Yoga Cues I No Longer Use (and What I Say Instead)
Are you still using old alignment cues that don’t land? Or worse, confuse and micromanage your students? In this episode, Ula and Brea (Heart + Bones Yoga) share the yoga cues we retired and exactly what we say instead. You’ll learn how to swap vague or prescriptive language for clear action cues that improve safety, agency, and accessibility—especially for students with hypermobility or different body histories.
What you’ll learn
Common yoga cues to retire (e.g., micromanaging and “you should feel it here” language)
How to replace them with action cues that create real engagement
Why cueing outcomes beats forcing shapes—and how that supports inclusivity
Tips for beginners and experienced teachers to update their cue library
A kinder teaching mindset: experiment, observe, and keep learning
If you’re a yoga teacher who wants classes that are safer, clearer, and more inclusive, this conversation is for you.
Subscribe for more Yoga Teacher Tips, and check out Heart + Bones Yoga for anatomy-informed classes and trainings.
Want to go deeper?
Learn more about our anatomy-informed online yoga teacher trainings (200hr + 300hr): https://heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/yoga-certification-course/
Try Heart + Bones Studio for $1 this month using the code: PODCASTMONTH
Start Here: https://heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/
--------
26:44
--------
26:44
Yoga Teacher Confidence: Handling Mistakes and Awkward Silence
Every yoga teacher has those moments, your mind goes blank in class, you forget your cue, or your words don’t land. It’s normal, it happens to everyone, and it doesn’t make you a bad teacher.
In this video, Brea Johnson of Heart + Bones Yoga shares simple, practical strategies for what to do when you don’t know what to say while teaching yoga. Whether you’re a new teacher or have been teaching for years, these tips will help you stay calm, professional, and connected to your students.
You’ll learn:
• Why forgetting cues is a normal part of teaching
• How pausing the class can reset you and your students
• Why “less is more” with verbal cues
• How to come back to the breath when you lose your words
• The power of reflective cues over micromanaging
• A simple way to keep your confidence when mistakes happen
Want more support?
Explore our anatomy-informed yoga teacher trainings (200hr + 300hr): https://heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/yoga-certification-course/
Try Heart + Bones Studio for $1 this month with code PODCASTMONTH: https://heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/
--------
8:16
--------
8:16
What to Do When You Don’t Feel Like Teaching Yoga
Every yoga teacher has those days when you don’t want to teach. Maybe life feels overwhelming, maybe you’re exhausted, or maybe you’re just not in the mood. What do you do when you still need to show up for your students?
In this video, Brea Johnson of Heart + Bones Yoga shares practical tips and mindset shifts for those inevitable times when teaching feels like too much.
You’ll learn:
• How to balance professionalism with authenticity
• What to do if something big is happening in your life
• Why presence in teaching can actually reset your energy
• A practical class-starting tip that eases pressure on you and your students
• How to adjust your energy dial without faking it
• A pep talk to save for the next time you don’t want to teach
Want more support?
Explore our anatomy-informed yoga teacher trainings (200hr + 300hr): https://heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/yoga-certification-course/
Try Heart + Bones Studio for $1 this month with code podcastmonth
Start here: https://heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/
--------
7:01
--------
7:01
5-Minute Meditation (A Pause for Your Practice)
Sometimes the best thing you can do is stop, breathe, and give yourself a moment. This short guided meditation is a gentle reminder to pause and reconnect with your own practice, whether you’re a yoga teacher, or simply someone who could use five minutes of calm.
In just a few breaths, you’ll soften your shoulders, relax your belly, and return to the steady rhythm of your body. A simple reset you can come back to anytime.
Want to keep nurturing your personal practice? Heart + Bones Yoga makes it easy, with accessible, anatomy-informed classes and programs, and yes, more calming moments like this practice.
Try Heart + Bones online yoga one month for just $1: with this coupon code: PODCASTMONTH
Start Here: https://www.heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/
--------
6:12
--------
6:12
What Yoga Teacher Training Should I Do? Lineage vs Style Explained
Many yoga teachers wonder: Do I need to follow a lineage or stick to one style to be a “real” teacher? In this episode we explore the truth about yoga lineage vs yoga style, how colonialism and capitalism shaped modern yoga, and why charismatic leaders can create both inspiration and red flags.
You’ll learn:
• What “lineage” actually means in yoga
• How styles like Ashtanga, Iyengar & Yin evolved
• The business side of yoga teacher training (and cult dynamics to watch for)
• Practical steps to grow beyond your 200-hour training with confidence
Whether you’re choosing a YTT, feeling boxed in by your training, or curious about the business of yoga, this conversation will give you tools to teach inclusively, sustainably, and with confidence.
Learn more about Heart + Bones Yoga Teacher Training (200hr & 300hr): https://heartandbonesyoga.com/courses/modern-yogi-certification-course/
Join our online yoga studio for Move + Learn classes for $1 this month using the code: PODCASTMONTH
Start Here: https://heartandbonesyoga.com/membership/
Submit your wildest yoga teacher stories for an upcoming episode: https://heartandbonesyoga.ac-page.com/podcast-question-submissions
👉 Subscribe for more yoga teacher tips, anatomy-informed practices, and real conversations about the business of teaching yoga.
Ula's Substack: https://avibrantmind.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips
Whether it’s anatomy, exploring yoga teaching tips, or dissecting superficial yoga narratives, this is the podcast for yoga teachers who care deeply about their craft and aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo.
Brea Johnson, founder of Heart & Bones Yoga, a globally recognized online platform for anatomy-informed yoga and inclusive practices for both yoga teachers and everyday people, interviews experts, shares crucial insights from unlearning harmful cues, to culty dynamics in wellness spaces, to making your classes more inclusive, trauma-aware, and actually helpful.
With two decades of experience (and plenty of mistakes), Brea brings honesty, nuance, and a healthy dose of spice to conversations about what it really means to teach yoga in today’s world, no matter if you're a new yoga teacher or have been teaching fo years.