The Yoga Teacher Podcast

Yoga Teacher Burnout: Why Teaching Feels So Hard Now

Why does teaching yoga start to feel harder, more exhausting, or full of self-doubt?
In this episode, Ula and Brea talk honestly about yoga teacher burnout, self-talk, and comparison. How pressure, perfectionism, and unrealistic expectations show up while teaching, not just online or off the mat.
They unpack why so many yoga teachers internalize mistakes as personal failure, how social media and studio culture add invisible pressure, and why “something is wrong with me” becomes the default inner narrative—even for experienced teachers.
This conversation covers:
– Yoga teacher burnout and emotional exhaustion
– Self-talk, comparison, and perfectionism
– Teaching mistakes and fear of doing it wrong
– Social media pressure in the yoga industry
– When a studio or style isn’t the right fit
– Learning to trust mistakes instead of fearing them
Whether you’re a yoga teacher, studio owner, or someone who leads others, this episode offers a grounded look at teaching as a human, not a performance.
Links:
Try Heart and Bones Online Yoga Studio:
Enjoy an entire month in the Heart + Bones online yoga studio for just $1 with this coupon code: PODCASTMONTH
Start Here: https://heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/
Modern Yoga Teacher Training : https://heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/yoga-certification-course/
Ula’s Substack: https://avibrantmind.substack.com/

5 Things Every Yoga Teacher Needs to Hear in 2026

What does it actually mean to be a yoga teacher in 2026?
In this episode, we break down the five things we believe every yoga teacher needs to hear right now. Not more pressure. Not more perfection. Not another trend to keep up with.
We talk about nervous system literacy as the new alignment, why experience matters more than choreography, how teaching is shifting away from performance, and what sustainable teaching really looks like over the long term.
This conversation is for teachers who feel the tired of trying to do it all, teachers who care deeply about their students, and teachers who want to keep teaching without burning themselves out.
Inside this episode:
• Nervous system first teaching
• Invitational classrooms over top down authority
• Experience over choreography
• Why perfection is not the goal
• Longevity as a real teaching skill
Want to go deeper?
Learn more about our anatomy-informed online yoga teacher trainings (200hr + 300hr): https://heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/yoga-certification-course/
Ula's Substack: https://avibrantmind.substack.com/
Try Heart and Bones Online Yoga Studio:
Enjoy an entire month in the Heart + Bones online yoga studio for just $1 with this coupon code: PODCASTMONTH
Start Here: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/

The Problem Isn’t Motivation, It’s Friction

Why the heck aren’t we feeling motivated, even when we want to change?
And why do we keep picking arbitrary dates to overhaul our lives, as if motivation is something we can schedule?
In this episode, Brea and Ula chat through why motivation is so often blamed when the real issue is friction. We explore how cultural conditioning, perfectionism, guilt, and unrealistic expectations quietly get in the way of change, and why “trying harder” rarely helps.
This is a conversation about small shifts, seasonal rhythms, honest self-inquiry, and building practices that actually fit real lives. It’s for anyone who’s felt stuck, behind, or convinced they’re doing something wrong—and for teachers who want to create spaces that feel supportive instead of pressurized.
PRACTICE WITH HEART + BONES
Enjoy an entire month in the Heart + Bones online yoga studio for just $1 with this coupon code: PODCASTMONTH
Start Here
Want to go deeper?
Learn more about our anatomy-informed online yoga teacher trainings (200hr + 300hr): https://heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/yoga-certification-course/

Why January Goals Fail (And What to Do Instead)

January has a way of turning everything up to eleven: goals, pressure, expectations, and the belief that we’re supposed to become entirely new people overnight.
In this episode, Brea and Ula unpack why extreme challenges feel so seductive this time of year, and why so many of them leave us burned out, disconnected, or feeling like we’ve failed before we’ve even started. They talk about grind culture, wellness FOMO, and the noise of social media—and how all of it shows up not just in our minds, but in our bodies.
Rather than rejecting goals altogether, this conversation offers a different way in: one rooted in self-trust, nervous system awareness, and small, sustainable shifts. They explore why consistency beats intensity, why rest isn’t a reward you have to earn, and why real change doesn’t happen in isolation.
The episode closes with an invitation to approach January with more kindness, more curiosity, and a lot less pressure, plus a look at the Small Shifts Challenge as a way to practice this work together, in community.
Takeaways:
January pressure isn’t personal, it’s cultural.
Extreme challenges work for a few people, but often fail the rest of us.
Grind culture has quietly shaped how we approach wellness and self-care.
If it feels panicky or FOMO-driven, that’s information.
Sustainable change comes from consistency, not intensity.
Small habits build momentum without activating stress or shame.
Rest isn’t laziness, it’s part of how we grow.
We don’t change in isolation; community matters.
Listening to your body is a skill you can practice.
Kindness toward yourself makes habit-building possible.
PRACTICE WITH HEART + BONES
Enjoy an entire month in the Heart + Bones online yoga studio for just $1 with this coupon code: PODCASTMONTH
Start Here: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/

The Secret to Feeling Confident as a Yoga Teacher

If you’ve been doubting yourself as a yoga teacher, it might not be about confidence at all. More often, it’s simply that you haven’t discovered what kind of teacher you actually are yet.
So let’s explore that together.
Brea walks you through the patterns we all fall into as teachers—how we plan our classes, how we cue, the pace we love, the people we feel most at home teaching—and helps you notice the strengths you already have (even the ones you haven’t recognized as strengths).
This gentle self-study is where clarity comes from.
And clarity is what builds real confidence.
Take the free “What Kind of Teacher Are You?” quiz: https://heartandbonesyoga.typeform.com/to/GOQ4lYss
Come back and share your type in the comments, we love hearing them!
What you’ll reflect on:
• Are you more intuitive or more structured when you plan?
• Do you cue with precision, imagery, or a mix of both?
• How do you learn and integrate yoga in your own body?
• What formats feel good for your nervous system?
• Who do you actually want to teach?
• How much teaching is the right amount for your life right now?
Heart + Bones supports yoga teachers in finding their voice, honouring their strengths, and teaching in sustainable ways that feel like you.
Want to go deeper?
Learn more about our anatomy-informed online yoga teacher trainings (200hr + 300hr): https://heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/yoga-certification-course/
PRACTICE WITH HEART + BONES
Enjoy an entire month in the Heart + Bones online yoga studio for just $1 with this coupon code: PODCASTMONTH
Start Here: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/

Why We Stopped Running Yoga Retreats (and What Brought Us Back)

Are yoga retreats really worth it, for teachers or students? brea and Ula share the truth about running yoga retreats: the money, the burnout, the logistics no one talks about, and what finally made us return after a six-year retreat break.
Whether you’re thinking about hosting your first yoga retreat or deciding if a Tuscany retreat is right for you, this conversation gives you an honest look behind the scenes.
We talk about why retreats aren’t vacations for teachers, how to structure a retreat people actually enjoy, and the hidden costs and “rigamarole” that often lead to burnout. We also share what made our recent Tuscany retreat so special—and why we decided to go back.
Have questions about running a yoga retreat? Drop them in the comments!
Heart and Bones Tuscany Yoga Retreat, April 2026: https://heartandbonesyoga.com/tuscany-yoga-retreat/
👉 Subscribe for more yoga teacher tips, anatomy-informed practices, and real conversations about the business of teaching yoga.
🔗 Want to go deeper?
Learn more about our anatomy-informed online yoga teacher trainings (200hr + 300hr): https://heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/yoga-certification-course/
Enjoy an entire month in the Heart + Bones online yoga studio for just $1 with this coupon code: PODCASTMONTH Start Here: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/

Nervous System 101 for Yoga Teachers (The Truth Behind “Calming Down”)

If you’ve ever been told to “just calm down”, or felt pressure to be constantly relaxed to support your nervous system, this episode is for you.
In this honest, practical conversation, we break down what your nervous system actually is, how stress really works (yes, including cortisol), why “being calm” is NOT the goal, and what regulation looks like in real life for yoga teachers and students.
We cover:
Why the nervous system is more than a buzzword
Cortisol, stress, and why your body adapts (even when you don’t notice)
What it feels like to move with your nervous system in mind
How to support your students’ nervous systems in class
Why tiny daily actions (not perfection) make the biggest change
What we’ve personally learned about burnout, busy seasons, and rest
Whether you’re a yoga teacher or a student, this episode gives you practical, realistic tools to support your nervous system, without needing an hour a day, a perfect routine, or a “calm girl era.”
Join for $1 for 30 days of Heart + Bones Online Yoga Studio, use code PODCASTMONTH
Start Here: https://heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/
Your nervous system will thank you.
Want to go deeper?
Learn more about our anatomy-informed online yoga teacher trainings (200hr + 300hr):
https://heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/yoga-certification-course/
Ula aka ‪@avibrantmind‬ on youtube
Substack: https://avibrantmind.substack.com/
Main Account: https://www.instagram.com/avibrantmind/
Book Account: https://www.instagram.com/libri_ursae/
 
Books Ula mentioned:
Burnout: https://www.burnoutbook.net/
The Anxious Generation: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book

Take 10 with Brea (Full Body Scan Meditation)

This episode is a little different from what we normally do. Usually you hear Brea, or the two of us together, exploring a topic in depth.
Today, we’re offering you a guided experience rather than a conversation.
Think of this as an opportunity to pause. Instead of listening to us talk, you get ten minutes that are fully for you, a chance to reset your nervous system and reconnect with your body.
And if you’re a yoga teacher, there’s something here for you too. Practicing with other teachers is one of the simplest ways to spark inspiration, and this guided body scan might give you ideas for how to bring a moment of grounding into your own classes.
What to expect:
Gentle guidance through each area of the body
Breath awareness to calm the nervous system
Gratitude practice to close your session
PRACTICE WITH HEART + BONES
Enjoy an entire month in the Heart + Bones online yoga studio for just $1 with this coupon code: PODCASTMONTH
Start Here: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/

Why We’re Building Community on YouTube (Not Chasing Likes on Instagram)

Yoga teachers: if you’re tired of posting reels and wondering why followers don’t turn into students, this video is for you. In this conversation we share why we’ve shifted from Instagram to YouTube and podcasting, how long-form content supports a sustainable teaching business, and what “community” really means for online yoga in 2025.
In this video you’ll learn:
Why Instagram’s content model started working against us
How YouTube rewards longevity and community over rapid clicks
What platform strategy looks like for a yoga teacher-business
How to pick the right platform (and let go of the rest)
PRACTICE WITH HEART + BONES Enjoy an entire month in the Heart + Bones online yoga studio for just $1 with this coupon code: PODCASTMONTH
Start Here: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/
Want to go deeper?
Learn more about our anatomy-informed online yoga teacher trainings (200hr + 300hr): https://heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/yoga-certification-course/
 
Ula's Substack

What I Got Wrong as a New Yoga Teacher (and What I Do Now)

What did you get wrong as a new yoga teacher? Brea looks back on 20+ years—“yoga voice,” prescriptive cueing, and the Pinterest-quote myth that “the poses you don’t like are the ones you need.” We unpack why those didn’t serve students, how to shift to action cues, what to do with feedback (good and bad), and how to find your voice without micromanaging bodies.
In this episode you’ll learn:
Why “yoga voice” happens—and how to sound like you
The problem with prescriptive, micromanaging cues
Action cues that protect autonomy and land better in real bodies
Hypermobility, proprioception, and why “where should I feel this?” backfires
Handling feedback + clarifying your why as a teacher
Evolving your teaching without losing the heart of yoga
Resources + next steps:
Subscribe for more yoga teacher tips, anatomy-informed practices, and real conversations about the business of teaching yoga.
Want to go deeper?
Learn more about our anatomy-informed online yoga teacher trainings (200hr + 300hr): https://heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/yoga-certification-course/
Enjoy an entire month in the Heart + Bones online yoga studio for just $1 with this coupon code: PODCASTMONTH
Start Here: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/