The Yoga Teacher Podcast

New yoga teachers often copy their teachers at first. Their sequencing, their cues, their language, even the way they hold the room. But how do you move from repeating what worked for someone else to finding your own voice as a yoga teacher?

In this episode, Brea and Ula talk about copying, confidence, repetition, belonging, and what it really means to teach in a way that feels like you. We get into why copying can be a normal part of learning, how repetition helps you become more responsive in the room, and why the best yoga teachers are not trying to sound like everyone else.

We also talk about yoga teacher training, inclusive teaching, representation, and the pressure many teachers feel to fit into a certain image of what a “real” yoga teacher looks or sounds like.

If you’re a new yoga teacher, a yoga teacher in training, or someone who feels like you don’t quite fit the usual yoga mould, this conversation is for you.

Links mentioned this episode:

Learn more about Heart + Bones Yoga Teacher Training: https://heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/yoga-certification-course/ Explore Yoga Teacher Lab: Nervous System 101: https://heartandbonesyoga.com/nervoussystem101/ Try the Heart + Bones online yoga studio: https://heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/

$1 for 1 month use code: PODCASTMONTH

Why Student Love Boring Classes: https://youtu.be/TVAmLoAhSDY?si=aKCW7cNj8Jd5nedO

This audio was taken from our Yoga Teacher Tips Youtube Channel!

Watch the video HERE

Feeling like you lack "self-belief" as a yoga teacher? It might not be a lack of confidence at all. It might just be that you haven't discovered what kind of teacher you are yet.

In this episode, we’re moving beyond "being a good teacher" and diving into the self-awareness required to find your unique voice. We’ll explore the spectrum of teaching styles—from intuitive "wingers" to structured planners, poetic storytellers to precise communicators—to help you stop the comparison trap and start celebrating your natural gifts.

Take the Quiz! Ready to go deeper? I’ve created a playful quiz to help you further refine your teaching identity and voice. ✨ Take the Yoga Teacher Type Quiz here: https://heartandbonesyoga.com/quiz-what-type-modern-yoga-teacher-are-you/

What we cover in this episode:

The secret to true teaching confidence.

Intuitive vs. Planned sequencing: Which one is your "nervous system safety net"?

Poetic vs. Precise: Finding your unique way of communicating cues.

Tradition vs. Modern Movement: Where do you land on the lineage spectrum?

Finding your "Sweet Spot": Balancing your schedule to avoid burnout.

Join the Yoga Teacher Tips Community: At Yoga Teacher Tips, we’re all about the nitty-gritty details of teaching and the big conversations that help us grow. Subscribe to join a community of teachers dedicated to teaching with heart and bones.

Let’s Chat! Once you take the quiz, come back and let me know your results in the comments! Are you more of a "Planner" or a "Winger"? Let’s build this amazing community together.

BECOME A YOGA TEACHER WITH HEART + BONES 200hr & 300hr Online Yoga Teacher Training: https://heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/yoga-certification-course/

Try Heart and Bones Online Yoga Studio: Enjoy an entire month in the Heart + Bones online yoga studio for just $1 with this coupon code: PODCASTMONTH

Start Here: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/

SAY HI ON SOCIAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartandbonesyoga

Is "Listen to Your Body" actually helpful, or is it just confusing for your students?

In this episode, Brea, Founder of Heart and Bones Yoga, chats with Ula about the nuance of one of the most common cues in the yoga world. While we want to offer autonomous experiences, "listening to your body" can be tricky when our "normal" is actually a pattern of unconscious postural habits or even tension.

In this video, you’ll learn:

Why "listen to your body" can backfire for students with deep-seated habits.

The "Goldilocks" method: Using polarities to help students find their middle ground.

How to support hypermobile students who might be "guarding" or tense without realizing it.

Real-world examples of using props (like the "festival chair" moment!) to create ease.

A sneak peek into our upcoming Lab Series on nervous system-supportive cueing.

Curious about the Lab?

Our first Lab is now live, Nervous System 101 for Yoga Teacher: https://heartandbonesyoga.com/nervoussystem101/

BECOME A YOGA TEACHER WITH HEART + BONES 200hr & 300hr

Online Yoga Teacher Training: https://heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/yoga-certification-course/

PRACTICE WITH US

Enjoy an entire month in the Heart + Bones online yoga studio for just $1 with this coupon code: PODCASTMONTH

SAY HI ON SOCIAL

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartandbonesyoga

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@YogaTeacherTips

Is your yoga class actually "nervous system supportive," or is it just slow? In this episode, Brea and Ula chat about what it really means to support the nervous system when teaching actual humans in real classes. We move beyond the "everything should be chill" marketing myth and explore how proprioception, interoception, and even intensity play a role in building true resilience.

In this episode, we discuss:

The "Nervous System" Zeitgeist: Why every yoga class is technically a nervous system class.

Proprioception vs. Interoception: Understanding how we sense our bodies from the inside out.

The Anxiety of "Calming" Cues: How rigid breathing counts can actually trigger a stress response.

The Social Nervous System: Creating a safe container where students feel seen and supported.

Building Capacity: Why challenging poses like balance and chair pose are vital for nervous system resilience.

NEW: The Yoga Teacher Lab

We’re launching a new series for teachers at Heart and Bones Online Studio! Our first deep dive is the Nervous System, featuring a "Director's Cut" breakdown of real classes with Brea Johnson.

Learn More https://heartandbonesyoga.com/nervoussystem101/

Did you know we have a yoga teacher dedicated youtube channel? Learn with Brea: https://www.youtube.com/@YogaTeacherTips

Learn More:

 

BECOME A YOGA TEACHER WITH HEART + BONES

200hr & 300hr Online Yoga Teacher Training (anatomy-informed, accessible, and actually enjoyable): https://heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/yoga-certification-course/

 

PRACTICE WITH US

Try Heart + Bones Studio free for one month, use code: youtubelove https://heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/

If you've been struggling to find yoga teaching work, whether you just finished your 200-hour, moved to a new city, or feel like there are more teachers than there are jobs—this one's for you.

Brea Johnson, founder of Heart + Bones and a yoga teacher with over two decades of experience, shares the honest, practical strategies she wishes more teachers knew about. From her years owning a brick-and-mortar studio (and being the one doing the hiring), she knows exactly what gets a teacher noticed, and what doesn't.

Found a creative way to build your teaching career that we didn't cover? Drop it in the comments—we'd love to hear it!

What we cover:

Why the yoga studio isn't always the best place to start — and what to do instead

How to rent your own space and actually fill it (even when nobody knows you yet)

The power of finding a niche to grow your classes faster

Working with gyms, physiotherapists, chiropractors, and corporate offices

What Brea looked for as a studio owner — and the things that almost guaranteed someone wouldn't get hired

How to build relationships that open doors, even if you're introverted

Why subbing is one of the most underrated ways to get your foot in the door

BECOME A YOGA TEACHER WITH HEART + BONES 200hr & 300hr Online Yoga Teacher Training (anatomy-informed, accessible, and actually enjoyable): https://heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/yoga-certification-course/

PRACTICE WITH US

Try Heart + Bones Studio free for one month, use code: PODCASTMONTH https://heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/

SAY HI ON SOCIAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartandbonesyoga