365: How to Teach Accessible Yoga with Jivana Heyman
How can we make yoga more accessible? From financial accessibility to the language we use in teaching, from offering modifications to supporting students who don’t follow our lesson plans, making yoga accessible encompasses many different things. Jivana Heyman shares his insights.
Making yoga accessible is at the core of the work Jivana does. He is the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, an international non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings for people of all abilities and backgrounds. He is also an author, and his latest book, The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, was recently released (listen in to find out how you can enter to win a copy!).
In this episode, Jivana shares how we communicate yoga has evolved over the years, although yoga philosophy remains unchanged, and how accessibility is a part of that. He also talks about figuring things out as new teachers, overcoming imposter syndrome and why maybe a little bit of imposter syndrome is not a bad thing, and many other aspects of making yoga accessible, including how to maintain a yoga practice even when we don’t have time!
Key Takeaways:
[3:52] This episode is powered by OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.
[4:52] Kathleen Pratt shares a little about the upcoming yoga series: Nourish Your Nervous System.
[5:58] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode – Jivana Heyman.
[10:05] What is the work that Jivana does and who does he do it for?
[11:15] How can yoga teachers find that balance between being paid for their work enough to make a living and making sure people can access their classes financially?
[13:56] Pay-what-you-can models and tiered pricing models are some options to increase financial accessibility.
[15:36] What are some other main things Jivana covers in his new book?
[18:43] Shannon and Jivana discuss the idea that there is one best/correct way of doing a pose in yoga. This is not true!
[20:13] The general public has a very different idea of what yoga is than how it can actually be practiced.
“Mostly the studio model doesn’t really work for making yoga accessible.” ~ Jivana Heyman
[24:30] What are some new things Jivana has learned recently about making yoga more accessible?
“I just don’t think advanced yoga is advanced asana anymore. That’s not the point.” ~ Jivana Heyman
[27:31] How does Jivana address situations in his classes where a student gives another student a hands-on assist?
[30:20] Jivana is giving away two of his books! Leave a comment in the show notes to stand a chance to win a copy!
[30:40] Are you signed up for the OfferingTree newsletter? They offer a free workshop or webinar every month for teachers!
[31:53] It can sometimes feel that as we learn more about making yoga accessible, there is always yet more to learn.
[34:36] Yoga has remained the same for millennia but how we interpret, communicate, and share it with people has changed and evolved over time.
[38:40] How yoga is taught has evolved over time but the yoga philosophy has not.
“As a yoga teacher, you’re not simply just channeling the teachings in a pure way, you have to be interpreting them.” ~ Jivana Heyman
[42:13] It can be tempting to want our yoga practice to be perfect, like we experience at a yoga retreat, but how can we apply yoga to our real day-to-day?
[46:38] What are some tools we can use to bring yoga into our lives?
[50:28] Shannon and Jivana discuss other ways we can bring yoga into our busy lives.
[53:50] We can hold opposing things as true at the same time.
“The question is, how do you make them resonant and applicable to this moment for your students who are in front of you today?” ~ Jivana Heyman
[56:05] Jivana shares the ABCs of yoga: Agency, Boundaries, Collaboration.
“I don’t think yoga practice is just about my personal enlightenment or the goal of becoming that. Rather, it’s about becoming of service to the world and to others.” ~ Jivana Heyman
[62:27] How does Jivana handle situations where students don’t do what everyone else is doing?
[68:08] Many yoga teachers deal with imposter syndrome. Jivana addresses this.
“I would say a little bit of imposter syndrome is actually healthier than too much ego.” ~ Jivana Heyman
[74:08] Join the giveaway for Jivana’s books by leaving a comment and find out more about his work and the books at his website and on Instagram.
[75:43] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this episode.
[79:08] Shannon shares some of the upcoming events in Pelvic Health Professionals, including Nourish Your Nervous System.
Links:
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The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 364: 7 Years of Podcasting with Shannon Crow
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The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 321: Accessible Yoga & Pelvic Health with Jivana Heyman
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The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 273: Yoga is a Revolution with Jivana Heyman
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The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 209: Online Yoga Teacher Training with Jivana Heyman
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The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 138: Accessible Yoga Beyond Asana with Jivana Heyman
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The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 357: Pay-What-You-Can is Working with Shannon Crow
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Nourish Your Nervous System, 6-Week Online Series with Kathleen Pratt in Pelvic Health Professionals
Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.
Love, LOVE this episode! This is my mission statement as well. Thank you!
Always love Jivana’s episodes. My fave part was around acknowledging that while the yoga tradition doesn’t change, the container in which we offer it does. Highly recommend this episode!
I really enjoyed the ease and enthusiasm with which Jivana speaks about accessible yoga. I loved his concept of offering tie spectrum of possibilities for how the pose can live ok and be done.
One of my favourite guests on the podcast and love especially the connection between Shannon and Jivana
Loved this episode! I loved how Jivana and Shannon shared stories of different situations that happened in yoga classes. So relatable and helpful to hear these stories. Also loves how amazing Jivana weaves in yoga philosophy in the conversation 💕🙏
It was really helpful to hear Jivana’s perspective on Karma yoga being the point and priority. When I read the Pradipika, with it’s emphasis on individual enlightenment I feel a disconnect. Maybe because our society requires the action of service for collective healing. Thank you!
I love this episode, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience! With love and gratitude! Catherine
I loved the compost analogy. Jivana always has a take on things that I hadn’t thought about.
As a yoga teacher and practitioner in her middle years, I really resonate with what Jivana said about his practice being less about fancy poses and more about the non-asana limbs of yoga. The longer I teach and study, the more I see this truth playing out with my students and myself. There is a collective sigh of relief in my classes when I frame yoga as an invitation for inner connection just as you are versus an opportunity to showcase acrobatic stretches and shapes. Thank you for this great episode.
As a brand-spaken new 200 hr yoga teacher, I loved this episode. Imposter syndrome is real! It was so great to hear you both discuss some of your early experiences. What’s important is staying present, in the flow… we are facilitators and sharing for the benefit of all. Thanks for this open and real discussion.
Such a great episode! I’m so happy to hear Jivana say so much that reflects my current state of mind.
I appreciated this episode very much. I like the idea of “accessibility” including affordablity. It is so important me to serve other parents of individuals living with mental health and substance use disorders, and I never want cost to be a barrier. That sentiment felt affirmed in this episode. Thank you!
I’ve had the experience of my yoga teachers announcing to students that I am also a teacher and asking for my input in classes where I am a student. I do not practice where I teach. This is my new challenge.
Always wonderful to hear from Jivana! His work is truly inspiring and so needed. I love that he stays true to the philosophy of yoga. I’ve heard him speak many times and his message comes from a beautiful place because of this.
Loved this episode! You and Jivana are both such inspiring guides for us yoga teachers. I always finish your podcast feeling reassured and refreshed.