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Leadership and Yoga
Shawna Krueger
195 episodes
3 days ago
Here we talk creativity, confidence, and presence through conversations with inspiring teachers and spiritual leaders who walk the path ahead of us. You’ll hear my personal stories—woven with poetry, storytelling, and even musical episodes—all rooted in a spirit of reconnecting with the magic of life and inspiring you to remember that your dreams are made for people like you. Above all, this is a space for discovering what it means to live with deeper awareness, to bring yoga into leadership, and leadership into yoga. Here’s to feeling at home in the unknown. -@shawnakru
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Self-Improvement
Education
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All content for Leadership and Yoga is the property of Shawna Krueger and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Here we talk creativity, confidence, and presence through conversations with inspiring teachers and spiritual leaders who walk the path ahead of us. You’ll hear my personal stories—woven with poetry, storytelling, and even musical episodes—all rooted in a spirit of reconnecting with the magic of life and inspiring you to remember that your dreams are made for people like you. Above all, this is a space for discovering what it means to live with deeper awareness, to bring yoga into leadership, and leadership into yoga. Here’s to feeling at home in the unknown. -@shawnakru
Show more...
Self-Improvement
Education
Episodes (20/195)
Leadership and Yoga
mysteriously, things fall into place

Inspired from a moment in an interview I did with Sri Dharma Mittra, I sat down to contemplate my life over coffee as I do most mornings. But on this particular morning, everything I’ve learned from Richard Rudd of the Gene Keys, Frederick Dodson of Levels of Energy and Parallel Universes of Self, and even some Dr. Joe Dispenza organized itself in my head in a new way. The result is the “thought experience” I have prepared for you today.

Here’s a divine fractal theory I enjoy thinking about when I wonder why consciousness split itself to experience being human, and why life feels limiting—and what it really means about your power and purpose.


Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here. (My sponsor)


Enter the TEND yourself & a friend self-care giveaway. (My sponsor)

artoftending.kit.com/shawna


Follow me on instagram:

@shawnkru


Own a copy of the guided journal I created, code BOGO for 2 journals (receive 2 for price of 1) code BOGOFAMILY for 5 journals for $75.

Ritual of Writing Journal 


Time stamps:

00:00 Intro

01:00 Sri Dharma Mittra on mysteries

03:50 my story of mystery

07:30 mysterious money arriving just in time

10:50 how to solve problems

13:10 giveaway! TEND yourself & a friend

15:00 sit back, relax, but also lean in

17:00 staying in the energy

19:20 THOUGHT EXPERIENCE START

33:00 my downfall & recovery & surprise


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5 days ago
45 minutes 14 seconds

Leadership and Yoga
Meghan Bay on Writing Poetry, Creativity as a Spiritual Practice, and Appreciating Every Version of Yourself

In this episode, poet Meghan Bay reveals how writing poetry is a way to practice presence. She shares how creativity can be seen as a gift from the Creator and how to create space to invite in more creative ideas. Meghan also shares the importance of honoring every version of yourself as you grow and evolve, allowing your journey of transformation to be uniquely your own.


Follow Meghan on Instagram: @meghan.bay


And find her writing: Meghan’s Substack


Enter the TEND yourself & a friend self-care giveaway


Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here. (My sponsor)


Download your free SEO Checklist for yoga instructors & entrepreneurs


Follow me on instagram:

@shawnkru


Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:

https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat 


Time Stamps:

00:00 intro

03:42 “the fool’s hunt” - poem by Meghan Bay

05:24 How do you know when you’ve written something that’s really true?

07:00 morning pages & digital journaling  

08:53 Meghan's story: growing up Christian, moving to Australia, getting into writing

16:04 letting yourself be seen: sharing on social media

19:56 the process of writing a book: capturing poems when they arrive

22:11 creativity as a gift from the Creator to help shape this world

25:41 are you actually giving yourself what you need?

27:31 morning routine & a meditation practice

31:58 the discipline of a writing practice 

33:06 creating space to invite creativity to land

34:06 Meghan's mission: creating a space for people to expand into themselves

36:10 let yourself move slowly, one small step at a time

39:04: how can we shift from a focus on the outcome to a focus on presence?

40:38 reality creation: fate or free will?

42:46 sending love to past or future versions of yourself 

43:53 why are we here?

47:37 the path to transformation & liberation will be uniquely yours

52:42 appreciating the contrast of emotions & experiences 

54:46 qualities of an exceptional leader

57:08 the billboard question

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1 week ago
1 hour 49 seconds

Leadership and Yoga
grow your yoga business & moral ambition as a yoga teacher

In this episode, I break down the four steps every yoga teacher needs to grow a business with moral ambition. Let's talk about why your mission is your most valuable business asset, why your systems determine your sustainability, how to face numbers, pricing, and fees without shrinking, and how “minimum viable structure” can change your whole life. I walk you through the ONE symbolic action you can take today—something you might look back on years from now as the exact moment everything began to change.

If you’ve ever felt behind, overwhelmed, or “not business-minded enough,” this is for you. Your dream isn’t meant for someone richer, older, more experienced, or more confident. It’s meant for you—and the world needs what you're building. This episode includes a tour of OfferingTree, my sponsor. 


Try OfferingTree for free with my link here. (My sponsor)


Follow me on instagram:

@shawnkru


Own a copy of the guided journal I created, code POD for $33.

Ritual of Writing Journal 


One spot left. Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:

https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat 


YouTube social media video I mentioned:

https://youtu.be/h_yQswsXwhY?si=SXLofxnBfWuwziIO


Time stamps:

00:00 setting the mood

07:50 animation

10:00 luck is when opportunity meets preparation

11:40 agenda for today & offeringtree

15:47 part 1: how to make actual progress

20:00 David Swenson example

23:30 part 2: creating offers

29:00 gene key 26 & divine pride

31:00 part 3: money

33:40 rates teaching yoga

34:00 social media income

38:00 courses and yoga retreats

40:00 part 4: systems & offeringtree

45:00 cost of systems & software 

54:00 personal use & podcasting software

55:00 take notes on students

56:00 homework

57:00 inspirational send off :)


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1 week ago
1 hour 33 seconds

Leadership and Yoga
Eva Vriens on Listening to Your Body, Dreaming Big & Teaching Yoga

This conversation with yoga teacher Eva Vriens explores embodiment, discerning gut feelings, teaching yoga in other languages, why there is no such thing as going backward, and much more!


Find Eva on Instagram @eva.vri 


Sign up here to join the next Yoga Teacher Roundtable


Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here. (My sponsor)


Download your free SEO Checklist for yoga instructors & entrepreneurs


Follow me on instagram:

@shawnkru


Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:

https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat 


Time Stamps:

00:00 intro

03:53 moving to Italy

07:19 teaching yoga in other languages

12:23 it’s exactly what makes you nervous that will bring the change you desire

16:28 interpreting gut feelings: trusting what your body is telling you

20:49 what did you want to be when you grew up?

25:06 the magic of yoga as a return to self & to presence

26:54 how was teaching your first yoga class?

31:18 breakthroughs in teaching yoga

34:29 retracing our steps can actually help us move forward

35:59 how do you prepare yourself to teach?

37:58 morning routine

42:16 creating our realities

43:53 how can we start to believe something different is possible for us?

45:59 book recommendations?

51:16 qualities of an exceptional leader?

53:14 if you could chat with anyone over coffee or tea, who would you invite?

57:16 the billboard question

Show more...
2 weeks ago
1 hour 2 minutes 17 seconds

Leadership and Yoga
the discipline of patience: 4 steps to stop living addicted to stress and follow your dreams calmly

In this episode, I talk about what it means to live addicted to the hormones of stress—constantly rushing, pushing, and chasing success instead of allowing life to unfold. I share how I learned to slow down, cultivate patience, destress, and trust the process of following my dreams without burning out. If you’ve ever struggled to find calm, balance, and faith while chasing your purpose, this conversation will help you remember that slowing down is how you truly speed up.

Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here. (My sponsor)

Enter the TEND yourself & a friend self-care giveaway.

artoftending.kit.com/shawna

Follow me on instagram:

@shawnkru

Own a copy of the guided journal I created, code POD for $33.

Ritual of Writing Journal 

Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:

https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat 

00:00 intro

01:00 music

04:00 synchronicities

08:40 one: jeju island mistake

14:00 the meditation of patience

17:30 gabriel garcia marquez and magical realism

22:00 open gifts after dinner

23:30 Mr. Beast’s first $10k

25:00 two: patience protects you from your mind

27:00 walk towards the storm

29:24 don’t go fast

32:30 true trust

35:38 TEND 

39:00 space for the unknown

42:00 time is a construct 


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2 weeks ago
46 minutes 49 seconds

Leadership and Yoga
Amy Newmark of Chicken Soup for the Soul on the Power of Stories, Gratitude & Forgiveness

Amy Newmark, publisher and editor-in-chief of Chicken Soup for the Soul, shares how stories can inspire, heal, and transform our lives. We talk about forgiveness, gratitude, synchronicities, and the kinds of stories the world needs most right now.


The Chicken Soup For The Soul Website


The Chicken Soup For The Soul Podcast


Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here. (My sponsor)


Download your free SEO Checklist for yoga instructors & entrepreneurs


Follow me on instagram:

@shawnkru


Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:
https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat


Time Stamps:


00:00 intro

02:06 the power of stories

04:32 where does your interest in human stories come from?

06:35 finding chicken soup for the soul

10:54 how did working on wall street shape your path?

13:03 entering the publishing world

14:57 change your habits, change your life

15:58 the editing process

18:31 the best stories will make you feel something

19:59 you have a to-do list, but do you have a to-enjoy list?

22:01 do you ever feel self-help overwhelm or advice-overwhelm?

23:02 a gratitude practice can change your life

24:22 the power of forgiveness

25:37 if you’re convinced you have a good story: keep submitting

28:11 what kinds of stories do you think the world needs the most right now?

32:07 “pre-forgiveness”

33:36 the freedom of letting go of resentment

35:25 what do you think is happening when we read a story that sets us free?

37:20 the chicken soup for the soul podcast

39:55 consistency in creative work

42:17 have you included any of your own stories in the books?

44:21 a flat tire and the power of positive thinking 

46:00 a synchronicity story: the family reunion 

49:21 what makes an exceptional leader?

51:54 what’s your greatest joy?

52:58 billboard question

Show more...
3 weeks ago
56 minutes 34 seconds

Leadership and Yoga
aligned friendship as a yoga teacher: bts of cactus club yoga mastermind

Join Shawna Krueger, Ben Kalra, Kimia Hajian, Marla Tortorice and Brand Bergado for a behind the scenes look into our self-created yoga teacher mastermind and friendship group. There are some absolute keys for finding authentic friendship in the yoga world, along with some good laughs.


This episode explores what it means to grow in community as a yoga teacher and creative. Let’s talk finding aligned friendships, choosing collaboration over competition, and building accountability and honesty within relationships. We touch on the balance between playfulness and focus, and the importance of becoming the kind of person you’d want to be friends with. And, what happens when friendship doesn’t come easily — and how openness, trust, and consistency can transform that over time.


Ben Kalra - @benkalra

Kimia Hajian - @kimihajian

Marla Tortorice - @marlasyoga

Brandon Bergado - @brandonberg_

Shawna Krueger - @shawnkru 


Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here. (My sponsor)


Own a copy of the guided journal I created, code POD for $33.

Ritual of Writing Journal 


Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:
https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat


time stamps: 

00:00 intro

01:00 trust me, don’t skip the intro

03:45 real friends are found on the mountain

05:10 shawna’s letter to cactus club

08:15 brandon’s cactus club origin story

10:00 community as a yoga teacher

15:45 brandon on where to find aligned friends 

20:00 ben on collaboration over competition 

25:40 marla on accountability in friendships

30:00 kimi on honest feedback in friendships

35:25 ben on balance between silliness & focus

40:00 becoming the kind of person you’d want to be friends with

45:50 kimi on when friendship doesn’t come easily at first


Show more...
3 weeks ago
51 minutes 10 seconds

Leadership and Yoga
Yoga Teacher Roundtable

This roundtable episode brings together yoga teachers from across the country! Tune in to hear what’s inspiring their classes right now, unexpected teaching moments, personal stories, practical insights, and lessons learned on their teaching journeys.


Do you want to be part of the next Yoga Teacher Roundtable? Sign up here!


Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here. (My sponsor)


Download your free SEO Checklist for yoga instructors & entrepreneurs


Follow me on instagram:

@shawnkru


Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:

https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat 


Thank you to the contributing yoga teachers! 

Camilla Fay (@camillawfay)

Carli Tornetta (@catcowcar)

Cassie Chechile (@theselfwithcassie)

Bex Nghi (@wildbexs)

Wren Heft (@flow_with_wren)

Lisa Osorio (@lisaosodel)

Bianca Cadiz (@biancavyoga)


Time Stamps:

00:00:00 intro

00:02:29 wren’s story: double savasana 

00:05:05 bianca’s story: the sequencing notebook 

00:08:27 camilla’s story: teaching yoga is an expression of the love language of quality time 

00:10:38 bex’s story: an unexpected visitor 

00:12:48 lisa’s story: the serious student 

00:15:52 cassie’s story: on people pleasing 

00:17:47 carli’s story: the cat cafe

00:20:38 shawna’s story: the foot incident

22:30 about the yoga teachers  

29:43 billboard messages

36:50 what's been inspiring your classes lately?

43:30 closing

Show more...
4 weeks ago
44 minutes 31 seconds

Leadership and Yoga
8 things to stop doing as a yoga teacher before you crash out: remembering the heart & soul of why you teach

This is not just a list of “stops” to regain energy. It’s a call to remember why you started teaching yoga in the first place.

I have episodes on starting a meditation habit, getting clear on your mission as a conscious creator, and an episode called 7 keys for teaching yoga that changes lives that may also be of interest to you, linked below. :)


October 28th Webinar on creating your homepage

Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here. (My sponsor)


Follow me on instagram:

@shawnkru


Own a copy of the guided journal I created, code POD for $33.

Ritual of Writing Journal 


Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:

https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat 


Time stamps:

00:00 intro

01:00 opening poem: teaching yoga like we play music

03:00 let’s hang

08:00 stop procrastinating your meditation 

10:30 creating a coherent message in class

12:30 stop thinking you need to practice exactly what you teach

15:40 stop trying to do it all on your own

17:55 the three S’s rule

23:00 stop grinding & start creating art

25:30 when u find joy in the process, others find joy in it

28:45 stop saying i don’t have time to slow down

30:00 laundry basket analogy 

33:00 u are the seer of your thoughts, but do u remember?

34:01 stop being scattered & ignoring strategy 

40:30 stop losing all your great ideas

42:00 how to define your mission

43:01 if u want more ppl in your class, why?

44:20 stop needing to prove anything about yourself

46:30 graduation speech & homework


Show more...
1 month ago
50 minutes 24 seconds

Leadership and Yoga
Guru Benny on Quantum Physics, Mental Health, and the Power of Belief in Shaping Reality

Guru Benny is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and creator working at the intersection of quantum physics and human psychology. In this conversation, she shares about the power of belief, how mental health and spirituality are connected, and how consciousness is the key to both personal and collective liberation. She also shares practical ways to align with your higher self and tune into the endless possibilities all around you.


Find Guru Benny on her TikTok @itsgurubenny, Instagram @itsgurubenny, and on her website futureguru.co.


Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here. (My sponsor)


Download your free SEO Checklist for yoga instructors & entrepreneurs


Follow me on instagram:

@shawnkru


Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:
https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat


Time Stamps:

00:00 intro

03:16 what sparked your interest in quantum physics/manifestation?

08:05 how much do you believe we shape our own reality?

12:40 what does it really mean to create your own reality?

14:37 how do we change our beliefs?

16:44 undoing beliefs from childhood 

18:13 why are we here? We are here to become

20:00 how does the quantum make you feel supported?

21:39 what is quantum physics? 

23:34 we influence everything we observe 

24:40 we live in an infinite reality 

27:13 spillover effect

30:56 how to integrate this into your daily life?

34:51 polarity

41:59 when you close your eyes and think about what God means to you, what do you see or feel? 

34:55 we are our own attraction point 

46:11 what have you learned in your therapeutic work about human nature?

47:56 mental health is spiritual

50:32 suffering is detatchment from the true self

51:52 what are the qualities of an exceptional leader? 

53:57 what is your greatest joy?

54:52 what worries you?

56:35 book recommendations for continued learning?

58:13 billboard: you are the creator

Show more...
1 month ago
1 hour 13 seconds

Leadership and Yoga
when we feel lost // musical poetry special

Welcome in for a sonic and poetic journey back to what’s real. This immersive special episode is for anyone who’s ever felt lost in life — lost in the vastness of it all — and needed a reminder that we are never truly separate, and we have nothing to fear. Today I blend story and music in hopes that you feel something deeper. It’s not about fixing yourself — it’s about remembering your power, your softness, and your mission in a world that often forgets what matters most.

This is for the ones who want to believe in wild beauty, who want to have energy to live for what really matters in a world drowning in distraction.


Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here. (My sponsor)


Follow me on instagram:

@shawnkru


Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:

https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat 


Inspiration behind the show:

This episode was written while listening to one of my favorite EP's right now, Lost Tales by Finnegan Tui.


It was also written as I have been reading Moral Ambition by Rutger Bregman thanks to the recommendation of one of my other favorite artists, Sophie Hawley-Weld from Sofi Tukker.


Show more...
1 month ago
30 minutes 3 seconds

Leadership and Yoga
spillover effect & parallel universes of self

An episode on what makes the impossible synchronicities not only possible, but incredibly probable.

I hope y'all enjoy this special late night session. Thanks for being here. :)

The concept of spillover effect and parallel universes of self come from the author Frederick Dodson.

Show more...
1 month ago
24 minutes 51 seconds

Leadership and Yoga
the breakthrough files: write yours & hear mine from Austin, Texas on meditation, money, yoga, friendship & worthiness

In this episode, I’m sharing my most powerful breakthroughs from living in Austin—along with structure to help you reflect on your own. I talk about how meditation, hot yoga, and conscious lifestyle choices have shifted my body, mind, and energy. I dive into reframing money as a tool for appreciation, breaking free from FOMO, and cultivating friendships and self-worth that feel truly nourishing.

I also share stories from my travels, experiences with wellness practices, and the mindset shifts that have changed my life. My goal is to inspire you to notice your own breakthroughs, embrace what truly lights you up, and create a reality that reflects that. :)


Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here. (My sponsor)


Download your free SEO Checklist for yoga instructors & entrepreneurs


Follow me on instagram:

@shawnkru


Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:
https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat

Show more...
1 month ago
54 minutes 6 seconds

Leadership and Yoga
Laurentine ten Bosch on How Media Can Heal & Raise Consciousness: Filmmaking from Food Matters to Gaia

Laurentine is a filmmaker who is a contributor for Gaia, an author, and a nutrition & business coach. She has produced five feature documentary films, two best-selling books, a streaming TV channel, Food Matters TV that became part of Gaia.

She has worked alongside hundreds of wellness and healing experts from around the globe including Joe Dispenza and Wim Hof. 

https://www.foodmatters.com/films 

Find Laurentine: @foodmatters @laurentinetenbosch

Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here. (My sponsor)

Download your free SEO Checklist for yoga instructors & entrepreneurs

Follow me on instagram:

@shawnkru

Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:

https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat 


Time stamps:

00:00 intro 

01:00 who is Laurentine

05:30 the role of media in raising consciousness

10:50 how can we believe that love can heal

12:30 first film, going out on a limb, learning to make a documentary

14:00 not giving over power to medical world: nutrition & naturopath studies, taking health into their own hands

18:00 sharing confronting truths with the public in a way that allows them to be heard and understood

20:45 cinéma vérité: topics that need to see the light of day 

22:45 opening the channel: 5am meditation mornings creative process

25:30 we are hungry for spirituality 

28:00 talking to Dr. Joe Dispenza, Wim Hof & others

30:00 getting more people to say yes to speaking

32:00 clean slate releasing low energy through breathwork

34:45 Gaia flys to see them & joining Gaia process

39:20 the clutter in the lower mind is not at all a reflection of what is possible in our higher mind. 

45:00 if you had to do a 20 minute TED talk, homework!! 

48:30 exceptional leaders: blessing emails & taking off shoes as a team

52:30 rapid fire & billboard message


Show more...
1 month ago
57 minutes 15 seconds

Leadership and Yoga
how to start a podcast as a yoga teacher (or conscious creator) without adding to the noise

you are a curator, not just creator: how yoga teachers & conscious creators can start a podcast with purpose. whether you’re a yoga instructor, wellness entrepreneur, or conscious creator, this episode will help you move past overthinking, embrace consistency, and share your work more boldly in the podcast world and long-form media world. we talk how to start your podcast, naming your podcast, audience matching, beliefs, growth & the tangible tips. here’s 10 tips from 3 years of podcasting: from zero to sponsored. 


Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here. (My sponsor)


Follow me on instagram:

@shawnkru


Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:

https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat 


Substack on Taste that I mention


Time stamps:

00:00 intro

04:00 my experience hiring help for the podcast

07:15 uplevel your business?

08:30 Costa Rica!

10:50 one: hit record, start with a story

15:00 two: value

18:00 how to name your podcast

21:00 your podcasting set up & background

22:30 three: you are a curator, not just a creator

26:30 four: the 7-11-4 concept

29:00 five: if not in state, always wait

36:20 six: balance consistency & refinement

40:00 stop copying

42:40 seven: share your show more than you think

45:00 eight: audience matching

47:30 searchability, naming & topics

49:30 nine: guests on your show

51:30 ten: audio quality of your podcast

53:20 wrap up


Show more...
2 months ago
55 minutes 59 seconds

Leadership and Yoga
build your meditation habit: short, simple, unguided practice you can stick with - meditation for beginners with 5 minutes a day

This is how to start a daily meditation practice in just 5 minutes. You’ll learn simple steps to make unguided meditation a non-negotiable habit, even if you struggle to focus. I walk you through practical techniques like the pause method, committing to stillness, and finding true presence, while weaving in wisdom from yoga’s 8 limbs. If you’ve ever felt that meditation was too hard, this episode will show you that it can be simple, enjoyable, and something you can actually stick with.


Join the Yoga Teacher Roundtable episode


Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here. (My sponsor)


Follow me on instagram:

@shawnkru


Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:

https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat 


time stamps: 

00:00 experience the fire of meditation

05:00 Einstein says…

06:30 yoga teacher roundtable - tell your story on the pod!

08:30 get your ducks in row

09:30 sweet simplicity retreat

12:30 step 1: non-negotiable

15:30 there’s nothing wrong with you if you can’t focus

18:45 step 2: commit stillness

19:45 we are addicted to problem solving

21:20 step 3: pause technique 

25:00 step 4: access true presence

27:00 presence is more important than manifestation

29:44 the 8 limbs give you a map to meditation 

36:20 homework & recap


Show more...
2 months ago
40 minutes 25 seconds

Leadership and Yoga
5 reasons why change is what you need right now

Feeling stuck or anxious about change? Here are 5 life-changing reasons why it could be exactly what you need, afterall. In this episode, I share 5 powerful reasons why change is exactly what you need right now. From the dragonfly’s dream to the magic of fresh beginnings, let’s talk about how change breaks old patterns, makes you fully present, and helps you embrace the unknown. If you’ve been feeling stuck, anxious, or craving a breakthrough, this conversation is for you.


Download your free SEO Checklist for yoga instructors & entrepreneurs

Also, try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here. (My sponsor)

Mailing list:

https://www.shawnakru.com/ 

Follow me on instagram:

@shawnkru

Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:

https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat 


00:00 the dragonfly’s dream

07:50 the under the stars mishap

12:30 change makes me feel discomfort

16:00 we are moving

19:50 a magical message 

21:30 part 1: change breaks the pattern of the past

24:00 part 2: change makes you present

31:30 how we really change

33:30 part 3: change brings the unknown

38:16 part 4: change reclaims your power

42:30 part 5: change is the purpose of it all: freshness

44:00 dragonfly’s dream full-circle


Show more...
2 months ago
46 minutes 19 seconds

Leadership and Yoga
Sri Dharma Mittra Live in NYC: Teaching Yoga & Living from the Heart

I sat down with Sri Dharma Mittra in the Dharma Yoga Center in New York to record this live, in-person interview on his story, teaching yoga, compassion, God, headstands, the infinite nature of who we are, and what qualities we can cultivate as yoga teachers.

This interview is a reminder of the magic that occurs when we act from trust rather than fear, and when we livel simply and from the heart. The kirtan music at the end was recorded live right before the interview and features Adam Frei on guitar, Sri Dharma on the drums and the whole group singing.


IF YOU ENJOYED THIS INTERVIEW WITH SRI DHARMA, PLEASE DROP ME A RATING & SUBSCRIBE. Thank you! <3


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Find me on instagram: @shawnkru

Find DYC on instagram: @dharmayoganyc

Dharma trainings & website: https://www.dharmayogacenter.com/


time stamps:

00:00 intro

03:22 the blessing 

04:30 Dharma’s first headstand

07:00 why Dharma yoga is so loved

09:40 how Dharma sees God

12:00 yoga practice as prayer

13:40 what Dharma wanted to do when he was little

16:30 doubt on the yogic path?

19:50 remember this when in pain…

23:45 teaching yoga in the space station

27:21 a story from Yogi Gupta, Dharma’s teacher

28:40 when we trust, mysteriously we receive: a lesson on the unknown & abundance

30:00 Dharma had only one student & he left mid class

32:30 what people don’t know about him

34:30 what makes a good leader 

37:30 Dharma’s greatest joy in life

40:49 what worries him

42:30 billboard question

45:38 behind the scenes

46:53 kirtan - music


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2 months ago
49 minutes 52 seconds

Leadership and Yoga
stop overthinking: 3-step energy prep to create & show up at 100%

In this 3-part episode, I share how to stop overthinking and prepare your energy so you can show up with clarity and confidence. Learn how to shift from fear to love, trust yourself, and create with flow instead of anxiety. Part 1: How to prepare yourself in the way before, part 2 the night before and part 3 the right before. 


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The Gene Keys tool I share.


Mailing list:

https://www.shawnakru.com/ 


Follow me on instagram:

@shawnkru


Get my guided journal for $33 with code POD33 

https://www.ritualofwritingjournal.com/ 


Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:

https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat 


Time stamps:

00:00 intro

01:00 mug story

4:50 anxiety fires in my mind

6:30 it’s my birthday!!

10:30 the 3 parts to this episode

12:15 PART 1: THE WAY WAY BEFORE

14:00 beating indecision & recovering energy 

17:30 act out of love, not fear. act on what gives you energy, not what’s logical. 

20:00 life death life cycles 

21:45 my biggest failure of the year

24:50 SEO story & my new podcast sponsor!!

28:00 how to start to prepare from worthiness

31:40 PART 2: THE NIGHT BEFORE

34:40 the only reason things “work” 

37:00 how to actually change your beliefs

40:00 trust yourself enough to STOP

41:13 PART 3: THE RIGHT BEFORE

42:30 how to last minute prepare: be decisive

46:30 overthinking robs you of the ability to see the obvious.

49:30 what inspires you to create greatness? 

50:15 this is not your one and only shot: abundance


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2 months ago
53 minutes 47 seconds

Leadership and Yoga
Leah Hester on Trust, Optimism, Intuition & the Mental Universe

This interview with Leah Hester brings me so much joy! Here’s a beautiful bts into a little bit of her journey and who she is and also a deep dive into following alignment and trust and choosing optimism and authenticity. It's refreshing, it's tangible, but at the same time, it's a conversation that really feels like it reconnects us to the magic of life. Leah is a yoga instructor and retreat facilitator and a wonderful creator currently based in Costa Rica.


IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE WITH LEAH, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE & DROP ME A RATING. Thank you! <3 


Patanjali Yoga Sutra mentioned: 2.1 – Reducing klesas 


Find Leah on instagram and her retreats:

@iamleahhester - @surfandshanti


Find me on instagram:

@shawnakru


Time stamps:

00:00 Intro

03:00 Yoga Trade job & leap to living in Costa Rica

06:50 self-worth & delusionally optimistic 

08:00 what Leah wanted to do when she grew up

9:40 finding our purpose

11:50 how do we know if we are changing?

19:00 learning to trust

20:30 from indecision to decisiveness 

25:00 how to start teaching yoga

28:30 reality creation

32:00 no more information overload

34:00 Leah’s morning rituals

36:30 hormone cycles

38:00 breaking habits that you’re stuck in

41:50 Leah’s creative process & social media: authenticity 

47:20 Leah’s take on leadership

49:00 rapid fire questions

51:40 billboard: authenticity is magnetic 


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2 months ago
54 minutes 37 seconds

Leadership and Yoga
Here we talk creativity, confidence, and presence through conversations with inspiring teachers and spiritual leaders who walk the path ahead of us. You’ll hear my personal stories—woven with poetry, storytelling, and even musical episodes—all rooted in a spirit of reconnecting with the magic of life and inspiring you to remember that your dreams are made for people like you. Above all, this is a space for discovering what it means to live with deeper awareness, to bring yoga into leadership, and leadership into yoga. Here’s to feeling at home in the unknown. -@shawnakru