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The Mentor Sessions
The Mentor Sessions
Francesca Cervero

With amazing guests or solo, I explore the craft of teaching yoga, as its own practice. I’m seeking answers to the questions... more

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Episodes

143: Should You Talk About Current Events In Yoga Classes??

You don’t need me to tell you what a wild and scary time we are living through. We know that... more

25 Mar 2025 · 38 minutes
142: What Makes Americans Unhealthy with Dr. Jessica Knurick

As I sit down to write these show notes, RFK Jr is currently in his senate confirmation hearing. By the... more

04 Feb 2025 · 55 minutes
141: The Best Way To Find Private Yoga Students

Building a career as a yoga teacher is challenging because unlike many other kinds of jobs, you have to build... more

21 Jan 2025 · 33 minutes
140: Rest Is Sacred with Octavia Raheem

Octavia Raheem first wrote a book called Gather where she talked about gathering ancestors, gathering courage and gathering rest. Then... more

17 Dec 2024 · 53 minutes
139: What It Takes For a Locally Owned Yoga Studio to Survive with Deb Flashenberg

I have been an active participant in the yoga industry since the early 2000s, and I have never really understood... more

26 Nov 2024 · 47 minutes
138: A Business Strategy Pep Talk with Jackie Murphy

If you are a yoga teacher trying to make anything close to a full time income with your work, then... more

12 Nov 2024 · 33 minutes
137: Yoga For Hypermobility with Libby Hinsley

The learning journey I’ve been on regarding hypermobility is incredibly personal. I was plagued with nearly constant minor and serious... more

22 Oct 2024 · 54 minutes
136: Holding Our Seat with Ethan Nichtern

Holding grounded space as a teacher is one of the most important and most hard to teach skills for new... more

08 Oct 2024 · 55 minutes
135: Moving Forward After Our Teachers Let Us Down with Karin Carlson

I had a profound conversation with yoga teacher and writer Karin Lynn Carlson (she/her) and I can’t wait for you... more

17 Sep 2024 · 49 minutes
134: Reckoning With Abuse Of Power In Our Lineage With Trauma Expert Jenn Turner

How to teach yoga in a trauma sensitive way is a conversation that floods mainstream yoga spaces these days. And... more

03 Sep 2024 · 56 minutes
133: How To Make The Teaching Of Yoga Accessible with Katie Blecker

This episode is one of the most important interviews I’ve ever recorded. Our guest, Katie Blecker (she/her) is here to... more

06 Aug 2024 · 45 minutes
132: The Journey From Student To Thriving Teacher with Emily Anderson

The yoga world has changed so much in the last 5 years, and more and more yoga teachers are finding... more

09 Jul 2024 · 52 minutes
131: What Practice Looks Like During Heartbreak with Sara Avant Stover

Today on the podcast I am introducing you to someone very special to me: one of my most important teachers,... more

11 Jun 2024 · 45 minutes
130: Coming Home To Ourselves with Miles Borrero

I believe the invitation of life is to become ourselves, live fully and freely, and then, if you are a... more

14 May 2024 · 49 minutes
129: Do THIS To Make Your Teaching Even Better with Jivana Heyman

In case you don’t know, Jivana is the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, an organization dedicated to increasing access... more

30 Apr 2024 · 1 hour, 8 minutes
128: Neurology Is The Missing Link In Movement Education with Missy Bunch

The brain and the nervous system play a HUGE role in how we integrate sensory information, experience pain and create... more

19 Mar 2024 · 57 minutes
127: Q+A Private Lesson: Body Stuff, Business Stuff And Dharma Teaching #4

Today I will answer a bunch of questions that you all have sent in about teaching private lessons! In this... more

28 Feb 2024 · 37 minutes
126: Loving Kindness + Active Backbends (Practice with Francesca!)

Well, this is an unusual episode!! Since I released a podcast episode last year about my group class planning process... more

30 Jan 2024 · 1 hour, 24 minutes
BONUS: Inclusive Yoga Illustrations with Harmony Willow Hansen

I’m sure you’ve noticed that many stock images and illustrations of yoga practitioners show a very narrow representation of bodies... more

22 Dec 2023 · 19 minutes
125: How To Create And Lead Your Own Teacher Training with Cyndi Lee

Teaching teachers how to teach yoga is a massive responsibility. (How many times am I going to write the word... more

18 Dec 2023 · 50 minutes
124: Yoga and Dominant Culture with Anjali Rao

In today's episode, we have a very special guest, Anjali Rao (she/her). Anjali is a yoga teacher, writer, and podcast... more

28 Nov 2023 · 52 minutes
123: The Yoga Sutras with Vikram Jeet Singh

I have wanted to have a teacher on the podcast to talk to us about The Yoga Sutras for years,... more

31 Oct 2023 · 52 minutes
122: A Week In My Life (Updated for 2023!)

Back in February of 2018 I shared an intimate view of a full week in my teaching and work life.... more

29 Sep 2023 · 57 minutes
121: How To Teach When You're Not Feeling Inspired

Today I’m here to share a vulnerable update of my life lately, and some tools I’m using to teach great... more

29 Aug 2023 · 33 minutes
120: Poses We're Not Teaching Anymore (A Sangha Convo!)

Are there poses you used to love and teach, but have recently stopped teaching for some reason?? It turns out... more

27 Jul 2023 · 19 minutes
119: All About My Morning Routine (And Suggestions For Yours!)

I feel a little shy sharing this intimate view of my morning practice, but when I asked y’all if this... more

27 Jun 2023 · 30 minutes
118: My Group Class Planning Process

In January I started sharing my group class planning process in short videos on Instagram and y’all had questions! The more... more

16 May 2023 · 37 minutes
117: Yoga for Seniors with Chintamani Kansas

Many yoga teachers in our community either already specialize in teaching seniors, or would like to. Yoga can be a... more

25 Apr 2023 · 1 hour, 4 minutes
116: Integrating Buddha Dharma and Asana with Meredith Witte- Live Mentoring Session

Many of the yoga teachers I’ve worked with feel more comfortable and confident teaching asana than they do teaching the... more

28 Mar 2023 · 54 minutes
115: The Case For Teaching Leveled Classes

The thinking behind this episode has been a long time in the making. I haven't talked about this much publicly,... more

14 Feb 2023 · 29 minutes
114: Pelvic Health in Yoga Classes with Shannon Crow

Our students' movement patterns directly impact their pelvic health, and their pelvic floor impacts their movement patterns! With those two... more

24 Jan 2023 · 51 minutes
113: How To Respond To Students Who Want "Correct" Alignment with Ariele Foster

Ariele Foster is a doctor of physical therapy and the founder of Yoga Anatomy Academy, a no-nonsense, evidence-based resource for... more

13 Dec 2022 · 49 minutes
112: How To Find New Private Clients with Mary Reddinger

Mary Reddinger is joining us on the show today to share how she built her full-time private yoga practice just... more

15 Nov 2022 · 58 minutes
111: Planning A Beginner’s Series with Dara Madigan

Over the last few years more and more yoga teachers have worked to create their own teaching offerings outside of... more

25 Oct 2022 · 54 minutes
110: Q+A, Taking Time Off, Hamstrings, Continuing Ed + More!

I’ve been collecting your questions over the last few weeks, and I’m so happy to share this Q+A episode with... more

27 Sep 2022 · 34 minutes
Ep. 109: The Ten Things Saving My Life Right Now

Hello! After a long maternity leave I’m back in front of the podcasting mic and so excited to be here.... more

16 Sep 2022 · 34 minutes
108: Anti Capitalist, Anti Racist Yoga with Avita Bansee

Avita Bansee (she/they)  is here today to talk to us about what Anti Capitalist, Anti Racist Yoga looks like. Avita... more

28 Jun 2022 · 53 minutes
107: The Science of Tissue Adaptation + Motor Control with Dr. Garrett Neill

One of the most downloaded episodes of this podcast is Episode 59: ROM, Neuroscience + Yoga with Garrett Neill.... more

10 May 2022 · 1 hour, 15 minutes
106: The Power of Rest with Octavia Raheem

Much of a yoga practice can, from the outside, look like very little is happening. In a meditation practice it... more

19 Apr 2022 · 49 minutes
105: Yoga And Social Justice with Jivana Heyman

The historical teachings of yoga have incredible lessons for our modern world. Understanding and unpacking the ancient teachings is a... more

22 Mar 2022 · 55 minutes
104: Postnatal Considerations in Asana with Deb Flashenberg

Deb Flashenberg (she/her) is the founder and director of the Prenatal Yoga Center which she founded in NYC in 2002. ... more

15 Feb 2022 · 57 minutes
103: The Yoga Teachings Are Inherently Political with Jacoby Ballard

I know that questioning whether the practices of yoga have a political aspect to them is a popular conversation, even... more

11 Jan 2022 · 59 minutes
102: Decolonizing The Wellness Publishing Industry with Rebekah Borucki

I imagine by now you’ve probably heard that over 65% of COVID misinformation is spread by just 12 people,... more

14 Dec 2021 · 46 minutes
101: Working With Injuries (A Solo Episode)

In teaching yoga and asana we end up working with bodies quite a lot. Many, if not most, of our... more

30 Nov 2021 · 43 minutes
An Important Announcement + A Request

I'm excited to share this quick bonus + important announcement episode with you. In the episode, I share the updated... more

23 Nov 2021 · 10 minutes
100: What Good Quality Teaching Looks Like with Dr. Janna Dresden + Dr. Ronald Cervero

Today is our 100th episode and to celebrate we have two very special guests! Joining us on the podcast are... more

26 Oct 2021 · 44 minutes
99: A Collaborative Yoga Membership Model with Catherine la O'

In The Mentor Sessions Sangha we have been having a robust conversation about online yoga class library memberships. These are... more

12 Oct 2021 · 1 hour, 6 minutes
98: Trauma-Conscious Yoga Is A Philosophy, Not A Specialty Class with Hannah Davis

When you think of teaching a trauma-informed yoga class, what comes to mind? Do you think of teaching a special... more

28 Sep 2021 · 59 minutes
97: Masks, Vaccines + Polarization In The Yoga Community with Wolf Terry

As you are well aware, we are living through a devastating public health crisis and masks and vaccines are our... more

08 Sep 2021 · 1 hour, 5 minutes
96: The "BEST" way to teach twisting movements!

The "BEST" way to teach twisting movements!  What kind of rules have you been taught about the safest way to... more

17 Aug 2021 · 51 minutes
95: How To Use Fascial Slings and Whole Body Cueing In Your Teaching (PLUS: The Biopsychosocial Model!) with Kearsten Lyon

Kearsten Lyon (she/her) is the founder and owner of an extended health care clinic called Total Movement Therapy based in... more

20 Jul 2021 · 1 hour, 10 minutes
94: What Compelling Marketing Looks Like with Mado Hesselink

I often feel like marketing is hard, and the things the “experts” tell us to do are slimy and also... more

06 Jul 2021 · 1 hour, 2 minutes
93: Teaching Kids Yoga Has Lessons For Us All with Crystal McCreary

Teaching yoga to kids has the potential to be incredibly impactful for kids and their communities, but there are many... more

22 Jun 2021 · 1 hour, 2 minutes
92: Q+A Planning And Progress In Private Lessons #3

Teaching yoga in 1x1 settings is such a wonderful way to inspire and support meaningful change in our student’s lives.... more

08 Jun 2021 · 44 minutes
91: Legal Protections For Yoga Teachers with Cory Sterling

As yoga teachers most of us are legally and financially out on our own; we are small business owners and... more

25 May 2021 · 44 minutes
90: Super Practical Answers To All Your Yoga-Tech Questions with Alex Haley

The yoga world has changed so much since I started teaching 16 years ago. Back then I didn’t have a... more

11 May 2021 · 53 minutes
89: An Update On Online Teaching + A Deep Dive Into The Camera On/Camera Off Debate

It has been just over one year since I shifted from teaching yoga full time in-person, to teaching full time... more

27 Apr 2021 · 58 minutes
88: How Not To Teach Yoga with Tori Lunden

Do you know Tori Lunden (she/her)? She is known as Bad At Yoga on social media and if you haven’t... more

13 Apr 2021 · 1 hour, 4 minutes
87: The Nuances Of Trauma-Informed Yoga with Sangeeta Vallabhan

Trauma-informed practice is a popular topic in the yoga world, and with good reason. Most people have experienced some kind... more

30 Mar 2021 · 48 minutes
86: What It REALLY Looks Like to Regress or Progress Movement with Trina Altman

There are two things I’m really passionate about in my teaching: One is dismantling the notion of linear, hierarchical, universal... more

16 Mar 2021 · 57 minutes
85: The Trans* Yoga Project with M Camellia + River Redwood

The Trans* Yoga Project is doing incredibly important work in the yoga and wellness spaces and I’m honored to introduce... more

09 Mar 2021 · 43 minutes
84: The Power of Pranayama with Mirabelle D'cunha

Pranayama is incredibly rich practice because breath is a powerful vehicle to explore our most intimate relationship, the one we... more

23 Feb 2021 · 57 minutes
83: A Teacher Owned Co-Op with Shamina Rao + Elizabeth Barnett of The Connective

The Connective is a virtual movement studio that is cooperatively owned and powered by teachers. They provide a sustainable livelihood... more

09 Feb 2021 · 53 minutes
82: The 12 Routines That Saved Me Last Year

You don’t need me to tell you that The Year of Our Lord 2020 was (and this is the official... more

26 Jan 2021 · 49 minutes
81: Yoga In India + Yoga In The West with Arundhati Baitmangalkar

The differences between the way yoga is taught and practiced in India and the West are significant, and important for... more

12 Jan 2021 · 57 minutes
80: An Evidence-Based Approach to Mindful Movement with Jenn Pilotti

The human body is a beautiful and complex system, and people who teach movement always have more to learn! When... more

22 Dec 2020 · 49 minutes
79: Embracing Yoga’s Roots, Studentship and Anti-Racism Work with Susanna Barkataki

My friend Susanna Barkataki has written a book called Embrace Yoga’s Roots: Courageous Ways to Deepen Your Yoga Practice and... more

08 Dec 2020 · 1 hour, 56 minutes
78: Injuries + Teaching Yoga with Monica Bright

If you’re a yoga teacher who’s had to teach while working with an injury, this podcast episode is for you!... more

10 Nov 2020 · 52 minutes
77: Letting Go of Alignment (And What To Teach Instead) with Derek Cook

I think many of us would agree that a strict, dogmatic focus on alignment in asana doesn’t really serve our... more

27 Oct 2020 · 1 hour, 10 minutes
76: I Opened A Virtual Studio!

I am so excited to announce that my virtual yoga studio Stillness + Movement is officially open! This episode will... more

13 Oct 2020 · 1 hour, 13 minutes
75: Where Do We Go From Here? with Amber Karnes + Susanna Barkataki

Creating and connecting with community has been one of my most important practices this year. I have a weekly Sunday... more

29 Sep 2020 · 59 minutes
74: Where Do We Go From Here? with Theo Wildcroft + Matthew Remski

This is the fourth episode in the Where Do We Go From Here? series here on the podcast and in... more

22 Sep 2020 · 1 hour, 15 minutes
73: Where Do We Go From Here? with Jules Mitchell + Arundhati Baitmangalkar

It is now September of this unprecedented year, and there is so much that is unknown about our future and... more

08 Sep 2020 · 58 minutes
72: Where Do We Go From Here? With Crystal McCreary + Monica Bright

So much has changed in our world in the last several months, and the questions I keep asking myself are:... more

04 Aug 2020 · 1 hour, 11 minutes
71: Where Do We Go From Here? With Jesal Parikh + Bryn Chrisman

So much has changed in our world in the last several months, and the yoga world has been forced to... more

07 Jul 2020 · 1 hour, 25 minutes
70: Yoga, Human Rights, and Accessibility with Jivana Heyman

I’m really grateful to bring you this interview with Jivana Heyman, the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, because his... more

19 May 2020 · 1 hour, 11 minutes
69: Teaching Yoga Online

These are intense, unprecedented times. I know so much about your day to day life has changed in the last... more

21 Apr 2020 · 50 minutes
68: Teaching Yoga in Corporate Settings with Samantha Harrison

NOTE: We recorded this podcast episode months ago, and life was different back then. I decided to release this episode... more

23 Mar 2020 · 1 hour, 2 minutes
67: Evolving as a Yoga Teacher- A Live Mentoring Session

Today you’re going to hear a live, unedited 1x1 mentoring session!  I love connecting with teachers in 1x1 mentoring sessions... more

18 Feb 2020 · 1 hour,
66: An Intro to Low Back Pain with Jesal Parikh

Back pain is complex and many students end up in yoga classes because they heard it would be good for... more

21 Jan 2020 · 1 hour,
The Mentor Sessions
66: An Intro to Low Back Pain with Jesal Parikh66: An Intro to Low Back Pain with Jesal Parikh66: An Intro to Low Back Pain with Jesal Parikh66: An Intro to Low Back Pain with Jesal Parikh
The Mentor Sessions
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Description

Back pain is complex and many students end up in yoga classes because they heard it would be good for their "bad... more