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. Aug 10

    121: The Yoga Ladder with Jaffer: Building a Sustainable Career Beyond Studio Classes

    What does it actually take to build a sustainable, full-time career as a yoga teacher? In this episode, I’m joined by Jaffer, a Toronto-based yoga teacher who has been teaching since 2015. We talk about his journey from teaching free classes in a local park to building a career through studio classes, retreats, private and corporate clients, and an online platform. We dive into what it means to build a yoga career beyond simply teaching more classes, why yoga teachers need to think like business owners, and how Jaffer has intentionally built his online presence and multiple income streams. We also have an honest conversation about hands-on assists, consent, student agency, and the complicated role of touch in yoga today, including Jaffer’s personal experience that inspired him to speak publicly about the topic. This is a wide-ranging conversation about teaching, business, touch, authenticity, and building a yoga career that can sustain you for the long term. Connect with Jaffer: Website: https://www.jafferyoga.com/YoutubeInstagram: @jafferyoga Connect with Reika: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠⁠⁠Join the Mentorship Program for Yoga Teachers

  2. Jul 27

    120: The Power Dynamics Between Yoga Teachers & Studio Owners | Navigating the Politics of the Yoga Industry (Part 3)

    Can you build a sustainable career as a yoga teacher without compromising your values? In the final episode of this three-part series, Sunny and I dive into one of the most challenging conversations in the yoga industry: the business of teaching yoga. We explore questions that many teachers think about but rarely talk about openly: • Why are yoga teachers often expected to work beyond the hours they're paid for? • Are teacher trainings creating sustainable careers, or unrealistic expectations? • What role do community and belonging play in keeping teachers at a studio? • How do we navigate pay, loyalty, and opportunities without losing our autonomy? • What can newer teachers do to advocate for themselves while continuing to grow? Throughout this conversation, we share our personal experiences, reflect on the systems that shape the yoga industry, and acknowledge that there are no easy answers. Our goal isn't to criticize individual studio owners or teachers, but to encourage thoughtful conversations about the structures we all participate in. We hope this conversation gives you new perspectives, practical ideas, and thoughtful questions to reflect on as you navigate your own path. If you've enjoyed this series, we'd love to hear your thoughts. What has your experience been in the yoga industry? What conversations do you think we should be having more often? Connect with Sunny: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠ @sunnysideyogalates ⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.healingwithsunny.org/⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@sunnysideyogalates⁠⁠ Connect with Reika: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Workshop: Yoga Meets Physical Therapy with AJ (August 8th, Saturday, 3-5 pm PST)

  3. Jul 20

    119: Decreasing Yoga in Yoga | Navigating the Politics of the Yoga Industry (Part 2)

    In Part 2 of our Navigating the Politics of the Yoga Industry series, Sunny and I continue our candid conversation by exploring what happens when yoga becomes a business. We talk about studio culture, teacher autonomy, non-compete agreements, restrictive contracts, social media expectations, teacher pay, retreats, and the often complicated power dynamics between studio owners and yoga teachers. This episode isn't about criticizing individual studios or claiming there is one "right" way to run a yoga business. We recognize that owning a studio is incredibly challenging, especially while trying to balance financial sustainability with yogic ethics. Instead, we're asking questions that we believe deserve more open discussion within our industry. Some of the questions we explore include: • What happens when business decisions conflict with yogic values?• Why do some studios limit what teachers can say, teach, or even do outside the studio?• How do power dynamics influence the choices yoga teachers make?• Why is it often so difficult for teachers to advocate for themselves?• What might it look like to create healthier, more ethical studio cultures? Most importantly, we invite you to reflect on your own experiences. Whether you're a yoga teacher, studio owner, or longtime practitioner, we hope this conversation encourages thoughtful dialogue rather than easy answers. As always, we'd love to hear your perspective. If you've experienced a studio that truly supports teachers, or if you're a studio owner navigating these same challenges, we'd love to continue the conversation. Connect with Sunny: YouTube: ⁠⁠ @sunnysideyogalates ⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠https://www.healingwithsunny.org/⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠@sunnysideyogalates⁠ Connect with Reika: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ethical Yoga Retreat in Nicaragua⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Use code: ALIGN300 for $300 off)

  4. Jul 13

    118: Is It Yoga, Fitness, or Both? | Navigating the Politics of the Yoga Industry (Part 1)

    In this first episode of our three-part series, Navigating the Politics of the Yoga Industry, Sunny and I dive into a question that has become increasingly relevant in today's yoga world: What's the difference between teaching yoga and teaching fitness? As yoga continues to blend with strength training, sculpt, Pilates, and other movement modalities, the lines can become blurry. We share our own journeys, one of us intentionally separating yoga from fitness, the other trying to integrate the two, and discuss how those experiences shaped our teaching. This isn't about deciding who's right or wrong. It's an honest conversation about how the changing landscape of the yoga industry influences teacher identity, student expectations, studio culture, and even our careers. Together we explore: Where yoga ends and fitness begins, or if that line even exists. Why student expectations can shape the classes we teach. How studio culture, capitalism, and class attendance influence teaching opportunities. The challenge of staying authentic while making a living as a yoga teacher. Questions every teacher can ask themselves about their own teaching path. We hope this conversation offers new perspectives and sparks thoughtful reflection. We'd love to hear your thoughts after listening. What resonated with you? Where do you stand on the conversation? Share your reflections with us, we're excited to continue the discussion. Connect with Sunny: YouTube: ⁠ @sunnysideyogalates ⁠ Website: ⁠https://www.healingwithsunny.org/⁠Instagram: ⁠@sunnysideyogalates Connect with Reika: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ethical Yoga Retreat in Nicaragua⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Use code: ALIGN300 for $300 off)

  5. Jun 29

    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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

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Trailer

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out of 5
8 Ratings

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
    121
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © reika_alexi
  • Show Website
    Full-Time Yoga Teacher

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