What Yoga Taught Me About Podcasting
I first started practicing yoga in high school. In 10th grade, a very cool woman showed up to my third period gym class and said that anyone who didn’t want to play kickball could try yoga instead. Based on the pictures I saw, it seemed to involve laying down on a mat in a dark room, minimal sweating, and absolutely no whistles or yelling. I was sold. Of course, my initial expectations ended up being super off base, but I kept coming back. As an anxious, self-conscious teenager with a loud, ADHD brain, I realized it was the only part of the day when my brain felt quiet. I was a dancer and had great body awareness, but I loved this way of coming to movement with a very different intention. Over the years, my practice would come and go, but every time I’d bring myself to roll my mat out at a studio, I’d be flooded with the realization of why I was there.
About 20 years after that first class, I found myself in an early mid-life crisis and realized that anxiety and fear had taken over, making my world miniscule. I was afraid of speaking up, of being perceived, of sharing my voice. I lost sight of my goals, was terrified to talk to people, and didn’t know my own answer to the simple question “what do you like to do?” So I did the obvious thing- I signed up for yoga teacher training. It felt like the perfect way to force myself out of my comfort zone and learn to take up space. Yes, the girl who was afraid to say her name to the barista was going to stand at the front of a room and speak. Full disclosure- I almost didn’t go inside on the first day of class because I was afraid of the inevitable moment they’d ask my name and then immediately kick me out for being a fraud. But here’s the thing: I went in the room, rolled out my mat, and sat down. They didn’t kick me out. I made friends. I cried through many, many sequences and classes. I felt like an imposter, until one day when I didn’t. I finished my 200 hour course and taught community classes. I started to feel more confident, and realized I felt better – not just physically, but in my mindset, patience, and ability to adapt. The surprising part? Yoga didn’t just stay on the mat; it ended up influencing a whole different area of my life: podcasting. Once I found the power of my voice, I couldn’t be quiet anymore, and now I love to share both sides of myself with people. Here are some of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned through yoga.
Finding Your Center: The Power of Presence
One of the first things I noticed in yoga is that being present really matters. When I come to my asana practice, I try to be fully there – bringing my awareness to my breath, alignment, and balance. This was one of the hardest things for me because, as someone with a thousand tabs open mentally, staying in the moment was a challenge. My brain really loves to wonder where my birth certificate is at the least opportune time.
Turns out, podcasting has a lot in common with this. When I’m recording, it’s easy to get caught up thinking about the next question or where the conversation is going. But the best moments happen when I’m truly present with my guest or co-host. Staying in the moment makes everything feel natural, and you can hear it – those episodes are richer, deeper, and way more fun to listen to.
Breathwork and Pacing: Slowing Down to Go Deep
Breathwork, or pranayama, is one of those parts of yoga that seems simple but has a real impact. It’s all about slowing down, pacing yourself, and staying present with each inhale and exhale. For me, it’s about finding stillness and fullness and enoughness in those quiet moments between each breath as well. In the beginning, I thought the main event of yoga would be impressive inversions and challenging balances, but yoga taught me that the breath drives everything.
In podcasting, pacing matters. There’s this temptation to fill every silence, to keep things moving, to get to the next question. But giving conversations a little space and letting moments breathe can change the entire vibe of an episode. There is so much fullness in the in-between moments. Just like in yoga, where you slow down to savor the stretch, allowing pauses makes conversations richer and more reflective. It’s those quiet, thoughtful moments that often end up resonating the most with listeners.
Flexibility and Adaptability: Go With the Flow
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from yoga, it’s that flexibility goes beyond how far you can stretch. Yoga is all about adapting to what your body needs on any given day. Sometimes, a pose you nailed yesterday just isn’t happening today, and that’s okay.
Podcasting, I’ve learned, needs that same kind of flexibility. Whether it’s a guest who cancels last minute, technical mishaps, or a conversation that veers way off course, I’ve had to learn to go with the flow. It’s about staying open, adjusting on the spot, and trusting that sometimes the unexpected can lead to the best moments.
Practicing Non-Attachment to Outcomes: Letting Go of the Numbers Game
One of the biggest lessons yoga taught me is the idea of non-attachment. I came into yoga expecting to hit certain goals: a perfect crow pose, a body that looked like a Lululemon model. And when it didn’t happen, I felt cheated. But my practice still called to me. Even though the outcome didn’t look the way I thought it would at the outset, it still felt good and, more importantly, I still wanted to do it. Once I was able to let go of those expectations, I was able to enjoy the practice. 20 years later and my crow has yet to take flight and I still don’t look like a Lululemon model, but I now realize that the ways I have grown are so much better than those arbitrary goals.
Podcasting has a similar pull. It’s easy to get wrapped up in downloads, likes, and going viral. Of course, we want people to listen and engage, but focusing only on the numbers can make it feel like a grind. Non-attachment reminds me that podcasting is more than metrics. It’s about creating content I’m proud of and connecting with listeners in a real way. When I stop stressing about the numbers and focus on what I love, everything just clicks.
Consistency and Commitment: Show Up, Even When It’s Hard
Yoga is one of those things where progress comes through consistency. There were so many times I’d think, “Am I even getting anywhere with this?” But over time, I started noticing changes, and those changes kept me coming back. Sometimes the change was something physical- I had more strength, stamina, and confidence and I could try a new variation of a posture. And sometimes the change was in what I learned- how to shift my weight over one leg, how to root into my foot, how to use a block or strap for support to go deeper.
Consistency has been crucial in podcasting, too. Showing up, putting out episodes regularly, and maintaining a standard of quality – it’s not always glamorous, but it’s the stuff that keeps listeners coming back. Just like in yoga, it’s that steady, patient commitment that builds momentum and trust. Even on days when I’d rather skip it, I remind myself that each episode is a building block, contributing to something bigger over time, and I’m still learning every day.
The Importance of Rest and Reflection: Knowing When to Step Back
Finally, yoga taught me the importance of rest. Savasana, the corpse pose, comes at the end of the practice as an intentional moment of rest. It might look like a nap to an outsider, but it’s actually a chance to let everything settle. The body and mind need rest, not just movement, for real growth.
Podcasting has its own version of savasana: taking time to reflect, hitting pause when needed, and knowing when to step back. Reflection between episodes, taking a break between seasons, joyfully connecting with listeners and other creators, or even just a weekend off to avoid burnout – these little pauses help me recharge and keep my creativity alive. It’s a reminder that rest isn’t just an option; it’s essential for keeping the work meaningful and sustainable.
Yoga and podcasting have ended up being two sides of the same coin for me – each has taught me patience, presence, and flexibility. If you’re in a creative field or just feeling the grind, consider trying out some of these yoga-inspired practices. Whether it’s breathwork, mindfulness, or allowing for a little rest, these small shifts can have a huge impact. And who knows? You might just find yourself feeling more balanced, on and off the mat.