In this episode, I explore what it really means to thrive as a yoga teacher. Phase Four of the Yoga Teacher Success Timeline—the Thriving Teacher Zone—is where teaching becomes intuitive, fulfilling, and sustainable.

I share the signs that you’ve reached this stage, from having loyal students and diversified income to teaching from intuition rather than fear. I also unpack how thriving doesn’t mean being overbooked or burned out—it means working with joy, confidence, and clarity.

You’ll hear stories from my own teaching career, including what it feels like to teach two classes at once to a football team, why setting boundaries is a hallmark of professional maturity, and how mentorship and legacy naturally emerge from years of consistent quality.

If you’re catching up on the Yoga Teacher Success Timeline, you can revisit:

• Episode 44: The Overview
• Episode 45: Phase One: The Post-YTT Overwhelm Zone
• Episode 50: Phase Two: The Identity Formation Zone

If you recognize yourself in this phase, now’s the time to refine your systems and deepen your influence. Inside Mastering the Art of Yoga Sequencing, we’ll work together to develop your signature sequences, strengthen your teaching voice, and help you mentor the next generation with confidence and grace.

Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!

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

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Threads
• Bluesky
• Pinterest

And come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at ...

Have you ever felt like your teaching has hit a plateau? In this episode of Yoga Teacher Confidential, I dive into Phase Three of the Yoga Teacher Success Timeline: the Professional Development Zone.

This is the stage where teaching starts to feel sustainable but can also begin to feel routine. I share the hallmarks of Phase Three, including confidence in delivery, steady students, and a desire to specialize or increase income—but also the risks of stagnation.

You’ll learn how to embrace plateaus as launching pads, take strategic risks, monetize your expertise, and market yourself authentically without feeling salesy. I’ll also walk you through actionable steps to help you build workshops, set pricing, and start developing passive income streams.

Whether you’re considering specialization, seeking better business systems, or looking for inspiration to take your teaching to the next level, this episode will help you strategically focus for long-term success.

Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!

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

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Threads
• Bluesky
• Pinterest

And come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at ...

After 52 weekly episodes—a full year of this show!—one truth has emerged: the teachers who struggle most are still practicing yoga while trying to teach it. In this anniversary episode, I explore the irony at the core of our profession: yoga is an inward practice, but teaching yoga demands we look outward.

I share my personal journey, the common struggles I see in teachers, and the shift that changes everything: moving from practitioner to teacher. You’ll learn practical ways to reframe your pre-class rituals, simplify sequencing, practice pausing, and redefine your success metrics.

By the end of this conversation, you’ll see why confidence doesn’t come from more certifications or perfecting your practice. It comes from service, from focusing fully on your students, and from letting go of the pressure to be perfect.

Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!

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

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Threads
• Bluesky
• Pinterest

And come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at ...

Emergencies happen in yoga class—and sometimes the emergency is mine. In this third installment of the series, I share practical steps for handling sudden illness, a coughing fit or lost voice, migraines, or a panic spike while I’m teaching. You’ll hear real stories, what I say to students in the moment, and how I decide whether to simplify, deputize help, or end early. The goal: care for myself so I can care for others, while modeling the self-management we teach.

This episode completes our three-part series on medical situations in class:

• E34: Medical Emergencies in Class, Part 1 — Class-Stopping Issues
• E40: Medical Emergencies in Class, Part 2 — Handling Minor Issues without Stopping Class
• E52: Part 3 — When the Emergency Is Yours (this episode)

Listen in for:

• A grounding reminder: it’s just yoga
• Quick triage questions to guide your next move
• Language to be transparent without oversharing
• Simple ways to keep students safe while you stabilize
• Why if/then planning helps you stay calm and professional

Emergencies are never easy, but with preparation and perspective, we can meet them with grace and keep our community safe.

Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!

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

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Threads
• Bluesky
• Pinterest

And come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at ...

Leading a yoga retreat isn’t just a vacation with yoga—it’s a business, a service, and a deep commitment to your students. In this episode of Yoga Teacher Confidential, I talk with retreat leader Amy Boerner about what really goes into hosting successful retreats. From requiring deposits that “hurt to lose” to learning the hard way why you should never cook for your participants, Amy shares both the challenges and rewards of creating transformative retreat experiences.

We cover how to set clear expectations, manage daily schedules, and beta-test your first offering, plus the importance of financial planning. Amy also highlights Jungle Bay in Dominica as her dream retreat venue and shares exciting news about our upcoming 200-hour teacher training partnership.

If you’ve ever dreamed of hosting a retreat—or want to avoid costly mistakes—this conversation is full of wisdom you won’t find in glossy Instagram ads.

Additional Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Join Amy’s live Comfort Zone Conversations call: https://www.comfortzoneyoga.com/c/comfort-zone-conversations/hosting-yoga-retreats-101?utm_source=buzzsprout&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=ep51
• Learn more about our hybrid 200-hour teacher training: https://carrboroyoga.com/destination200ytt/?utm_source=buzzsprout&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=ep51

Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!

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

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Threads
• Bluesky
• Pinterest

And come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at ...

Five years into teaching, I realized I was sounding just like one of my mentors—same words, same tone, same everything. It made me wonder: who am I as a teacher when I’m not imitating someone else?

In this episode, we’re diving into Phase Two of the Yoga Teacher Success Timeline: the Identity Formation Zone. This is where you’ve moved past the overwhelm of Phase One and into regular teaching—but still feel like an imposter.

We’ll unpack:

• Why imposter syndrome can be a sign of growth.
• How to set clear boundaries with students.
• Ways to streamline your planning using the S.E.R.V.E. Method.
• Tips for building a niche and marketing yourself authentically.

Phase Two is all about finding your voice, teaching with confidence, and laying the foundation for a sustainable career. Let’s navigate it together.

Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!

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

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Threads
• Bluesky
• Pinterest

And come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at ...

Teaching yoga in a big space with dozens of students can be daunting—how do you connect with everyone and keep the class flowing? In this episode, I share practical strategies for managing large rooms so every student feels included. You’ll learn how to set up your space, move with intention, project your voice, and adapt to challenges without losing your connection to the whole group. These tips will help you feel confident in any teaching setting, whether you’re leading a festival crowd, a sports team, or a packed studio class.

We’ll cover:

• Pre-class space setup for maximum flow and accessibility
• Using voice, movement, and visual cues to connect with the whole room
• Strategies for handling technical issues and distractions
• Creating a sense of intimacy in a large group
• Simple habits to refine your space management skills over time

If you’ve ever wished for a toolkit to make big classes feel intimate and connected, this episode is for you!

Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!

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

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Threads
• Bluesky
• Pinterest

And come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at ...

If you’ve ever found yourself spending hours on Sunday night scrolling Instagram for yoga class ideas, this episode is for you. I share the real struggle teachers face with planning: the overwhelm, the blank-page anxiety, or the temptation to just wing it.

After 20+ years of teaching, I’ve discovered that the most successful teachers aren’t the most creative or the most flexible. They’re the ones who reliably deliver balanced classes week after week. That’s why I created the Yoga Class Prep Station: a resource designed to end the Sunday night scramble once and for all.

In this episode, I walk you through what the Prep Station offers—from the Movement Library to the monthly yoga snacks, theme seeds, and live calls—and how it follows the S.E.R.V.E. Method in bite-sized, practical ways.

You’ll also hear how the Prep Station differs from my deeper mentorship program, Mastering the Art of Yoga Sequencing, and why both exist to serve you at different points in your teaching journey.

By the end, you’ll see that great teaching isn’t about reinventing the wheel every week. It’s about being consistent, reliable, and nourished as a teacher. The Prep Station gives you the tools to do just that.

Pull up a seat at the counter: Join the Prep Station here!

Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!

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

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Threads
• Bluesky
• Pinterest

And come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at ...