Jason Crandell (you may know him/or of him) posted last week about his new 5-day training, The Missing Half: Resistance Training for Yoga Teachers. And it made me think ... Partly because strength is having a real moment in the yoga world and rightly so. But also because I’ve been thinking about this from a slightly different angle. My own background sits in a rather unusual crossover: over 30 years in group fitness, an MMedSci in Sports & Exercise Science, many years training instructors, alongside my yoga studies through the Krishnamacharya–Desikachar tradition and Paul Harvey. And I keep coming back to this question: Could we be much more intelligent about how we build strength within the practices we already teach? Yes, Mona and I have carefully and respectfully, created KettleflowYOGA. We chose kettlebells for a specific reason. So, on top of that, could we build strength not necessarily by adding dumbbells and other equipment? Not turning yoga into HIIT. Not endless planks, chaturangas and “feel the burn”. But really understanding how to use: - bodyweight - repetition - range - leverage - tempo - holds - transitions - progressive overload - adaptation for different bodies …to help people build strength for life. The ability to get up from the floor. Get up from a chair. Support their own bodyweight. Balance and recover. Stay capable as you age. I’ve started sketching out a monthly teaching approach around this; keeping the same core lesson plan for several weeks, but progressively developing a particular human capacity. Now I’m wondering whether there might be interest in a paid practical upskilling workshop around it. This wouldn’t only be for “traditional” yoga teachers. I’m curious about those of you teaching BODYBALANCE, Pilates, group fitness and other movement practices too. Would this be useful to you? And more importantly: what would you actually want help with? I’m genuinely gauging interest before I build anything.

Dear Teacher, There are seasons when teaching sits comfortably in your life. And then there are seasons where everything feels full. Work. Family. Health. Transitions you didn’t plan for. In those seasons, teaching can start to feel like just one more thing to carry. If that’s where you are right now, know that your teaching doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. Sometimes, the most honest classes come from teachers who are navigating real life and not performing above it. Let your teaching meet you where you are. Simplify your plans. Stay close to the breath. Allow pauses. Let your presence do more of the work. You don’t need to rise above your life to teach well; you just need to stay connected within it. Your students don’t need perfection. They need something real. Much love ... Ann-See xo

A recent randomized controlled trial investigated whether practising yoga in the morning or evening produces different outcomes for sleep, mood, wellbeing, and lifestyle habits in young adults. The study involved 156 postgraduate students who were assigned to: - Morning tele-yoga (6–7am) - Evening tele-yoga (6–7pm) - Waitlist control Participants practised a structured 60-minute yoga programme, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. What did they find? Both morning and evening yoga improved wellbeing compared to doing nothing. Participants in both yoga groups reported: - Better sleep quality - Lower stress, anxiety and depression - Improved quality of life - Reduced anger and restlessness - Healthier lifestyle behaviours overall However, there were some interesting differences. Morning yoga seemed to have the edge for: - Reducing sleep disturbances - Increasing energy and feelings of restfulness - Encouraging healthier food choices and less junk food - Developing more "morningness" (earlier body-clock tendencies) - Increasing "sattva" traits, described as greater clarity, harmony and positive mental health Evening yoga showed a unique benefit. Participants reported a greater reduction in feelings of sadness compared with the control group. What might this mean for yoga teachers? Different times of day invite different qualities of practice. Morning classes may lend themselves well to: - Breath-led movement - Energising pranayama - Establishing intention - Building positive daily habits Evening classes may lend themselves well to: - Down-regulation - Reflection - Longer exhalations - Restorative and meditative practices So should we stop assuming all yoga classes should look the same regardless of when they're taught? The authors themselves suggest that more dynamic practices may be better suited to mornings, while slower, more meditative practices may fit evenings. One of the most interesting findings was that participants began making healthier lifestyle choices, even though they were never given advice about diet, sleep, or behaviour change. This raises a question worth exploring in classes, teacher trainings, or communities of whether yoga change behaviour because it gives us information, or because it changes our relationship with ourselves?

I'm excited to let you know that bookings are now open for Yoga Huddle 2027. We're gathering over a full weekend rather than a single day, creating more space for practice, conversation, reflection and connection. If you've attended before, you'll know the Huddle has never been about collecting more sequences or teaching tricks. It's about stepping back from the noise, reconnecting with your practice, and exploring what really matters in your teaching and in your life. What to Expect - Practice on and off the mat - Teaching exploration and discussion - Honest conversations with like-minded teachers - Time to reflect, connect and recharge When & Where - Yoga Chew Valley in Stanton Drew, BS39 4EW - Saturday, April 17th: 11:00am–5:00pmFollowed by a relaxed group dinner at our local Indian restaurant - Sunday, Aoruk 18th: 9:30am–4:00pm Investment - Early Bird (first 10 spaces): £140 - Standard: £175 The Saturday evening meal is included, along with refreshments throughout the weekend and a finger buffet lunch on Sunday. Spaces are intentionally limited to keep the group small and personal. If you'd like to join us, drop me a message and I'll send you the booking link & discount code. I hope you'll consider being part of what promises to be a very special weekend. Ann-See xo

This study, "Yoga Professionals' Opinions about Yoga in Health Care" by Christiane Brems and colleagues (2026), did not investigate whether yoga is effective in healthcare. Rather, it explored what nearly 1,900 US yoga professionals think about yoga's role in healthcare and whether additional training or credentialing should be required for those working in clinical settings. What I found most interesting wasn't the support for yoga itself, but the discussion around training. Teachers with more advanced qualifications and those already working in healthcare settings were much more likely to believe that additional specialist training is needed when working with people facing health challenges. So, what makes someone qualified to work with people in a healthcare context? Is it: - More hours of training? - More certificates? - More experience? - Mentorship? - A healthcare qualification? - Or the ability to adapt yoga skilfully to the individual sitting in front of you? As someone influenced by the Krishnamacharya tradition, I'm reminded that yoga was always intended to meet the needs of the individual. Yet working with people living with cancer, trauma, chronic pain, heart disease, or mental health challenges clearly requires knowledge, humility, and appropriate boundaries. So, if you're a practitioner and not a teacher, what qualities do you look for in a yoga teacher when dealing with a health challenge? For teachers: - Where does your scope of practice begin and end? - What experiences have most prepared you to support students with health conditions? - Is a 200-hour training enough for healthcare settings? - What does "competent" actually mean in yoga? I'd love to hear your thoughts.