Inversions don’t have to be intimidating, flashy, or reserved for advanced students. In this episode, I break down the three pillars of teaching inversions and share how to approach being upside down with structure, progression, and nervous system awareness. If you’ve ever felt unsure about when, how, or why to teach inversions, this framework will bring clarity and confidence to your teaching.

Episode Highlights:

• Why inversions were traditionally practiced as tools for regulation, not performance.
• How modern yoga culture has distorted our understanding of being upside down.
• What actually qualifies as an inversion, beyond handstands and headstands.
• The difference between mild, moderate, and intermediate inversions.
• Personal reflections on unlearning unsafe inversion habits.
• Pillar One: Structure before shape
• Pillar Two: Progression before performance
• Pillar Three: Nervous system literacy
• Situations where inversions may not be appropriate to teach.
• Where inversions fit best within a well-sequenced class.
• How inversions cultivate humility, discernment, and emotional awareness.
• Why the deepest impact of inversions is internal, not physical.

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If you’ve ever felt like you’re “winging it” when planning your yoga classes, this episode will help you fix that for good. I break down my Sequence Smarter Framework and walk you through seven simple questions that will instantly make your sequences clearer, more intentional, and easier to teach. Whether you’re new to sequencing or ready to level up your teaching, this guide will change the way you plan your classes.

Episode Highlights:

• Why many yoga teachers struggle with sequencing and end up “winging it.”
• The purpose of the Sequence Smarter Framework and why it matters.
• How the three pillars—Purpose, Pathway, and Pose—create intelligent sequencing.
• What it really means to define the purpose of a class with clarity.
• How to build a pathway that prepares the body, breath, and pranic flow.
• Why pose selection should be the last step, not the first.
• The most common reasons yoga sequences feel disjointed or ineffective.
• How to use the seven audit questions to evaluate any sequence.
• A breakdown of applying the 3P framework to Trikonasana.
• Why thoughtful sequencing supports mixed-level rooms and aging bodies.
• How intelligent sequencing builds confidence, clarity, and longevity in teaching.

Waitlist for the Online 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (launching January)Sequence Smarter – The Living Body of Asana
For teachers living in India, reach out to Janessa at admin@ahamyoga.com for special local pricing
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If you’ve ever felt stuck repeating the same physical cues in your classes, this episode is going to open up a whole new way of thinking about teaching. I’m breaking down what it really means to move from gross to subtle, how subtle cueing works, and why it’s the key to creating deeper, more meaningful yoga experiences. You’ll walk away with practical tools you can use right away—no fluff, no woo, just clearer teaching.

Episode Highlights:

• Explanation of the Teach Smarter module and how this episode builds on the “Gross to Subtle” workshop.
• Why two teachers can teach the same pose but create completely different student experiences.
• The difference between the gross (sthula) body and the subtle (sukshma) body.
• Why most modern yoga teaching gets stuck in the gross physical layer.
• The limitations of staying in purely physical cueing—repetition, boredom, overthinking alignment, teacher burnout, and lack of depth.
• Clear signs that a teacher may be relying too heavily on gross cueing.
• Introduction to subtle cueing as a precise and grounded practice—not vague or woo-woo.
• Overview of the six types of subtle cueing:
  • Attention cues
  • Breath cues
  • Pranic-direction cues
  • Sensory cues
  • Interoceptive cues
  • Energetic sequencing
• A practical example of Warrior II comparing gross cues vs. subtle cues.
• Guidance on how teachers can begin practicing subtle cueing:
  • Use intentional pauses
  • Let the breath lead the teaching
  • Choose one subtle layer per class
  • Stop micromanaging alignment
  • Practice receiving your own cues
  • Trust your students’ intelligence
• Why subtle cueing matters for long-term student development and sustainable practice, especially as students age.
• A self-inquiry checklist for teachers to evaluate their cueing approach.
• Reflective questions for both teachers and students to deepen their awareness in asana.
• Encouragement to revisit the episode, reflect, and apply the concepts.
• Invitation to explore the 300-hour YTT and how the training weaves ancient wisdom with modern teaching needs.
• Brief overview of the three modules:
  • Sequence Smarter
  • Breathe Smarter
  • Teach Smarter

Waitlist for the Online 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (launching January)Sequence Smarter – The Living Body of Asana
For teachers living in India, reach out to Janessa at admin@ahamyoga.com for special local pricing
Join our mailing list
Find all the resources mentioned in this episode
Connect with us on Instagram