Yoga Teacher Confidential: Secrets of Becoming a Great Yoga Teacher
Yoga Teacher Confidential is your backstage pass to the unspoken truths of being a yoga teacher. Sage Rountree, PhD, E-RYT500, dives into the real challenges and rewards of teaching yoga, offering expert advice and secrets to help you build confidence, connect with your students, and teach with authenticity. Sage draws on her two decades of experience teaching yoga, running a studio, and training teachers to share practical insights you can use right away. You'll also hear advice from her books, including Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses, The Art of Yoga Sequencing, and The Professional Yoga Teacher's Handbook. Whether you’re navigating imposter syndrome, mastering classroom presence, or refining your skills to teach specialized niches like athletes, this podcast empowers you to lead your classes with clarity, grace, and ease.
Episodes
24 episodes
Confidence in Private Lessons: Overcome Fear and Thrive
Many yoga teachers avoid private lessons—not because they lack skill, but because they lack confidence. If you’ve ever felt unsure about pricing, session structure, or meeting a student’s needs, this episode is for you. I share my journey from ...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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9:53
The Power of Feedback: How to Grow as a Yoga Teacher
Teaching yoga can be isolating, especially when feedback is scarce. But feedback is crucial for growth. In this episode, I explore why feedback is hard to get, how to collect it, and why peer feedback is the most valuable. Plus, I share an invi...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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10:56
Confident Theming: Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses with Alexandra DeSiato
How can you theme your yoga classes with confidence? Theming is what transforms a sequence into an experience, leaving students inspired long after class ends. But for many teachers, theming—especially when it involves yoga philosophy—can feel ...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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33:34
Confident Pricing: Charge What You’re Worth as a Yoga Teacher
Are you undercharging for your yoga classes? Setting confident prices isn’t just about making more money—it’s about ensuring your students value your work. In this episode, I break down why undercharging hurts both you and your students, how to...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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16:56
Confident Demoing to Serve Your Students Best
Your yoga mat isn’t just a raft keeping you safe—it’s a tool for connecting with your students. In this episode, you'll learn how to balance demonstrating poses with stepping off the mat to observe and connect. Hear ways to create a more e...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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12:27
How I Turned a Workshop Flop into a Game-Changing Program
Have you ever launched a project that didn’t go as planned? In this episode, I get honest about how my Plan a Month in an Hour workshop fell short—and how it inspired me to create something even better. I share what went wrong, the lessons I le...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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15:57
How to Build Confidence on Camera with Jenni Rawlings
Developing confidence on camera is essential for yoga teachers looking to grow their careers. Whether it’s creating short promotional videos or teaching full-length online classes, on-camera teaching can open up new opportunities for impact and...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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27:43
Class Planning Made Easy: Modular Sequencing for Confident Yoga Teachers
sequencing. With this approach, you’ll think big and small at the same time, creating balanced, engaging classes with ease.Chapters:1.[00:00:00] Don’t Start at the Pose LevelWhy starting your planning with indivi...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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15:02
Teach Your Niche: How Specializing Makes You a Better Yoga Teacher
Want to become (almost) everyone’s favorite yoga teacher? The secret to thriving as a teacher is to specialize—teach your niche. When you focus on what you love, your enthusiasm shines, your confidence grows, and you connect deeply with your st...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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10:06
The Most Painful and Productive Way to Improve as a Yoga Teacher
What’s the best way to improve your yoga teaching? It’s using the tool you may be holding right now: your phone. It’s simple, free—and yes, a bit painful. In this episode, I walk you through how recording and reviewing your classes can help you...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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12:05
Managing Burnout: Strategies for Sustainable Yoga Teaching
Feeling burnt out as a yoga teacher? You’re not alone. Teaching yoga is rewarding, but it can also be draining if we don’t care for ourselves. In this episode, I explore what burnout looks like, where it comes from, and, most importantly, how t...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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19:13
Teaching Yoga Is a Conversation: How to Truly Connect with Your Students
Your yoga class isn’t a monologue—it’s a conversation. While you only get to hear your side of it, your students hear both. Becoming a great yoga teacher means giving them the time and space to contribute their side of the conversation, even if...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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8:36
From Nerves to Confidence: Tackling Imposter Syndrome in Yoga Teaching
What if your nerves are actually a good thing for your yoga teaching? When you shift your thinking to appreciate how much you care about yoga and your students, nerves can be a secret key to confident yoga teaching!Let's refram...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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18:31
Why Every Yoga Teacher Should Lead Workshops (Even Beginners!)
Life as a yoga teacher can feel like a grind, but workshops can change that.Whether you’re a fresh graduate of your 200-hour training or a seasoned teacher, a workshop is a smart next choice for your yoga career. Leading a yoga wo...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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19:16
Holding Space When Times Are Hard
Life is hard—but how we show up for our students in difficult times can make all the difference. In this episode, I talk about ways to create a consistent, supportive space for yoga students during tough times—for them, or for us as teac...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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22:09
Why Blank Expressions in Your Yoga Class Aren’t What You Think
Ever looked out during a yoga class and thought, “Why do my students look so disengaged? They must be hating this!” Good news: those blank faces are often a sign of deep connection—not disinterest.Let's have a frank conversation about th...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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8:56
Consistency Beats Variety in Yoga Class Sequencing
Are you spending too much time planning each yoga class? Changing your approach could benefit both you and your students! You’ll feel more relaxed, your students will grow better, and the entire experience will be more fun for everyone involved...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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24:37
Building Confidence as a Yoga Teacher with Karen Fabian
Did you know confidence as a yoga teacher is a skill you can build? It’s true—confidence isn’t an innate trait; it’s a skill developed over time, through practice, and by addressing the self-limiting beliefs that hold us back. In this episode I...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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28:07
Are Your Strengths as a Practitioner Holding You Back as a Teacher?
Could the very things that drew you to yoga be standing in your way as a teacher? In this episode, let's explore how the strengths that make you a natural fit for yoga can also become blind spots in your teaching. When you haven’t had to strugg...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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21:24
The Importance of Learning Your Students' Names
Students come to group classes to be seen. One of the best ways to show you see them is to learn and use their names. From personal anecdotes to practical tips, I explain how getting names right can enhance the student-teacher connection ...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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9:30
When Students Walk Out of Class: It's Not About You
Sometimes students walk out of class—and rarely, if ever, is it about YOU. Let me tell you about the times I have walked out of classes and why it was never about the teacher. And I'll help you handle student walkouts in your own yoga classes w...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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13:06
The Secret to Confidence as a Yoga Teacher: You Only Have to Be You
In this episode, I recount a pivotal experience from my second-ever class that taught me to embrace her own teaching style without feeling the need to apologize for not being like others. This story is a reminder for all yoga teachers: you...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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12:09
How Centering Your Students Transforms Your Teaching
Are you unintentionally messing up by placing too much emphasis on yourself in class? Learn how to make your students the heroes of their own practice and watch your teaching career flourish. In this episode, I present the powerfu...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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25:46