Stay ConnectedThis down-to-earth podcast by Andrea Ferretti (former executive editor of Yoga Journal) will keep informed and inspired to practice yoga. Topics run the gamut from nitty gritty technique (her yoga teacher husband Jason Crandell often joins to help with this) to down-to-earth conversations about how to apply yoga’s lessons and tools to help craft a happy, balanced life.
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On this episode, Jason addresses a common question he gets from yoga teachers: When will I start to feel more sure of myself, more confident in my teaching? Whether you’re newly certified or have been teaching for years, this episode will help you fill in the missing pieces and grow into the confident, grounded, and impactful yoga teacher you want to be.
What You’ll Learn:
• Why so many yoga teachers feel stuck or unprepared after their 200-hour yoga teacher training
• The real reason yoga teachers struggle with confidence (it’s not just imposter syndrome)
• How to shift from planning individual classes to designing long-term yoga class sequences and themes
• Proven strategies to avoid yoga teacher burnout and stay inspired in your teaching
• The most common gaps in yoga teacher trainings—and how to build the skills your students actually need
• How to grow your teaching career by deepening your skills and becoming a more effective, in-demand yoga instructor
A heads' up that Jason's 300-Hour YTT begins May 7th! This training is flexible, supportive, and comprehensive. Go to jasonyoga.com/300 for the training details and to enroll.
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In this episode, Jason guides you through 3 simple yet powerful pranayama techniques to help you unwind, relax, and get better night's sleep. These breathing exercises are perfect for reducing stress, calming the mind, and promoting relaxation—whether you’re winding down after a busy day or preparing for a restful night’s sleep.
Time codes:
00:00 Introduction to the Episode
00:44 Overview of Pranayama for Relaxation and Sleep
02:33 Chandra Bhedana Pranayama Explained
07:28 Lengthened Exhalations Breathwork
12:53 Lengthened Exhalations with Pauses Breathwork
16:10 Practical Tips and Course Information
✨ Two big announcements!
Jason's 300-Hour Online Yoga Teacher Training is open for enrollment. Get all the details and enroll at: jasonyoga.com/300
✨ To celebrate the kick-off of the training, Jason's hosting a free webinar next week, The Confident Yoga Teacher: 5 Skills Every Yoga Teacher Needs. Get info and sign for that here: jasonyoga.com/webinar
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Teaching pranayama and breathwork can feel overwhelming—even for experienced yoga teachers. In this episode, Jason breaks down the five most common mistakes teachers make when teaching pranayama and offers simple, research-backed solutions that will help you guide breathwork with clarity, confidence, and impact.
Whether you’re just starting out or refining your skills, this episode will help you simplify your approach to pranayama, avoid common pitfalls, and create a more meaningful experience for your students.
🎯 In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why pranayama is often left out of yoga classes—and why that’s a missed opportunity
• How to avoid overwhelming students with too many breathwork techniques
• Why it’s time to rethink advanced practices like Nadi Shodhana, Bhastrika & Kapalabhati
• The power of simple, functional techniques like Box Breathing and 5.5 Breathing
• How consistent breath ratios improve nervous system regulation, HRV, and CO₂ tolerance
• How to use accessible, effective language when teaching pranayama
• Why functional breathwork is more important than flashy techniques
✨ Registration is open for Jason's training, Teaching Pranayama & Breathwork! Open to both yoga teachers and students. For more info, click here: jasonyoga.com/breathwork
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This is episode 1 of a four-part series on Pranayama: On this episode, we explore why breathwork matters so much for yoga teachers and how to effectively integrate pranayama into your yoga classes.
Whether you're a seasoned yoga teacher or simply interested in deepening your pranayama practice, this conversation will help you understand why breathwork is essential and how to teach it with confidence.
We talk about:
The most important pranayama benefits for your own practice and your teaching.
Why pranayama is an essential tool for yoga classes and how it helps students find calm, focus, and energy.
How pranayama supports nervous system regulation, emotional balance, and overall well-being.
Practical teaching tips for introducing pranayama to your students with clarity and ease.
Common challenges teachers face when teaching pranayama and how to overcome them.
🎥 If you want to deepen your pranayama practice and teaching skills, join the waitlist for my upcoming online pranayama training: jasonyoga.com/breathwork
Time codes in this episode:
00:15 Starting the Pranayama Series
00:22 Why Pranayama Matters
01:05 Pranayama vs. Asana
03:11 Immediate Effects on the Nervous System
09:22 Heart Rate Variability Explained
19:01 CO2 Tolerance and Efficient Breathing
27:09 Practical Benefits of Breathwork
29:32 Gatekeeping in Pranayama
30:49 Personal Journey with Pranayama
32:26 Pranayama Techniques and Their Benefits
35:57 Incorporating Pranayama into Daily Life
39:22 Categories of Pranayama
47:21 Teaching and Practicing Pranayama
56:14 Conclusion and Next Steps
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Looking for fresh ideas to keep your classes engaging and effective? In this episode of Yogaland, we’ll show you how to plan a month-long yoga series that helps your students build skills, gain confidence, and deepen their practice over time.
If you’re tired of planning classes one-by-one and want to teach more cohesively and effectively, this episode is for you! Whether you’re a new yoga teacher looking for guidance or an experienced teacher wanting to expand your teaching approach, you’ll learn simple, powerful strategies to take your classes to the next level.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
✅ Why a long-term approach to teaching helps students learn faster and retain more.
✅ How to structure a 4-week yoga series for consistent growth and progress.
✅ Practical ways to apply Thematic Sequencing to build skills week by week.
✅ How to use Scaffolded Learning to break down complex poses and techniques.
✅ Why revisiting concepts (Spaced Repetition) improves learning and confidence.
✅ What the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) means and how it applies to yoga.
Timecodes:
00:33 Upcoming Pranayama Course
01:12 London Yoga Retreat Announcement
04:31 Long-Term Yoga Class Planning
07:03 Thematic and Progressive Sequencing
19:42 Introduction to Vinyasa Class Structure
21:34 Teaching Skills Step-by-Step
26:00 Building Muscle Memory and Competence
26:53 The Importance of Scaffolding in Yoga
32:24 Spaced Repetition in Learning
34:40 Zone of Proximal Development
38:51 Encouraging Growth and Possibility
42:14 Recap and Conclusion
👉 Jason's newest course, Teaching Pranayama & Breathwork: A step-by-step guide for yoga teachers & students begins in April. Click here to join the waitlist: jasonyoga.com/breathwork
👉 Want to practice in-person with Jason? Join him in London June 9th-13th at Mission! To get all the details: https://www.mission-e1.com/london-retreat/
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland.
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Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Whether mild (commonly called a concussion) or severe, TBI can create long-term health challenges ranging from cognitive fatigue, to memory loss to insomnia and mental health issues. This episode explores how LoveYourBrain's free yoga and meditation program benefits people affected by TBI and their caregivers.
Since 2015, Dr. Kyla Pearce, Senior Director of Programs and Research at LoveYourBrain, has trained over 2,500 yoga teachers and clinicians in how to adapt yoga for TBI. She was the primary investigator on the largest published study of yoga for TBI, which found significant improvement in quality of life, resilience, cognition, and positive affect among 705 people with TBI who participated in the LoveYourBrain program.
LoveYourBrain was founded in 2014 by brothers Kevin and Adam Pearce following Kevin’s severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a snowboarding accident in 2009 while training for the Olympics. Their family’s experience navigating Kevin’s recovery inspired them to create LoveYourBrain.
To date, LoveYourBrain has supported nearly 50,000 people worldwide, through research-backed programs offered at no cost to empower the TBI community with new tools, resources, and connections.
We talk about:
Lastly: March is Brain Injury Awareness Month! Go to loveyourbrain.com/challenge to join their Mindful March Meditation Challenge and support their efforts in keeping yoga FREE to those affected by TBI.
There are lots of resources on their website as well as info about teacher training: I've created a curated list of links for Yogaland listeners: www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode350
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Have you ever felt like your students aren’t fully absorbing what you’re teaching? Want to make your cues, sequences, and insights truly stick? On this episode, Jason reveals the top teaching strategies every yoga instructor should know to enhance student learning, improve retention, and create transformative class experiences.
Highlights:
✅ The difference between leading a class vs. teaching for deep learning.
✅ How repetition & thematic sequencing improve student retention.
✅ Why students learn best by doing, seeing, and experiencing—not just hearing.
✅ How A/B testing in yoga poses helps students find what works best for them.
✅ The role of cognitive load in student learning—and why less is more when cueing.
✅ The surprising power of storytelling to make your teaching unforgettable.
💡 Whether you're a new yoga teacher or an experienced instructor looking to improve your teaching impact, this episode will help you develop smarter, more effective strategies to ensure your students truly absorb and retain what you teach.
🔗 Join the Pranayama Teacher Training Waitlist: jasonyoga.com/breathwork
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland.
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Jason’s getting Invisalign. Andrea’s diving into writing. Our daughter just got a new horse named… Namaste. Yep. It’s a lot. 🤣
In this episode of Yoga(ish), we get personal—talking about self-consciousness as yoga teachers, how our jobs shape our confidence, and why getting adult braces feels way more vulnerable than it should. We also dive into Andrea’s new writing project, her experience in a creative writing group, and the struggles of finding a new horse for our daughter’s riding journey.
And of course, we wrap things up with our latest pop culture deep dive—what we’re watching, our love for great storytelling, and a tribute to some of the best comedy shows ever. (Spoiler: Andrea has watched every episode of Workaholics. Twice.)
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland.
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Reggie Hubbard, founder of Active Peace Yoga, has stories to share: He has spent the past year building his online meditation, sound healing, and resilience trainings online, all while recovering from a stroke and learning to care for himself in a completely new way. Prior to his work in the yogasphere, Reggie was a seasoned political strategist, working on the Bernie Sanders campaign, as a congressional liaison for MoveOn, and in many other high profile positions over three decades. Reggie shares his journey with us, serving as an example of how we can continue to navigate all that life throws our way with a sense of resilience and purpose.
Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode348
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland.
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This week, Jason shares his ambitious new project of documenting a 200-hour yoga teacher training, Andrea has a surprise run-in with one of her favorite actors, and Jason recounts reconnects with high school friends at an LA Clippers game.
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland.
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