Sage Rountree's Blog, page 10

Affirmation: I Hold the Space with Sympathy

I hold the space with sympathy and clean energy. I create a container in class that allows for the comfort of routine—no matter what’s going on outside.

For more:

Yoga Teacher Confidential, S1E9: Holding Space When Times Are Hard

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Teaching Yoga When Life Gets Tough

As yoga teachers, we know life isn’t always easy. And we know the importance of showing up with authenticity and presence. But what happens when our own lives feel unsteady? Whether it’s grief, stress, or personal challenges, those tough times demand both courage and compassion—from us and for us.

Let’s explore how to navigate those moments while continuing to hold space for our students.

how to teach yoga when life feels hard

Teaching yoga isn’t just about cueing poses or keeping time in savasana. It’s about creating a safe, supportive environment for our students, even when our inner world feels anything but steady.

Life’s challenges—be it a personal loss, a global tragedy, or a sleepless night with a sick child—can leave us feeling drained. Yet these moments also offer an opportunity: to deepen our practice of vulnerability, resilience, and connection.

lessons for teaching yoga through tough times

Here’s what I’ve learned from teaching during some of life’s most difficult moments:

Be honest—with yourself. Acknowledge when you’re not at your best. It’s okay to feel shaky. It’s okay to not be okay. (But you may not need to tell your students about it.)

Let the practice hold you. Your yoga toolkit isn’t just for your students. Breathwork, mindfulness, and simply slowing down can offer much-needed support in moments of chaos. Lean on these tools.

Center your students. A beautiful truth: your students don’t need you to be perfect. They just need you to show up with sincerity. Focus on them, not on being “on.” Keep them at the center, as the heroes. You’re just the guide.

tips for yoga teachers facing personal challenges

Whether your hardship is private or shared (such as during times of collective grief), having a plan helps you stay grounded. Here are some strategies:

Keep it simple. Reach for familiar sequences you know by heart. This allows you to focus on holding space rather than trying to remember a complex class plan.

Turn to supportive practices. Yoga nidra, restorative yoga, or breath-focused classes can create a nurturing environment for everyone—including you.

Set boundaries. Sometimes self-care means saying no or stepping back. Listen to your limits.

Plan ahead. Have a “back-pocket” class plan ready—a reliable, go-to sequence you can teach on autopilot. I call it “comfort food” for your teaching. Sign up for mine here:

let me plan your next class

Feeling uninspired when it’s time to plan? I’m here to help!

Give me your email and I’ll send you my go-to class plan with ideas for every minute. This is the class I teach when my energy is low—but it’s the favorite of my students from 20 to 80 years old! I’ll even give you tips on how to adapt it for various class formats.

should yoga teachers share personal struggles?

Here’s a rule to avoid oversharing: when in doubt, leave it out. Most of the time, your students don’t need to know the details of your personal struggles. They’re there for their practice, not yours. If sharing feels necessary—for example, if it’s impacting your teaching—keep it brief and turn the focus back to them as soon as possible.

The energy in your class should flow one way: from you to your students. When that flow reverses—when your students are trying to care for you—you’ve stepped into the role of “antihero.” Avoid centering yourself during class. Your students are the heroes of their own yoga journeys. You’re there to guide them.

how to hold space for yoga students in challenging times

When life feels overwhelming, rituals can provide an anchor. The steady rhythm of a yoga class—moving, breathing, resting—offers a sense of normalcy and comfort for you and your students alike.

Remember: the act of holding space isn’t about fixing anyone, yourself included. It’s about creating a container where everyone feels supported enough to let go.

In the latest episode of Yoga Teacher Confidential, I share what I’ve learned about holding space for students during life’s hardest moments. From personal stories of grief and stress to practical tips you can use in your classes, this episode is a heartfelt look at how to stay present and authentic—no matter what’s going on in your life. Listen to it wherever you get your podcasts.

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Why Your Students’ Blank Expressions in Yoga Class Are a Good Thing

As yoga teachers, it’s easy to feel uncomfortable when we look out into a classroom and see nothing but blank expressions on our students’ faces. “They hate this!” you tell yourself.

But what if these quiet faces were a sign of true connection, rather than disengagement?

In episode S1E8 of Yoga Teacher Confidential, we explore why those still, calm expressions are a natural—and even desirable—part of the yoga practice.

the role of stillness in yoga class

In more traditional teaching environments, such as the English literature classes I taught in graduate school, student engagement is often outward and vocal—or at least we want it to be!

But yoga is different. Here, our students are on an internal journey. Outward reactions aren’t needed, and when they happen, they might even indicate a break from the student’s inward connection.

why blank expressions can mean deeper connection

When you’re teaching yoga, you’re inviting students to listen to themselves rather than perform for you or respond to you. A room full of blank faces is usually full of people fully immersed in their own experience.

It’s not an absence of connection; it’s a sign that they’re listening to their own bodies and minds. A furrowed brow or a sleepy face might even be the best feedback you’ll receive!

beware engaged faces and laughter

Seeing students who seem animated and outwardly engaged may actually indicate they’re not fully present within themselves. If you are slipping into the role of the entertainer, you’re pulling your students out of their own world and into yours.

In a yoga classroom, less is often more. Focusing on our students’ experience rather than seeking outward responses creates a space where true yoga—connection and union—can take place.

practical exercise: reframe your expectations

Try this: at your next class, shift your focus from looking for validation in your students’ expressions to trusting the process. Remember that stillness and calm are signs of presence, not detachment.

As a yoga teacher, releasing your need for engagement and trusting that stillness means success can be deeply liberating. Our students’ practice is not a performance—and neither is our teaching. The less we focus on being performers, the more we guide our students toward that all-important journey inward.

For more on how to build quiet confidence in the yoga classroom, check out episode S1E8 of Yoga Teacher Confidential.

listen here

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Affirmation: I Don’t Get Hung up on My Students’ Expressions

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Yoga teacher affirmation: I don’t get hung up on my students’ expressions. I recognize that a blank face or even a frown can be the sign of deep listening and inner connection. And because I know my role is not to entertain my students, I see smiles and laughter as a reminder to guide them deeper into themselves.

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Affirmation: I Don’t Get Hung up on My Students’ Expressions.

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Yoga teacher affirmation: I don’t get hung up on my students’ expressions. I recognize that a blank face or even a frown can be the sign of deep listening and inner connection. And because I know my role is not to entertain my students, I see smiles and laughter as a reminder to guide them deeper into themselves.

The post Affirmation: I Don’t Get Hung up on My Students’ Expressions. appeared first on Sage Rountree.

How to Teach a Yoga Workshop

get a free five-lesson email course to learn to lead yoga workshopsjump right into the course by adding your details here

You got into yoga because you want to help your students. And while you’re probably doing that in a weekly class, you might think you’re not experienced enough to lead yoga workshops.

Think again! If’ve you’ve overcome a problem using yoga, you’re already well positioned to teach a yoga workshop, even if you’re fresh out of yoga teacher training.

where to start with yoga workshop planningknow yourself

The process of planning a workshop is a little more in depth than that of planning a class. It should start with some really top-level study of yourself (what we’d call svadhyaya): knowing your history, seeing how your practice fits in, and recognizing the suffering your students undergo. Once you see this, you will be on your way to planning sold-out workshops that help your students change their lives.

write a description

Next, take this research and turn it into a description of your workshop you can use to manage students’ expectations about what will happen in the workshop.

Then write a title, something that points to the problem you’re solving and/or the outcome you’re moving toward.

plan the lesson

Next up, you’ll want to map out the entire yoga workshop lesson plan, minute by minute, with room to expand and contract. If your topic lends itself to slides, or some kind of takeaway lagniappe—even a card with a quote on it—work on that as well.

place the workshop

Does your workshop belong in a studio? If so, determine which is the best fit and identify how they prefer to receive workshop pitches. Once you get a yes, move on to a contract and design a promotion plan.

Or maybe this workshop belongs somewhere else: a garden store, a local bike shop. When you look outside the studio, you are meeting students where they are in ways that can help them immensely.

improve the workshop

Be sure to collect student feedback and use it to improve the workshop for next time. Some successful workshops benefit from expanding into series. Others do better as a shorter, more condensed offering.

learn how to create a killer yoga workshop

Way back in the day, I wrote my master’s thesis on metanarrative cinema—movies that featured a version of the very story the bigger movie told. You’ll know how far back in the day this was when you hear that The Muppet Movie and Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure were two of the movies I explored. I love a meta-take on a story!

So I made you range of meta-products on workshops.

One is a free five-lesson email course that walks you through the steps above in greater detail. Get it by putting your name and best email address in the box here:

Another is the Workshop Workbook, a template that you can work right into to go through an even more in-depth version of this yoga workshop planning process. You’ll get everything you need to create fantastic workshops that make a huge difference for your students while also advancing your career as a yoga teacher.

GET THE WORKSHOP WORKBOOK

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Why Consistency Beats Variety in Yoga Class Planning

I know the curse: it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking every session needs a fresh theme, new playlist, and unique sequence to keep students engaged. I spent the first half of my yoga career feeling that I had to “prove myself” with creative class structures each time. But after two decades of teaching, I’ve learned that consistency, not variety, is often what best serves our students.

In the latest Yoga Teacher Confidential episode, S1E7, I share why this is true and break down the exercise physiology behind it.

the power of consistency in yoga classes

Consistency offers a solid foundation for our students, letting them revisit familiar poses and sequences where they can focus on deepening rather than simply catching up. This approach doesn’t stifle creativity; rather, it prioritizes progress by offering a steady base from which students can explore their practice.

key principles

• Progressive Overload: True progress requires gradual, manageable challenges. When we constantly change sequences, students don’t have the chance to build on past classes.

• Specificity: Improvement comes from repeated practice of the same movements. Over time, students become familiar with the sequence and can engage with it on a deeper level.

what this looks like in practice

Using a consistent framework doesn’t mean there’s no room for variety. Instead, think of it like a capsule wardrobe—keep the foundation, and change only small details. This helps students observe their own progress, and you’ll find you spend less time preparing classes.

To simplify your teaching prep and prioritize your students’ growth, start by reusing a consistent sequence for a few weeks, making small tweaks to adapt to each class. I bet your students won’t even notice—but if they do, I think they’ll like it.

an affirmation

Listen to the episode for practical advice and an affirmation to boost your confidence in offering consistency to your students.

Let’s make yoga class planning easier and more effective for everyone.

listen now

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Affirmation: I Recognize Support Makes Everything Easier

Yoga teacher affirmation: I recognize support makes everything easier. That can be support from the breath, from a prop, from a partner, or from the community as a whole. I offer my students support in all forms. And I offer myself the same.

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Building Confidence as a Yoga Teacher: Moving Beyond Imposter Syndrome with Karen Fabian

You probably love your favorite yoga teachers because they hold the space well and take the seat of the teacher with confidence. This confidence sets a tone that allows students to relax, center, and connect.

But for many yoga teachers—both new and experienced—stepping into that confident role isn’t easy, especially when imposter syndrome creeps in.

In my recent conversation with Karen Fabian on Yoga Teacher Confidential, we explored this topic, and got into practical strategies for overcoming self-doubt and cultivating true, grounded confidence in the classroom.

why confidence matters in teaching yoga

The role of a yoga teacher goes beyond guiding sequences and cueing poses. A teacher’s energy and confidence influence the entire class atmosphere. When teachers feel centered and at ease, students can relax into their practice. The teacher’s sense of confidence is crucial for this tone.

However, it’s common for yoga teachers, especially newer ones, to struggle with imposter syndrome, questioning whether they’re “good enough” or if they truly belong in front of the room. This feeling is entirely human and common—but it doesn’t have to be a permanent hurdle.

building confidence through mindset shifts

Karen is a longtime yoga teacher and educator who specializes in helping other teachers build their confidence. Her approach combines deep self-reflection with actionable techniques for growth.

According to Karen, confidence begins with understanding and addressing self-limiting beliefs. These are often thoughts like, “I need to know every single pose perfectly,” or “What if my students think I’m not experienced enough?” By recognizing these thoughts as mere beliefs—rather than absolute truths—teachers can start to cultivate a mindset that is more supportive and less self-critical.

teaching from what you know

One of Karen’s core strategies for developing confidence is to focus on teaching from what you know. When teachers feel they need to emulate others or follow strict formulas, they disconnect from their own strengths and experience. This tone of disconnection then gets transmitted to the classroom.

Instead, aim to draw from your personal knowledge and practice. Teach what you know! This approach not only feels more natural but also feels authentic for your students. When you teach from your experience, rather than repeating things you’ve merely been told, your confidence begins to grow.

practicing a growth mindset

Teaching yoga is not about perfection. Embracing a growth mindset, where mistakes are part of learning, allows teachers to feel empowered rather than defeated by challenges. Karen shared examples of how small adjustments, like using a consistent sequence over several classes, can help teachers feel more grounded. Over time, small victories in mastering familiar sequences help teachers feel more prepared to handle unexpected class dynamics, like students’ last-minute requests or the occasional need for modifications.

moving beyond imposter syndrome

Imposter syndrome thrives when we compare ourselves to others or hold ourselves to impossibly high standards. Karen suggests re-evaluating these standards and focusing on what you bring to the room. Letting go of the need for perfection doesn’t mean compromising quality; rather, it means being fully present and committed to the unique, real-time needs of students. Showing your humanity allows your students to be human, too. And trusting your instincts and embracing your own teaching style helps turn insecurity into self-assurance.

an affirmation for growth

Karen offers this lovey affirmation: “When I teach from what I know, my confidence grows.” Confidence isn’t something that magically appears. It’s cultivated through mindful practice and self-acceptance.

When you go of self-doubt and trust your authentic voice as a teacher, you create an environment where students can thrive. And everyone benefits from the deeper sense of connection, union, yoga.

Listen to the full episode with Karen Fabian! It’s S1E6 of Yoga Teacher Confidential.

listen here

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Affirmation: I Recognize I Don’t Even Know What I Don’t Know

Yoga teacher affirmation: I recognize I don’t even know what I don’t know. I check my privilege and my blind spots. I know the parts of my practice that come easy are the hardest to teach. And I know my struggles are my superpowers as a teacher.

For more on this affirmation as well as practical tips on learning students’ names, listen to S1E5 of Yoga Teacher Confidential, wherever you get your podcasts or right here!

listen now

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