116: What It Takes to Flourish as a Full-Time Yoga Teacher with Nyk Danu

116: What It Takes to Flourish as a Full-Time Yoga Teacher with Nyk Danu

In this episode, I sit down with yoga therapist, yin yoga teacher, and teacher trainer Nyk Danu, who has been teaching since 2004. Nyk shares her unlikely path from hairstylist to full-time yoga teacher and how injuries and a growing interest in Buddhism led her to yoga. We also talk about her studies with Paul Grilley, the value of mentorship and apprenticeship, and how yoga teachers can flourish in this career path. Nyk also opens up about the realities of building a sustainable yoga career. She shares how she transitioned away from gyms and studios to running her own registered series, the business lessons that helped her move beyond burnout, and what it was like rebuilding her career after moving across the country and navigating the challenges of the pandemic. We discuss specialization, marketing with integrity, multiple income streams, and why she is passionate about helping yoga teachers create businesses that allow them to truly flourish. Connect with Nyk: * Website: https://nykdanu.com/teachers/ [https://nykdanu.com/teachers/] * Instagram: @nykdanuyoga [https://www.instagram.com/nykdanuyoga/] * Podcast: Yin Yoga Podcast [https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-teacher-training/yin-yoga-podcast/] * Weekly Free Yoga teachers co-working sessions  [https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=19572410&appointmentType=54258493⁠] * Monthly Q&A session where teachers can ask me anything about their business  [https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=19572410&appointmentType=54257254⁠] Connect with Reika: * ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ethical Yoga Retreat in Nicaragua⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.reikayoga.com/pages/retreat] (Use code: ALIGN300 for $300 off) * Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [www.reikayoga.com] * Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga [www.instagram.com/reikayoga] * Join her newsletter

115: Yoga en Español & the Power of Knowing Your Why with Klaudia Paletta

In this episode, I sit down with Klaudia Paletta, founder of Pink Means Go, bilingual wellness facilitator, and yoga teacher dedicated to making yoga more accessible to Latinx communities. Klaudia shares her journey from retail management to full-time yoga teaching, how teaching her grandmother during the pandemic inspired her work, and how she has built community-centered wellness programs through bilingual yoga, chair yoga, retreats, and grant-funded initiatives. We also discuss creating inclusive spaces, thinking beyond the traditional studio model, navigating grants and partnerships, and why staying connected to your "why" is essential for building a sustainable career in yoga. Whether you're a yoga teacher, wellness professional, or someone passionate about community impact, this conversation is filled with inspiration and practical insights for creating meaningful work that serves others. Connect with Klaudia: Website: https://www.pinkmeansgo.com [https://www.pinkmeansgo.com] Instagram: @pinkmeansgo [https://www.instagram.com/pinkmeansgo] Connect with Reika: * ⁠⁠⁠Ethical Yoga Retreat in Nicaragua⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.reikayoga.com/pages/retreat] (Use code: ALIGN300 for $300 off) * ⁠Pelvic Floor Workshop for Yoga Teachers⁠ [https://www.reikayoga.com/schedule/3ee17695-a300-4bd8-aa1c-139f6ce0f9de_1780779600] (June 6th, Saturday 2-4pm pst) * Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ [www.reikayoga.com] * Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga [www.instagram.com/reikayoga]

114: From Tokyo to LA with Maria Wada: Dance, Identity & Living in Harmony Through Yoga

In this episode of the Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast, Reika sits down with Maria Wada to explore her journey from growing up in Japan and Mexico to becoming a professional dancer in Los Angeles, performing with artists like Britney Spears and Taylor Swift. Maria shares the emotional highs and challenges of the entertainment industry, how yoga helped her reconnect to herself beyond external validation, and her transition from dance into teaching yoga full-time. Together, they discuss identity, self-worth, retreats, community building, and what it means to live yoga and be a yoga teacher. Connect with Maria: Instagram: @mariawadayoga [https://www.instagram.com/mariawadayoga/] Website: https://www.mariawada.com [https://www.mariawada.com/] Retreat: Living in Harmony Nicaragua [https://www.mariawada.com/nicaragua-yoga-retreat-aug-2026-living-in-harmony] Connect with Reika: * ⁠⁠Ethical Yoga Retreat in Nicaragua⁠⁠ [https://www.reikayoga.com/pages/retreat] * Pelvic Floor Workshop for Yoga Teachers [https://www.reikayoga.com/schedule/3ee17695-a300-4bd8-aa1c-139f6ce0f9de_1780779600] * Website: ⁠⁠⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠⁠⁠ [www.reikayoga.com] * Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga [www.instagram.com/reikayoga]

113: The Teacher-Student Relationship in Yoga: Lessons from Desikachar with Chase Bossart

In this episode, I sit down with Chase Bossart to explore what it really means to practice and live yoga beyond the mat. Chase shares his journey from studying philosophy to becoming a longtime student of T.K.V. Desikachar, offering a rare glimpse into the depth of the teacher-student relationship. Through his years of study in India and ongoing practice, we talk about individualized teaching, humility, and why yoga is something that unfolds over a lifetime. This conversation touches on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the role of personal practice, and how real change happens through consistency, relationship, and time. It’s a grounded and honest look at what it means to walk the path of yoga in a deeper way. Connect with Chase: * Yoga Well Institute [https://www.yogawell.com/] * Instagram: @yogawellinstitute [https://www.instagram.com/yogawellinstitute/] * Podcast: Yoga Well Podcast [https://www.yogawell.com/podcast/] Connect with Reika: * ⁠⁠Apply for the Mentorship program⁠⁠ [https://www.reikayoga.com/pages/mentorship2026] * ⁠Ethical Yoga Retreat in Nicaragua⁠ [https://www.reikayoga.com/pages/retreat] * Website: ⁠⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠⁠ [www.reikayoga.com] * Instagram: ⁠⁠@reikayoga [www.instagram.com/reikayoga]

112: How a Physical Therapist Became a Yoga Teacher and Studio Owner with Brenna Barzenick

In this episode, I’m joined by Brenna Barzenick, yoga teacher, studio owner, and physical therapist with over 30 years of experience. Brenna shares her journey from traditional PT to yoga and how she now bridges both worlds of science and yoga. Brenna shares her journey from working in orthopedic physical therapy to discovering yoga later in life, and how that path eventually led her to become a SmartFlow teacher and co-owner of a thriving yoga studio in Louisiana. With a deep background in biomechanics and anatomy, she offers a grounded and refreshing perspective on movement, one that prioritizes longevity, accessibility, and presence over performance. Connect with Brenna: Instagram: @dptyoga [https://www.instagram.com/dptyoga/] Brenna & Britni's Studio: @downtwonyogala [https://www.instagram.com/downtownyogala/] Yoga Studio Website: https://hammondyoga.com [https://hammondyoga.com] Connect with Reika: * ⁠Apply for the Mentorship program⁠ [https://www.reikayoga.com/pages/mentorship2026] * Ethical Yoga Retreat in Nicaragua [https://www.reikayoga.com/pages/retreat] * Free Community Yoga in Costa Mesa [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ampere-hour-free-yoga-at-the-camp-tickets-1987164138431?aff=erellivmlt] * ⁠Social Media for Yoga Teachers Workshop⁠ [https://www.reikayoga.com/schedule/52318c77-4b91-44a6-ace2-2cb5971c82e3_1777150800] * Website: ⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠ [www.reikayoga.com] * Instagram: ⁠@reikayoga [www.instagram.com/reikayoga]