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On today's podcast episode I am interviewing a brilliant teacher and a beautiful person, Stefanie Seher. Stephanie is from Germany. We met in an online group, which was centered around an abundance mindset program. We grew to have a wonderful relationship. Eventually Stefanie became a client of mine. One of the things I love about her was that she didn't wait to dive into the business side of her work. Stefanie new it was her time and that she didn't need to wait until she taught yoga for 10 years or been a practitioner for 20 years before she saw results in her business.  Come hear Stefanie's story on the latest episode.

On today's podcast episode,  I am thrilled to have  Jacquette Timmons, financial behaviorist, an author, a speaker, and a podcaster, as my guest  I had the pleasure of attending one of Jacquette's pricing workshops in 2020, and let me tell you, she left quite an impression. I have attended many money seminars over the years and Jacquette's was the only one who asked questions that were not only appropriate, but SO disruptive in a good way. Seriously, they made me  I knew I had to have Jacquette on the podcast to deliver her deep financial wisdom with you. We laugh a lot and go into a strong, nuanced conversation about money quickly, covering so many key points that wellness professionals need to hear but are often ignored by money experts.   

On today's podcast episode, where we're diving into a question that might sound obvious, but is actually very nuanced and layered. This is a question that you can ask of your clients, but it's also a really important checking point for you to ask yourself.  The question of, is this person coachable, or to turn the mirror towards yourself? Am I coachable?  You might initially think, of course isn't everybody coachable? Well, the answer is no.  ​​The reasons why might surprise you as we get into them. I'm hoping this episode allows you to get even more discerning with your screening process when you're evaluating, whether someone is the right type of client for you, or you're the right type of person to serve them. ​​It's also crucial that you check in with yourself on this topic because many people in the yoga and wellness industries go gangbusters and hire coach after coach or sign up for program after program, and then feel frustrated when they don't get the results that they want.  ​​And to that, I say the only common denominator in that situation is you. So let's dive in and conquer what is a really valuable topic today.

On the podcast today  we are diving into a really important question for you as a wellness professional, whether you're a yoga teacher or a personal trainer or a Reiki master does not matter. This question is relevant for you. The question is, do you have a spending issue? I'm not talking about the kind of spending issue where it's feast or famine or the type of spending issue where you go into debt. Today's issue is more of an issue around personal identity.  This comes up a lot for wellness professionals, especially when it comes to getting new certificates. That was the subject of the very first episode of this podcast. So that's not a new topic. I've spoken about it countless times, but today we're looking at it from the angle of spending. Let's dive in.  

How many times have you said the words, "let me meditate on it?" On today's podcast episode I am calling out the pervasive advice spiritual seekers not only give to others but also take themselves.  I know the intention behind this advice is good. The advice givers want to support you in making a thoughtful choice, not acting impulsively, etc. But we're going to talk today about why this is actually becoming problematic, especially amongst wellness professionals and spiritual professionals.    Are you "meditating" on things or just plain procrastinating? Come find out more on this episode of Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Wellness Professional.

On this weeks episode of Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Wellness professional, we're examining the topic of the “thing” you’ve been unwilling to do in your business? I coach many wellness professionals, and ALL OF THEM have blocks around something major, such as being visible on social media, selling, owning their worth, and charging appropriate prices.  Often, those things feel big, scary, and impossible to tackle. These aren’t the big things I’m talking about. With the right support,with the right coach, with the right team, you can manage that stuff seamlessly. I'm here to talk about doing the thing that feels impossible. That feels like you might actually die in the process. The reason for that is something deeper. It's something deeper than just the money, the sales call, or the new branding.  You're probably expecting me, a deeply intuitive person who is very connected to my feelings and emotions in any situation, to tell you that when you feel yourself encountering that resistance around that huge thing, you're unwilling to do that you should acknowledge your discomfort and then avoid doing that thing.  That's not what I'm here to say, and I speak from recent experience.  So I want you to think of the thing that is so big, so intense, and so scary that you would judge yourself harshly for doing this thing.  I'm also here to ask you, what's there for you on the other side of this judgment Come find out more on Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Wellness Professional.

This week on Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Wellness Professional we are going to share one of our favorite episodes from 2020.   This podcast episode is a testament to a principle I firmly believe in: The more you show up as the most powerful version of YOU, the more successful you become.   Bianca Passiglia (Bianca Lotus) is a past client and a brilliant teacher in her own right. Well before the COVID-19 pandemic began, I invited Bianca to be interviewed for this podcast to discuss her journey as a healer and business woman. When she showed up with her harmonium in tow and declared that we would be incorporating chanting into our episode, I thought, "of course we are, this is SO Bianca." And we did.    Our conversation covers everything from the scariest thing I asked her to do during our work together, to what it REALLY means to hold space for someone, to that time she had to have a super awkward conversation with her 75 year old teacher (it's the most entertaining story we've ever told on the podcast).    What I want you to receive from this episode is, there is no cookie cutter approach to yoga practice or yoga teaching. As Bianca's mentor, my goal was NOT to make her a cookie cutter version of me. Instead, I was committed to supporting her as she stepped into a more powerful version of herself.    Listen all the way to the end of the episode to hear her stunning voice. She even put me on the spot to chant with her, and I happily obliged. 

Today on Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Wellness Professional we have a very special guest LaShanna Small.  LaShanna is a yoga teacher, a mother, a grandmother, and a woman of color. Today she is going to share her story of how she has been able to step up and share her voice on the issue of racial inequality in the spiritual community.

Today on Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Wellness Professional I’m sharing my evolution as a yoga teacher and business owner in hopes it will inspire you.  There were some unpredictable bumps and detours that I could never have anticipated on my path and I get real around these with you today.  I want to do this because people have this idea that they're going to become a yoga teacher or healer and everything will sort itself out without any effort. Their schedule will be perfect, they'll make plenty of money, and they'll live the dream.  But the reality for many of you is a very, very different one.  It was for me too until I made powerful investments in myself.  Dive into this episode to hear more about what I invested in and how I transformed my business to one that’s thriving on the podcast now.

On today's podcast episode, where we're taking a close look at how to successfully advocate for yourself and your business. I am an expert at this, and I'm not ashamed to say it,  both because of my work as a CEO and also because I am a special needs mom.  This has taught me an immense amount about how to stand up and hold boundaries and advocate, even when it's incredibly uncomfortable. For those of you who are new listeners, I have two children. My eldest is 10. His name is Rocco. He's an amazing child. He has some special needs, including being on the autism spectrum. His verbal abilities are challenged. So he communicates with word approximations and also with an assistive tech device.  It's really been up to me to be his voice for many years. I can say now beyond a shadow of a doubt that you can put me in a meeting room with a dozen other people who do not want what I want for him. I can come out of that meeting with confidence, knowing that I've gotten him exactly what he needs. I am completely unflappable in that work.  ​​So even though today's podcast is around business, it really is a great example of how you're you. Wherever you go and the skills that you learn in your life will support your business, but also your business skills will support your life. ​​​This is an exciting episode. One I've been cooking up for a long time.

On today's podcast episode I'm here with a call to action for all yoga teachers and healers listening.  It's time for you to take back the dream. What do I mean?    I want you to go back in time, to before you ever did your first yoga teacher training and remember that exciting and beautiful phase in your life that was full of joy at the idea of building a career around the dream life.  Think back to the excitement you felt at the idea of creating your own schedule, one that allowed you to thrive. Think back to the anticipation you had around a career that focused on transforming the lives of others instead of sitting in a cubicle every day.   Think back to all these dreams you had for yourself when you showed up for the first day of your certification program. Now, fast forward to 2020.   It's time to get brutally honest with yourself and check in. Have those dreams come to life? Or are you hustling from one session to the next, all day, every day, and feeling like that dream was just a naive moment in time? If the latter is how you feel today, I want you to know you're not alone. It doesn't have to be that way anymore. This podcast episode is a truth bomb. It's not enough to read the books. It's not enough to listen to the podcasts. If you want to take back that dream you had for yourself and create something better for your life while still helping others, then listen up, because we're going to talk about how you can get those dreams back on track and bring them to life instead of derailing them forever.    Come find out how on the latest episode of Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Wellness Professional. 

On today's podcast we are talking about taking inspired action, which sounds so simple on the surface. In real life, it can have layers of complexity.    For example, a listener reached out to share the following conundrum:  “I'm really eager to open my own business, but I'm currently in the middle of a contract as an employee for another organization. Until this contract is over, it really limits what I can do. So I guess my hands are tied for the moment?” What I want you to hear from today's episode is that even when you can't take action, you CAN still take some action (and powerful action at that). So whether you're feeling stuck because you've got kids home 24/7 (ahem, quarantine life), or you’re bound by a non compete or a contract, or you're teaching someplace where you're not allowed to promote yourself, don’t despair.....because YOU CAN STILL TAKE ACTION RIGHT NOW! It’s time to move yourself forward as the business person that you are in a way that is respectful and honors the agreements, which you have entered into willingly. You don’t have to wait for circumstances around you to change. YOU have to decide to change right now. Yes, the action you’re able to take might look different from what you imagined, but taking those steps is still better than doing nothing.  This episode is going to show you how you can empower yourself to take action today. If you are interested in taking action now, click the link below to get more information on my upcoming workshop Take Back the Dream-https://sarayoga.com/takebackthedream/

On today's podcast we're getting into a topic that's juicy and might even trigger you a bit.  Your need to seek external validation is ruining your business.  Take a deep breath, because I want you to know we all at some point seek external validation, even if it's just for a moment. There’s nothing wrong with you.   You might already be aware that it's an old habit and doesn't really serve you anymore, but if you’re constantly checking in with others to validate the steps you’re taking (or avoiding) in you’re business, it’s going to drain your energy and provide you with heaps of unnecessary problems to solve. Which stirs up and important question:   Are you prioritizing what YOU want in your business? Or are you ticking boxes just because you think it will gain you approval? If you’re doing the latter, I’ve got a spoiler alert for you: you’re wasting your time.  This episode is going to help you identify why external validation is not helpful and how you can side step this toxic habit to run a thriving business.  Come find out how on the latest episode of Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Wellness Professional. 

On today's podcast episode we are answering a listener's question, which is: Should I temporarily raise my prices to help me recover from COVID-19 ? Is that a good move for my business?  My answer might surprise you. It's a nuanced answer and we look at it both from the consumer’s viewpoint as well as yours. It also brings up the question of how to raise your prices in general. When is it a good idea? How can you do it from a place of strategy and integrity?   Over the years, I’ve had more questions around pricing than almost anything else. This is a powerful episode which I know will help you make the right decisions for your business, no matter what those around you are saying.  Come find out the answers to these questions on the latest episode of Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Wellness Professional. 

Many of you know that I have a four month course called What You Didn't Learn in Yoga Teacher Training. It covers all the ins and outs wellness professionals need to know in order to survive and thrive as legitimate business owners. Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes and sharing with you the three most crucial things that you do not learn in yoga teacher training (or in any certification program, for that matter). These elements are essential to know if you are planning to be a wellness professional for the long haul. If you're like me, you’re planning to go beyond just making ends meet as a healing professional. You want to have more than enough to achieve financial independence and provide for your family. You want to sustain a career that does not suck the life out of you, but actually allows you to live a more inspired, energized life. I get it! 

Every business faces challenges, and I feel strongly that those faced by yoga teachers and healers are a special kind of intense.  On today's podcast episode we're examining how the obstacles in your business are actually necessary for catapulting you into the most confident and unflappable version of you. Is it annoying and sometimes awful to go through them? For sure. But on the other side, nothing can rattle you.  I'm a firm believer that every situation is happening FOR you, not to you. You can choose to believe the latter and be a victim, of course. Or you can put your CEO pants on and face them, knowing they are shaping you into exactly who you need to be.  If your business is going through something uncomfortable right now, you are not alone. I can guarantee that. In fact, on today’s episode I share a big, scary situation I just encountered myself. Confession: I tried to avoid it and prayed the universe would just get rid of it for me. But on the other side, I’ve never felt more like a boss (and I wish I’d just handled it right away). Come find out how you can use these challenges to grow on the latest episode of Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Wellness Professional.  

On today's podcast episode, we're diving into a very important topic and a very relevant topic for the current worldview we're in.  That is the topic of, should you charge less for zoom yoga or virtual yoga? This isn't just relevant for the yoga community. This is relevant for any healing modality and really for the entire world right now, because everybody is working virtually since the COVID-19 epidemic began in mid-March. A student approached me with this question about a month ago, she almost apologized for asking it and said, you know, I'm really sorry. I know this is a loaded question. I said to her, actually, it's not, to me. It's a very straightforward question. It's a simple question. One, that's probably easier for you to answer than you think so let's go for it and see all the different sides that are present in this issue. Come find out my answer on the latest episode of Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Wellness Professional.

On today's podcast episode I interview a very special guest!    Nicole Otchy is a personal stylist and branding consultant for high performers who are ready to use their wardrobes as a tool to become more fully self-expressed. I’ve also known her since we were 14 years old. Even as a teenager, she was one of the most quick witted, insightful people I’d ever met. She continues to be all that and more, and it’s an honor to have her share her wisdom with us.  What wisdom is that? Nicole doesn’t mince words as we discuss why you need to get out of your yoga pants In order shift into a higher level of success in your business. Yup, 4 way stretch pants don’t always equate to more profits. Why? Because you aren’t just a yoga teacher. You’re a thought leader. You have a brand. You’re a business owner. It’s time to own it and look the part. I've worked with Nicole as her client, fyi. When I hired her I was feeling really very much in a rut in how I looked, how I felt about myself. It’s hard to feel like a CEO when you’re like a soccer mom living in lululemon. I knew I wanted to show up differently in my work, feel confident during interviews, find my voice during speaking engagements, and feel steady no matter what opportunities came my way.    I didn’t want to look like a stuffy pantsuit kind of woman, obviously. I wanted to be comfortable in my own style (which includes lots of rose gold and skulls).  I've been on a yogic journey for 20 years. I’ve been on a personal growth/coaching journey for 7 of them. And when I began my work with Nicole I was SHOCKED and confronted by how much I saw in myself that I had never seen before.  Come find out how Nicole helped me get out of my yoga pants and show up more powerfully for myself and my clients. To get more info about Nicole and her consulting business please go to : https://www.nicoleotchy.com/ 

On today's podcast episode we’re getting REAL regarfing the fear you have about taking your career to the next level. During my recent launch I spoke with many yoga teachers just like you about the fears they have in investing in themselves. Ultimately, everyone’s nerves boiled down to one core fear lurking beneath all the others, “What if I make this investment and then not be accountable enough to do the work?”    Essentially, they were afraid they would break the promises they make to themselves.    Did you keep the promise you made to yourself to practice today? Because if you broke that promise it’s no wonder you’re scared of a bigger one.    Ditto with the promises you’ve made to yourself to get up earlier, cut down your wine consumption, and finally launch that online course you’ve been thinking about.    See the pattern?    It’s time to talk to the person in charge about this (ahem, you).  Today I am giving you the tools your need to rebuild trust in yourself and take action. Come find out my thoughts on my latest episode. Get more info on my new Take Back the Dream Program- sarayoga.com/takebackthedream

On today's podcast episode I am celebrating 1 year of podcasting! Yes that is right, Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Wellness Professional has officially been out for one year.  Today I’m sharing with you my biggest takeaways from this past year as a podcaster. Some of these revalations were surprising even to me. There were certainly days when I wondered if my message was making an impact at all. Were people even listening?  The answer is yes, they most certainly were (and still are). I have had so many listeners reach out and say that the podcast spoke to them as healers and wellness professionals who are ready to grow. I’m so thankful my insight has helped them move forward.  Come find out how my podcast has helped me become more visible, how it has helped me make a  bigger impact, and how I made more sales.