Show Notes
This week we’re joined by Danielle Barbeau, owner of The River Yoga in Denver, CO. We first met Danielle virtually during a team meeting, and later in person when we traveled to Denver to teach at her studio, where we also recorded an episode that (tragically) didn’t sound great. But the conversation stuck with us… so we’re back for round two.
At the center of this episode is a deceptively simple question Danielle asked: “Do you feel like you’ve arrived?” And honestly… it sent us spiraling (in the best way).
We talk about what it actually means to “make it” in the yoga world- from teaching full-time to running a studio, navigating burnout, and building something that’s sustainable long-term. Danielle shares her path from young teacher to studio owner, what it looked like being thrown into leadership early, and how she navigated the uncertainty of the COVID years while keeping her community intact.
We get into the real side of the business: getting paid, doing the paperwork, making hard decisions, and learning how to lead. We talk about building trust with teachers, creating jobs that are actually sustainable, and the constant dance between supporting your team and running a business that works.
There’s also a behind-the-scenes look at how things evolve- bringing on support (hello COO), shifting roles, and creating space to actually enjoy what you’ve built… whether that’s being more present on retreats or focusing on the parts of the job you love. And then we come back to it—arriving.
What does it actually mean? Is it owning a studio? Teaching full-time? Being “known”? Danielle’s answer is simple, grounding, and unexpectedly emotional in the best way. While Bradshaw and Giana think about what this means for them individually and together professionally.
Also… we couldn’t resist. We close with some very necessary comic relief: overheard student conversations, Bluetooth mishaps, and a rogue cat moment you won’t forget.
Find Danielle Barbeau and The River online: https://www.weseektheriver.com/ @daniellen.barbeau
Want to support our podcast? Join our Patreon for extra content
** CHECK OUT OUR 300-HOUR PROGRAM **
🌊 Upcoming Retreats Amalfi Coast Yoga Retreat: July 25 - August 1, 2026 Portugal Relax by the Sea Retreat: August 4-10, 2026
📚 Read the Podcast Blog: The Funny Thing About Yoga on Substack
📲 Follow Us Podcast: @thefunnythingaboutyoga School: @cayayogaschool Hosts: @gianagambino & @bradshawwish
🌐 More Links gianayoga.com bradshawwishyoga.com cayayogaschool.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from The Funny Thing About Yoga
If we could go back and give our younger yoga teacher selves some business advice, we'd have A LOT to say. But first, naturally, we need to discuss some very important matters: Giana failing to acknowledge Bradshaw's social media post, his latest snack obsessions, the magic of Chicago Aldi, sour candy, fiber, and the ridiculous amount of phone tag we've been playing. We also catch up on our upcoming Costa Rica retreat for yoga teachers, because apparently we can squeeze a little business into even our most unhinged tangents.
This week, we're talking about the surprisingly lonely side of being a yoga teacher and why having friends who actually understand this weird job is so important. From studio politics and unspoken competition to professional jealousy, burnout, and the pressure to always be the one holding space, we're unpacking the challenges of finding genuine friendship in an industry that's supposedly all about community.
Have we reached the ultimate level of yoga snobbery… becoming snobby about Flowy Yoga Girl? This week, we’re calling ourselves out and asking: have we become yoga snobs?
This week, Bradshaw is back from teaching abroad and sharing stories from Prague and Oxford- from cultural differences in the yoga room to the things that surprised his students most. He reflects on how travel teaching has changed him as a teacher, what he’s learned from continually walking into rooms full of people who have never practiced with him before, and one universal observation he’s made about students no matter where in the world he teaches.
After a two-week break (and a whole lot of pre-recording), Giana and Bradshaw are finally back together for a much-needed catch-up episode, and a lot has happened! Giana shares reflections from giving birth and the first weeks of motherhood, from letting go of expectations and slowing down to putting nervous system regulation into practice when there’s a screaming baby in your arms. She talks about releasing the pressure to do things “right,” staying present through the unknown, the myth of having it all, and why she refuses to look back with regret. Meanwhile, Bradshaw catches us up on a summer of travel and retreats in Italy and Portugal. He reflects on the importance of letting go of control, choosing opportunities from a place of passion, and what it’s been like watching the community they’ve built through the podcast and Instagram come to life through real friendships and experiences around the world. This episode is less about having a lesson to teach and more about reflecting on the season we’re both in- birth, travel, change, community, surrender, and learning how to simply be present. We missed you. It feels good to be back.