Show Notes
In the early days of yoga, a student had to study for decades before becoming a teacher. Today, a person can become a yoga teacher with little time and experience. So how can teachers gain deep experience to be inclusive and authentic in their teaching?
In this podcast episode, Jivana talks with Anjali Rao, who wrote the foreword for The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga. Anjali talks about what it means to be a yoga teacher and growing as a teacher through ongoing practice and study. Topics include:
Challenges and benefits of the 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training framework
The value of lived experience in teaching
Celebrity culture in modern yoga
Humility and service in teaching yoga
The dynamics of the teacher-student relationship
Social media presence and teaching
Holding space for community through yoga teaching
Check out Jivana’s new book, The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about the book on his website.
Connect with Jivana:
www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman
Anjali Rao (she/her) is a yoga practitioner-educator offering a multidisciplinary approach to sharing the teachings of yoga, integrating history, storytelling and art. She is a cancer survivor, and Indian American immigrant. She serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the Accessible Yoga Association and the host of The Love of Yoga Podcast.
Connect with Anjali:
www.yoganjali.me | @yoganjali
More from The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga
In this final wrap up episode, Jivana offers an overview of his book, The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and highlights a few topics that are of particular importance to him. Whether you’ve read the book or not, this episode addresses many key elements in making yoga accessible for yoga teachers and yoga therapists.
How does being a student of yoga translate into teaching yoga? Loving the practice and wanting to share it with others is at the heart of becoming a teacher. As a teacher, you also continue learning and evolving, deepening your own understanding and practice. This journey of teaching and learning is a continuous cycle that enriches both teacher and students.
“All we're doing is preparing for that moment, where grace just drops in." - Tracee Stanley
According to the yoga teachings, pranayama is among the most powerful practice we have. Yet, many of the common breathing practices are taught in ways that are not accessible or trauma-informed. How can teachers make pranayama more accessible to their students?
Initially, Shavasana may seem like a simple posture. But, when we approach the practice with a little more depth, we can discover a powerful restorative practice with profound and multifaceted benefits.