So you want to host a yoga retreat. Behind every beautiful retreat is a human like you. A yoga teacher navigating money, nerves, imposter syndrome, leadership decisions, and pivots... so I have some yoga retreat planning tips for ya.

In this episode, I’m sharing the real story of hosting my last retreat, the shaky anxiety before it began, the moments where the experience didn’t match my expectations, the double-booked shala, the breakfast pivot, the unexpected abundance, and the leadership lessons that no one talks about.

This is more than “how to host a yoga retreat.” This is about the energetics of hosting, and some stories that will keep you company. :)

Find Shawna on instagram: ⁠@shawnakru ⁠

⁠Shawna’s website⁠

GIVEAWAY: 1 YEAR OF OFFERINGTREE. Enter here by March 5th.

Try OfferingTree for free⁠ ⁠with my link here⁠⁠ (My sponsor)

⁠Join Yoga Teacher Roundtable free community events & mailing list⁠

Time stamps

00:00 intro

03:00 bold! year of the firehorse

04:30 7 steps to getting ready to host your retreat

08:30 backstory

13:50 giveaway!! 1 year free of offeringtree

15:50 number 1 nothing to hide, nothing to prove

20:55 taxi driver wisdom, don’t fixate on pain

24:30 number 2 carving from edge to edge

31:00 100 points allocation theory

33:00 number 3 leading is recognizing talent in others

36:40 number 4 abundance and budgeting

38:50 money as appreciation

43:40 number 5 see the people

45:30 notes advice

48:20 scholarship programs

50:00 number 6 how to be decisive

51:00 my first time driving in latin america

54:50 number 7 on the other side of that dream

57:00 regret & the magic gardener

In this episode, Carling Harps shares her journey through 15 years of teaching yoga and how her practice has evolved over time. She reflects on cueing, identity, accessibility, and learning to trust the different seasons of practice. Carling speaks to the importance of yoga community, joy and play in a movement practice, and why there is no self-liberation without collective liberation.

Carling’s Instagram:

@carlingnicole - https://www.instagram.com/carlingnicole/

Carling’s Website

Find Shawna on instagram: @shawnakru - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/shawnakru⁠⁠

Shawna’s website

Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year ⁠with my link here⁠: ⁠https://www.offeringtree.com/shawnakru?utm_source=leadership-and-yoga&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=partner-discount⁠ (My sponsor)

Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND

Yoga Teacher Roundtable free community events & mailing list

Time Stamps:

00:00 intro

01:10 offering tree

04:02 when you think about yoga, what do you see?

06:25 consistency in yoga practice

08:00 trusting the different seasons of your practice

11:00 identity in yoga

12:25 the misconception that yoga will heal you

14:41 hyper-individualism in yoga

16:51 self-realization vs self-obsession

18:00 “there is no self-liberation without collective-liberation”

20:14 fostering yoga community

26:00 walking alongside your students

28:55 cueing, alignment, & injuries

36:38 diversifying your movement practice

40:36 weightlifting & energy

46:23 play & joy in movement as an adult

48:37 as yoga teachers, what is our responsibility to address what’s going on in the world?

52:27 do you think yoga can change the world?

56:10 both systemic change and individual change

01:00:00 yoga is political

01:02:22 expand your yoga worldview

01:08:00 billboard question

It’s here!! The 2 hour special with Victoria Hutchins, aka the daily victorian, to ask her everything about life, creating, writing, poetry, fears, breakthroughs and her new book. Victoria is a handstanding poet. She is the woman behind the iconic poetry and yoga flow that feels like a dose of big sister reassurance mixed with a level of depth that reminds us what it means to be human. She brings us a sincere reminder to have hope. Her words are raw, moving, ironic at times, and hard to feel the same after hearing. Victoria is the author of Make Believe, host of the Soul Gum podcast, a yoga instructor, and a corporate lawyer turned content creator.

If you enjoyed this episode with Victoria, please drop me a rating and subscribe. THANK YOU. :)

Get a copy of MAKE BELIEVE

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/755776/make-believe-by-victoria-hutchins/

Find Victoria on instagram:

@thedailyvictorian

Find Shawna on instagram:

@shawnakru

Victoria’s podcast, Soul Gum

Try OfferingTree for free with my link ⁠here⁠ (My sponsor)

Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND ⁠https://www.tend.eco/collections/consultations⁠

Time stamps

00:00 Intro

06:00 Victoria’s process of believing any of this was possible.

14:00 Roots of childhood creation.

15:30 Writing poetry.

20:15 Understanding her own personality.

23:49 Pressure to know who we are and how things turn out is exhausting.

28:50 Thinking about your audience first as a creator. Rick Rubin?

32:10 Starting route to Taco Bell!!

37:30 Being able to process before creating.

41:00 Victoria’s routine vs. being fully consumed by one thing.

43:00 Feeling like you’re on an island can be a good thing.

47:50 Where does confidence come from?

53:00 How Victoria finds her words. A courtship.

56:30 (Creative) Fire just needs room to breathe.

1:00:00 How to follow a massive success.

1:06:00 Abundance mindset.

1:10:00 Jealousy: the people you are most jealous of show you it’s possible for you.

1:12:00 God, spirituality, death, heaven, Trust.

1:19:00 Questions to ponder with friends that you can’t answer.

1:21:00 Make Believe and after life.

1:24:00 Being taught that parts of us are “bad”

1:29:30 After you take the purity ring off.

1:36:00 Vulnerable, holy shit moments.

1:40:39 Let me let you go.

1:42:12 The process of writing a book.

1:43:30 Publishing a book

1:49:20 Victoria’s hope for all who read.

1:55:00 Weekday morning routine and structure.

1:57:45 An exceptional leader.

2:00:00 Victoria’s Billboard Message

In this episode of Leadership and Yoga, I sit down with Rey Cardenas, Austin-based yoga teacher, and co-studio owner of Practice Yoga Austin, to explore what it means to teach yoga in rhythm with the seasons. We talk astrology in the yoga class, the relationship between the sun and our bodies,consciousness, Ayurveda and seasonal practice, burnout and sustainability for yoga teachers, and how presence, sound, and language shape a truly transformational yoga experience. Rey also shares insights from Rudolf Steiner, yoga therapy, and his philosophy on teaching yoga as a co-created experience rather than a performance.

Practice with Rey at Practice Yoga Austin:

​​https://practiceyogaaustin.com/

Yoga Therapy program:

https://practiceyogaaustin.com/yoga-teacher-training/practice-yoga-therapy-training/

Rey’s instagram: @reys.awareness

https://www.instagram.com/reys.awareness/

Rey on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@reysawareness

Find Shawna on instagram:

@shawnakru - https://www.instagram.com/shawnakru

Try OfferingTree for free with my link here (My sponsor)

Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND https://www.tend.eco/collections/consultations

Yoga Teacher Roundtable free community events & mailing list:

https://www.shawnakru.com/fam

Time stamps:

00:00 Intro

03:53 Welcome back & why Rey’s teaching stands out

05:38 When astrology entered Rey’s yoga teaching

07:23 Scientific materialism, burnout, and losing rhythm

08:38 Rudolf Steiner, cultural ages, and the zodiac

10:38 Western vs Vedic astrology: personality vs karma

13:08 Why astrology belongs in a yoga class

14:48 Capricorn season, liminal time, and seasonal support

17:23 Teaching with the seasons instead of against them

19:58 Forward bends, backbends, and seasonal consciousness

21:58 Fall energy, overthinking, and teaching to what students feel

23:08 Introducing new ideas without alienating students

24:13 Going against trends and trusting your teaching path

26:58 Living and teaching yoga in rhythm at Practice Yoga Austin

27:59 Ayurveda and seasonal yoga practices

29:00 Summer vs winter yoga: heat, yin, and balance

30:08 The three gunas: tamas, rajas, and sattva

31:43 Cycles of life, injury, aging, and sustainable practice

34:38 Karma, grace, and trusting the unfolding path

36:28 Making mistakes before and after 35

39:28 Ascension, service, and responsibility on the spiritual path

43:18 What makes an exceptional yoga class

45:28 Presence, attention, and co-creating experience

48:33 Advanced cueing and anchoring awareness beyond the body

51:38 Sound, mantra, and the meaning behind language

54:28 Poetry, tone, and shaping the mood of a class

56:13 Mantra yoga, Sanskrit, and sound consciousness

58:13 Yoga therapy as “grad school for yoga”

1:00:13 Science, yoga therapy, and medical integration

1:03:13 Billboard question & Rey’s message to the world

This episode is exactly what is sounds like. Me checking in, telling you some updates, like a little nonsensical voice note update from me to a friend (you, dear listener). Yet, this nonsense episode is oddly motivational and also somewhat historical if you've ever been curious about when I started teaching yoga and how I decided to host a retreat after only teaching for a year and why it actually worked.... and lead to me hosting my 5th (not 4th like I said in the pod) yoga retreat in Costa Rica right now, as we speak!

Find Shawna on instagram:

@shawnakru - https://www.instagram.com/shawnakru

Yoga Teacher Roundtable free community events & mailing list:

https://www.shawnakru.com/fam

Own a copy of the guided journal I created, code POD for $33.

https://www.ritualofwritingjournal.com/

"The only thing that matters with dreams is that you keep them alive." -Londrelle

Today, I take you on a journey of what it feels like to be seen as you chase your dreams, I show you all of my bad angles and "reasons" why I thought I wasn't good enough for my dreams, and why I was wrong.

Today's episode is fire: a fire of inspiration and a bit of a fire under your ass to go after those big, lofty ideas. But I also throw you a lifeline of tangible tips for staying organized like a to-do list HACK.

Find Shawna on instagram:

@shawnakru - https://www.instagram.com/shawnakru

Try OfferingTree for free with my link here (My sponsor)

Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND - https://www.tend.eco/collections/consultations

Yoga Teacher Roundtable free community events & mailing list:

https://www.shawnakru.com/fam

Own a copy of the guided journal I created, code POD for $33.

https://www.ritualofwritingjournal.com/

Contributors: @iamcleer and @spiritualshores

Time stamps:

00:00 intro

01:20 let me show u all my bad angles

07:00 heartbreak of following dreams

10:50 know ur stories & OfferingTree trial

13:15 Londrelle on dreams

17:30 no good vibes only meditation

19:00 how to problem solve better

20:30 to-do list HACK

24:00 Ayurveda with TEND

25:450 magic vs logic

28:00 the mind of light - Richard Rudd

32:00 someone who makes things feel easy

34:00 David Swenson on energy to keep going

In this episode, Naoise Ni Bhroin shares her journey into yoga and how teaching through the Irish language has become a way to connect people both to the practice of yoga and to cultural belonging. She reflects on the evolution of yoga in Ireland and growing confidence as a yoga teacher and leader. Naoise also discusses facilitating large yoga events, including Techno Yoga, the importance of ritual and community, and what it means to teach with authenticity and integrity.

Follow Naoise on Instagram: @yogalenaoise

Naoise’s Website: https://www.yogalenaoise.com/

Find Shawna on instagram:

@shawnakru

Shawna’s website: ⁠https://www.shawnakru.com/⁠

Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year ⁠with my link here⁠: ⁠https://www.offeringtree.com/shawnakru?utm_source=leadership-and-yoga&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=partner-discount⁠ (My sponsor)

Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND - ⁠https://www.tend.eco/collections/consultations⁠

Time Stamps:

00:00 intro

01:13 offering tree and TEND

07:06 how did you find yoga?

09:25 naoise’s first yoga teacher

10:53 the yoga scene in Ireland

12:00 the Irish language

17:19 teaching yoga in Irish

19:46 how did it feel to teach your first yoga class?

23:13 how has your perspective on teaching yoga evolved over time?

24:26 public speaking & confidence as a yoga teacher

27:40 hosting yoga events and techno yoga

31:53: how do you bring your dreams to life?

35:03 finding aligned community

38:21 grounding rituals before teaching a yoga class/event

40:00 teaching on off days

46:10 connecting people with the Irish language

48:47 yoga is a practice of self-awareness and interconnection

50:12 what makes an exceptional yoga teacher?

51:47 billboard question

In this roundtable episode, yoga teachers from around the country gather to reflect on how yoga has shaped their lives and how yoga can shape the world. Through honest stories of grief, connection, and presence, they share insights on how the practice of yoga can help us connect with ourselves, our communities, and create a ripple effect that extends into our lives and the lives of our students.

Thank you to the participating yoga teachers:

Ally Braxton

@allybraxton

Ally Braxton on Facebook

Denisse Aimar

@denisse.aimar

linktr.ee/denisseaimar

Hannah Winokur

@hannypack

Jen Armistead

@yogaendeavour

yogaendeavour.com

Dr. Meredith Calvert

@meriyogasf

meriyoga.com

wildcalmretreats.com

Dr. Meredith's Podcast "Calm With Me"

Victoria Luciana

@__victorialuciana

Do you want to join the next Yoga Teacher Roundtable episode? Join the waitlist here: https://www.shawnakru.com/yoga-teacher-roundtable

Find Shawna on instagram: @shawnakru - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/shawnakru⁠⁠

Shawna’s website: ⁠https://www.shawnakru.com/⁠

Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year ⁠with my link here⁠: ⁠https://www.offeringtree.com/shawnakru?utm_source=leadership-and-yoga&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=partner-discount⁠ (My sponsor)

Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND - ⁠https://www.tend.eco/collections/consultations⁠

Time Stamps:

00:00 intro

02:09 how did yoga change your life?

06:32 “yoga allowed me to save myself”

08:47 yoga practice during grief

13:00 how can yoga change the world?

15:54 presence and movement over fear

20:25 sharing the wisdom of yoga creates a ripple effect

25:10 “yoga enables you to be your own home”

27:57 developing a lens of compassion and kindness

30:40 start by being honest with yourself on the mat

32:16 billboard messages

40:13 closing