Yoga Teacher Confidential: Secrets of Becoming a Great Yoga Teacher

Sage Rountree | Yoga Teacher Trainer and Author of The Professional Yoga Teacher's Handbook
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Yoga Teacher Confidential: Secrets of Becoming a Great Yoga Teacher

Yoga Teacher Confidential is your exclusive backstage pass to the unspoken truths of being a yoga teacher. Hosted by Sage Rountree, PhD, E-RYT500, this podcast pulls back the curtain on what really happens in the yoga classroom—and how you can become the most confident, capable teacher for your students. Season 1 is all about building confidence in your teaching practice. From overcoming imposter syndrome to learning and using students’ names effectively, you’ll gain actionable tips to improve your presence. We’ll explore what it takes to be a standout substitute teacher and much more.  Each week across the season, you’ll receive Sage’s expert advice, delivered mostly in solo episodes. Through personal stories and examples from her extensive experience, Sage will help you feel more authentic and comfortable in front of your class. Plus, you’ll hear from seasoned yoga teachers who, like you, are working to lead their yoga classrooms with confidence, grace, and ease.  Sage has over two decades of experience teaching yoga, running a yoga studio, and working with everyone from beginners to elite athletes, including NFL and NBA players and several University of North Carolina teams and coaches. Her signature offering, Teaching Yoga to Athletes, helps teachers master the skills needed to serve a specialized and rewarding niche turning athletes into champions while earning good money.  Sage also specializes in yoga teacher development. You might know Sage from her 11 books, including The Art of Yoga Sequencing, The Professional Yoga Teacher’s Handbook, and Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses (co-authored with Alexandra DeSiato). Maybe you’ve taken a class with her online or at major yoga festivals like Wanderlust and Yoga Journal LIVE, or read her advice for teachers in Yoga Journal. Join Sage as she shares the secrets to becoming (almost) every student’s favorite yoga teacher. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, and whether you teach athletes, beginners, or other yoga teachers, this podcast will help you teach with confidence, clarity, and authenticity. Your students—and your career—will thank you.  Connect with Sage and find more valuable resources, including her Teaching Yoga to Athletes online yoga teacher training program, at sagerountree.com.

Episodes

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    Why Blank Expressions in Your Yoga Class Aren’t What You Think

    Ever looked out during a yoga class and thought, “Why do my students look so disengaged? They must be hating this!” Good news: those blank faces are often a sign of deep connection—not disinterest.In this episode of Yoga Teacher Confidential, Sage Rountree sheds light on the often misunderstood signals yoga teachers receive from their students during class. Discover why blank expressions, furrowed brows, and even sleepy faces could be indicators of a truly engaged, introspective practice. Sag...

    9 min

  2. NOV 12

    Consistency Beats Variety in Yoga Class Sequencing

    Are you spending too much time planning each yoga class? Changing your approach could benefit both you and your students! You’ll feel more relaxed, your students will grow better, and the entire experience will be more fun for everyone involved.In this episode of Yoga Teacher Confidential, Sage Rountree explores the importance of consistency over variety when planning yoga classes. Sage offers insights from exercise physiology to demonstrate how consistent sequencing not only enhances learnin...

    25 min

  3. NOV 5

    Building Confidence as a Yoga Teacher with Karen Fabian

    Did you know confidence as a yoga teacher is a skill you can build? It’s true—confidence isn’t an innate trait; it’s a skill developed over time, through practice, and by addressing the self-limiting beliefs that hold us back. In this episode of Yoga Teacher Confidential with Sage Rountree, I welcome Karen Fabian, an expert in helping yoga teachers identify and overcome the mental barriers that impact their teaching presence. If you’ve ever struggled with imposter syndrome or worried about “g...

    28 min

  4. OCT 29

    Are Your Strengths as a Practitioner Holding You Back as a Teacher?

    Could the very things that drew you to yoga be standing in your way as a teacher? In this episode of Yoga Teacher Confidential, Sage Rountree explores how the strengths that make you a natural fit for yoga can also become blind spots in your teaching. When you haven’t had to struggle with certain aspects of the practice, it can be harder to empathize with students who do. Sage shares personal stories and offers guidance on how to identify and work through these blind spots to become a more ef...

    21 min

  5. OCT 22

    The Importance of Learning Your Students' Names

    Students come to group classes to be seen. One of the best ways to show you see them is to learn and use their names. In this episode of Yoga Teacher Confidential, Sage Rountree discusses the significance of addressing your students by name—and pronouncing their names correctly. From personal anecdotes to practical tips, Sage explains how getting names right can enhance the student-teacher connection and create a more welcoming classroom experience.You’ll hear:• Why names matter in building c...

    10 min

  6. OCT 15

    When Students Walk Out of Class: It's Not About You

    Sometimes students walk out of class—and rarely, if ever, is it about YOU, the yoga teacher. In this episode of Yoga Teacher Confidential, Sage Rountree shares personal stories about the times she has walked out of classes and why it was never about the teacher. She also provides guidance on how to handle student walkouts in your own yoga classes with empathy and self-compassion.• Why students walking out of class is often not about the teacher• Stories that illustrate how students’ actions a...

    13 min

  7. OCT 15

    You Only Have to Be You

    If you've ever felt less than authentically you in front of the classroom, you need to hear this! In this episode of Yoga Teacher Confidential, Sage Rountree recounts a pivotal experience from her second-ever class that taught her to embrace her own teaching style without feeling the need to apologize for not being like others. This story is a reminder for all yoga teachers: you only have to be you.You’ll hear:• How one unexpected teaching opportunity led to invaluable feedback• The pitfalls ...

    12 min

  8. OCT 15

    You’re Not the Hero: How Centering Your Students Transforms Your Teaching

    Are you unintentionally messing up by placing too much emphasis on yourself in class? Learn how to make your students the heroes of their own practice and watch your teaching career flourish. In this episode of Yoga Teacher Confidential, yoga teacher trainer and studio owner Sage Rountree discusses the powerful shift in mindset that will revolutionize your yoga teaching career.In this episode, you’ll learn:The misconception many yoga teachers have about their role in classHow focusing on your...

    26 min

  9. SEASON 1, EPISODE 1 TRAILER

    Season 1 Trailer

    Coming October 15: Yoga Teacher Confidential with Sage Rountree, a podcast that pulls back the curtain on what goes on in the yoga classroom and how you can be the best yoga teacher possible for your students.Season 1 focuses on building confidence in the yoga classroom. We cover vanquishing imposter syndrome in the yoga studio, how to learn and use your students' names, how to be a great sub as a yoga teacher, and more.Sage Rountree, PhD, E-RYT500, has over twenty years' experience teaching ...

    2 min

Trailer

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Yoga Teacher Confidential is your exclusive backstage pass to the unspoken truths of being a yoga teacher. Hosted by Sage Rountree, PhD, E-RYT500, this podcast pulls back the curtain on what really happens in the yoga classroom—and how you can become the most confident, capable teacher for your students. Season 1 is all about building confidence in your teaching practice. From overcoming imposter syndrome to learning and using students’ names effectively, you’ll gain actionable tips to improve your presence. We’ll explore what it takes to be a standout substitute teacher and much more.  Each week across the season, you’ll receive Sage’s expert advice, delivered mostly in solo episodes. Through personal stories and examples from her extensive experience, Sage will help you feel more authentic and comfortable in front of your class. Plus, you’ll hear from seasoned yoga teachers who, like you, are working to lead their yoga classrooms with confidence, grace, and ease.  Sage has over two decades of experience teaching yoga, running a yoga studio, and working with everyone from beginners to elite athletes, including NFL and NBA players and several University of North Carolina teams and coaches. Her signature offering, Teaching Yoga to Athletes, helps teachers master the skills needed to serve a specialized and rewarding niche turning athletes into champions while earning good money.  Sage also specializes in yoga teacher development. You might know Sage from her 11 books, including The Art of Yoga Sequencing, The Professional Yoga Teacher’s Handbook, and Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses (co-authored with Alexandra DeSiato). Maybe you’ve taken a class with her online or at major yoga festivals like Wanderlust and Yoga Journal LIVE, or read her advice for teachers in Yoga Journal. Join Sage as she shares the secrets to becoming (almost) every student’s favorite yoga teacher. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, and whether you teach athletes, beginners, or other yoga teachers, this podcast will help you teach with confidence, clarity, and authenticity. Your students—and your career—will thank you.  Connect with Sage and find more valuable resources, including her Teaching Yoga to Athletes online yoga teacher training program, at sagerountree.com.

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