preorder now!)

•The Art of Yoga Sequencing

•Free Email Course on Workshops

For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:

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Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Explore my continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs. It's all at sagerountree.com.