The Complete Guide To
Astrology For Yoga Teachers
Thanksgiving: Holding space for both Gratitude and Grief
I’ve recently been thinking about and meditating on the different binaries that I find myself living. Good and bad. Lazy and active. Productive and unproductive… there are plenty of others. In my sitting, I’ve been challenging myself to qualify things less and to...
Episode 48 – Gratitude Meditation: Guidance for Relieving Stress and Anxiety in Challenging Times
While 2020 seems to continuously bring us conflict, elevating anxiety, and wreaking havoc on our mindscapes, there is a way to escape it all: through a carefully crafted gratitude meditation. This particular practice has long been the balm on the weary soul of...
Unleash your Inner Spiritual Entrepreneur and Further your Yoga Business
Entrepreneurs are often thought of as just business owners, but they are much more than that. They are creative forces turning their passions into reality while sustaining a business. As spiritual leaders, business is a matter we don’t particularly love. But as...
Episode 47 – 5 Ways to Make Money as a Yoga Teacher
Struggling as a yoga teacher? This podcast clearly outlines five ways you can boost your income and serve your students with tools you have right now. Learn to pivot your business to go online and reach a wider audience! Yoga teachers and spiritual leaders provide...
Episode 46 – Launching Your Successful Online Yoga Biz: Case Study with Jory Serota
As a career yoga teacher, making a decent living is truly challenging. However, moving our yoga business online paves the way for true success. Going online is even more important in 2020, as a fellow yoga teacher, Jory Serota, shares with us in this podcast. Hear his...
Episode 45 – Erotic Embodiment and Connecting To Your Wildness: A Conversation with Kait Singley of Living Eros
2020 brings with it so many challenges, so much grief, and so many reasons to connect to our sensuality, eros, and wildness. The practice of embodied sexuality is deeply therapeutic in order to help us overcome grief to achieve greater states of pleasure. Kait Singley...
Episode 44 – Discovering the Power of Your Dreams: A Conversation with Melissa De Los Santos, Lead Mystics Mentor and Dreamworker
We all dream, but did you know that working with your dreams unlocks the power of your psyche? Melissa De Los Santos teaches us how to delve into dreamwork and understand what messages are encoded in our dreams. There is great personal growth to be had by diving into...
Episode 43 – Nourish Body and Soul with Optimized Food Choices: A Conversation with Kylie Fagnano, Registered Dietician and Functional Nutritionist
Spiritual leaders and yogis often struggle with what to eat based on ethics and belief systems. Registered Dietician, yogi, and funcitonal nutritionist, Kylie Fagnano, walks us through how to ethically make the best decisions for your health to keep you strong and fit...
Episode 42 – The State of The Yoga Union: A Conversation with Emily Stewart, founder of GFI-U
As a yoga teacher, it is likely you have experienced the perils of working in the yoga industry. Whether it be wage theft, devaluation, shady hiring practices, or something else…you deserve better. Emily Stewart, founder of Group Fitness Instructors United and...
Episode 41 – Cueing Tips, Tricks & Strategies for Impact: A Conversation with TKYM Academy Director, Andrew Hoffman
The primary tool of the yoga instructor and spiritual leader is the voice! How do we ensure that everything we say in class lands with compassionate direction? We tune up our cues, refine how we say things, and elevate our speech (and silence). Director of The...
Episode 40 – Taking Feedback & Growing as a Yoga Teacher: A Conversation with TKYM Academy Mentor, Alyssa Arroyo
On our journey to becoming extraordinary yoga teachers and spiritual leaders, we often receive feedback and support on how to grow and become better. Whether it be via tests, video uploads, or one-on-one coaching, the ability to take feedback and use it for growth,...
Episode 39 – Hero’s Journey as Spiritual Journey: What You Need to Know for Deep Transformation
The Heroic Journey is talked about often in spiritual circles, but how does it really relate to our spiritual practice? Learn how the Hero’s Journey informs our yoga practice and guides us toward the transformation and fulfillment we seek. If you’ve done...
Episode 38 – Four Main Types of Yoga: Which One Do You Practice As a Spiritual Leader
The four main types of yoga: Bhakti, Raja, Karma, and Jnana, give us the opportunity to bring yoga into our everyday life and make the state of yoga (psychospiritual wholeness) our new normal. Learn the four main yoga paths, and how to practice and teach them for...
Episode 37 – Astrological Insights Into the State of the World: A Conversation with Diana Vilas, the Cosmic Cheerleader
So many things are coming to the surface in 2020…the pandemic, social justice issues, climate change..what are we to make of them all? Diana Vilas, the Cosmic Cheerleader walks us through astrology’s viewpoint on what is happening to the world right now....
What is an Expected Yoga Teacher Salary?
I know this topic sounds sensational. It’s not. The average yoga teacher makes $19 per hour in the United States, according to Glassdoor. While some teachers make more money per class, and some, unfortunately, make less or teach for free, it’s hard to make a living...
A Glossary of Yoga Terms
Common Yoga poses for YTT (Sanskrit) Adho Mukha Svanasana : Downward Facing Dog Pose Ananda Balasana : Happy Baby PoseAnjaneyasana : Low Lunge/Crescent LungeArch Chandrasana : Half Moon PoseArda Uttanasana : Flat Back Pose Baddha Konasana : Bound Angle Pose Bakasana...
Episode 36 – Myth & Rites of Passage: A Conversation with Kwame Scruggs of Alchemy Inc
Mythology and ritual help us discover more about ourselves, move through challenging times, connect to something greater than ourselves, and engage us in our community. No one knows this better than Kwame Scruggs, founder of Alchemy Inc., an organization that works...
Episode 35 – Compassionate & Conscious Food Choices: A Conversation with Jenni Harris of White Oak Pastures
One of the ways in which we participate in activism daily is through our food choices. As yogis and spiritual leaders, we want to make the most compassionate choices possible! One of these choices is supporting regenerative farmers like Jenni Harris, and her family....
Episode 34 – Working with Veterans & Active Military as Spiritual Leaders: A Conversation with Justin Blazejewski
Veterans and active duty military put their lives on the line for the benefit of others — an ultimate act of selfless service. In turn, as spiritual leaders, we must step up to provide safe, healing space for this community to participate in yoga practice....
Episode 33 – Addressing Cultural Appropriation in Yoga: A Conversation with Raj Patra
Yoga originates in India, and today flourishes in the West. Questions of cultural appropriation often arise within the spiritual community, and there is a great responsibility on the part of yoga teachers to address this. Raj Patra, owner of Yoga for Life Portland,...
Episode 32 – Creating Inclusive Wellness Spaces: A Conversation with Eric Mosley
As we navigate racial justice issues as spiritual leaders, it is important to think about how we create wellness spaces that invite Black, BIPOC, and other communities into the fold. How do we communicate safety and inclusion? Eric Mosley, founder of Black Mat Yoga...
Episode 31 – The Spirituality of Death & Dying: A Conversation with Chaplain Andrew Campbell
As spiritual leaders, we are here to usher people through all transitions in life…including death. This is a sacred privilege and one that we can hold with dignity and honor. Chaplain Andrew talks about the importance of holding the space for death and dying...
Episode 30 – Pride & Solidarity: A Conversation Creating Community with Jase Cannon
In this time of social justice, equality, and inclusion, it is important for us as spiritual leaders to practice good allyship and stand in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ community members. Fellow yoga teacher and social activist, Jase Cannon, gives us great insight and...
Episode 29 – Ahimsa: The Practical Practice of Non-Violence
During this time of social justice and civil upheaval, our ability to practice non-violence in its most fundamental way empowers us to be agents of positive change. Learn how this practice changes your life, as well as those around you and gives you the resilience to...
Episode 28 – Social Change & Spiritual Leadership: Interview with Shawn J. Moore
In light of recent police violence against people of color, including the death of George Floyd, our country has reached a boiling point. This podcast features social activist, yoga teacher, and mindfulness practitioner, Shawn J. Moore, who provides us with thoughtful...
Episode 27 – The REAL Goal of Yoga (It will surprise you)
While many consider enlightenment to be the goal of yoga, it’s not! That is just a practice that helps us to get better at the REAL goal of yoga: excellent decision making. Learn about the yoga sutra and how it supports viveka (discernment) as the goal of...
Episode 26 – Crash Course: Building Your Successful Spiritual Online Business
The demand is HIGH for getting your spiritual business online pronto. It’s an important step to serve your students now…and long into the future! In this podcast, learn the most essential (and easy!) steps to create a successful online business that allows...
Episode 25 – The Feminine in Yoga: Where is SHE?
Feminine energy has long been repressed, dismissed, and even forgotten. Take some time to rediscover the power of the feminine and learn more about its place as an essential energy of the universe. Along with the masculine, the feminine influences our life, practice,...
Episode 24 – Retrograde Reality Check: Time to Go Inward
This week, three planets turn retrograde. This is a major astrological event! Alanna guides you through what each of these planetary retrogrades mean, how to utilize their energies for your highest good, and the best ways to bring their influence into your life and...
Episode 23 – State of the Yoga Union: Interview with Emily Stewart
Yoga professional and visionary, Emily Stewart, talks to Alanna about her creation of a yoga union to help professionals earn better wages, secure insurance coverage and make a living in our tough industry. She recognized many of the struggles of the yoga teacher and...
Episode 22 – Top Tools To Decrease Stress During Stressful Times
You may have noticed that your “yoga bliss” is gone during this time, and your practice isn’t producing the same results. Times of high stress (like right now) may require we adjust our practice in order for it to be more effective. In this podcast,...
Episode 21 – Treating the Mind & Spirit During the COVID-19 Crisis
As a spiritual leader, you are on the front lines of the mental and emotional crisis happening right now. This podcast gives you the practical structure of yoga psychology as well as immediately implementable tools to help you (and your clients and community)...
Episode 20 – Crash Course in Building Your Online Spiritual Business
It is more important than ever to have an online presence as a yoga teacher and spiritual leader. With people at home and sheltering in place due to COVID-19, we must reach them where they are: at home! You have the tools of yoga which expressly help your audience...
Episode 19 – Where Does Abundance Really Come From? (And, How to Get More of It)
Abundance is such a buzz word! Does anyone know how to actually get it? The trick may surprise you, and run counter to what you’ve heard in new-agey circles. Discover the heart of abundance and how you can be a channel for more of it. This month in the higher...
Episode 18 – The Importance of Personal Ritual (And, How to Do It)
Rituals may feel like a thing of the past, but they are absolutely essential tools for modern day people…especially the modern mystic! Learn why ritual is so critical for every human being, the elements of ritual, and how to put together powerful (relevant)...
Episode 17 – Leveraging Social Media for Success as a Spiritual Leader
As a spiritual leader, by default, you are also an entrepreneur. Essential to your business tool kit is your smart use of social media. Alanna shares with you potent tips on how to make your social media shine so you can attract your tribe and make more impact with...
Episode 16 – Spiritual Health And Leadership During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Yoga teachers are deeply affected by this pandemic with yoga studios closures. On the flip side, yoga students are now bereft of a primary source of comfort and camaraderie during this crisis…which is so needed. Yoga teachers need to step up into their roles as...
Episode 15 – The TRUE History of Yoga Asana
Have you heard that yoga is a 5,000 year old tradition? Well, that’s partly true! However, asana (posture practice) is a really modern invention in the yoga repertoire. Bust through some theories on this podcast and learn the true history (and relevance) of yoga...
Episode 14 – Spiritual Protection: How to Keep Yourself Free and Clear
We often find ourselves in front of groups of people as spiritual leaders, and sometimes that means being with negative energy that we can’t control. What can we do about it? This podcast covers techniques to maintain a high vibe and elevated energy, because it...
Bringing the Feminine Into Astrology: Interview with Shellie Crow
Modern Mystic and Alchemical Astrologer, Shellie Crow, joins us on the podcast to talk about bringing forth the feminine in astrology and modern life. Through her deep dive into women and gender studies, as well as all things mystical, Shellie has developed a unique...
Episode 12- Branding Your Business as a Spiritual Entrepreneur
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Alanna Kaivalya. I have a 500-hour teacher training online with YogaDownload and I have over 250 hours of higher education for yogis online in the areas of spirituality and mysticism. If you’re listening to this podcast,...
Episode 11 – The Power of Loving Kindness: Intro to Metta Meditation
The month of February is all about love! Let’s talk self-love, compassion, and forgiveness in terms of Metta (or, Maitri in Sanskrit), the practice of loving-kindness. This is one of the most powerful practices we can employ as spiritual leaders. It elevates our...
The Psychology of Astrology: Looking at Your Energetic Blueprint
Astrology continues to gain popularity, and for good reason! As a modern mystic and spiritual leader, it is an essential tool and powerful way to look at yourself and your clients. This podcast drills down on the importance of astrology and shares the inner workings...
Episode 9 – Spiritual Entrepreneurship: Coming to Grips with Making an Impact AND an Income as a Spiritual Leader
Money is often a dirty word in the yoga and spiritual communities, and the idea that we should make money as spiritual entrepreneurs is often ridiculed, shunned, and shamed. This is an outdated way of thinking, and that belief system keeps us small and impoverished....
Modern Mystics Podcast Episode 8 – The God-Sized Hole and the Great Need for Spiritual Leadership
You’ve heard Alanna talk about this concept in previous podcasts: Spiritual Leadership. Hear her talk about why this is such a critical role to be filled in our modern day culture by mystics such as yourself. Learn the history of what lead us here…to this...
Forecasting Your Future: Divination for the Modern Mystic
Traditionally, at the beginning of any year, we look for ways to optimize our lives in the coming months. Mystics of old have long had methods of divination to assist in positive planning, and looking forward to create opportunities. This is not fortune telling!...
Episode 6 – New Year’s Transformation: How to Create Lasting Change
January is the perfect time to recommit to your spiritual practice. But, is your practice really working for you? In this podcast, Alanna goes through why your practice may not actually be working, how to make it work better, what it means for it “to...
Episode 5 – New Year’s Intentions: How a Mystic Sets 2020 Up for Success
At the beginning of the year, it is tempting to make new years resolutions. But, why would you do that when they only lead to heartache and disappointment! The mystic has another way, a way of greater hope and positive change. Let Alanna illuminate for you the path of...