Full-Time Yoga Teacher

reika_alexi
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to the Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast! I'm Reika, your host from Long Beach, California. Join me weekly for insightful conversations with everyday yoga teachers who've embraced the challenging journey of making yoga their full-time profession. Whether you're a seasoned yogi or just starting, our episodes offer valuable insights, inspiration, and practical advice. Explore the diverse tapestry of the yoga world with us. Welcome to the Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast!

  1. 1d ago

    117: Beyond Group Classes: Tara Alperin on Evolving Your Yoga Career

    In this episode, I sit down with yoga teacher, mentor, and educator Tara Alperin to explore what it really looks like to build a long-term career in yoga. From her beginnings as a competitive figure skater and dancer to teaching over 20 yoga classes a week in New York City, Tara shares how each chapter of her journey shaped the teacher and mentor she is today. We also talk about the realities of making a living as a yoga teacher, how the industry has changed since the pandemic, moving to a new city and rebuilding your teaching career, and why she believes teaching group classes isn't the only path to a sustainable yoga career. Tara's perspective on helping teachers discover their unique gifts. We dive into confidence, imposter syndrome, mentorship, and how yoga teachers can build careers that are both impactful and financially sustainable. Connect with Tara: Website: https://www.tesniyogateachertraining.com/ Instagram: @tesniyoga Connect with Reika: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ethical Yoga Retreat in Nicaragua⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Use code: ALIGN300 for $300 off)Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠

    1h 10m

  2. Jun 15

    116: What It Takes to Flourish as a Full-Time Yoga Teacher with Nyk Danu

    In this episode, I sit down with yoga therapist, yin yoga teacher, and teacher trainer Nyk Danu, who has been teaching since 2004. Nyk shares her unlikely path from hairstylist to full-time yoga teacher and how injuries and a growing interest in Buddhism led her to yoga. We also talk about her studies with Paul Grilley, the value of mentorship and apprenticeship, and how yoga teachers can flourish in this career path. Nyk also opens up about the realities of building a sustainable yoga career. She shares how she transitioned away from gyms and studios to running her own registered series, the business lessons that helped her move beyond burnout, and what it was like rebuilding her career after moving across the country and navigating the challenges of the pandemic. We discuss specialization, marketing with integrity, multiple income streams, and why she is passionate about helping yoga teachers create businesses that allow them to truly flourish. Connect with Nyk: Website: https://nykdanu.com/teachers/Instagram: @nykdanuyogaPodcast: Yin Yoga PodcastWeekly Free Yoga teachers co-working sessions Monthly Q&A session where teachers can ask me anything about their business  Connect with Reika: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ethical Yoga Retreat in Nicaragua⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Use code: ALIGN300 for $300 off)Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayogaJoin her newsletter

    1h 34m

  3. Jun 1

    115: Yoga en Español & the Power of Knowing Your Why with Klaudia Paletta

    In this episode, I sit down with Klaudia Paletta, founder of Pink Means Go, bilingual wellness facilitator, and yoga teacher dedicated to making yoga more accessible to Latinx communities. Klaudia shares her journey from retail management to full-time yoga teaching, how teaching her grandmother during the pandemic inspired her work, and how she has built community-centered wellness programs through bilingual yoga, chair yoga, retreats, and grant-funded initiatives. We also discuss creating inclusive spaces, thinking beyond the traditional studio model, navigating grants and partnerships, and why staying connected to your "why" is essential for building a sustainable career in yoga. Whether you're a yoga teacher, wellness professional, or someone passionate about community impact, this conversation is filled with inspiration and practical insights for creating meaningful work that serves others. Connect with Klaudia: Website: https://www.pinkmeansgo.com Instagram: @pinkmeansgo Connect with Reika: ⁠⁠⁠Ethical Yoga Retreat in Nicaragua⁠⁠⁠ (Use code: ALIGN300 for $300 off)⁠Pelvic Floor Workshop for Yoga Teachers⁠ (June 6th, Saturday 2-4pm pst)Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga

    1h 15m

  4. May 18

    114: From Tokyo to LA with Maria Wada: Dance, Identity & Living in Harmony Through Yoga

    In this episode of the Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast, Reika sits down with Maria Wada to explore her journey from growing up in Japan and Mexico to becoming a professional dancer in Los Angeles, performing with artists like Britney Spears and Taylor Swift. Maria shares the emotional highs and challenges of the entertainment industry, how yoga helped her reconnect to herself beyond external validation, and her transition from dance into teaching yoga full-time. Together, they discuss identity, self-worth, retreats, community building, and what it means to live yoga and be a yoga teacher. Connect with Maria: Instagram: @mariawadayoga Website: https://www.mariawada.com Retreat: Living in Harmony Nicaragua Connect with Reika: ⁠⁠Ethical Yoga Retreat in Nicaragua⁠⁠Pelvic Floor Workshop for Yoga TeachersWebsite: ⁠⁠⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga

    1h 33m

  5. May 4

    113: The Teacher-Student Relationship in Yoga: Lessons from Desikachar with Chase Bossart

    In this episode, I sit down with Chase Bossart to explore what it really means to practice and live yoga beyond the mat. Chase shares his journey from studying philosophy to becoming a longtime student of T.K.V. Desikachar, offering a rare glimpse into the depth of the teacher-student relationship. Through his years of study in India and ongoing practice, we talk about individualized teaching, humility, and why yoga is something that unfolds over a lifetime. This conversation touches on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the role of personal practice, and how real change happens through consistency, relationship, and time. It’s a grounded and honest look at what it means to walk the path of yoga in a deeper way. Connect with Chase: Yoga Well InstituteInstagram: @yogawellinstitutePodcast: Yoga Well Podcast Connect with Reika: ⁠⁠Apply for the Mentorship program⁠⁠⁠Ethical Yoga Retreat in Nicaragua⁠Website: ⁠⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠@reikayoga

    1h 17m

  6. Apr 20

    112: How a Physical Therapist Became a Yoga Teacher and Studio Owner with Brenna Barzenick

    In this episode, I’m joined by Brenna Barzenick, yoga teacher, studio owner, and physical therapist with over 30 years of experience. Brenna shares her journey from traditional PT to yoga and how she now bridges both worlds of science and yoga. Brenna shares her journey from working in orthopedic physical therapy to discovering yoga later in life, and how that path eventually led her to become a SmartFlow teacher and co-owner of a thriving yoga studio in Louisiana. With a deep background in biomechanics and anatomy, she offers a grounded and refreshing perspective on movement, one that prioritizes longevity, accessibility, and presence over performance. Connect with Brenna: Instagram: @dptyoga Brenna & Britni's Studio: @downtwonyogala Yoga Studio Website: https://hammondyoga.com Connect with Reika: ⁠Apply for the Mentorship program⁠Ethical Yoga Retreat in NicaraguaFree Community Yoga in Costa Mesa⁠Social Media for Yoga Teachers Workshop⁠Website: ⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠Instagram: ⁠@reikayoga

    1h 7m

  7. Apr 6

    111: Why I Left Multiple Studios (And Cut My Classes in Half): A Conversation with Sunny from SunnysideYogalates

    In this episode, Sunny returns to share how her teaching career has completely shifted, from teaching over a dozen classes a week to intentionally scaling back for a more sustainable and aligned life. We talk about the real process of valuing yourself as a yoga teacher, setting boundaries, and making difficult decisions around work and finances. Sunny also shares how her path has expanded beyond studio classes into events, collaborations, and community-driven opportunities, along with insights on social media, networking, and avoiding burnout. This is an honest conversation about redefining success and building a career that actually supports your well-being. Connect with Sunny: YouTube:  @sunnysideyogalates  Website: https://www.healingwithsunny.org/Instagram: @sunnysideyogalates Connect with Reika: Apply for the Mentorship program Social Media for Yoga Teachers Workshop Website: www.reikayoga.com Instagram: @reikayoga

    1h 35m

  8. Mar 23

    110: Solo Episode: Real Talk on My Teaching Life Updates & Mistakes New Yoga Teachers Make

    In this solo episode, I share a real-time update on my teaching life: what my current schedule looks like, the different streams of income that support my work as a full-time yoga teacher, and a continuing education program I’m in that’s been expanding how I see movement, pattern recognition, and teaching. In the second half of the episode, I answer two of the most common questions I hear from newer teachers in my mentorship progra: Am I over-cueing? and How do I learn to teach without demoing? I offer practical, experience-based insights on how to refine your voice, teach with more intention, and develop the skill of observing bodies in real time, so you can become a more adaptable, confident, and skillful teacher.  Reika's Ethical Nicaragua Yoga Retreat: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more⁠⁠⁠⁠ Advanced Hands-on-Assist workshop with Kallie: April 4th, Saturday 2-4pm PST In-person in Long Beach, CA Price: $35 ⁠⁠Register⁠⁠ Connect with Reika: Instagram: ⁠@reikayoga⁠ Website: ⁠www.reikayoga.com

    43 min
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Trailer

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About

Welcome to the Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast! I'm Reika, your host from Long Beach, California. Join me weekly for insightful conversations with everyday yoga teachers who've embraced the challenging journey of making yoga their full-time profession. Whether you're a seasoned yogi or just starting, our episodes offer valuable insights, inspiration, and practical advice. Explore the diverse tapestry of the yoga world with us. Welcome to the Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast!

Information

  • Creator
    reika_alexi
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    117
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © reika_alexi
  • Show Website
    Full-Time Yoga Teacher

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