Yoga Teacher Confidential: Secrets of Becoming a Great Yoga Teacher – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, I’m celebrating 31 episodes of Yoga Teacher Confidential by looking back at what we’ve covered in season 1—an entire season focused on building confidence as a yoga teacher. From centering your students to handling nerves and dealing with difficult moments, we’ve built a foundation to support your teaching for the long haul.

I’ll revisit key lessons, like:

• Why you’re the guide, not the hero
• How to reframe student walkouts
• The power of learning names
• What blank expressions really mean
• Why consistency matters more than variety

Then, I share what’s coming next: a shift from a rigid seasonal format to a more fluid, responsive release schedule. I’ll still be touching on themes like classroom management, studio dynamics, and career growth—but now with the freedom to respond to your questions and insights in real time.

This episode marks a turning point, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have you along for the ride. Here’s to growing together in confidence, one class at a time.

* Scavenger hunt: if you're watching this on Spotify as a video podcast, you'll notice my "safe word" that I missed while editing—the first one to comment there with the correct word will win a prize!

Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!

For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Threads
• Bluesky
• Pinterest

And come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at ...

What sets apart a truly magnetic yoga teacher—the kind students will rearrange their lives to practice with? It’s not the perfect playlist or poetic cueing. It’s authenticity.

In this episode of Yoga Teacher Confidential, I explain why being yourself isn’t just a cliché—it’s your greatest teaching asset. We’ll explore:

• Why imitation holds you back
• How to lean into your natural personality
• The difference between performance and presence
• How to develop signature cues and themes that reflect your life experience
• The liberating truth about not pleasing everyone

Whether you’re new to teaching or refining your seasoned voice, this episode offers real-world strategies to grow your confidence and deepen your impact.

If you’re ready to step into your full teaching potential, join me in the Mastering the Art of Yoga Sequencing Mentorship Program. Let’s teach from the inside out.

Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!

For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Threads
• Bluesky
• Pinterest

And come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at ...

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 intimidating.

In this episode, my longtime collaborator Alexandra DeSiato joins me to share her expert insights on how to theme authentically, balance personal and universal themes, and engage students in a meaningful way. We also discuss our new book, Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses, Volume 2, and why it’s a game-changer for yoga teachers looking for fresh inspiration.

Preorder the book!

📖 Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/47C9WXP

Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!

For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Threads
• Bluesky
• Pinterest

And come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at ...

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 set rates that align with your worth, and practical strategies to help you feel confident when naming your price.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why undercharging can actually make teaching less fulfilling

• How to price private lessons, workshops, and corporate classes

• The 5-step process to determine your ideal rate

• How pricing impacts student commitment and engagement

• Real pricing examples and strategies to adjust your rates with confidence

💡 Bonus: Grab my Know Your Worth Guide and free training:

https://sagerountree.com/athletes?utm_source=buzzsprout&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=confident_pricing

Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!

For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Threads
• Bluesky
• Pinterest

And come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at ...

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 engaging, student-centered class, from beginner-friendly cues to trauma-sensitive strategies.

Whether you’re wondering when or even whether to demo, how to confidently observe, or how to create meaningful student connections, this episode has you covered.

Join me and Joe-Paul Naughton-Travers for “A Framework for Teaching Trauma-Sensitive Yoga” at Carrboro Yoga in May 2025: https://www.wellnessliving.com/rs/event/carolinayogacompany?k_business=130621&k_class_tab=33774&uid=0&id_class_tab=2

Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!

For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Threads
• Bluesky
• Pinterest

And come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at ...

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 learned, and how listening to feedback led to my mentorship program: Mastering the Art of Yoga Sequencing, aka MMM.

You’ll hear:

• Why clear communication is key for workshops and classes

• How to shift from “winging it” to confident lesson planning

• How I learned that you want done-for-you resources (I should have known, so do I!)

• The exciting details of my new six-month mentorship program

Affirmation for this episode:

“There’s no failure, just feedback.”

👉 Learn more and join my newsletter for updates: sagerountree.com/newsletter
👉 Design workshops that sell out with confidence (avoid flops like mine): free five-day email course on workshops 

Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!

For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Threads
• Bluesky
• Pinterest

And come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at ...

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 income. But it can be intimidating to get started!

In this episode, guest Jenni Rawlings and I explore how yoga teachers can improve their on-camera presence. Jenni shares her journey from creating DVDs to managing her online platform and offers tips for building connection and community in asynchronous settings.

💡 Affirmation: “Your message is what matters.”

📌 Explore Jenni’s classes and continuing education:

https://www.jennirawlings.com

🎧 Listen to this episode and explore more at:

https://sagerountree.com/the-yoga-teacher-confidential-podcast-with-sage-rountree/

Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!

For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Threads
• Bluesky
• Pinterest

And come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at ...

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 Level
Why starting your planning with individual poses is like spinning your own thread—it’s inefficient and unnecessary.
2.[00:01:24] Get Granular: Think Through Planes of Movement
How breaking poses into forward-back, side-to-side, and rotational movements simplifies planning and creates balance.
3.[00:07:02] Go Big: Sequence in Chunks
How to create modular class segments, like putting together outfits or meals, to streamline planning and save time.
4.[00:11:20] Modular Planning Helps Everything
Why modular sequencing gives students the consistency they crave and helps you teach with confidence.
5.[00:12:05] Affirmation
“I don’t make things harder than they need to be.”
6.[00:12:22] Resources to Help You
Books, tools, and mentorship opportunities to deepen your understanding of modular sequencing.

Links and Resources Mentioned

• My book The Art of Yoga Sequencing
• Sign up for my newsletter to get a sample lesson plan
• Join the waitlist for Mastering the Art of Yoga Sequencing

Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!

For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Threads
• Bluesky
• Pinterest

And come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at ...

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 students.

Chapters:

1.[00:00:00] Why Niche Teaching Matters

Teaching a niche helps you stand out and serve your students better.

2.[00:01:00] Passion Shines When You Teach What You Love

Learn how enthusiasm for your niche builds trust and connection with your students.

3.[00:01:59] My Niche: Teaching Yoga to Athletes

I talk about my own niche and how focusing on recovery and mental presence has shaped my teaching.

4.[00:06:06] Find Your Blue Ocean

How to create a unique space in a crowded yoga field with “blue ocean” thinking.

5.[00:06:48] Yoga for Athletes Is Not Athletic Yoga

Why athletes—and most students—benefit from restorative yoga focused on recovery and mindfulness.

6.[00:07:40] Comfort Zone Yoga

Why finding comfort with comfort is transformative for students and teachers alike.

7.[00:09:00] Affirmation: Teach Your Niche with Enthusiasm

Embrace your niche with this reminder of the value you bring to your students.

👉 Learn how to specialize and thrive as a yoga teacher with my free workshop: Double Your Income Teaching Yoga to Athletes

Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!

For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Threads
• Bluesky
• Pinterest

And come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at ...

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 identify areas for growth and fast-track your teaching improvement.

Chapters:

1.[00:00:00] The Best Thing You Can Do for Your Teaching

The uncomfortable but transformative habit that will elevate your teaching.

2.[00:02:09] The Power of Video for Self-Evaluation

Video recordings can help you spot verbal tics, unclear cues, and pacing issues.

3.[00:06:29] How to Use Video for Growth

I walk you through the steps for recording your classes and reviewing them effectively.

4.[00:09:00] Bonus Exercises for Deeper Insights

Discover next-level techniques like transcribing your teaching or following your own class to evaluate pacing and clarity.

5.[00:11:00] Affirmation: I Self-Evaluate for Growth

Remind yourself why self-assessment is a vital tool for serving your students.

👉 Ready to improve your teaching? Check out my books and mentorship opportunities:

Resources Mentioned:

• The Art of Yoga Sequencing

• Mentorship waitlist: sagerountree.com/live-online/

• Descript app

Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!

For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Threads
• Bluesky
• Pinterest

And come explore my mentorship program, my Yoga Class Prep Station membership, continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs, and my many books for yoga teachers. It's all at ...