Yogaland Podcast

Andrea Ferretti
  • 4.8 (1.3K)
  • HEALTH & FITNESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

This down-to-earth podcast by Andrea Ferretti (former executive editor of Yoga Journal) will keep informed and inspired to practice yoga. Topics run the gamut from nitty gritty technique (her yoga teacher husband Jason Crandell often joins to help with this) to down-to-earth conversations about how to apply yoga's lessons and tools to help craft a happy, balanced life. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Why Flexibility & Mobility Matter

    MAR 25

    Why Flexibility & Mobility Matter

    The yoga world has done important work questioning its obsession with extreme range of motion — and rightly so. But the pendulum has swung too far. Flexibility and mobility aren't relics of an outdated paradigm. They're essential physical qualities with real implications for how well you move, how long you stay independent, and how good you feel in your body. In this podcast, Jason makes the case for why flexibility and mobility still matter — not as performance goals, not as aesthetic pursuits, but as foundational components of a healthy, functional body. We cover: -Why flexibility and mobility are longevity qualities, not just fitness qualities - How restricted range of motion leads to fibrosis, compensation patterns, and decreased independence over time. -Why flexibility actually contributes to strength — and why the idea that they're opposites is a false premise. -The length-tension relationship and what it means for how muscles generate force. -Why a body with usable, controlled range of motion is more resilient and less injury-prone. -Why feeling good in your body — moving freely, moving fully — is a legitimate and important goal This isn't a rejection of everything the yoga community has learned about the importance of strength and stability. It's a reclamation of the full picture: a healthy body is strong, stable, mobile, and free. These qualities complement each other. Intelligent practice develops all of them. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    19 min
  2. Why Yoga Philosophy Matters

    MAR 17

    Why Yoga Philosophy Matters

    Yoga philosophy gives context to the physical practices many of us experience first — postures, breathwork, and meditation. It connects modern yoga to its historical roots and helps us understand the deeper purpose of the tradition. In this conversation, I explore several reasons yoga philosophy still matters today. It provides a framework for values, offers existential perspective, and strengthens the mind in the same way that asana strengthens the body. Philosophy also helps protect yoga from becoming overly performative or purely consumer-driven, reminding us that yoga is ultimately about self-understanding and transformation. Whether you’re a yoga teacher, longtime practitioner, or simply curious about yoga beyond the poses, philosophy can add depth, clarity, and meaning to your practice. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    19 min
  3. 5 Sequencing Myths That Keep Yoga Teachers Stuck

    MAR 10

    5 Sequencing Myths That Keep Yoga Teachers Stuck

    Most yoga teachers are taught that sequencing should be creative, complex, and always different. But these common beliefs often making teaching harder -- and keep both teachers and students stuck. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min
  4. Why Strength Matters

    MAR 3

    Why Strength Matters

    This is our second in a series of solocasts (you might remember that Andrea did one recently, Why Mindfulness is Still Important).   In this week's episode, I explain why strength matters for yoga practitioners and teachers — not as a performance goal, but as a foundational quality that supports stability, protects joints, improves proprioception, and ultimately helps us practice for a lifetime. 💡 In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why strength protects joints and connective tissue • How strength improves stability and supports mobility • Why flexibility without strength can become a liability • How resistance training enhances proprioception and body awareness • Why yoga practitioners especially benefit from developing strength • How strength supports longevity in yoga practice As yoga practitioners, we’re already very good at creating flexibility and range of motion. But strength gives us the ability to control that range. It creates tone, stability, and resilience. If you’re a yoga teacher, this perspective may completely change how you think about programming, sequencing, and long-term student development. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    11 min
  5. Why The Old Model of Yoga Sequencing Doesn’t Work Anymore

    FEB 25

    Why The Old Model of Yoga Sequencing Doesn’t Work Anymore

    On this week's podcast, Jason outlines why the old models of yoga sequencing are no longer effective in today's landscape. To name a few: More people cross-train. Fewer students are walking into studios. ClassPass has changed loyalty. Online platforms have shifted expectations. If you want better student retention, stronger engagement, and a more sustainable yoga teaching career, this conversation is essential. ⸻ ⏱ Highlights 2:23 Sequencing 2.0 — What’s New 6:00 The Two Traditional Sequencing Models 6:57 The Problem with Fixed Sequences 8:07 The Problem with Random Classes 13:29 Why Student Retention Is Harder Now 20:39 Online Teaching & Retention 29:50 ClassPass & (the lack of) Loyalty 35:19 The Solution: Monthly Progressions 35:33 How to Build Skill Over Time ⸻ Jason shares why consistency and novelty must coexist, how to use month-long progressions, how to think like an educator, and how we can help students build skills, helping to build student retention. to maintain retention. If you’re serious about becoming a more effective and modern yoga teacher, it's a must-listen! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  6. The Most Important Skill Missing from Yoga Teacher Trainings

    FEB 19

    The Most Important Skill Missing from Yoga Teacher Trainings

    Most yoga teacher trainings prepare you to teach one class at a time. They don’t teach you how to build real student progress. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 4:04 The hidden gap in yoga teacher training 5:50 Why “random” classes stall student progress 8:40 The burnout cycle for yoga teachers 13:24 The curriculum mindset explained 14:40 Monthly arcs, series & workshops 27:58 Expanding your teaching career In this episode, Jason breaks down the most overlooked skill in modern yoga teacher training: learning how to think like an educator instead of teaching one-off classes. Most 200-hour yoga teacher trainings focus on sequencing individual classes. But students don’t learn in 60-minute increments. They need repetition, structure, continuity, and progressive overload to make real progress. You’ll learn: • Why random yoga sequencing leads to student plateaus • How lack of curriculum causes teacher burnout • The difference between novelty and skill development • How to design month-long class arcs • How to create yoga workshops and special series • Why this shift improves student retention and career sustainability If you’re a yoga teacher who wants better student results, stronger retention, and a more sustainable teaching career, this conversation will change how you think about sequencing. Learn more about Yoga Sequencing 2.0 here Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
  7. Power, Boundaries & Red Flags in Yoga: A Needed Conversation

    FEB 12

    Power, Boundaries & Red Flags in Yoga: A Needed Conversation

    In this Yogaland episode, Jason Crandell and I talk candidly about power dynamics in yoga, the potential for abuse of authority, and how students and teachers can protect what’s most important: trust, safety, consent, and healthy boundaries. We’re not psychologists or legal experts — but we’ve been in the yoga world for decades, and we’ve seen how quickly a “teacher-student relationship” can become unhealthy when authority, charisma, and vulnerability collide. The goal of this conversation is simple: help more people recognize warning signs early, keep their autonomy intact, and stay connected to yoga in a way that’s grounded, mature, and safe. You’ll hear us cover: • The most common red flags in teacher-student dynamics • Why critical thinking belongs in yoga spaces • How “one true way” teaching can become coercive • Charisma, attachment, and love-bombing in wellness culture • Why discouraging cross-training or other teachers is a problem • How “inner circles” and status tiers can create vulnerability • Consent and hands-on adjustments: what students can ask for, and what teachers must respect If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable in a class, confused by a teacher’s intensity, or pressured to stay loyal to one method or community — this episode is for you. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min
  8. Why Mindfulness Still Matters: Holding Space in Uncertain Times

    FEB 3

    Why Mindfulness Still Matters: Holding Space in Uncertain Times

    In this solo episode, Andrea explores why mindfulness remains a vital practice—especially during times of collective stress, uncertainty, and moral overwhelm. Drawing from Buddhist foundations of mindfulness, personal experience, and years of teaching yoga and meditation, Andrea reframes mindfulness not as passivity or “everything’s fine” thinking, but as the practice of witnessing—with non-judgment and loving awareness—what is actually here. She reflects on: Why mindfulness helps us sit with difficult emotions without becoming overwhelmed by themThe difference between non-judgment and disengagementHow loving awareness transforms mindfulness from a cold observation into an act of careWhy yoga teachers’ ability to “hold space” is both invisible and essentialHow short, accessible mindfulness practices can support nervous system regulation and clarity Andrea also shares three practical ways to integrate mindfulness into daily life, including mindfulness walks, working skillfully with unpleasant moments, and using declarative language as a nervous-system-friendly form of presence and connection. This episode is an invitation to return to the basics—not as an escape from reality, but as a way to meet it with steadiness, compassion, and care. ----------------- You can find shownotes here: yogalandpodcast.com/episode376 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.8
out of 5
1,254 Ratings

About

This down-to-earth podcast by Andrea Ferretti (former executive editor of Yoga Journal) will keep informed and inspired to practice yoga. Topics run the gamut from nitty gritty technique (her yoga teacher husband Jason Crandell often joins to help with this) to down-to-earth conversations about how to apply yoga's lessons and tools to help craft a happy, balanced life. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Andrea Ferretti
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    436
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Andrea Ferretti
  • Show Website
    Yogaland Podcast

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