Yoga Medicine

Change is constant and inevitable, but the sheer speed of recent changes in the yoga world leaves many of us confused about what it actually looks like and means to be a yoga teacher right now. Today hosts Rachel and Tiffany look back over the massive changes that have occurred in the yoga world over the past few decades, and what they might signal for the years ahead. We debate the pros and cons of boom times, the rise of social media, and the ever-evolving needs of students. Listen to this episode to learn how yoga teachers can continue to adapt to better serve our communities. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Listen to Episode 82: Building a Healthy Relationship with Social MediaListen to Episode 5: Sustainability & Yoga You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-125. 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.

Despite several years of upheaval and uncertainty, grassroots yoga studios are still the beating heart of many communities world-wide, so today Rachel hosts a panel of yoga studio owners to discuss the current state of studio life across the globe. In this episode, we explore what has changed over the past few years, what studios are struggling with today, and what seems to be working well. Common themes emerge around the difficulty of finding a class schedule and pricing strategy that work for everyone, maximizing teacher fulfillment and consistency, balancing regular classes with special events, and building lasting relationships with the wider community. Listen in to this episode to hear what has changed in yoga studios since the pandemic, and what to look forward to in the future. Things don’t have to be the way they were before. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeConnect with the yoga studio owners: Anne Eberhardt Instagram | Facebook | Bubble Yoga Ashley Gudknecht Instagram | Facebook | Gud Yoga Dana Diament Instagram | Facebook | Lennox Yoga Lisa Hamre Instagram | Facebook | My Yoga Room Rachel Workman: Instagram | Facebook | Longview Yoga Wellness Shannon Stephens Instagram | Facebook | This Land Yoga You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-124. 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 topic is one of our favorites. Hosts Tiffany and Rachel dive deep into sequencing to unpack common pitfalls for yoga teachers and how they can be avoided. Is there such a thing as too much of a good thing? How can we choose a class focal point or theme that resonates with students? Are we teaching from a place of thinking rather than feeling? In this episode, we talk about the most important aspects of sequencing, what to add to or trim out of your class, and how to shorten or elongate students’ perception of time. Listen in to learn how to create a balanced and intention-based yoga class sequence. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeSequencing with Purpose Online Yoga Teacher TrainingYoga Medicine® Podcast Episode 95: Smarter Not Harder: Creative Sequencing5 Most Common Sequencing Mistakes That (Even Experienced) Yoga Teachers MakeYoga Teachers: Here’s How to Get 5 Completely Different Classes Out of the Same Exact Sequence of Poses You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-123. 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 recent research on estrogen’s effects on muscle. This is a hot topic at the moment, so in this episode, we share the importance of understanding the background of our hormones and the effect of estrogen on areas like muscle mass, neuromuscular activation, and recovery. Listen in to learn how the effects of estrogen are being studied in research and the different ways that estrogen impacts our muscular tissues. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeTraditional Chinese Medicine Yoga Teacher TrainingFemale Health Yoga Teacher TrainingTraditional Chinese Medicine + Female Health Yoga Teacher Training | Tulum, Mexico – March 23-30, 2025Yoga for Athletes 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-122. 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.

We all know that yoga is much more than a physical practice; it is underpinned by a framework of philosophy that is centuries old. But as a yoga teacher, you may or may not have incorporated this theoretical understanding into daily action - or helped your students do so. So today we talk about the practical application of some key yoga sutras with returning guest Diane Malaspina PhD. In this episode, Diane helps host Rachel appreciate how three of Patanjali's sutras apply to the challenges we face in daily modern life. Listen in as we discuss the balancing act we must manage to realize any important long term goals, and how self-compassion can be a powerful tool for connection. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeInside the Yoga Sutras – The Path to Freedom Online CourseExploring the Yamas through Meditation & Practice Online CourseJoin Diane LIVE & IN-PERSON for the Yoga Medicine® Resilience Retreat from Nov 2nd – 3rd in Santa Rosa, CAKristin Neff, Self Compassion Journaling04: Find Ease in Uncertainty31: The Power of Intention57: Drishti, the Potency of Our Focus – Research Roundup Facebook | Instagram | Diane Malaspina You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-121. 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 talk about the all-too-common complaint of neck pain and its hidden contributors. We discuss local sources of neck tension, explain the importance of the thoracic spine and shoulder complex, and dive into more subtle influences like posture, the nervous system, and even breath mechanics. Listen in to learn a well-rounded approach for generalized neck pain relief. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeSpine Anatomy, Dysfunction & ApplicationShoulder Anatomy, Dysfunction & ApplicationMyofascial ReleaseNervous System & RestorativePranayamaNeck FixRegulate Neck PainNeck Resilience, Isometrics & HeadstandFast-Track to ZenNeck, Shoulder & Upper-Back FavoritesMobilize Your Shoulders, Release Your NeckSpine Series 3: Head & Neck Awareness You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-120. 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.

We all deserve to feel good in our bodies, but when we have negative perceptions of how our body looks, feels, or functions that experience can seem impossible. Today host Rachel talks with returning guest Alison Heilig about the sometimes sneaky ways body image manifests in yoga. In this episode, we discuss how body image forms and the different ways negative body image can show up - including the perpetual optimization of health and demonization of the aging process. We also touch on implications for gender conformity and advocate normalizing diversity in ability and appearance in yoga classes. We share our tips on how yoga teachers can provide positive embodiment experiences, ensuring that body image isn’t what stops our students practicing. Listen in as we talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of body image. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube32: Yoga for Athletes96: Creating Change116: Yoga for Menopause & BeyondAre the Poses You Hate The Ones You Need Most?The One Cue I Never Use When I TeachYoga for Athletes Teacher Training Facebook | Instagram | Alison Heilig | Yoga Medicine Online Guest Teacher You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-119. 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 dive into the common misconceptions around breath work and Pranayama. Is breathwork really the new Pranayama? Is deep breathing indeed always better? Does breathwork really need to be intense to work? In this episode, we unpack these and other common misconceptions about Pranayama and breathwork. Listen in to find ways to feel better in your life through a better understanding of Pranayama. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubePranayama Yoga Teacher Training85: Research Roundup: A Stroll Through the Breathwork Landscape87: The Science of Breathing Less: Research Roundup 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-118. 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.

Ahimsa or non-harming is a central value of yoga philosophy, but looking at the world around us it’s all too easy to find examples of systemic suffering that seem impossible to solve. Today’s episode tackles one such issue; gender-based violence and sex trafficking. Host Rachel speaks with Sarah Symons, founder of international non-profit Her Future Coalition which has been working since 2005 to ensure that survivors of trafficking have what they need to remain free, safe and independent. As well as sharing her own story, Sarah gives tips for those wanting to get involved in this or any other service work, including the importance of starting with a single step, listening to those who are closest to the issue, making mistakes and learning from them, and focusing your energy on the positives. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube37: Yoga as Service with Amanda CunninghamYoga Medicine® Seva Foundation Facebook | Instagram | Her Future Coalition | TEDx You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-117. 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.

Perhaps you’ve heard that menopause is having a moment. But while menopause is more present in the media, there’s still a lack of balanced, nuanced, and honest information around this stage of life. In this episode, host Rachel talks with yoga and Pilates teacher and teacher-trainer Niamh Daly about her passion project: yoga for the late reproductive stage, perimenopause, menopause, and beyond. We discuss the lesser-known physical and mental implications of this menopause, and how we can fine-tune our yoga practice to support our changing needs. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeFemale Health Yoga Teacher Training63: Yoga & Osteoporosis with Michaela Smith91: Balance Myths Busted with Sava Papos Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Yinstinct Yoga You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-116. 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.

Any potent practice carries the potential for adverse effects, and yoga - while comparatively gentle - is no exception. Yin yoga seems to generate especially polarized views, so today hosts Tiffany and Rachel unpack its common cautions and contraindications. Listen in as we explore who Yin yoga is best for versus who might invest their time elsewhere, and share our tips on how we can all approach this nourishing practice to minimize risks and maximize benefits. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeYin & Meditation Teacher Training IN-PERSON in Colorado October 13-20 2024Yin & Meditation Yoga Teacher Training OnlineYMO Balanced Function for Flexible Folks SeriesYMO Tutorial: Practicing with Osteoporosis You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-115. 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.

“Is Yoga a religion?” is an often-asked question, and the deeper we delve into the historical and philosophical underpinnings of the practice, the less simple and straightforward the answer becomes. Here to guide us on that complex conversational journey is returning guest Firdose Moonda, who holds an MA in the Traditions of Yoga and Meditation from the School of Oriental and African Studies and is undertaking doctoral work into the politics of yoga. Listen in to unpack yoga’s historical and present-day entanglements with South Asian religions, and explore the responsibilities of modern yoga teachers in the West. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube100: Yoga, Politics & HistoryYoga Medicine® Book ClubThe Race & Yoga Journal, UC BerkleyYoga Mimamsa, The Scientific Journal of Yoga, Kaivalyadhama Instagram | YMO Guest Teacher You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-114. 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 a topic near and dear to Katja: tissue stiffness. Claims about terms like stiffness and tension in the body can be confusing, so our goal with this episode is to clear up some of that confusion as well as leave some space for what we do not know yet. In this episode, we talk about terminology and physiology around tissue stiffness. We also talk about factors that influence stiffness and if stiffness is a friend or foe when it comes to athletic performance, injury risk, and disease of the musculoskeletal system. Listen in to learn more about common tissue stiffness misconceptions, potential applications, and future learning. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Yoga for Athletes 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-113. 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 yoga teachers, most of us will either have an autoimmune condition, or teach students who do. Yoga is uniquely suited to work alongside conventional medical treatment to help manage these disorders and address the symptoms that impact most on quality of life. Today host Rachel speaks with Dr. Nikki Tugnet - a UK-trained physician, board-certified in Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, and Yoga Medicine® Therapeutic Specialist - about yoga and autoimmune conditions. Listen to this episode as we unpack the common denominators of autoimmune conditions, the importance of normalizing prop use, and the power of taking it slow. — Show Notes: — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeNervous System & Restorative Online TrainingMyofascial Release Online Training15: Shifting Persistent Pain with Marnie Hartman Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Nikki Tugnet You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-112. 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 topic of student questions and share their thoughts on how to answer them. Student questions can be intimidating, prompting anxiety around whether we will be able to answer “correctly”, but so many positives can come from opening a dialogue with students actively seeking more information. We talk about ways to handle student questions relating to pain, injury, and medical conditions, on pose alignment and progression, and around the choices you make as a teacher. Listen to this episode to learn how to handle yoga student questions and maximize the positive outcomes that can stem from the resulting conversation. --- Show Notes: --- Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-111. 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 are looking at where the fascia and acupuncture worlds collide. There is a lot of info out there on possible mechanisms behind acupuncture, and while research is great, we really need to look into the details for answers. In this episode, we talk about the relationship between fascia and Traditional Chinese Medicine. We also talk about acupuncture and how it can affect the connective tissue matrix. Listen to this episode to learn what we know so far about current research that points to fascia as a potential substrate for energy flow and how to absorb new research while leaving room for the mystery of the unknown. --- Show Notes: --- Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeFascia Science Resources OverviewTraditional Chinese Medicine TrainingMyofascial Release 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-110. 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.

If you haven’t had or taught a one-on-one yoga session, it might feel like a secret club that you’re locked out of. Today host Rachel demystifies the whole process with returning guest and Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist Dana Diament. In this episode, we talk about the therapeutic benefits of being seen and heard and the importance of helping people clarify their felt experience through both objective and subjective assessment tools. Listen in to learn tips for teaching private yoga sessions, how to get and prepare for the first session with a new client, and how to manage the challenges that could arise. --- Show Notes: --- Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeDana’s tips for a first sessionRachel’s take on the “Do this one thing for pain” approachYoga Medicine® Conducting a Comprehensive Evaluation in a Therapeutic Setting Online CourseYoga Medicine® Recognizing Red Flags in a Therapeutic Yoga Setting Online Course Facebook | Instagram | Yoga Medicine Online | Raia Collective You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-109. 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.

Coming home from another yoga teacher training, full of new information and techniques to utilize, can be exciting…and also overwhelming. In today’s episode, hosts Tiffany and Rachel talk about how to integrate all the tools you learn in training in a way that is meaningful for your students. In this episode, we stress the importance of a slow and steady approach guided by clarity of purpose for each class. Listen in to learn how to incorporate new material and when to use which teaching tools in both group classes and when working with students one-on-one. ---- Show Notes: --- Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-108. 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.

Burnout is becoming a more common experience than ever, in the yoga world and beyond, so today hosts Tiffany and Rachel dive into the varied experiences of and solutions to this problem. We discuss three common precursors to burnout and how challenging it can be to generate the energy required to recognize and resolve it. We also share the role yoga practice can play in helping us build long-term physical and mental resilience as an antidote to burnout. Listen to this episode to learn what burnout is, what causes contribute, and the intangible game-changers you could be overlooking when trying to overcome burnout. --- Show Notes: --- Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTubeYoga Medicine® Resilience Retreat with Tiffany Cruikshank – Boulder, COYoga Medicine® Resilience Retreat with Tiffany Cruikshank – Norfolk, VAYoga Medicine® Podcast Episode 05: Sustainability & YogaTiffany’s Burnout Resilience PlaylistValerie Knopik’s Burnout Series You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-107. 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 Katja talks with Dr. Stephanie Otto about exercise oncology, exercise, and fascia. We discuss the biological foundations of cancer and the research link between fascia and cancer. We also talk about therapeutic interventions related to cancer exercise and fascia and explain what distinguishes healthy tissue from cancerous tissue. Listen in to learn how important effective exercise can be for our oncology and how exercise oncology interventions relate to fascial tissues. Show Notes: Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube LinkedIn | Twitter | ResearchGate You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-106. 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.