Going Pro Yoga Podcast

For this week’s episode of the Going Pro Podcast Michael invites Silfath Sophia on the show to talk about the Money Mindset. Originally from Ivory Coast, Silfath moved to the United States to work as a banker, but took a big leap in 2017 when she started her own business as a fashion stylist. She later moved into Somatic Therapy and Movement for Women, and is now working as a healer and teacher in the wellness space. Silfath lives between Bali and Dubai.

Silfath has been in the entrepreneurial space for about 16 years and shares her experiences on this week’s show. Silfath became a full-time entrepreneur only 3 years after starting her own business. In this episode, Michael and Silfath talk about ‘how to get started’ as an entrepreneur in the wellness space. 

Silfath shares about craft versus running a business. She explains that as an entrepreneur it’s essential to refine your craft and acquire the necessary business skills. But also to understand yourself, be aware of your ‘money mindset’, and your beliefs around success. 

Silfath and Michael both acknowledge that confidence is essential for someone’s growth as an entrepreneur. Michael emphasizes that building confidence requires getting feedback. Feedback also implies being receptive to whatever is shared with you. Silfath's strategy to grow confidence is having a mentor, a community, a support system, that could help brainstorm with. 

Michael and Silfath furthermore discuss the act and dedication to ‘serve’ in the wellness space. Michael wraps-up the conversation by listing the phases of entrepreneurial growth and Silfath shares about the essential foundations on the entrepreneurial journey: money, success, leadership, and being seen and heard. 

Silfath also touches upon the relationship with being seen and being heard. She discusses topics around self-sabotage, limiting beliefs, exposure, and cultural conditioning.

This week’s episode is full of entrepreneurial nudges to help you with your ‘money mindset’, and making your dreams happen as an entrepreneur in the wellness space.

00:00 Introduction

02:40 About Silfath Sophia

05:10 Entrepreneurship

06:47 Craft & Running a Business

08:45 Mindset & Beliefs around Money and Success

10:35 Turn your ‘Money Story’ around

11:25 Refining your Craft as a Teacher

12:31 Building Financial Stability

12:50 Craft versus Mindset, Belief & Sense of Identity

17:08 Building Confidence & Feedback

19:07 Women Entrepreneurship

21:12 The Feminine Relationship with Being Seen & Being Heard

24:42 The Money Mindset

26:38 Dedication to Serve

28:30 Offering Services

30:18 Setting a Price

32:14 Money as the Seed of Creation

34:00 Phases of Entrepreneurial Growth

35:38 Money, Success, Leadership, Being Seen/Being Heard

37:32 The Journey of Entrepreneurial Growth

38:55 Self-Worth & Self-Mastery

42:40 Final Thoughts on Having Community

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About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment

• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows

• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations

• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience

• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

In this week’s episode of Going Pro, Michael sits down with guest Abi describes her background as a personal trainer and how she started Yoga 15, yoga for athletic performance and recovery. She shares the development of this thriving company that serves a niche space for athletes as someone who was always incredibly athletic herself. 

She and Michael discuss various types of yoga teacher trainings and Abi emphasizes the importance of learning from many teachers and taking a variety of trainings in order to find the combination that helps you develop your unique voice. She shares details of her yoga journey and how each training, each teacher helped her find her passion and deep love for yoga. Abi also talks about her path in the virtual space as opposed to a more “conventional” studio teaching style. She dives into all the opportunities in the online teaching world. 

Michael talks about yoga as a self-awareness practice and the inclusivity of the body in that. So by teaching people about their physical body, they can better understand themselves. Abi adds in to say how very small pieces of information can radically change and create results especially in preventing injury and reconnecting with the body in a natural way. It helps teachers and sharers of yoga to understand the “why” behind what they are saying. 

In this wonderful episode, Michael and Abi share meaningful thoughts on themes including perfectionism, imitation, finding your voice, resilience, and developing your unique path. As Abi says these things are all based on the mindset you have and understanding the value of these topics. 

Abi’s book recommendations:

Mastery by Robert Greene 

Awareness by Anthony de Mello

FrameWork by Nicholas DiNubile

00:00 Introduction

02:05 About Abi

04:20 Developing Yoga 15

10:05 Yoga Teacher Training

17:30 Budokon Yoga

19:55 Tips for New Yoga Teachers

24:40 Just Get Started & Learning to Serve

29:30 The Medical/Anatomical Foundation in Yoga

37:00 Helping Yourself in Your Body

41:05 Imitation Vs Finding Your Flow

45:13 Perfectionism and Making Mistakes

48:30 Receiving Feedback

52:00 Your Mindset

54:50 Book Recommendations

57:05 Final Thoughts

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About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment

• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows

• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations

• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience

• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

In this week’s episode, Michael and Paul sit down to discuss two very well known opposites: yin and yang. Not only do they move through qualities and elements that represent yin and yang, but more specifically they dive into yin and yang as it applies to teaching yoga and how you approach your classes. 

They discuss the Yang as structure, the left brain, the logic or anatomy, controlling the room, respect, among much more. Paul shares examples of requiring students to turn their phones off at the start of class or reprimanding someone who isn’t creating a safe environment for them and their neighbors as ways to hold the space with yang energy. Whether or not it is.a yang style practice (power, vinyasa, rocket, etc) there is an importance of using yang qualities to create a sense of respect and safety. 

On the opposite side, they talk about Yin as holding space, creativity, vulnerability, and sharing authentically from the heart. People need to feel safe in a yin class in order to heal. People need to relax in order to feel vulnerable. Softening the body to allow emotions and feelings to come through. So the way we support students in doing this is by opening our own hearts and sharing from a place of softness and love. Paul shares an anecdote of a student on a recent meditation teacher training who really won over the hearts of her classmates by allowing the class to really see her while guiding. 

Among many other topics, Michael and Paul also discuss finding advanced trainings that balance out what you need to nurture within you. If your trainings used to be very structured, find one that’s very flowy and soft. Study with different types of teachers. They dive into the art of receiving feedback, the importance of taking risks, and what balance really means. 

00:00 Introduction

02:16 The Yang of Teaching

04:22 Masculine and Yang Styles

09:00 Structure and Discipline in Class

14:00 The Yin of Teaching

18:35 Your Personal Touch/Uniqueness 

20:33 Receiving Feedback

25:00 Being Relaxed and Being Seen

28:00 Taking Risks

29:55 Continued Learning to Nurture New Sides of You

33:20 Balancing Yin and Yang

36:40 Doing Your Own Work

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About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment

• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows

• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations

• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience

• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

In this week’s episode of Going Pro, Michael sits down with guest Katie Nesbitt to discuss all things yoga, present moment awareness, somatic work, and mindfulness. Katie describes her background shifting from childhood athlete to corporate worker in LA to yoga instructor and wellness consultant. 

Katie dives into the elements of present awareness and shares techniques that have helped her on her own journey, as well as with her clients. Katie talks about the three pillars of mindfulness: being in the present moment, being in the present moment with intention, and the hardest of the three… non-judgement. She explains why we cannot and should not judge our mind for whatever emotions arise in the present moment. A place that is often very difficult as we are used to criticizing and judging ourselves, the practice of non-judgement, she says, is where the real work begins.

Katie and Michael also dive into practical tools to help oneself when having a traumatic response. They go through the different stages of our response system and talk about the importance of really understanding what our triggers are so that we can support ourselves before, during or after our body enters a trauma response mode. She also ties this into the different parts of the brain and explains what’s actually happening on a technical level. Katie emphasizes how the brain’s primary purpose is to keep the body alive, which is why we can’t judge ourselves for it. We don’t have control. Our brain and body are building new neural pathways to create a sense of safety and relaxation that allows us to proceed with life.

In this info-packed episode, Katie shares invaluable information on becoming aware of ourselves without judgment and shares tools including shaking and breath work that listeners can use in their day to day lives. She even offers a mindfulness exercise in the last 15 minutes of the episode that’s not to be missed! 

01:27 Katie Introduction

06:36 The Moment Yoga Changed the Path

09:21 Connecting to the Breath

15:40 Trauma Response in Yoga

18:45 Dysregulation and Depression 

19:55 Three Pillars of Mindfulness

25:00 Michael Discusses Trauma and the Nervous System

27:10 Reptilian Brain

41:20 Body Movement during these Practices 

43:40 Active Breathing and Energy 

47:30 Shaking Practice in your Life

49:50 Avoidance 

53:23 Ignoring vs Accepting

56:43 Customizing These Practices

58:00 Katie leads an Exercise

1:10:00 Closing Remarks

About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment

• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows

• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations

• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience

• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

In this week’s episode of Going Pro, guest Alyssa Goldberg returns to share her journey in becoming a yoga teacher. Sitting alongside Michael and Byron, Alyssa discusses the steps she took upon completing her 200 hour YTT in September, and what her year has looked like since. 

Alyssa opens up about the early stages of her teaching career all the way to the present day: from zoom yoga classes to small group in person classes, to eventually building a schedule on a studio roster, and then teaching on retreats. She and Byron emphasize the importance of “saying yes” to opportunity and the important use of asking for feedback, relying on mentors, and seeking support throughout the process. 

She also dives into the emotional, mental and financial struggles she has faced, and shares how she’s supported herself through these various uncertainties and challenges. Alyssa discusses burn out, breaking down, and the need to release control in order for things to flow without pushing for a specific outcome. 

This episode uncovers many elements of the journey of somebody jumping headfirst into a career as a yoga teacher, but also shares golden nuggets of information for anyone who has a desire to share yoga in their community – whether or not as a full time job. As Alyssa acknowledges “the path looks completely different for every single person…” so tune in to see what resonates for your path!

00:00 Introduction

03:25 Quick re-introduction to Alyssa

04:48 Finished the 200 hour YTT… then what?

08:20 First steps towards teaching

11:15 Zoom Yoga

14:40 Saying Yes to More

15:26 When Nobody Shows Up

17:10 Teaching to Small Classes

21:25 Paying Rent & Teaching Yoga

25:22 How Much Do You Want to Dive in?

29:18 Journey to Studio Teaching 

32:36 Breaking Down Emotionally

33:40 Demoing/Auditioning

37:22 Building a Class Schedule 

42:40 Saying “Yes”

46:40 Letting Go

Alyssa’s Instagram: @alyssangoldberg

About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment

• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows

• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations

• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience

• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

Nothing is held back in this very special episode of Going Pro! Sitting beside Michael and Byron in the studio is healer, mystic, coach, and spiritual guide Amara Samata discussing her journey through an awakening and how it brought her to the work she does today. 

Beginning with her life’s story, Amara shares the many ways she was always seeking and looking for more from this life experience from a young age. Walking the audience through her work as an actress and the transition that brought her into yoga and eventually into Buddhism and Tibetan Tantra studies. 

She opens up on the years that led to her spiritual awakening, which she discusses in depth, even the nitty gritty details of what she describes as a “teeth orgasm!” Amara spends time defining awakening and the various paths that could lead one to have this experience. She reflects on her various teachers and learnings and what one experiences along the way.

In the final third of the episode, Amara goes into her life’s work today, a method she’s developed called Inner Guidance, which accelerates the process of self work and supports others on their journey of spiritual growth. A method Byron has not only trained in but used as inspiration for his Empowerment Yoga, he and Amara discuss the profound impact it has had among those who have experienced it firsthand. 

This episode is filled with juicy stories and is certainly not one to miss! 

In this week’s episode of Going Pro, Michael breaks down in a simple and clear manner: what is fascia. 

He describes fascia as a web of connective tissue that exists everywhere in your body from head to toe. He elaborates that it has an airy web-like quality to it and a spread out nature and structure that allow for its elasticity. He breaks down the difference between fascia and other parts of the body such as ligaments and tendons, shedding light on the physical property of fascia.

Michael also dives into the emotional elements of fascia, going in depth about how nerves and fascia exist as best friends right on top of each other. They are responding to one another. When it comes to emotions being stored in the body, fascia is where emotions that are not processed are stored. He talks about the reality of childhood and many of the unresolved traumas we have that live in our fascia.

Through physical examples as well as some imaginative and visual examples, Michael paints a wide picture of what this thing called fascia really is and why it is so important in general, and especially in regards to yoga. He rounds out the episode diving into the breath and sharing how important conscious breathing is when we are working with fascia through stretching, massage, or just in our normal day to day lives.

Become a fascia expert in no time with today’s short episode!

00:00 Introduction

01:58 What is Fascia?

02:57 Ligaments and Tendons vs Fascia

06:05 Visualizing Fascia in the Body

11:30 New Lens on Fascia 

12:24 Fascia and the Nervous System

14:07 Emotions Stored in Body

17:30 Childhood Co-Regulation

20:38 Breath and Fascia 

About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment

• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows

• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations

• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience

• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

This week’s episode of Going Pro is all about… you guessed it! Text Neck. With Paul back in the studio alongside Michael, the two discuss what text neck is and how both the effects of the pandemic and the effects of our modern habits have affected the human body.

Both very knowledgeable in the world of fascia, Paul shares the new habits he’s seen in his students’ postures in general and more specifically in their asana practices as a product of all the time we spend sitting, texting, and on our computers in modern society. Michael shares a personal story of his own relationship to his posture when he was younger, and breaks down how one can overcome the slouch many people have developed.

They also discuss the nature of fascia to change and harden to the shapes it is most frequently in. Our bodies are trying to support our day to day lives so by communicating that we prioritize this “texting position,” our bodies try to shift and adapt to best support that activity. Together Paul and Michael give suggestions for how to improve text neck and release emotion that is being stored in our fascia. This includes but is not limited to a description of yoga poses that one can do in the comfort of their own home or in class to help relieve and open up the fascia that we are scrunching up in the thoracic spine. 

00:00 Introduction

01:45 What Paul notices in power yoga students 

02:43 Fascia and text neck 

05:26 Thoracic spine and posture shifts post Covid

07:05 Storage of Emotion in the body 

14:02 Talking to release emotion and free the fascia 

15:27 Solutions for text neck 

17:25 Yin yoga and positions to help the spine 

About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment

• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows

• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations

• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience

• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

In this episode guest Cat Kabira sits with Michael to talk about energy work. She shares the many realities of her past – trauma, an eating disorder, and discontentment – and how the energy work, yoga, and meditation practices changed her life. Having always lived with a deep understanding of energy in herself and others, she talks about the importance of making shifts and helping others understand through language what they are experiencing.

She describes the fields of energy that we experience – personal, with others, and then a collective greater field. She describes the personal field around us – the many shapes our fields can take and how they impact us. For some people the field is incredibly open and others very contracted. Then there is the field between two people in a relationship. Third is the greater field. And fourth is the healing field. She dives into how these fields exist and impact one another. 

Cat also talks about her methodology with the physical body and the process of helping people connect to the liquid body sense that allows energy to move and flow. She uses textures, colors, and sounds to use art as a way to get out of the head and into the body. 

One of many tips she shares in this episode, Cat emphasizes the importance of teachers, energy workers, and space holders to be grounded before going and teaching. There are so many elements that can impact the space holding and energetic field between teacher and student, so she shares that before teaching she takes a moment to sit, separate herself from the students, come into her center, and draw a circle both around her own field and the field of the space. She emphasizes that presence makes an impact. 

Don’t miss this awesome episode with Cat!

00:00 Introduction

03:36 Cat Introduction

08:10 Energy Work with Children

11:11 Patterns with Parents

13:10 The term “energy work”

16:48 Cat’s Languaging

18:40 Orienting with our Bodies

20:55 The Field

25:00 Emotional States and our Fields

30:22 Michael’s Experience with Hands-On Adjustments

36:52 Supportive Language

40:00 Presence and Transmission of a Teacher

52:19 Difficulty of Allowing Things to Come Through

55:30 Boundaries When Teaching

59:50 Connecting with Cat

Website: catkabira.com

YouTube: Cat Kabira

Email: catkabirayoga@gmail.com

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About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment

• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows

• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations

• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience

• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

In this week’s episode of Going Pro, Paul Teodo returns to discuss yin yoga with Michael! Together they break down the history of yin yoga, styles of the physical practice, and the depths of the nervous system that can be reached through the practice. Yin yoga is a wonderful practice that provides students with ways of living more beautiful, vivid, and balanced lives.

Paul discusses what yin yoga is and the way in which he personally teaches yin in Bali. He mentions explaining to his students that they will be holding shapes while breathing deeply through the nose, relaxing the body, holding reasonably still and surrendering the body to gravity and surrendering the mind to the five senses. By doing so, students are able to create a relaxation response both physically, emotionally and energetically. 

They also discuss how yin is a  practice that allows you to get in touch with your parasympathetic nervous system. Michael breaks down the nervous system – both our sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. He describes the nervous system as a way that the deeper intelligence of the body learns how to be more efficient with its energy. 

With yin yoga specifically, we are working with the parasympathetic or “rest and digest” mode, which allows us to really rest and slow ourselves down. Michael elaborates on how it creates space for being and tapping into deeper layers of the emotional and energetic body.

Beyond the physicality of the practice, Paul discusses the feminine qualities associated with yin, including: Vulnerability, empathy, creativity, beauty of life, connection to nature, intuition and expression. 

Michael and Paul reiterate the importance of keeping the body safe in these yin positions and how teachers can cue and structure yin classes to support all types of bodies. 

00:00 Introduction

02:45 Where Did Yin Originate?

04:51 What Is the Practice of Yin?

06:45 Other Styles of Yin That Exist

09:30 Getting in touch with Feminine Qualities of Yin

11:55 Michael breaks down the nervous system

16:34 Softening the Body

18:18 Feminine Qualities of Bali

20:14 Jason Crandell on Yin Yoga

22:55 Safety and Accessibility in Yin Yoga

27:26 Bhramari Humming and other yin techniques

30:34 Silence as a Teacher

35:18 Michael’s Take on Holding Poses

About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment

• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows

• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations

• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience

• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

In this week’s episode on the Going Pro podcast Michael and Byron talk all things energy. They discuss it as both a form of currency — something that can grow or shrink and can be exchanged with others — and also break down the impact energy can have on levels of consciousness and personal growth. 

They discuss energy’s natural potential to move and the way this can impact the healing arts, such as reiki and embodied movements. Byron references what yogis call nadis, or energy channels, moving through the body. They talk about the different systems in the body and how this energy lives, moves, and can be understood within us. 

Byron compares the currency of energy as the flow of money, something that is always moving. Michael piggy backs off this idea by discussing his own personal relationship with energy — from where it may begin the moment you wake up, to the moment you go to bed. 

Together they discuss the relationship we have with our own energy, and the energy of others. We have so much energy that can be released at any moment in time. Michael dives into the theme of potential energy that lives within the body and how to optimize and access this energy. 

Tune in to gain a new perspective on the many types and great power of understanding energy.

00:00 Introduction

01:49 What is Energy?

03:02 We are all energy

05:42 The Kinesthetic Quality of Energy

07:55 Stored Energy as Emotion

10:06 Consciousness Shifts

12:08 Understanding the Flow of Money

14:38 Quantifying Energy

18:16 Less is More Energy Exchange

21:17 Everything you need, you have

24:30 Letting Go of Energy

27:09 Energy in Bodies of Water

28:41 Energy Exchange with People

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About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment
• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows
• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations
• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience
• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

“Who we radiate, we attract.” In this week’s episode, guest Leah Santa Cruz returns to the podcast to speak about meditation for healthy relationships. She dives into techniques couples can use, as well as ways to utilize meditation to benefit the way we interact with all individuals in our lives. 

Leah walks the listeners through various techniques such as eye gazing, loving kindness, and gratitude as a way to connect more deeply with our partners. She also elaborates on how to do the work even when your partner may be less willing or interested. 

Together Leah and Michael elaborate how a great deal of this meditation is a practice for yourself and in doing the work for you, you will have the tools to have more successful relationships and partnerships. They discuss the need for knowing your own desires, knowing how to set healthy boundaries, and understanding how to make internal and external shifts that benefit your life. 

For those interested or curious in diving into meditation, Leah mentions an upcoming meditation training she is running in August at the Yoga Barn. 

00:00 Introduction

01:30 About Leah 

03:30 Holding an eye gaze benefits 

05:02 Meditation for couples 

07:26 Understanding and taking ownership for emotions

09:58 Gratitude in this practice

12:34 Loving Kindness Practice

19:10 Meditation in Tantric way

20:13 Relationship with yourself

21:20 Attracting the right people

23:39 Upcoming Meditation Retreat

Tags: Relationships, Couples Meditation, Eye Gazing, Attraction, 

Instagram: @lesant

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About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment
• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows
• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations
• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience
• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

This week’s episode is filled with nuggets of how to be seen, relatable, and successful as a yoga teacher. Together, Michael and Byron share what has brought them back to yoga classes over many years of practicing and how new teachers can leave a meaningful and memorable impact on their students. 

Byron and Michael dive into sequencing – not just for the safety of the physical body, but also as a priming mentally for the students. They dive into the importance of time management when moving through the class in order to teach a professional class. 

Byron also mentions how yoga teachers need to be changing and adapting in their own lives on a daily basis in order to sustain a career as a yoga teacher. In order for your own practice, your personal life, and your teaching skills to expand and grow, it is crucial to be doing the work. That can look different from person to person, but in this discussion, they emphasize the need to remain open rather than complacent. 

They also touch on sound, tone, and language as tools that are necessary in order to create a true transmission in the room from you to your students. Michael and Byron emphasize that teachers need to make sure the yoga is landing in a way that allows students to connect with their bodies, find focus, balance, and peace in their practice.

Listen to this awesome episode for more tips and tricks that are useful for new and seasoned teachers alike!

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:36 Sequencing for time
• 03:40 Important elements of sequencing
• 06:57 Personal Development
• 09:36 Importance of learning
• 12:06 Slow down speech and language
• 12:54 Reading the room
• 16:56 Value of a 90 minute class
• 19:22 From Warm-up to Flow
• 22:37 Teaching yoga isn’t about you
• 23:38 Simple sequence & Simple language

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About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment
• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows
• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations
• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience
• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

In this week’s episode of Going Pro, Michael, Byron, and guest host Alyssa Goldberg break down: what is yoga? Each with unique backgrounds and levels of experience teaching yoga, the three share what yoga can look and feel like to practitioners at any level.

Together they discuss the impact this practice has had across the world over thousands of years. By looking at Google definitions of yoga, and also sharing what it means to each of them, the episode highlights the incredible depth of what the word “yoga” can mean. 

In breaking down the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual components of the practice, they shed light on how yoga can shift and change and grow with the individual. 

They also dive into topics such as manifestation, magnetism, flexibility, connection, balance, co-regulation, peace, focus, strength, intimacy and breath — all with the intention of demonstrating how wide this one practice can reach and the difference it can make in one’s life. 

00:00 Introduction

01:26 Purpose of asking: what is yoga?

02:38 Introducing episode guest, Alyssa Goldberg

05:42 Breaking down: What is yoga?

07:07 Google definition of yoga

09:27 The spiritual aspect of yoga

13:00 Balancing the nervous system 

14:30 Yoga as union

17:30 Tracking conscious breathing

22:22 Making yoga your own

28:00 Intimacy and yoga

30:18 Connection and yoga

Alyssa’s instagram: @alyssangoldberg

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About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment
• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows
• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations
• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience
• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

In this episode, Michael interviews Tsamara Fahrana to discuss human design. They each share a brief definition of what human design is and the impact it has on our lives. Tsamara dives into how empowering it can be to learn about your human design in order to live your life with more clarity, empathy, and understanding. What she calls a “permission slip,” human design allows one to understand how and why they act, say, and feel the way they do. 

Tsamara walks Michael through key traits of the 5 human design types and what the highs and potential struggles are for each of these types.

Tsamara also talks about how human design blends science and spirituality in a really unique way. She elaborates on the choice and free will that each person has to live their best and most authentic life. Each one of us is incredibly unique and human design is one way to live in alignment with our life. 

Michael touches how it may be overwhelming to dive into your human design, but even small steps can give you a better idea to learn about the way you operate. He shares a bit about being a generator himself and how he interacts with friends who have other human designs. 

Unsure what your human design is? Use this link below for more context as you are listening through this very unique and informative episode!

In this episode, Michael dives into the anatomy of the body so that we can teach students more about their own body – in an accessible way!

He emphasizes that you don’t need fancy terms when discussing anatomy, it can be very simple and simultaneously very helpful for students. By gaining a deeper knowledge and understanding of the physical body yourself, you can help students become more intuitive with how they move and reach a wider number of students through your language.

Michael breaks down the spine and hips as two examples of how to talk about different movements of the body. 

He emphasizes that giving students a reason why they are doing these physical movements will allow them to connect and understand their bodies and their yoga practices on a new and potentially far deeper level.

• (00:00) Introduction

• (03:45) Techniques for creating more awareness of the body

• (05:40) Breaking down the spine

• (10:20)  Michael shares ways of cueing and speaking that will resonate with more students

• (14:53) Why Michael teaches anatomy in yoga practices

• (19:11) Breaking down the hips

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About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment
• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows
• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations
• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience
• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

In this episode, the Michael and Byron discuss the word "uncomfortable" and whether it is a feeling or just a state of mind.

They explore the idea that uncomfortable might not be a specific emotion, but rather a general term used to describe the opposite of being comfortable.

They question whether it is helpful to know when someone is uncomfortable or if it's more useful to understand what is causing the discomfort.

They suggest that people's interpretation of what uncomfortable means may vary, as it could refer to physical pain or discomfort related to fear of injury.

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About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment
• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows
• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations
• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience
• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

This episode discusses the misconceptions and intimidating beliefs surrounding meditation, particularly in relation to its origins as a practice primarily for monks and renunciates.

In this episode, Michael interviews Leah Santa Cruz, a meditation teacher who has been living in Bali for the last six years.

Prior to teaching meditation, she worked in the tech industry and the startup world, including half a decade at Microsoft. She experienced several waves of burnout and turned to yoga and meditation as a healing path for himself.

Initially, she took a yoga teacher training and was pushed onto the path of meditation by her teacher, Steve Ross, a former Vedic monk.

Now, Leah teaches people how to guide others in meditation and leads her own teacher trainings. She believes that meditation is a great compliment to yoga and that all who are on the path of yoga should learn more about it.

Leah talks about her own experiences with meditation and how their teacher, Dr. Lauren Roche, taught them to perceive meditation as a practice accessible to everyone, including householders, those who have bills to pay and other responsibilities.

Leah episode highlights the importance of letting go of control and rigid thinking in order to truly experience the benefits of meditation, which is not limited to achieving pure thoughtlessness, but rather a greater sense of calm and self-awareness.

For more information about the Modern Meditation 150hr training, visit:

In this exciting episode, Byron and Michael discuss a new and deeply transformative style of yoga called Empowerment Yoga that is designed to go straight to the core.

A lab-style class created by Byron which blends his roots of Bryan Kest’s power yoga style with the addition of InnerGuidance, a method developed by his mentor Amara Samata. The class prompts students to speak their truths out loud and find a layer of meaning far beyond the asana practice.

Byron explains the accelerated and therapeutic style of the class that asks you to become deeply honest with yourself and decipher— what really is true?

A class that expands the type of freedom and expression as we’ve once known it on the yoga mat, Michael and Byron expand on their own experiences within this permission-based class, and what it can offer to those who take it.

They discuss an upcoming 10-day training (Sept 21-30, 2023) for this style of yoga that will be held in September at the Yoga Barn in Ubud, Bali. As well as other platforms where you can experience a taste of this empowerment yoga class!

• (00:00) Introduction
• (02:25) Empowerment yoga stems from Bryan Kest’s original goals through his creation of power yoga
• (04:30) What the feedback of this class has been from those who have taken it
• (05:00) Byron breaks down: what is empowerment yoga?
• (08:00) An example of truth facing as explored in the empowerment yoga class
• (10:00) Description of unique elements of this class
• (13:10) About Amara Samata, Byron’s mentor and inspiration for the class
• (15:20) What can you expect in the Empowerment Yoga training?
• (20:10) Where can people get a taste of this class?

For more information about the Empowerment Yoga 100hr training, visit:

In this episode Michael and Byron dive into what can spark, or reignite the passion of a new, aspiring or seasoned yoga teacher. They discuss the journey from being a student of yoga to signing up for a teacher training to jumping into the world of teaching. 

Michael and Byron touch on finding the unique and personal reason that makes you want to teach yoga, as well as acknowledge all the roadblocks that may be in your way— physically, emotionally, and financially. 

Michael and Byron also discuss the importance of both caring for your physical and mental health in order to support your day to day life and find clarity and resilience on your yoga teaching journey. Through stories of their own personal injuries, they each share how yoga helped them cope through the healing processes. 

Byron goes into depth about the lifestyle of yoga and how he knew the path of yoga teaching was for him. From being a working actor in LA to moving to Bali, he shares the steps that led him from one place to another. 

Together, they also emphasize that success comes from teaching for the right reasons, and that it will look different from one person to the next, as with anything in life. They touch on ways to find your own authentic voice and path.

• (00:00) Introduction
• (07:50) “Why would someone want to take a yoga teacher training?”
• (12:10) How an injury may set you back in your yoga journey 
• (16:00) Byron talks about navigating his difficult back injuries as a yoga teacher 
• (20:02) Falling in love with the lifestyle of yoga 
• (21:52) Michael talks about finding the reason you want to teach yoga 
• (24:50) How your current or prior profession may impact your shift into being a full time yoga teacher 
• (28:10) How to merge your current life with your yoga teaching life and build up your career at a pace that works

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About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment
• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows
• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations
• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience
• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

This episode is inspired by a one-of-a-kind 5 day hands on adjustments and accelerated skills training that Byron and Michael facilitate in Ubud. 

They not only break down the outline of this training as they designed it, but also elaborate on the themes that are covered in the training — ones that apply not only to yoga, but also generally as skills you should utilize in your day-to-day life. 

Byron and Michael  go into depth on feedback and the importance of hearing feedback, especially when giving physical touch in a yoga class. Both through verbal and nonverbal feedback, you can learn how your adjustments feel and are being received in the bodies of your students. 

Michael and Byron also talk about themes of expression and intention when understanding how you are connecting with others. They dive into a conversation about receptivity – active and present listening where you take in that which you are hearing as though it is true. They discuss how these themes are crucial skills when teaching yoga and especially when giving physical hands-on adjustments in class.  They also elaborate on flow state, the fundamentals of flow, and what “in flow” means both on and off the mat. 

This special episode is filled with golden nuggets of wisdom and is not one to miss! 

• (00:00) Introduction
• (04:33) Michael discusses the importance of feedback — both physically in poses and in a more general sense
• (05:45) Setting the tone for a training 
• (09:10) Receiving feedback and ego 
• (09:49) Power of receptivity. What is receptivity?
• (13:35) Acknowledgment in receptivity 
• (21:56) The Power of Touch
• (24:18) The Power of Flow. What is flow?
• (29:08) The Power of Savasana 
• (31:40) Burnout and energy preservation

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About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment
• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows
• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations
• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience
• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

Important announcement from Michael Henri and the GPY Team.

Do you want to incorporate the breath more into your yoga teaching?

Or do you just want to better understand how breathing works, and how it benefits us?

In this episode, Michael covers all the aspects of breathing relating to yoga.

He discusses how we breathe, the basic science and understanding of the body parts involved in breathing, and how we can use different techniques to affect our breathing patterns.

He also details the benefits and reasons for using different types of breathing, and how this applies to your yoga practice.

Then he brings it all together by linking it to your yoga teaching.

Check out the full episode to get everything you need to know on the breath relating to yoga:

• (00:00) We don’t just breathe in oxygen…
• (02:52) Our lungs work like a vacuum
• (05:07) The lungs have branches like a tree called the Bronchi
• (09:05) What muscles control our breathing?
• (14:17) Shoulder and neck breathing often occurs due to stress or anxiety
• (19:38) Many yoga students can benefit from better breathing
• (21:30) Parts of the lungs go dormant when you sleep and when you don’t use them
• (24:42) Breathing slow or fast, what’s better?
• (25:58) The benefit of holding your breath
• (29:54) You can also force an exhale by using certain muscles…
• (33:34) Holding the bottom of your exhale is great for your vagus nerve
• (39:35) Applying the knowledge to your yoga teaching

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About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment
• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows
• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations
• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience
• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

Do you need to be Vegan to be a true Yogi?

And why do yoga teacher trainings often implement a strictly vegan or vegetarian diet?

In this episode, we discuss veganism and how it ties into the yogic principle of Ahimsa (non-violence).

We hear both Byron and Michael’s own personal views and backgrounds.

And the ethical or moral aspect and understanding of Ahimsa and how that relates to a vegan or non-vegan diet.

Plus they discuss the evolutionary and ancestral aspect of if humans are adapted to being meat eaters or vegans.

If you want to understand whether it’s necessary to be vegan to be a yogi or not, then listen to the full episode…

• (00:00) Introduction
• (01:24) Veganism in yoga teacher trainings
• (03:59) Ahimsa and how it relates to veganism
• (07:10) Byron grew up on a ranch with hundreds of cows
• (09:04) Are you the broccoli?
• (11:47) Evolutionarily and ancestrally humans are both carnivorous and vegetarian/vegan.
• (13:54) Are our teeth designed for a plant-based diet, a meat diet, or do we even need teeth at all?
• (15:27) The ethics of over-production of cattle and crops
• (18:08) Getting sidetracked by AI and robot nightmares
• (20:37) Plot Twist: We went full circle back to the ethics of non-harming

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About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment
• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows
• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations
• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience
• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

Have you ever wondered if you have good or bad karma?

Or maybe you want to know how yoga and karma are related to one another?

Well in today’s episode we are discussing all things karmic.

We delve into a philosophical approach to dissect what karma really is.

And Byron even channels his inner Sadhguru to share his full karmic wisdom and knowledge.

We also discuss the links and relations between yoga and karma to bring it full circle.

Check the full episode to start generating good karma for yourself!

• (00:00) Introduction
• (02:19) What is karma to you?
• (06:24) Collecting karma points
• (08:30) Byron is… SADHGURU!!!
• (11:54) The Western Karma Perspective
• (12:52) Karma and Yoga
• (14:01) We all come from the same source and the same soil
• (14:47) Sadhguru fangirling!
• (16:19) Ant colonies are like karma colonies
• (17:41) Becoming more individually focused we lose the union
• (19:48) Byron’s Bali revelations

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About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment
• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows
• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations
• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience
• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

Have you ever had to deal with a student suffering from trauma or PTSD in your yoga class?

Or do you want to overcome your own trauma safely through your own yoga practices?

In this episode Anthea shares her experiences, knowledge, and guidance on teaching yoga in a trauma-informed way.

She explains how and why these tips and cues can help students managing with different types of traumas.

Plus delivers some incredibly practical teaching advice.

She provides usable tips on teaching, and how to make your classes more trauma-informed.

Plus she shares how you can apply this to your own practice too.

Listen to the full episode to get the complete scoop!

Episode Breakdown:

• (00:00) Introduction
• (06:14) What is cognitive neuroscience?
• (09:27) Defining trauma…
• (13:18) EMDR therapy
• (15:46) Right and left brain emotions and logic
• (18:00) Regulating your amygdala
• (19:04) Trauma triggers in yoga
• (22:55) Language and allowing space in your class
• (29:00) Energetic and visual cues can be great alternatives to physical adjustments
• (33:24) Savasana can be triggering for PTSD and trauma
• (36:44) Pose awareness, which poses trigger you
• (41:35) Bilateral stimulation poses
• (44:40) Metaphors and visualisations
• (52:33) Acroyoga can be a powerful healing tool for trauma

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More about Anthea:
Anthea is a trauma informed yoga, meditation and journaling guide.  In 2021 she started a nonprofit called The Healing Quotient that gives "therapy grants" to individuals recovering from trauma or seeking wellness resources, by providing online access to mental health resources including funding for EMDR therapy with fully licensed professionals. She's also the creator of 3MinMeds, a weekly 3 minute meditation hosted on Smalltalk (a new audio-only platform for creators). All proceeds from 3MinMeds go to fund therapy for minds in need. You can join her community chat called The Healing Quo on telegram for more information!

In this episode, Paul and Byron discuss how to build a career as an employable yoga teacher.

They emphasize the importance of being reliable, low maintenance, and dedicated to practicing and teaching yoga.

They also discuss how starting out teaching donation yoga can help build experience and make connections in the industry.

The speakers share personal anecdotes and advice for new yoga teachers looking to build a successful career.

• (00:00) Introduction
• (02:21) How can you make yourself low maintenance for a yoga studio?
• (03:13) Byron’s professional experience
• (07:05) Paul’s professional experience
• (08:35) Sometimes you’re going to teach a shitty class
• (11:30) We’re not social media dinosaurs
• (12:54) Get comfortable with self-promotion
• (14:54) Not everyone has access to big studios and lots of class options
• (16:27) Student success story - Art
• (17:47) Do you want to be the best yoga teacher you can possibly be?
• (18:50) Student success story - Risa
• (21:22) What to do when you hit a roadblock?
• (22:46) Have a mentor, and surround yourself with likeminded people
• (24:32) Yoga might just be the answer

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About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment
• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows
• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations
• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience
• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

Have you ever wanted to run your own yoga retreats?

Or maybe you’ve been on a retreat and had an amazing experience, and are curious to know what goes into making that happen?

In this episode, Paul and Byron discuss some of the best tips and tricks on how to successfully lead a yoga retreat.

They share some wonderful wisdom for new yoga teachers wanting to run retreats.

Tips on demographics, how to attract students, price points, and much more.

Check out the full episode and start running your own retreats!

• (00:00) Paul and Byron’s first-ever yoga retreat in Costa Rica!
• (02:14) Byron flipping the bird in LA
• (03:01) The starting of a business and a friendship
• (06:10) If you’re a new yoga teacher and want to run a retreat, how do you start?
• (08:53) The business side of yoga…
• (11:25) Be an assistant to a teacher you look up to
• (15:59) Consider if you actually want to organise the retreat or just teach
• (16:37) Choose and know your demographic
• (18:29) Allow proper time for marketing and planning
• (19:45) See the resort for yourself, or get a trusted recommendation/review
• (22:11) Paul’s upcoming Greece retreat
• (23:06) You don’t have to teach yoga to run a yoga retreat…

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About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment
• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows
• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations
• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience
• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

How can you decide what yoga teacher training is the right one for you?

With so many trainings and teachers these days, it’s very hard to tell the difference between a great training, and a bad training.

With the return of Paul Teodo to the podcast, we discuss the very valuable topic of teacher trainings and mentors.

We talk about the value of experience versus certifications.

Why there are many low-quality yoga trainings existing nowadays.

The student mindset and dedication to excellence.

Plus how Going Pro works and why we want to make our trainings as valuable as possible!

If you are considering taking a yoga teacher training, then this is a must listen to podcast episode!

• (00:00) Welcoming back Paul Teodo
• (04:21) We are excited about our upcoming training!
• (05:53) Why are yoga trainings becoming watered down and lower quality?
• (08:29) Where are the mentors and experienced yoga teachers?
• (11:02) If Harvard made you unemployable it wouldn’t be a good University…
• (14:35) Byron and Paul’s experiences as students
• (17:13) Are you committing to pursuing excellence as a teacher?
• (20:45) Get on the phone and ask questions of the teachers, investigate their experience
• (22:54) A teachers experience and real-world teaching is more valuable than information
• (24:30) Would you trust an MBA grad or college dropout with your money?
• (27:10) This training is going to be NEW and improved
• (28:03) Going Pro is going to add an extra layer of excellence to our trainings
• (30:12) Learn the rules like a professional, so you can break the rules like an artist!

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About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment
• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows
• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations
• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience
• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

Do you want to transform your life, correct bad habits, and overcome your negative beliefs?

What if we told you that it is as simple and easy as listening to some positive affirmations for a few minutes each day…

That is exactly what we are discussing in this podcast episode with Jaeden Schafer!

Jaeden is the creator of the Selfpause app, which provides positive affirmations and meditations.

It even lets you create your own personalized affirmations.

We discuss with him the power and benefit of positive affirmations.

The science behind how they work.

Plus how you can begin to implement your own positive affirmations into your life via the app as well.

This could be the most life-changing podcast episode yet, so don’t miss it!

You can get in contact with Jaeden via the following links:

Do you find yourself making negative self-talk or using negative language?

Then you should listen to this episode and learn about how the language you use can have a direct impact on your emotions and mindset.

We also discuss how language has a huge influence when teaching yoga.

Every aspect of it, from tone to volume, and to the actual choice of words themselves.

Just by changing your language, you can change the energy and tone of your yoga class.

For your own personal growth benefit and happiness, it is important to bring more awareness to your language, and for teaching yoga too.

So check out the full episode to learn how to improve your language internally and as a yoga teacher!

• (00:00) Introduction
• (01:44) Language creates meaning
• (02:24) How would you describe yourself?
• (03:58) What you believe to be true can be affected by the words you use
• (05:00) We all have different responses to language
• (07:39) How does your use of language impact how you teach a yoga class?
• (09:43) Negative self-talk language reinforces negative patterns
• (11:27) Repetition builds neural pathways with language too
• (13:24) Byron’s Douchebag story…
• (16:52) A yoga teaching example of the impact of language
• (17:35) As a yoga teacher mastering language will help you guide students to what you want them to feel
• (18:58) Byron’s Bryan Kest impersonation
• (20:47) Do you want to learn priority yoga cueing from Byron
• (22:23) As a teacher - try to find 10 different ways to cue the same movement!

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About Going Pro Yoga:

Going Pro Yoga is the first platform dedicated to supporting teachers in furthering their education and helping you transfer what you learn to the ‘real world’ of yoga immediately so that your confidence and your classes continue to grow!

**Create a Free Account at Going Pro Yoga and receive access to:

• The first EVER Priority Cueing System for over 120 yoga poses, with over 300 variations and modifications, to refine your teaching
• The first EVER Sequencing Vault with over 70 videos to plug-in-play and create your own sequences in minutes.
• The first EVER Injury Management and Injury Prevention Program for Yoga Teachers from a licensed Physical Therapist
• And so much more..

If you like what you see, there is an opportunity to become a founding member for a low-cost one time fee and you'll NEVER have to pay a monthly subscription.

Do you struggle with motivation and inspiration?

Well, we have an awesome bio-hack that can help you shift your feelings and mindset.

It’s all about shifting your physiology!

In this episode, we discuss how your physiology has an impact on your feelings and thoughts.

And by changing your physiology (getting up and moving) you can interrupt and change your feelings towards what you want them to be.

If you sometimes struggle to get on your mat or motivate yourself to go to that yoga class, then this is the episode for you…

• (00:00) If Matthew McConaughey and Byron had a baby…
• (01:30) Tony Robbins inspired this podcast episode
• (02:47) Try this at home, and see how you feel!
• (04:15) Here’s what to do when you’re struggling to go to yoga.
• (05:15) Drinking tea will make you more British
• (06:35) How to train your neural pathways
• (08:20) Ashtanga Yoga can create strong neural pathways
• (09:52) Another good posture/physiology test you can try at home!
• (10:42) Byron SHAKES THINGS UP!
• (13:26) What do you do if you’re at the club and want to dance?
• (14:25) As a yoga teacher, you can use movement to change up the energy in a class
• (15:58) Your energy as a yoga teacher dictates the energy of the class
• (17:57) Are you dead inside?
• (18:28) This is a bio-hack for getting inspiration and motivation
• (19:33) How quickly do you get out of bed when you wake up?

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About Going Pro Yoga:

Going Pro Yoga is the first platform dedicated to supporting teachers in furthering their education and helping you transfer what you learn to the ‘real world’ of yoga immediately so that your confidence and your classes continue to grow!

**Create a Free Account at Going Pro Yoga and receive access to:

• The first EVER Priority Cueing System for over 120 yoga poses, with over 300 variations and modifications, to refine your teaching
• The first EVER Sequencing Vault with over 70 videos to plug-in-play and create your own sequences in minutes.
• The first EVER Injury Management and Injury Prevention Program for Yoga Teachers from a licensed Physical Therapist
• And so much more..

If you like what you see, there is an opportunity to become a founding member for a low-cost one time fee and you'll NEVER have to pay a monthly subscription.

Do you want to attract and manifest money, joy, love or anything you want into your life?

What if we told you it was all possible just by one simple law…

The law of attraction!

In this episode, we discuss the fundamental ideas and principles of the law of attraction.

We talk about how gratitude plays a key role in allowing us to gradually attract what we want.

And how emotions, both negative and positive will affect what you attract.

If you want to start attracting something into your life then listen to the full episode to get started!

• (00:00) Do you know the Secret?
• (01:49) What is the law of attraction?
• (04:09) Channeling Abraham…
• (05:10) Your emotions and vibrational state impact your law of attraction
• (07:15) What does Michael want to attract
• (09:03) Gratitude is the key to allowing
• (11:43) Applying some Tony Robbins knowledge
• (13:32) Attraction works both ways, we can attract fear and become the victim.
• (15:45) Where do gratitude and guilt sit on the vibrational spectrum?
• (16:58) Gratitude and mindset is something you practice
• (18:00) Small steps and progressions create big changes over time
• (20:13) It’s time to start attracting and manifesting what you want in your life

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About Going Pro Yoga:

Going Pro Yoga is the first platform dedicated to supporting teachers in furthering their education and helping you transfer what you learn to the ‘real world’ of yoga immediately so that your confidence and your classes continue to grow!

**Create a Free Account at Going Pro Yoga and receive access to:

• The first EVER Priority Cueing System for over 120 yoga poses, with over 300 variations and modifications, to refine your teaching
• The first EVER Sequencing Vault with over 70 videos to plug-in-play and create your own sequences in minutes.
• The first EVER Injury Management and Injury Prevention Program for Yoga Teachers from a licensed Physical Therapist
• And so much more..

If you like what you see, there is an opportunity to become a founding member for a low-cost one time fee and you'll NEVER have to pay a monthly subscription.

Have you ever wondered about the impact porn and masturbation is having on your sex life?

Or maybe you’re curious about the yoga principles of storing up your sexual energy, and awakening your kundalini?

In this episode, we are diving deep into the sensitive and taboo subject of sexual dysfunction with the expertise of Eric Lougheed.

Eric is a coach that helps men resolve their erectile dysfunction naturally and is the founder of Morning Wood.

In this episode with Eric, we discuss how tinder and porn in the modern age are rewiring our neural pathways, and potentially causing psychological damage when it comes to the bedroom.

Plus how this relates to Brahmacharya and abstinence that is practiced in some forms of yoga.

Eric also gives some valuable advice that you can implement immediately if you are struggling with any of these issues.

To get in contact with Eric reach out through his Facebook page:

Do you struggle to maintain a healthy balance of Masculinity and Femininity?

Regardless of your gender, there are moments in life where we tend to lean more towards one versus the other.

Typically in a working environment, Masculinity becomes dominant.

In this episode, we discuss all aspects of what Masculinity and Femininity is and the best practices for creating balance in your life.

If you’re keen to find more balance in your life, then listen to the full episode and learn more.

• (02:54) Masculinity Defined
• (03:08) Femininity Defined
• (03:52) Visual Energetic Expression of Masculinity and Femininity
• (05:20) What Does it Feel Like to be Masculine / Feminine?
• (06:50) How to Balance Masculinity and Femininity with Work and Life
• (11:20) How Money and Masculinity are Connected
• (12:15) Comparing Masculinity and Femininity with Food
• (14:00) Exploring Different Ways the Body Can Be Out of Balance
• (14:40) How Do I Balance My Energies Around Other People?
• (15:15) Using Daily Practices to Maintain Balance
• (15:40) How it All Relates Back to Yoga
• (17:40) Toxic Masculinity
• (18:40) Toxic Femininity
• (21:40) How “Listening” Will Create Balance

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About Going Pro Yoga:

At Going Pro Yoga, we help yoga teachers become even better by teaching them new skills and giving them the tools they need to make their yoga classes safe, fun, and special for everyone.

**Right now you can try Going Pro Yoga FREE for 7-days and sample:

• All Tools Needed to Master Cueing, Sequencing, and Alignment

• Video Library of over 75 fully Sequenced Classes, Sequence Chunks, and Flows

• FIRST EVER Yoga Cueing System with Over 160 poses and Hundreds of Variations

• Wisdom Talks from over 20,000 Hours of Teaching Experience

• Anatomy and Injury Prevention as it relates to Yoga.

Do you struggle to maintain discipline in your yoga practice?

Today we are discussing all the aspects of discipline and how it relates to your yoga practice and yoga teaching.

We discuss the difference between discipline and integrity.

How discipline has both positive and negative connotations.

And we talk about the flip side of discipline; compulsiveness, impulsiveness, and going with the flow.

We take some time to dissect the mindset of being disciplined all the time, or allowing for some flow and compulsiveness.

Most importantly we talk about discipline for yoga teachers.

And we bring it back to probably the most common issue around discipline which is diet and food!

So, be disciplined and listen to the whole episode ;)

• (00:00) Nobody wants to tell you why discipline is so important!
• (01:48) Discipline can be viewed positively or negatively
• (03:16) The difference between discipline and integrity
• (04:49) Discipline is a core value of Going Pro
• (07:09) Does discipline disrupt flow state?
• (08:04) Attaching meaning to the word discipline
• (09:35) What’s the consequence of not being disciplined?
• (10:54) Are you compulsive or impulsive?
• (13:19) Discipline for a yoga teacher
• (15:01) Discipline around food and diet is something everyone can relate to
• (16:33) It’s a fat bastard austin powers kinda thing!
• (19:02) Be disciplined like a spider spinning it’s web
• (20:10) Going Pro offer

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SPECIAL OFFER: Become a founding member of the much anticipated Going Pro Yoga Platform!

A sneak peak of what’s inside:

• The first EVER Priority Cueing System for over 120 yoga poses, with over 300 variations and modifications, to refine your teaching
• The first EVER Sequencing Vault with over 70 videos to plug-in-play and create your own sequences in minutes.
• The first EVER Injury Management and Injury Prevention Program for Yoga Teachers from yours truly
• And so much more..

When you become a founding member, you'll NEVER have to pay a monthly subscription, you'll get access for life, and you'll receive all updates and addons.

The perks of being the first ones in the door!

Add your name and email to the waitlist and be the first one in the door!

In today’s episode, we are exploring flow state, what it is, and how to access it…

We start by explaining what flow state is.

What it feels like, and what helps Michael to achieve flow state.

We also discuss how flow state is a bit subjective, it can be different for everyone, and that it’s not just linked to creativity.

We of course discuss flow state in yoga, and yoga teaching, and how the breath helps us to find focus.

Best of all, Byron shows us a demonstration of flow state with some freestyle rapping!

So check out the full episode to catch all the details on flow state, and all of Byron’s brilliant rapping.

• (00:21) Flow state is like a cold plunge…
• (02:00) Have you experienced runner’s high?
• (03:08) What triggers Michael’s flow state?
• (04:02) What blocks flow state?
• (05:26) Flow state isn’t just for creatives, accountants can get in flow state too!
• (07:18) Flow state doesn’t have a concrete definition
• (08:53) You don’t want to be in flow state for too long…
• (11:05) Vinyasa uses the breath, and that can help achieve flow state
• (11:35) Byron’s flow state rap!
• (12:47) How developed your neural pathways are impacts accessing flow state
• (13:31) Flow state is different for each individual
• (15:14) The wrap (RAP) up
• (15:58) Going Pro offer

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SPECIAL OFFER: Become a founding member of the much anticipated Going Pro Yoga Platform!

A sneak peak of what’s inside:

• The first EVER Priority Cueing System for over 120 yoga poses, with over 300 variations and modifications, to refine your teaching
• The first EVER Sequencing Vault with over 70 videos to plug-in-play and create your own sequences in minutes.
• The first EVER Injury Management and Injury Prevention Program for Yoga Teachers from yours truly
• And so much more..

When you become a founding member, you'll NEVER have to pay a monthly subscription, you'll get access for life, and you'll receive all updates and addons.

The perks of being the first ones in the door!

Add your name and email to the waitlist and be the first one in the door!

In this episode, we get some incredibly valuable advice and insights from Rusty Price on trauma in its many forms.

We discuss the different ways that trauma occurs, shows up, and can impact your life.

And importantly we talk about how that comes into the yoga classrooms, and how it can affect you as a yoga teacher.

Rusty shares his experiences, his background, and his professional expertise as a hypnotherapist, natural therapist, neuro-linguistic programmer, and more!

He spills the beans on Big T and little t trauma, and how holding space and safety are big parts of being able to heal trauma in others.

Interestingly, we take a look at how your resonance and presence are key skills as a yoga teacher, and dealing with your own trauma is also critical.

We even touch upon the holy grail of spiritual teachings… Presence.

And different approaches to teaching someone to be present.

Lastly, we finish off with a really valuable recap and advice on dealing with your own traumas, so listen all the way to the end for that!

If you want to connect with Russ, you can do so via his instagram, and if you’re lucky you can book a free session with him:

In the final part 3 episode about legos and egos, we dive deeper into the how and why we develop an ego in the first place.

Starting from childhood, and how our interactions, upbringing and society actually impact our egos development.

Michael shares a poignant story about him as a curious child, and how a singular interaction can/could have had an impact on his ego’s development.

We then get further into how your ego stops you from listening.

And how it shows up around how we view and identify ourselves.

Especially for yoga teachers, there is so much attachment to how students view us and our classes.

So learning to put your ego to one side is an important skill to allow yourself to receive feedback and improve.

For all the details on the ego, listen to the full episode!

• (00:00) Introduction
• (01:41) Do kids have an ego?
• (03:33) Ego’s start to form at an early age
• (05:04) Michael’s childhood experience with race
• (06:26) Your society and your upbringing impact or define your ego
• (08:11) The ego is really good at stopping you from listening
• (09:12) What’s the risk in checking your ego?
• (10:45) Are you attached to how others perceive you
• (12:18) What if you’re just an okay or mediocre yoga teacher?
• (14:32) Going Pro offer

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SPECIAL OFFER: Become a founding member of the much anticipated Going Pro Yoga Platform!

A sneak peak of what’s inside:

• The first EVER Priority Cueing System for over 120 yoga poses, with over 300 variations and modifications, to refine your teaching
• The first EVER Sequencing Vault with over 70 videos to plug-in-play and create your own sequences in minutes.
• The first EVER Injury Management and Injury Prevention Program for Yoga Teachers from yours truly
• And so much more..

When you become a founding member, you'll NEVER have to pay a monthly subscription, you'll get access for life, and you'll receive all updates and addons.

The perks of being the first ones in the door!

Add your name and email to the waitlist and be the first one in the door!

In this second episode on the ego, we dive into some of the more personal stories, experiences, and encounters we have had with our own egos.

Byron shares about his first meaningful interaction around his ego.

Which was in an acting class at a younger age.

We also dial it back to a more basic level of ego-based thoughts, like comparing ourselves to other yoga teachers.

Which Byron makes a bold claim about!

Yoga teachers are of course not immune to dealing with their own egos, and you can see that from our own experiences and development too.

We bring the episode to a close, by sharing some advice on shaking things up, making energy shifts, and learning to check your own ego.

Stay tuned for the final episode, part 3 on the ego, coming next!

• (00:00) Introduction
• (01:46) Byron’s acting class story
• (03:51) What stories do you bring with you?
• (04:46) Do you destroy or befriend your ego?
• (07:33) Byron’s a better yoga teacher than Paul… he said it!
• (09:14) It’s all just brain chemistry
• (11:35) Sometimes you’ve got to shake things up
• (14:50) Byron’s own experience of his ego
• (16:05) It’s beautiful to check your ego
• (17:47) Going Pro offer

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SPECIAL OFFER: Become a founding member of the much anticipated Going Pro Yoga Platform!

A sneak peak of what’s inside:

• The first EVER Priority Cueing System for over 120 yoga poses, with over 300 variations and modifications, to refine your teaching
• The first EVER Sequencing Vault with over 70 videos to plug-in-play and create your own sequences in minutes.
• The first EVER Injury Management and Injury Prevention Program for Yoga Teachers from yours truly
• And so much more..

When you become a founding member, you'll NEVER have to pay a monthly subscription, you'll get access for life, and you'll receive all updates and addons.

The perks of being the first ones in the door!

Add your name and email to the waitlist and be the first one in the door!

This is the first of 3 episodes where we break down the tricky topic of the ego!

The ego is something that comes up in yoga teacher trainings and around the subject of yoga often.

Because yoga is considered one of many paths to ego death.

In this episode we break down the origins of the word ego.

Whether it really is a bad or good thing, and the yogic approach to the ego.

We also share some pointers and tips on calling out and recognising your own ego.

Plus a fun way to name your ego alter identity with the help of Lenny and Barabara!

Check out the full episode if you want to dive deeper into the topic of ego, and stay tuned for part 2...

• (00:00) Lego the ego
• (01:58) The origins of ego
• (03:53) The ego simply put is a block from the truth
• (05:34) Is the ego really a bad thing?
• (08:05) Are you scared of judgement from others about your ego?
• (09:09) The Kevin Costner effect is back!
• (11:24) The yogic perspective on ego
• (12:29) The ego can also be a victim
• (13:35) Michael and Christina alter ego’s Leonard and Barbara
• (14:44) Calling out your ego
• (16:07) The more touch points
• (16:54) Going Pro offer

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SPECIAL OFFER: Become a founding member of the much anticipated Going Pro Yoga Platform!

A sneak peak of what’s inside:

• The first EVER Priority Cueing System for over 120 yoga poses, with over 300 variations and modifications, to refine your teaching
• The first EVER Sequencing Vault with over 70 videos to plug-in-play and create your own sequences in minutes.
• The first EVER Injury Management and Injury Prevention Program for Yoga Teachers from yours truly
• And so much more..

When you become a founding member, you'll NEVER have to pay a monthly subscription, you'll get access for life, and you'll receive all updates and addons.

The perks of being the first ones in the door!

Add your name and email to the waitlist and be the first one in the door!