Yogaland Podcast

Andrea Ferretti
  • 4.8 (1.3K)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

This 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. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 3 Breathwork and Pranayama Techniques for Yoga Teachers Who Keep Putting It Off

    2d ago

    3 Breathwork and Pranayama Techniques for Yoga Teachers Who Keep Putting It Off

    If you've been meaning to teach pranayama in your classes but keep finding reasons to wait — this week's podcast is for you. Most yoga teachers want to include breathwork. The problem isn't interest — it's knowing where to start, how long to spend, and whether students will actually value it. This episodes solves all three problems in under 20 minutes, with three simple, immediately usable techniques you can bring to your next class. No restructuring required. No special training needed. Just three practical breathwork tools, three locations in your class to use them, and the confidence to begin. The Three Techniques Covered: Coherence Breathing / Sama Vritti Pranayama — 5.5 x 5.5 seconds, ideal for class openings Breath-linked movement — half sun salutations, Utkatasana flow, eagle arms transitions Extended exhale breathing — 6:2:8:2 ratio, ideal pre-Savasana for nervous system downregulation Chapters: 00:00 Introduction — why yoga teachers keep putting pranayama off 01:20 Concern 1: Will my students get bored? 02:06 Concern 2: Which technique should I use? 02:27 Concern 3: Where does pranayama go in class? 03:49 Location 1: Class opening — coherence breathing 07:07 Location 2: Within dynamic movement — breath-linked movement patterns 10:31 Location 3: Pre-Savasana — extended exhale breathing 13:51 The final challenge — pick one technique and try it this week Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    21 min
  2. Boat Pose Is Not an Ab Exercise

    Jun 9

    Boat Pose Is Not an Ab Exercise

    Most yoga teachers cue Full Boat Pose as an abdominal exercise. It isn't — and once you understand why, you'll also discover Low Boat Pose: the most underused core exercise in yoga. Full Boat Pose (Paripurna Navasana) is primarily a hip flexor exercise. Low Boat Pose (Ardha Navasana) is primarily an abdominal exercise. Understanding why — and how to use both intelligently — is one of the most practical yoga anatomy insights you can bring to your teaching and your practice. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    15 min
  3. The Real Reason Your Hamstrings Are Still Tight — A Mobility Breakdown for Teachers & Students

    Jun 2

    The Real Reason Your Hamstrings Are Still Tight — A Mobility Breakdown for Teachers & Students

    Most people assume tight hamstrings are a stretching problem. They're not. Hamstring tightness is almost always multifactorial, which means the solution requires a broader range of strategies — not more of the same stretching that hasn't worked. On this podcast, Jason breaks down 6 evidence-informed strategies for improving hamstring flexibility that go well beyond passive stretching. Whether you're a yoga teacher, yoga student, or anyone focused on mobility and movement quality, these strategies will change how you think about — and train — your hamstrings. What you'll learn: -Why foam rolling works neurologically — not just mechanically — and how to use it as a primer before you stretch -Why strengthening your glutes may do more for your hamstring flexibility than more stretching ever will -How weak hip flexors limit anterior pelvic tilt — and why that directly limits hamstring length -Why your adductors (especially adductor magnus) may be quietly working against your hamstring flexibility -How dynamic stretching and engaged stretching give your nervous system more feedback — and unlock more range than passive stretching alone -Why hamstring tightness is almost always multifactorial — and why there is no single magic technique Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    18 min
  4. Yoga Teachings That Have Endured — 10 Years and 8 Million Downloads Later

    May 20

    Yoga Teachings That Have Endured — 10 Years and 8 Million Downloads Later

    Wow wow wow -- it's been 10 years since the launch of Yogaland! It feels like it's been a heartbeat and also a lifetime. There's been so much learning, growth, and love while making these episodes for the past decade. I spent time compiling precious insights--gems if you will--that stood out to me from the past 10 years. We revisit moments with: Amy Ippoliti — free diving, environmental activism, and asking young people about purpose instead of popularity James Woods (Dat Yoga Dude) — bringing yoga and social-emotional learning into schools and communities Maty Ezraty — why even the most accomplished yoga teachers still get nervous before every class Susanna Harwood Rubin — navigating metastatic cancer with devotion, sacred spaces, and grace Judith Lasater — the concept of inner gold and what distinguishes a truly good teacher from an abusive one Jill Miller — the five Ps of inducing the relaxation response and harnessing vagal tone Andrea Jain — an unbiased take on academic history of yoga's globalization Julia Lowrie Henderson — the psychology behind why Bikram's cruelty registered as trustworthiness Sally Kempton — the mantra that changed her relationship to failure Tias Little — perfectionism as a cul-de-sac Tara Stiles — doing it your own way, softness, and building a yoga practice around ease Daya Grant — what neuroscience tells us about the yoga practitioner's brain and interoceptive awareness Lisa Walford — four pillars of health developed after an HIV diagnosis in 1985, decades ahead of her time Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 2m
  5. Instability and Love: A Conversation About Family, Addiction, and Recovery

    May 9

    Instability and Love: A Conversation About Family, Addiction, and Recovery

    This week's podcast is such a special one because it focuses on our family. Jason sits down with his brother, Todd, to talk about growing up together, the chaos of addiction within family, anxiety, self-compassion, and healing as an ongoing process.   I love both of these men so much, and I'm so proud of them for sharing so openly.    This isn't a yoga-specific episode — it's a conversation between two brothers about family trauma and the instability that addiction creates for everyone, not just the person with the addiction.   I hope you will listen, and if you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or is in recovery, I hope you will share it.  Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 46m
  6. What Science Actually Says About Getting More Flexible — No Cherry Picking

    Apr 21

    What Science Actually Says About Getting More Flexible — No Cherry Picking

    As yogis, we’re certainly aware of the many benefits of stretching — but are you aware of what the research actually says about how to stretch effectively? Or how to evaluate that research honestly?   On this week’s Yogaland, I’m sharing meta-analyses and systematic reviews to give you a clear, accurate, and intellectually honest picture of what actually increases flexibility.   In this episode, you’ll learn:   Why dynamic and passive stretching work through completely different mechanisms — and why you need both.   What the research consistently shows about stretch intensity — and why moderate intensity outperforms both light and maximal stretching for tissue adaptation.  The sweet spot for hold duration — and why total weekly volume matters more than any single session variable. The most important and most under-appreciated variable in flexibility training. I'd love to know what you think of episodes like these, so please leave a comment. It also helps others find our work. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min
  7. Yoga(ish): Moon Joy, the Overview Effect, and Why Astronauts Sound Like Meditators

    Apr 15

    Yoga(ish): Moon Joy, the Overview Effect, and Why Astronauts Sound Like Meditators

    What happens when two yoga teachers fall down a NASA rabbit hole and can't stop thinking about non-duality, The Overview Effect, and Grandmother Moon? This episode of Yoga-ish — our more personal, less technique-focused podcast — is exactly that kind of conversation. Yoga-ish is where Jason and Andrea talk about their actual lives: what they're reading, watching, thinking about, and how all of it connects (loosely) to yoga, mindfulness, and the work of being a human. We covered so much this week, including: - Artemis II & The Overview Effect — and why astronauts returning from space sound a lot like meditators coming out of deep practice - Christina Koch's transmission from the far side of the moon and what "moon joy" actually means - Our review of Project Hail Mary + what we're reading - Neurodivergent kids, intrinsic motivation, and letting go of the sticker chart - 10 years of Yogaland — and what's coming next For more of Andrea's essays and access to free guided meditations, subscribe to her Substack: yogaland.substack.com Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44 min
  8. Why Community Matters for Yoga Teachers

    Apr 13

    Why Community Matters for Yoga Teachers

    If you've ever felt lonely as a yoga teacher — you're not alone. And that's exactly what this week's podcast is about.   Teaching yoga is one of the most isolating jobs most people never see coming. You're surrounded by students, immersed in a tradition built on connection, and somehow you still end up feeling like you're doing it alone. In this video I'm naming that honestly — and talking about what we can actually do about it.   Jason talks about: Why teaching yoga is more isolating than it looks from the outsideThe structural reasons yoga teachers feel like ships in the nightThe real cost of isolation — burnout, imposter syndrome, and self-doubtWhy community with fellow teachers is irreplaceableHow connecting to your lineage and tradition sustains youWhat I built to solve this problem — and how you can do the same Become part of Jason's community of yoga teachers: ✅ Get your 300hr & 500hr Teacher Training Certificate with Jason: https://learn.jasonyoga.com/300 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    16 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.8
out of 5
1,258 Ratings

About

This 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. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Andrea Ferretti
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    445
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Andrea Ferretti
  • Show Website
    Yogaland Podcast

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