Deepen Your Yoga Practice

Lauren Leduc

Deepen Your Yoga Practice is a podcast dedicated to helping you explore the many layers of yoga, both on and off the mat. Hosted by Lauren Leduc, founder of True Love Yoga, each episode delves into topics like anatomy, philosophy, meditation, and the deeper spiritual aspects of yoga. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or just beginning your yoga journey, this podcast offers insightful conversations, expert interviews, and practical guidance to help you enrich and elevate your practice. Join us as we journey together to deepen our understanding and experience of yoga.

  1. Aug 31

    Is a 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Right for You?

    You completed your 200-hour yoga teacher training. Maybe you've been teaching for years—or perhaps your certification has been sitting quietly while you wondered what comes next. So…is a 300-hour yoga teacher training right for you? In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren Leduc takes you inside True Love Yoga's 300-Hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training and explores what advanced study actually looks like. Unlike a foundational 200-hour training, a 300-hour isn't simply about accumulating more information. It's about refinement: developing discernment, finding your authentic teaching voice, understanding the why behind what you teach, and becoming a more confident, responsive, knowledgeable, and compassionate teacher. Lauren shares what students actually study, how the year-long program works, what makes True Love Yoga's approach unique, and answers some of the most common questions prospective students ask. Whether you're actively considering advanced training or simply curious about what comes after 200 hours, this episode offers a clear look at the next layer of yoga education. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN How a 300-hour training differs from a 200-hour training Who advanced yoga teacher training is—and isn't—for Why advanced study is about refinement rather than collecting certifications How to develop your own authentic teaching voice What advanced asana study really means How philosophy can become a through line in your teaching Why business, leadership, and professional development matter for yoga teachers How mentoring supports your evolution as a teacher How True Love Yoga's flexible year-long training works Whether you need to currently teach to enroll How much weekly time to expect Why you don't need to feel "advanced" before beginning IN THIS EPISODE Beyond the 200-Hour A 200-hour training provides a foundation for teaching yoga safely and effectively. A 300-hour training asks a different set of questions. Who are you as a teacher? Why do you teach what you teach? How do you respond when a student or situation doesn't fit the script? What do you uniquely have to offer? Advanced training moves beyond simply following the map and develops the discernment to navigate when there isn't one. Refining Your Teaching Students explore advanced cueing, voice, presence, reading the room, energetic awareness, adaptive teaching, trauma awareness, and responsive teaching. The goal isn't to create teachers who sound like Lauren. It's to help each student uncover and trust their own voice. Advanced Asana + Additional Modalities Advanced doesn't always mean physically difficult. Students explore intelligent progressions, arm balances, inversions, backbends, modifications, chair adaptations, hands-on assists, therapeutic applications, advanced vinyasa sequencing, Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, myofascial release, and Yoga Nidra. Philosophy as a Through Line The Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, chakras, subtle anatomy, ethics, and other philosophical teachings aren't treated as separate academic subjects. They're integrated into sequencing, anatomy, asana, workshops, retreats, teaching decisions, and leadership. The Business of Yoga Advanced teachers also need practical tools to build sustainable careers. Students explore branding, marketing, pricing, private sessions, workshops, retreats, legal considerations, financial literacy, podcasting, public speaking, community building, and sustainable professional development. Throughout it all, students clarify their unique value, whom they want to serve, and how to communicate their work authentically. Leadership One of the biggest shifts...

  2. Aug 24

    Yoga Beyond Certification: A Conversation with Annalissa Broderson

    Many yoga teachers finish their 200-hour training wondering, "What's next?" In this heartfelt conversation, Lauren sits down with Annalyssa Broderson, a 200-hour graduate of True Love Yoga's 2020 training and current student in the studio's inaugural 300-hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training. Together they discuss how yoga evolves over a lifetime, what happens after teacher training, and why continuing to study often brings more questions than answers. Annalyssa shares her journey from runner to therapist to yoga teacher, how yoga has supported her work with eating disorder recovery and mental health, and how returning to advanced study has helped her integrate movement, philosophy, mindfulness, and professional purpose. Whether you're a yoga teacher, considering teacher training, or simply someone who loves learning, this episode is a reminder that yoga isn't something we master—it's a relationship that continues to unfold. In this episode you'll learn: • How Annalyssa fell in love with yoga • What yoga teacher training was like during 2020 • The biggest differences between a 200-hour and 300-hour training • Why advanced yoga isn't about advanced poses • The role curiosity plays in lifelong practice • How yoga supports therapists, helpers, and caregivers • What students can expect from Annalyssa's Friday Hatha Flow classes • Why community makes continued education so powerful Interested in our 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training? Enrollment opens September 1, 2026 for our January 2027 cohort. ✨ Download our free guide: "Is a 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Right for You?" Learn more, join the interest list, and download the guide: https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/yoga-teacher-training/ Early enrollment pricing includes $1,000 off tuition through November 11. Learn more: https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/yoga-teacher-training/ Connect with Annalyssa: Instagram: @wildemberkc

  3. Aug 17

    The Beginner’s Mind: Why the More We Learn About Yoga, the More There Is to Discover

    What does it mean to truly know yoga? When Lauren began her first 200-hour yoga teacher training, she imagined she might finish with a firm grasp on the practice. Instead, the opposite happened: yoga became bigger, the questions became deeper, and the path of learning expanded. In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren explores the beginner’s mind and the paradox of mastery. The more we learn about yoga, the more we begin to recognize how much remains unknown. She discusses why certificates do not automatically equal wisdom, why advanced yoga is about much more than advanced postures, and how lifelong study can cultivate humility, curiosity, discernment, and openness. This episode is an invitation to release the pressure to arrive and embrace yoga as an unfolding relationship—one that continues to reveal new layers through movement, anatomy, philosophy, meditation, teaching, service, and life itself. Mentioned in This Episode True Love Yoga 300-Hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Enrollment for the next True Love Yoga 300-hour teacher training opens September 1. This program is designed for 200-hour graduates who want more than another certificate. It offers a place to ask deeper questions, refine teaching skills, expand knowledge, and continue growing within a thoughtful community of dedicated teachers and practitioners. The training is open to graduates of any 200-hour yoga teacher training program. Learn more: https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/yoga-teacher-training/

  4. Aug 10

    Why Do Yogis Stand on Their Hands? What Arm Balances & Inversions Really Teach Us

    Why do yogis practice arm balances and inversions? Are these postures ancient traditions, modern inventions, or simply social media-worthy poses? In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren Leduc explores the fascinating history and deeper purpose of arm balances and inversions in modern yoga. While many of these postures became popular through the influence of gymnastics and physical culture in the 20th century, their value extends far beyond the physical challenge. Lauren discusses how balancing on our hands teaches resilience, patience, body awareness, and self-study. Rather than focusing on mastering impressive shapes, these postures invite us to develop a growth mindset, cultivate courage, and discover the joy of play. Whether you've been practicing inversions for years or your feet have never left the floor, this episode offers a fresh perspective on why the process matters far more than the pose itself. Mentioned in This Episode Abhyāsa Posture Clinic: Balances, Arm Balances & Inversions Sunday, August 16 12:30–2:30 PM True Love Yoga We'll spend two hours exploring balancing postures, arm balances, and inversions through intelligent progressions that help you build strength, confidence, body awareness, and stability—regardless of your experience level. ✨ $30 ✨ TLY Members save $5 with code WORKSHOP ✨ Free for current Yoga Teacher Trainees Learn more: https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/

  5. Aug 3

    The Art of Letting Go: Understanding Vairāgya Beyond Detachment

    What if letting go isn't about caring less—but about seeing more clearly? In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren Leduc explores vairāgya, one of yoga's most profound teachings. Often translated as non-attachment, vairāgya is frequently misunderstood as detachment or indifference. In reality, it offers a compassionate path toward freedom, acceptance, and inner spaciousness. Drawing from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Lauren explains how abhyāsa (steady practice) and vairāgya (letting go) work together to create balance in both yoga and everyday life. Through stories, philosophy, and practical tools—including yin yoga, myofascial release, calming breathwork, and nervous system regulation—this episode offers a timely invitation to soften your grip, especially during the busy, overstimulating days of late summer. Whether you're carrying physical tension, emotional overwhelm, perfectionism, or simply feeling mentally cluttered, this conversation will help you create space for clarity, peace, and renewal. In this episode you'll learn: What vairāgya really means in yogic philosophy Why non-attachment is different from not caring How practice (abhyāsa) and surrender (vairāgya) work together Why acceptance is more powerful than control The connection between letting go, the nervous system, and fascia Practical yoga practices to cultivate release and restoration Reflection questions to help you identify what you're ready to release Mentioned in this Episode Vairāgya: Cool, Clear & Restore Workshop True Love Yoga Sunday, August 9 12:30–2:00 PM An afternoon of: Myofascial Release Yin Yoga Cooling Breathwork Guided Reflection Yoga Nidra True Love Yoga members receive $5 off with code WORKSHOP. Learn more: https://www.trueloveyogakc.com

  6. Jul 27

    The Spiritual Practice of Doing Nothing

    Why is it so difficult to rest—even when we're exhausted? In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren explores one of the greatest challenges of modern life: learning how to truly rest. Many of us have been conditioned to believe that our worth is tied to our productivity. We fill every quiet moment, struggle to slow down, and often wait until burnout forces us to stop. Yoga offers another way. Drawing from yoga philosophy, nervous system science, and the wisdom of the three gunas, Lauren explores why rest can feel so uncomfortable, how chronic hypervigilance keeps us trapped in "doing," and why true rest is a practice—not something we have to earn. This episode is an invitation to reconnect with your inherent worth, cultivate greater balance, and discover the profound practice of simply being. What You'll Learn Why resting feels so difficult for many people How productivity culture shapes our sense of worth The relationship between hypervigilance and burnout What yoga teaches about inherent worthiness The role of the three gunas in rest and balance Why rest is a practice rather than a reward Practical ways to begin cultivating intentional rest Reflection questions for slowing down with compassion In This Episode Productivity culture and self-worth Sat-Chit-Ananda Nervous system regulation Hypervigilance and chronic stress Burnout and recovery The gunas: sattva, rajas, and tamas Abhyasa (consistent practice) Restorative yoga Meditation Intentional rest Spiritual practice of being Reflection Questions What stories do I tell myself about productivity? Do I believe I have to earn rest? What happens when I stop doing? Who am I when I'm not accomplishing? What would one small act of intentional rest look like today? Call to Action If this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who may need permission to slow down. If you'd like to deepen your understanding of yoga philosophy, nervous system regulation, meditation, and embodied practice, learn more about our classes and teacher trainings at True Love Yoga. https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/ Listen to more episodes of Deepen Your Yoga Practice: https://deepen-your-practice.castos.com/

  7. Jul 20

    Why Your Energy Changes: Understanding the Three Gunas

    Why do some days feel calm and clear while others feel anxious, restless, or completely unmotivated? According to yoga philosophy, these shifting experiences aren't random—they're expressions of the three gunas, the fundamental qualities of nature described in the ancient Samkhya tradition. In this episode, Lauren explores one of yoga's most practical philosophical frameworks and explains how the gunas can help us better understand our energy, emotions, motivation, and patterns without judgment. Rather than seeing ourselves as "lazy," "anxious," or "unproductive," the gunas invite us to view our inner experience as changing weather patterns that can be observed with awareness and responded to skillfully. You'll learn how cultivating awareness—not perfection—can transform the way you relate to yourself. What You'll Learn What the three gunas are The origins of the gunas in Samkhya philosophy The relationship between Purusha and Prakriti How sattva, rajas, and tamas influence everyday life Why none of the gunas are "good" or "bad" Practical ways to balance excess rajas and tamas Why awareness matters more than optimization How yoga helps us witness changing internal states with compassion In This Episode The history of the gunas Samkhya philosophy Purusha vs. Prakriti Sattva: clarity, harmony & wisdom Rajas: energy, ambition & restlessness Tamas: stability, recovery & inertia Burnout through the lens of yoga Nervous system regulation Self-compassion instead of self-judgment Applying the gunas in everyday life Reflection Questions Which guna feels strongest in me today? Am I experiencing clarity, restlessness, or heaviness? What does my nervous system actually need right now? Can I observe my experience without identifying with it? What small practice would move me toward greater balance? Call to Action If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love to hear from you! Leave a review, share this episode with a friend, or send me a message about which yoga philosophy topics you'd like to explore next. If you're ready to dive even deeper into yoga philosophy, anatomy, meditation, and teaching, learn more about our 200-hour and 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training programs at True Love Yoga. https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/ Listen to more episodes: https://deepen-your-practice.castos.com/

  8. Jul 13

    What Your Yoga Teacher Wishes You Knew

    In this very special 100th episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren Leduc reflects on the heart of yoga after years of conversations exploring philosophy, anatomy, nervous system science, meditation, ethics, spirituality, teacher training, and more. To celebrate this milestone, Lauren asked True Love Yoga teachers and 300-hour trainees one simple question: “What is something you wish your students knew?” The answers were deeply aligned and beautifully human. In this episode, Lauren explores themes of belonging, self-acceptance, autonomy, breath, nervous system awareness, compassion, and the reminder that yoga is not about becoming perfect — it’s about becoming more honest, aware, and connected while fully inside your humanity. This episode is a love letter to students, teachers, community, and the evolving practice of yoga itself. In This Episode: Why you already belong in yoga spaces The importance of autonomy and modifying practices Self-acceptance as the practice itself Learning to listen to your body Why breath matters more than you think Yoga beyond perfectionism and productivity culture Consistency over intensity Compassion, awareness, and being beautifully human Mentioned in This Episode: Ahimsa (non-harm) Aparigraha (non-grasping/non-attachment) Ujjayi breath The Eight Limbs of Yoga True Love Yoga Teacher Trainings Practice Reflection Questions: What would it feel like to believe I already belong? Where can I practice more compassion toward myself? What is my body communicating to me lately? Am I approaching yoga as performance or relationship? What happens when I allow myself to be imperfectly human? Learn more about Lauren, classes, trainings, and retreats at: https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/ Listen to more episodes of Deepen Your Yoga Practice: https://deepen-your-practice.castos.com/

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Deepen Your Yoga Practice is a podcast dedicated to helping you explore the many layers of yoga, both on and off the mat. Hosted by Lauren Leduc, founder of True Love Yoga, each episode delves into topics like anatomy, philosophy, meditation, and the deeper spiritual aspects of yoga. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or just beginning your yoga journey, this podcast offers insightful conversations, expert interviews, and practical guidance to help you enrich and elevate your practice. Join us as we journey together to deepen our understanding and experience of yoga.

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