Yoga Medicine

High achievers in business, sport, and life in general can benefit hugely from yoga practice. However, the very traits that lead to success in their field can bring up unique challenges when brought to the mat. Today, host Katja speaks with Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist Katharina Claeys about teaching yoga to high achievers. Katharina is an educator, speaker, and consultant with a focus on building resilience and nervous system regulation, as well as women's health. Listen to this episode to learn why setting realistic expectations, being flexible in your teaching approach, and managing the moments of transition into class are so important when working with high achievers. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeOnline Burnout Resilience ProgramEpisode 146: Hustle Culture Meets Wellness Sphere Katharina Claeys | Instagram | LinkedIn You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-150. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

A major barrier for many people interested in yoga teacher training is the assumption that it is only for certain kinds of people—whether that's deep and spiritual, energetic and outgoing, irresistibly charismatic, or highly skilled at yoga postures. In this short excerpt from Episode 103, Teacher Training Myths, host Rachel and fellow teacher trainer Dana Diament share that the truth is that teaching yoga is as much about holding space for students to be themselves as it is about instructing yoga poses and practices. They also share details of the Yoga Medicine Online 200-hour Teacher Training 2026 intake and a deep discount available right now. — Show Notes: Myths about who YTT is for [2:12] Find your own voice, range, and teaching style [4:12] Learning to communicate with groups, as yourself [10:10] Teaching as holding space [13:00] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeYoga Medicine® 200HR Yoga Teacher TrainingYoga Medicine® Podcast Episode 103: Teacher Training Myths You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-149. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

The holidays can bring up strong feelings. Whether you're managing travel, disruption to regular routines, over-indulgence, or deeper issues like family conflict or loss, this time of year isn't always as magical as we perhaps imagine it to be. Today, host Rachel is joined by returning guest Diane Malaspina, yoga teacher and psychologist, to share practical suggestions on how we can better self-regulate through the holiday season. In this episode, Diane stresses the importance of making time for honest reflection on our feelings regarding this season, and shares how this process prompted one key change in her own life that created more joyful holidays. Listen to this episode to learn how a mindful approach can, slowly but surely, transform your experience of the holiday season. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeLIVE Online Burnout Resilience ProgramWorking with Grief – Theory & Therapeutic Application of Yoga Online CourseInside the Yoga Sutras – The Path to Freedom Online CourseExploring the Niyamas through Meditation & Practice Online CourseExploring the Yamas through Meditation & Practice Online Course04: Find Ease in Uncertainty31: The Power of Intention57: Drishti, the Potency of Our Focus – Research Roundup121: Yoga Sutras for Modern Life Facebook | Instagram | Diane Malaspina | Yoga Medicine® Online Guest Teacher You can learn more about this episode and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-148. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Today’s guest calls traumatic brain injury (TBI) “a silent epidemic”, describing a common yet complex injury that, for many, presents with chronic symptoms. In this episode, host Rachel Land speaks with expert guest Dr. Kyla Pearce, Senior Director of Programs, Research & Operations for the LoveYourBrain Foundation – a national nonprofit that delivers evidence-based holistic health programs for the brain injury community. Because individual experiences of TBI vary widely, it can be a daunting thing to work with as a yoga teacher. Dr. Pearce talks about the under-appreciated importance of social support and the delicate balance of giving students agency without creating overwhelm. She also offers best practices for movement and breath work, and discusses the power of visualization. Listen in to learn how to use yoga as a healing modality for traumatic brain injuries. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeLoveYourBrain’s certification-level yoga teacher trainings, resources, and research-backed holistic health programs for TBI/concussionLoveYourBrain Yoga for Traumatic Brain Injury, Level 1 & Level 2, 20-hr online training for yoga teachers, yoga therapists, and people in the brain injury communityLoveYourBrain Yoga for Health Professionals, 20-hr online training for cliniciansEpisode 47: Concussion Care with Dr. Daya GrantEpisode 30: Trauma Informed Yoga with Dr. Ann BortzYoga for Concussions Online Course You can learn more about this episode and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-147. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes, or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5-star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Today hosts Katja and Tiffany introduce some recent research on an always-interesting topic: the place where hustle culture meets the wellness sphere. In this episode, we discuss how these two fields influence each other, how this relationship has shifted recently, and how yoga teachers can navigate the hustle. Listen in to learn about the origins of hustle culture, how it shows up in the wellness space today, and how yoga can help to adapt to recent challenges and changes that have been perhaps expedited by the recent pandemic. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeHustle Culture Meets Wellness Sphere References Doc Facebook | Instagram | Kalamana Yoga | Yoga Medicine® Online Guest Teacher You can learn more about this episode and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-146. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

It can be a challenge to maintain a regular yoga practice in the busyness and distraction of daily life. In this short excerpt from Episode 5, Sustainability and Yoga, Rachel and Tiffany talk about what keeps us coming back to our mats year after year. We share the most important question to ask yourself on the mat, and highlight the underrated skill of finding what you need even within a led group class. — Show Notes: Myriad areas for focus and investigation in practice [1:04] The most powerful question to ask on the mat [3:15] An underrated ability: finding something you need in a led class [5:27] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Yoga Medicine® Podcast Episode 05: Sustainability & Yoga You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-145. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

How we phrase things is so important, especially in a personal, experiential practice like yoga. Today, hosts Rachel and Tiffany talk about the power of the language we use when teaching. What does it mean to use open and invitational language versus commanding? How can our words help students to feel strong and resilient instead of fearful on the mat? What problems can arise for students when we offer pose options as a hierarchy? Listen in to learn how to tailor your language with more skill and discernment and cultivate an environment in which your students flourish. — Show Notes: Why is language important when teaching yoga? [0:47] The delicate balance of invitational versus commanding language [3:43] Nocebic or fear-based language [14:47] Hierarchical language versus open options [28:34] Body-positive language [36:53] Gendered language [40:18] Using technical terms judiciously [42:42] Changing default language takes time and practice [45:16] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Yoga Medicine® 200HR Teacher Training Program You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-144. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Welcome to our new series of “Shorts”—gems from previous podcast conversations that deserve a second look (or listen). This excerpt is drawn from episode 54: Love Those Hips! All About the Hip Labrum. In discussing yoga practices to embrace and avoid during hip labrum injury, hosts Tiffany and Rachel also highlighted how all of us can strengthen, support, and mobilize these crucial joints to maximize their capacity over the long term. They also explored a repeated theme on this podcast: the power of curiosity and how our practice can act as an individual invitation to find the challenges we need to thrive. — Show Notes: Biomechanics patterns that can contribute to hip issues [1:22] The challenge of balancing 3D mobility and strength [4:00] Commonly neglected: active control in hip rotation, eccentric hip flexor work [5:51] A caution: loaded internal rotation [10:53] The power of practice as individual investigation [13:59] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Yoga Medicine® Podcast Episode 54: All About the Hip LabrumOnline Hip: Anatomy, Dysfunction, & Application Yoga Teacher TrainingIn-Person Hip: Anatomy, Dysfunction, & Application Yoga Teacher Training“All About the Hips” Playlist“Hip Health Series 4: MFR 360 Degrees of the Hips” YMO class You can learn more about this episode and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-143. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Today, hosts Tiffany and Katja discuss current research on female hormones, the immune system, and exercise. Both the female hormones as well as the immune function are intricate systems – bringing them together adds even more complexity! In this episode, we try to boil down the immune system and inflammatory response and explore recent research that sheds light on the relationship between the menstrual cycle, immune responses and exercise. We also discuss the nuances of inflammatory processes, individualised responses, and potential implications for peri- and post-menopause. Listen in as we talk about the influence of female hormones on immune processes and share why inner wisdom is an important part of understanding our bodies better. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeFemale Hormones & Immune System References DocFemale Health Yoga Teacher TrainingMenopause Yoga Teacher Training Facebook | Instagram | Kalamana Yoga | Yoga Medicine® Online Guest Teacher You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-142. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Teaching private yoga can be enormously fulfilling, but it also has the potential to create a whole new set of challenges for teachers. In this episode, host Rachel Land speaks with returning guest Elena Cheung about the pitfalls of private yoga sessions and some potential ways to avoid them. We discuss how to set student expectations early, manage anxiety regarding that first session, and offer tips on setting boundaries, taking payment, and setting cancellation policies. Listen in to learn how to navigate the pitfalls of private yoga like a pro, and find your niche. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeEpisode 109: Teaching Yoga One-on-OneEpisode 74: Yoga for AllThe Art of Teaching Impactful Group Classes Online Course Instagram | Elena Shapeshifts | Yoga Medicine® Online Guest Teacher You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-141. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Today hosts Tiffany and Rachel dive into the muddy waters of hands-on assists. We discuss their complicated history, the different types of hands-on assists, and debate their pros and cons. We also talk about the importance of clear communication and consent, and alternatives you could employ instead. Listen in to hear how truly game-changing assists might be the ones that students find their way to on their own. — Show Notes: Differing attitudes toward hands-on assists over time [1:11] The case for hands-on assists, different types, asking for consent [4:13] Can a teacher know how a student feels by looking at them? [10:57] The same assists don’t work for every teacher [15:12] The case against hands-on assists [16:19] Potential for injury [18:27] Overriding students’ body autonomy [22:03] Alternatives to hands-on assists: language, demonstrations [26:53] Is touch within a yoga teacher’s scope of practice? [29:51] Physical adjustment might disrupt students’ internal experience [31:27] Final takeaways [36:13] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-140. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

There are still plenty of questions about the experience of the transitional phases of our lives. Today, hosts Tiffany and Katja discuss recent research that seeks to shed light on the menopausal transition. Experience of menopause is highly variable from person to person, so in this episode, we explore common symptom clusters identified in the research as well as the phenomenon of “not feeling like myself” in perimenopause. We also talk about how midlife can pose a challenge to one’s self-image and discuss how fatigue and emotional volatility may impact a woman’s day-to-day in this phase of life. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeMenopause References Doc Facebook | Instagram | Kalamana Yoga | Yoga Medicine® Online Guest Teacher You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-139. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Today’s episode dives into the vital topic of yoga during pregnancy and beyond. Host Rachel connects with Allie Geer, a Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist and Biodynamic Cranial Sacral Therapist whose specialties include pre- and post-natal yoga. In this episode, we discuss what it looks like to create space for both mother and baby in yoga classes, plus the impact of changes in circulation, centre of gravity, and soft tissue laxity. Listen in to learn what to keep in mind when practicing yoga during and after pregnancy, the vital importance of community, and how teachers can help pregnant and postpartum students feel welcome and supported in class. — Show Notes: Practicing group yoga classes while pregnant [3:50] A key question: is this creating space for me and baby? [5:22] How to recruit extra support from props, walls, or teacher [6:47] Heated & fast-moving flows [8:25] Centre of gravity changes and standing balance [10:45] Relaxin and increased ligamentous flexibility [11:27] Lying on your back; implications for the vena cava [16:01] The importance of community [21:06] Breath work, bandhas, and upper body strength [24:51] Yoga postpartum [29:56] Planning a dedicated postpartum class [34:42] Practicing group classes postpartum [40:04] Working with diastasis recti; favorite deep core practices [42:17] Final takeaways and resources [47:30] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubePrenatal Myofascial Release Online CourseYoga Medicine® Online classes Instagram | Allie Geer Flow | Yoga Medicine® Online Guest Teacher You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-138. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

An estimated 50 million Americans live with an autoimmune disorder, and women are twice as likely to be affected as men. Yet diagnosis and treatment can be challenging when taking a solely Western medical approach. Today’s guest is The Functional Nutritionist, Erin Holt. She has dedicated her life to helping those with autoimmune disorders find their way back to full health, taking a research-based whole-person approach. In this episode, we discuss the major triggers of autoimmune disorders and the current limitations of Western medicine. Listen to learn the key role a multi-disciplinary team can play, and the power of food as medicine. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeHear Tiffany on The Funk’tional Nutrition Podcast Yoga Medicine® Podcast Episode 112: Yoga & Autoimmune Conditions Connect with Erin Holt, integrative nutritionist: Facebook | Instagram | The Funk’tional Nutritionist You can learn more about this episode and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-137. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Most of us have heard of, and even practiced, Yoga Nidra. But it holds a certain mystique that means we might not know as much about it as we think. Today, host Rachel dives into this topic with returning guest and 1000-hr Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist Caroline Wybar. Caroline unpacks some of the misconceptions around Yoga Nidra and offers her tips for both students and teachers of this guided relaxation practice. Listen in for more on Caroline’s upcoming Online Yoga Nidra Teacher Training, to learn about relaxation-induced anxiety and hear tips for staying awake during Yoga Nidra… if you want to! — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeYoga Nidra Teacher TrainingYoga Medicine Podcast Episode 68: Approaches to Anxietyhttps://www.theluminescent.org/2015/01/yoganidra.html Facebook | Instagram | Caroline Wybar Yoga | Yoga Medicine® Online Guest Teacher You can learn more about this episode and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-136. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

As both yoga teachers and practitioners, it is important to understand how to take general instruction and use it to cater to your personal needs. In this episode, hosts Tiffany and Katja talk about recent research on personalized medicine and training, discuss how wearables and data collection play into individualized training programs, and relate current research findings to personalized yoga approaches. Listen to this episode to learn about the history and trends of individualised medicine and training, how to know which data to collect, why body awareness is important in individualisation, and how to take this perspective into account in a group class. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Facebook | Instagram | Kalamana Yoga | Yoga Medicine® Online Guest Teacher You can learn more about this episode and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-135. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

What is it about yoga that makes such a significant difference in well-being for people with ADHD? Today, host Rachel invites guest Emily Mariola to help answer that question. Emily is a Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist and studio owner who recently completed her 1000-hr research project on Yoga for ADHD. In this episode, Emily shares yoga practices that help those with ADHD learn to self-regulate both on and off the mat—from asana, to breath work, meditation, and use of drishti. She also encourages yoga teachers and practitioners to view disruptive behavior with more compassion. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Facebook | Instagram | Flex Yoga Wooster You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-134. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Today host Rachel dives deep into Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) with returning guest Dr. Nikki Tugnet FRACP. We discuss common symptoms, what distinguishes RA from other inflammatory and auto-immune conditions, the role Western medicine can play, and – most importantly – how yoga can help. Listen in to learn how yoga teachers best serve students with RA, how to sneak more mindfulness and body awareness into your classes, and the vital importance of making space for rest. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube112: Yoga & Autoimmune ConditionsA comprehensive scientific evidence-based impact of yoga in patients with rheumatoid arthritisPawanmuktasana Joint Rotation Series Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Nikki Tugnet You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-133. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Today host Rachel and returning guest and Yoga Medicine Teacher Valerie Knopik PhD explore a recent research paper on the topic of interoception (Voss et al: Mind-body practices, interoception and pain: a scoping review of behavioral and neural correlates). In this episode, we discuss the many ways yoga teachers can guide students to becoming more informed inhabitants of their body, and how honing that skill of interoception seems to help manage all kinds of pain. Listen in to learn more. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37939212/Mental Health & Wellness Online TrainingYoga Medicine® Online: Interoception & Pain Research Monthly Dose15: Shifting Persistent Pain with Marnie Hartman, DPT, CSCS64: Impactful Pain Strategies49: Epigenetics, Mental Health & Yoga79: The Neuroscience of Resilience Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Yoga Medicine Online Teacher You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-132. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Female health is something we are passionate about at Yoga Medicine — exactly why we have dedicated several episodes to the topic. Today we are distilling the best tidbits of information and advice from multiple episodes into this one. — Show Notes: The female hormonal cycle, starting with menstruation [1:28] The follicular phase and ovulation [6:33] The luteal phase [14:20] Major effects of estrogen on muscle mass, strength, and recovery [18:00] The female hormone cycle: impact on athletic performance and other goals [26:06] Does our movement practice need to change during menstruation [36:07] Yoga during perimenopause and menopause [51:39] The current state of research on female health [1:03:09] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube 48: Research Roundup: Female Hormones62: Yoga During Menstruation: Yes or No?97: New Perspective on Athletic Performance in the Menstrual Cycle: Research Roundup116: Yoga for Menopause & Beyond: Community Conversations with Niamh Daly122: Estrogen Effects on Muscle: Research RoundupOnline Female Health Yoga Teacher TrainingOnline Traditional Chinese Medicine Yoga Teacher TrainingFemale Health LectureMove & Nourish SeriesPMS FlowMenses PracticePost-Menstrual PracticeSupport Ovulation You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-131. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.