Living Your Yoga - embodied wisdom with Shirlee Williams

Shirlee Williams
  • 5.0 (3)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

This isn’t your average yoga podcast. Living Your Yoga – Embodied Wisdom is where real life meets real practice—no filter, no fluff, no forced enlightenment. I’m Shirlee—yoga teacher, breathwork facilitator, and mentor to yoga teachers who are done with performance and ready to show up as their whole, messy, magical selves. Each week, we explore how yoga lives beyond the mat—through stories, soul talk, deep breaths, and occasional sass. From parenting and partnership to pigeon pose and panic attacks, this podcast is about the real practice: how we show up when life gets loud, uncertain, or beautifully ordinary. Expect a little wisdom, a little humor, and a whole lot of heart. Whether you’re a longtime yogi or yoga-curious human just trying to make it through Monday, you’re welcome here. Take a breath. Let’s begin.

  1. OCT 9

    Playing the Edge - Teacher's Style

    Hey friends—welcome back to Teacher Style. Tales from the closet continue (yes, that’s still a podcast idea of its own!). Today’s conversation is all about Playing the Edge as a Teacher. Not about pushing our students deeper into poses, but about stretching our own comfort zones so we can grow into the best possible teachers. I share my very first teaching story back in 2004—nervous, over-prepared, voice shaking—and how that experience changed everything. Playing the edge is about saying yes to what scares us and then showing up anyway. Here are 5 ways teachers can stretch their edge: Experiment with your voice & language – Use tone, energy, and silence as teaching tools.Vary your sequence – Trust yourself, add philosophy, and weave in themes that challenge your creativity.Share more of yourself – Tell stories, be vulnerable, laugh at yourself, and call yourself out.Trust the room – Stop micromanaging. Give your students space, silence, and time to explore.Teach what scares you – Whether it’s meditation, breathwork, or a pose you don’t always demo—lean in.Remember: your edge isn’t about pushing students harder. It’s about modeling growth, showing your humanness, and giving them permission to explore theirs. ✨ Reflective Question: What are you avoiding because it feels uncomfortable? That’s the edge calling you forward. If you’re looking for deeper support, mentorship, or inspiration, check the links in the show notes: Mentorship Packages 👉🏼 https://www.shirleewilliams.com/mentorshipThe Studio Membership 👉🏼 https://www.shirleewilliams.com/thestudioRetreats in Costa Rica (2026) ✈️ https://www.shirleewilliams.com/retreatsLots of love, teachers. Until next week—keep playing your edge. Follow me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/shirleewilliamsliving/ Make sure to check out all my offerings: https://www.shirleewilliams.com/

    16 min

  2. OCT 7

    Playing the Edge: Finding the Sweet Spot

    What does it really mean to play the edge? On our yoga mats, it’s that moment just before we’ve gone too far—the sweet spot between safety and overwhelm. In life, it’s where growth happens: stepping out of our comfort zone, taking risks, and expanding our capacity to live fully. In this episode of Living Your Yoga – Embodied Wisdom, I share: A personal story about pushing too far and the lessons my hamstring taught me.3 ways to explore your edge—on the mat and in life.Why discomfort can be a teacher (and how to breathe through it).The difference between pushing past limits vs. respecting your boundaries.You’ll also hear about The Gathering—my upcoming one-day retreat in Ontario designed to help you step out of the noise, connect with yourself, and experience yoga, breathwork, sound healing, and nature in community. ✨ Journal Prompt: Where might you be playing it safe—and where might you be pushing too hard? Let’s explore the edges together. Links & Resources: Join The Gathering 👉🏼 https://www.shirleewilliams.com/the-gatheringLearn more about Rooted + Rising Retreat in Costa Rica 👉🏼 https://soulinspiredgurl.com/rooted-rising/Become part of The Studio—my online yoga, breathwork & meditation community 👉🏼 https://www.shirleewilliams.com/thestudioVisit 👉🏼 https://www.shirleewilliams.com/ Follow me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/shirleewilliamsliving/ Make sure to check out all my offerings: https://www.shirleewilliams.com/

    14 min

  3. OCT 2

    Fresh Eyes, Fresh Cues

    Hey friends—welcome back to Living Your Yoga – Embodied Wisdom Teacher Style. Today’s conversation is for the teachers out there—but even if you don’t teach, you’ll still find something valuable here. We’re diving into beginner’s mind—what it looks like not just on your mat, but in your teaching. After two decades of teaching (and at one point 20 classes a week!), I know firsthand what it’s like to slip into auto-pilot: giving cues by rote, teaching the same old sequence, and realizing students aren’t even really listening anymore. That’s when things get stale—for us and for them. In this episode, I share five strategies to teach with beginner’s mind: Stay curious about your students—see everybody in the room as brand new.Simplify your cues—less is more, and presence matters.Treat each class like a fresh opportunity—because it is.Let go of outcomes—you can guide, but you can’t control the experience.Stay a student yourself—take classes, stay humble, and remember what it feels like to be new.Beginner’s mind is about curiosity, presence, and letting go of attachment, whether that’s to class size, the “perfect” sequence, or your students’ outcomes. When you teach from this place, your students feel seen, your cues land with impact, and your love of teaching stays alive. If you’re a teacher who’s feeling a little stuck, this episode is your reminder to pause, reground, and step back into the joy of teaching with fresh eyes. ✨ Share this episode with a fellow teacher, tag me on social, and let’s keep the conversation going. And if you’re ready for mentorship, check out my 1:1 packages. 👉🏼  https://www.shirleewilliams.com/mentorship Join the waitlist for my group program, Beyond 200, reopening January 2026. 👉🏼 https://www.shirleewilliams.com/beyond_200 Follow me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/shirleewilliamsliving/ Make sure to check out all my offerings: https://www.shirleewilliams.com/

    11 min

  4. SEP 30

    Beginner’s Mind: Letting Go of Outcomes & Staying Curious

    Hey friends—welcome back to Living Your Yoga – Embodied Wisdom. I’ll be honest, this one could have been called Conversations from the Closet—because yes, I’m literally recording from the floor of our closet. But today’s conversation is anything but small. We’re diving into one of the most transformative teachings I know: Beginner’s Mind. Here’s the thing: the more we repeat a practice, pose, or pattern, the more we expect it to feel the same. We anticipate. We attach. We chase results. And yet, yoga—and life—ask us to stay present, unattached, and open to the moment exactly as it is. Inside this episode, I share:  ✨ The wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita and why you have the right to the work but not the fruits of your action. ✨ My 30-day experiment with reverse triangle pose (and why I still don’t like it). ✨ The danger of chasing past experiences (like that one “perfect” meditation). ✨ 5 practical ways to embody beginner’s mind on and off the mat—curiosity, compassion, releasing outcomes, and more. ✨ Why even my dog Charlie taught me about letting go of expectations. Whether you’re moving through familiar yoga sequences, walking your daily route, or navigating your business, beginner’s mind invites us to release the expert within, pay attention to the smallest details, and show up with curiosity instead of clinging. 📓 Journal Prompt: Where in your life can you practice beginner’s mind—letting go of attachments to outcomes and staying curious? 👩‍💻 Want more embodied wisdom? Join me inside The Studio, my online yoga membership with live classes, challenges, therapeutics, breathwork, and a real-time WhatsApp community. 👉🏼 https://www.shirleewilliams.com/thestudio 🌴 And—there’s ONE spot left for our Rooted + Rising Retreat in Costa Rica, February 2026. A week of yoga, breathwork, meditation, ocean dips, cacao, and soul connection. 👉🏼 https://soulinspiredgurl.com/rooted-rising/   👉🏼  Learn more at  https://www.shirleewilliams.com/  👉🏼 More classes and wisdom can be found on my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@shirleewilliamsliving If this episode resonated, share it with a friend and leave a review—it helps others find their way here. Follow me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/shirleewilliamsliving/ Make sure to check out all my offerings: https://www.shirleewilliams.com/

    19 min

  5. SEP 25

    Your Worth Isn’t in the Numbers – 6 Reminders for Yoga Teachers

    Hey yoga teachers—let’s have some real talk. Your worth is not tied to the number of students who show up for your classes. Period. I’ve been there, staring at half-empty rooms, wondering if I was doing enough, sharing enough, or if I was even good enough. And I know so many of you wrestle with the same doubts. This week on Living Your Yoga – Embodied Wisdom (Teacher Style), I’m giving you six powerful reminders to shift your perspective around class numbers—because your value as a teacher has nothing to do with headcount. We’ll explore:  ✨ Why your time slot matters (and why lunch classes aren’t “failures”)  ✨ How taking over someone else’s class can affect attendance  ✨ Why it takes 8–10 weeks to build momentum with a new class  ✨ How seasons + timing (summer, December, September) can influence numbers  ✨ The importance of focusing on depth over numbers ✨ And a bonus: the frequency and energy you bring to class—and how it attracts (or repels) students Whether you’re brand new or seasoned, these reminders will help you stay grounded, stay inspired, and keep showing up for the students who are right in front of you. 💭 Journal prompt: What frequency are you aligning to before class? How can you shift your energy to attract more of what you want? Join The Studio, Shirlee’s online membership for yoga, breathwork & meditation: https://www.shirleewilliams.com/thestudioExplore 1:1 Mentorship:https://www.shirleewilliams.com/mentorshipFollow me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/shirleewilliamsliving/ Make sure to check out all my offerings: https://www.shirleewilliams.com/

    12 min

  6. SEP 24

    Fear or Freedom? Face Everything and Rise

    Fear shows up for all of us—on the mat and in life. Sometimes it keeps us safe, other times it keeps us stuck. In this week’s episode of Living Your Yoga – Embodied Wisdom, I  break down why fear shows up, the sneaky stories it tells, and how you can transform that gut-clenching energy into courage. You’ll hear: Why fear is really false evidence appearing real (and sometimes just “fuck everything and run”).How yoga poses like handstands mirror the fears we face off the mat.My personal story of injury, healing, and rewriting the fear narrative.5 practical ways to move through fear instead of letting it run the show.Why fear and excitement feel the same in your body—and how to reframe it.This isn’t about erasing fear. It’s about rising with it—one breath, one step, one bold move at a time. If this episode resonates, share it with a friend who needs the reminder: you are stronger than your fear. For more embodied wisdom join me inside The Studio 👉🏼 https://www.shirleewilliams.com/thestudio Looking for Yoga Mentorship 👉🏼 https://www.shirleewilliams.com/mentorship Rooted + Rising Women's Retreat Feb 2026 👉🏼 https://soulinspiredgurl.com/rooted-rising/ Follow me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/shirleewilliamsliving/ Make sure to check out all my offerings: https://www.shirleewilliams.com/

    19 min

  7. SEP 18

    Nothing in Life is Wasted – A Teacher’s Journey

    Welcome to the very first episode of Living Your Yoga for Teachers. A brand-new weekly series inside the Living Your Yoga – Embodied Wisdom podcast. These episodes are crafted with yoga teachers in mind (though anyone is welcome to listen). This week, Shirlee shares her own journey of becoming a yoga teacher and mentor, showing how every twist, turn, pivot, and “failure” along the way was never wasted. From working in special education with children with dual diagnoses, to raising twin boys (one with special needs), to opening a children’s yoga studio, to eventually running a thriving community hub, every breadcrumb led to this moment. This is a story about following your heart, trusting your path, and remembering that your voice matters—even on the days when no one shows up to class, or your posts go unseen. Whether you’re a new teacher questioning your worth or a seasoned guide reflecting on your path, this episode will remind you: nothing in life is wasted. Every experience is fuel for your teaching, your growth, and your voice. 📖 Journal Prompt: Trace your own yoga journey. What led you here? What spark first called you to teach, and how has it shaped who you are today? What You’ll Hear in This Episode: Why nothing in life—or in teaching—is wastedHow following the breadcrumbs creates your unique yoga pathThe power of saying yes (even when your voice is shaking)Lessons from opening and closing studiosWhy keeping your personal practice alive is essential for teachersA call to reflect on your own story and timeline as a yoga teacher 🌸 Join The Studio – Shirlee’s online membership for yoga, breathwork, and meditation. Use code INSPIRED at checkout for 20% off: The Studio 🌿 Explore 1:1 Mentorship : Mentorship Info 🔑 SEO Keywords & Tags yoga teacher mentorship, yoga teacher journey, yoga business growth, yoga teaching inspiration, yoga for teachers podcast, becoming a yoga teacher, yoga mentorship program, embodied wisdom, Shirlee Williams yoga, nothing in life is wasted Follow me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/shirleewilliamsliving/ Make sure to check out all my offerings: https://www.shirleewilliams.com/

    16 min

  8. SEP 16

    10 Things Yoga Taught Me

    Welcome back to Living Your Yoga – Embodied Wisdom! I’m Shirlee, and in this episode I’m reflecting on the ten biggest lessons my yoga practice has gifted me over the last three decades. Yoga has been with me since I was 19 years old, and it has shaped me into the person and teacher I am today. From making me a kinder human to teaching me about compassion, community, discipline, and even the bravery of slowing down—this practice continues to evolve right alongside me. Here’s a sneak peek at what I share in this episode: Yoga made me a nicer human (true story).Compassion for myself and others.Community is everything.Discipline is devotion in action.Practice looks different at 19, 25, 45, and 55.Flexibility is more than physical—it’s about adaptability.Slowing down is the bravest (and scariest) thing we can do.Breath is the real teacher.We don’t need to do this alone—ask for support.Yoga is a mirror for how we show up in life.I invite you to reflect: What has yoga taught you? Tag me if you share your own list—I’d love to hear. Join The Studio – Online Yoga, Breathwork & Meditation Explore 1:1 Yoga Teacher Mentorship Costa Rica Retreat with Dr. Laura Foster – Feb 7–13, 2026 If you loved this episode, please follow the podcast, share it with a friend, or leave a review—it really helps more people discover Living Your Yoga – Embodied Wisdom. Follow me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/shirleewilliamsliving/ Make sure to check out all my offerings: https://www.shirleewilliams.com/

    13 min
See All (152)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

This isn’t your average yoga podcast. Living Your Yoga – Embodied Wisdom is where real life meets real practice—no filter, no fluff, no forced enlightenment. I’m Shirlee—yoga teacher, breathwork facilitator, and mentor to yoga teachers who are done with performance and ready to show up as their whole, messy, magical selves. Each week, we explore how yoga lives beyond the mat—through stories, soul talk, deep breaths, and occasional sass. From parenting and partnership to pigeon pose and panic attacks, this podcast is about the real practice: how we show up when life gets loud, uncertain, or beautifully ordinary. Expect a little wisdom, a little humor, and a whole lot of heart. Whether you’re a longtime yogi or yoga-curious human just trying to make it through Monday, you’re welcome here. Take a breath. Let’s begin.

Information