Conversations for Yoga Teachers

Karen Fabian
  • 4.9 (38)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

Lessons, stories and interviews designed to help you feel more confident as a yoga teacher. Music used with artist permission: https://johnbartmann.com/faq

  1. 5d ago

    My Yoga Students Can’t Do That; Or Can They? (EP.426)

    “I don’t teach that in my classes because my students can’t do it.” I hear teachers say this all the time. But how do you actually know what people can and can’t do? In this episode, I take a deeper look at the assumptions that can sit behind this belief—from our own experiences and limitations, to assumptions about older, newer, or deconditioned students, to things we’ve simply been told by other teachers. We’ll also look at the fear that offering a challenging movement might somehow put our students at risk, and how our attachment to having students “do it right” can actually get in the way of teaching objectively. Using High-to-low push-up as an example, you’ll discover why understanding anatomy changes the way you teach. When you understand what a movement is asking the body to do, you can observe what’s actually happening, offer modifications and useful cues, and help students develop the strength and skill they need to progress. Because sometimes, when we decide a student “can’t do it,” we’re actually denying them the opportunity to discover what they can do. And this is one of the reasons learning anatomy is so important for yoga teachers. It’s not about memorizing muscles and bones, it’s more about filling in the knowledge gaps so that you can trust what you teach.  You’ll hear more about this in the episode and here it is:  Download my free guide, 10 Key Steps to Learning Anatomy:    https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/ten-steps-to-learning-anatomy   Here’s the link to the Accelerator Program, where I’ll show you how to use the blueprint to learn anatomy:      https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

  2. Oct 5

    Teaching Yoga Beyond How You Were Taught (EP.425)

    What happens when the way you want to teach is different from the way you were trained to teach? In this episode, I’m exploring the tension between following the script and actually responding to the people in front of you. We’ll use Child’s Pose as a case study: a pose we’re often told is restful and accessible, yet one that can be surprisingly uncomfortable for many people. What happens when teachers can see that discomfort but don’t have the anatomical understanding or tools to know what to do about it? This is a conversation about moving beyond memorized cues, learning to observe what’s actually happening, and developing the confidence to teach from understanding rather than simply repeating what we were taught.   Here is a video on social media that I created that partners with this episode:     https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dd9oYV0PM46/   Here is the link to the Accelerator Program:   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

  3. Sep 28

    How To Trust Your Cues (EP.424)

    Have you ever given a cue in class and wondered, “What does this really mean?" Many yoga teachers learn cues by hearing them in teacher training, taking classes or watching other teachers. But when you don’t understand the WHY behind a cue, it can be hard to trust what you’re saying—or know what to do when a student is out of alignment.  In this episode, I’ll walk you through a simple framework for creating cues from an understanding of anatomy rather than relying on memorization. We’ll look at how to start with the pose, identify the major joint movements, determine which muscles are creating those movements and then turn that understanding into something you can actually say to your students. I’ll also share my 3 action cues + 1 anatomy cue approach and explain why I always say, “Say the cue, see what they do.” Because the goal isn’t to memorize more cues. It’s to understand the WHY behind what you say so you can adjust, reframe and teach in your own voice. That’s how you begin to trust your cues—and trust what you teach.   Here’s the video I referred to in the episode:   https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdozrvOMQC2/   Here is the link to the Yoga Anatomy Accelerator. You get a $50 discount for being a podcast listener ( let me know you’re ready to enroll and I’ll share the code)   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator     Here’s the link to the 90 day coaching program:   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/blueprint-learning-program

  4. Sep 21

    How To Trust Yourself When You Feel Nervous Teaching Yoga (EP.423)

    Have you ever walked into teach your class, started teaching and something triggered you to feel nervous or anxious? In this episode, we’ll talk about why this can happen even after you’ve completed your 200-hour teacher training and feel like you “should” be getting it by now.  I’ll share how overcomplicated sequences, complex cues and the pressure to please or take care of your students can make teaching feel harder than it needs to be. You’ll learn simple strategies to help you stay grounded, including using a signature sequence, simplifying your cueing with action cues, and what to do in the moment when anxiety starts to take over. The other piece of the episode that will really shift your perspective is the section on mindset. The mindset you have about your role as a teacher, especially as it relates to you and the people in your class, is a huge part of how you feel when you teach This rarely gets discussed in teacher training and that’s why so many teachers end up feeling nervous when they teach.  Trusting yourself as a yoga teacher doesn’t mean you’ll never feel nervous. It means having a clear approach you can rely on when you do. Here’s a download on how to create a Signature Sequence:    https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-create-a-signature-sequence   And if you’re looking to get support to pull this all together, here’s how we can work on it together:   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

  5. Sep 14

    A Simple Framework For Building A Yoga Sequence (EP.422)

    How can anatomy actually help you build a yoga sequence? In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of a recent hip-focused Movement Lab and share the simple framework I used to create a 30-minute sequence leading to Half Pigeon. You’ll learn how starting with an objective, creating the structure of your class, and using movement to guide your pose choices can make sequencing feel simpler and more intentional. I’ll also show you how understanding the anatomy behind your sequence can help you create clearer, more effective cues.   Links:       https://barebonesyoga.lpages.co/how-to-build-a-yoga-sequence-lead-page     https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

  6. Sep 7

    7 Yoga Class Scenarios And How To Address Them (EP.421)

    When you went to teacher training, how much “real life” support did you get around scenarios that come up when you’re teaching? If you’re like a lot of teachers I talk with, you didn’t get much. Now that you’re teaching weekly classes, you might feel like  every class there’s a new situation that comes up where you’re not exactly sure how to handle it. In today’s episode, I cover 7 scenarios that arise and an approach to each.    The conversation covers both the technical aspects of teaching, meaning cues and sequences, the anatomical aspect of teaching, meaning how you apply anatomy to movement as well as the mindset piece that can impact how you feel when you teach.    As you listen, you’ll hear me refer to The Yoga Anatomy Accelerator. If you’re curious to find out more, here’s the link:     https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator     If you have questions or are wondering if it’s a good fit for you, just reach out to me in my Instagram DM’s and let’s talk.

  7. Aug 31

    September Reset: Simple Themes For More Confident Teaching This Fall (EP.420)

    As we head into the fall, there’s a natural shift in energy, People get back to work, their regular schedules and children return to school. With that shift, we as yoga teachers can leverage this shift and speak to it in our classes to match how students are feeling. This can be a fun experiment and exercise in bringing in a theme to your class and also giving yourself a chance to speak to a theme that’s outside the technical aspect of teaching.    In this episode, you’ll discover a way to approach your classes this fall that allows you to feel in control and calm and to have an approach that helps you build confidence. You’ll learn how to bring in simple movement based themes and a short exercise you can do after your class to track how you’re feeling- in an objective way.    At the end of the episode, I speak about a new opportunity for you called, “September Sessions.” This is a series of 4 live teaching labs I’ve added for just the month of September for teachers inside my program, The Yoga Anatomy Accelerator. It’s designed to help you learn in real time how to apply anatomy to movement. All the details and dates of the live sessions are on the program page which you can see here:   https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator   If you have questions, just send me a DM on Instagram.

  8. Aug 25

    A Real Time Announcement For Listeners Of The Pod (EP.419)

    If you've been following my Anatomy Breakdown videos on social media this summer and loving the format and content, this short bonus episode is for you. I'm sharing why those videos inspired something new I'm launching this September (2026)—and why learning how to think through movement is far more valuable than memorizing anatomy or repeating cues. In this special announcement episode, I’m sharing a new way for you to up level your confidence- it’s called September Sessions, a new series of Live Teaching Labs designed to help you learn how to apply anatomy to movement without having to memorize anatomy or feel like you’re just repeating what you were told in teacher training.  You can discover the exciting details in the episode and of course, you’ll need the link to the Yoga Anatomy Accelerator which you can find here: https://barebonesyoga.thinkific.com/courses/Yoga-Anatomy-Accelerator

See All (300)

4.9
out of 5
38 Ratings

About

Lessons, stories and interviews designed to help you feel more confident as a yoga teacher. Music used with artist permission: https://johnbartmann.com/faq

Information

  • Creator
    Karen Fabian
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2019 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Conversations for Yoga Teachers

You Might Also Like