Yoga for Beginners & Beyond: A Conversation with Jules O’Bryant

03/10/25 • 25 min

In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren Leduc interviews Jules O'Bryant, a yoga teacher at True Love Yoga. They discuss Jules' journey into yoga, her experiences as a teacher, and the importance of community in yoga practice. Jules shares her insights on teaching beginners, the benefits of yoga teacher training, and offers advice for those intimidated to start yoga. The conversation emphasizes the significance of self-connection and the various paths one can take in their yoga journey, including an upcoming free beginners workshop.

Takeaways

Jules fell in love with yoga while seeking community and connection.
Teaching yoga allows for a welcoming environment for students.
Yoga helps in overcoming anxiety and promotes self-awareness.
Yoga teacher training can lead to unexpected teaching opportunities.
Community and collaboration enhance the yoga experience.
Different yoga styles cater to different needs and preferences.
It's important to keep trying different yoga classes.
Beginners should seek supportive environments when starting yoga.
Props in yoga can enhance the practice and understanding of poses.
Taking a moment to connect with oneself is crucial for deepening yoga practice.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Yoga and Community
02:49 The Journey to Becoming a Yoga Teacher
05:41 Teaching Yoga: Bridging Personal Experience and Instruction
08:34 The Importance of Community in Yoga
11:04 Overcoming Intimidation: Advice for Beginners
14:08 Finding the Right Yoga Class
16:41 Starting a Yoga Practice: Home vs. Studio
19:29 Upcoming Beginners Yoga Workshop
22:10 Deepening Your Yoga Practice

Follow Jules on Instagram Lauren on Instagram True Love Yoga on Instagram True Love Yoga- Book a Class!

Takeaways

Jules fell in love with yoga while seeking community and connection.
Teaching yoga allows for a welcoming environment for students.
Yoga helps in overcoming anxiety and promotes self-awareness.
Yoga teacher training can lead to unexpected teaching opportunities.
Community and collaboration enhance the yoga experience.
Different yoga styles cater to different needs and preferences.
It's important to keep trying different yoga classes.
Beginners should seek supportive environments when starting yoga.
Props in yoga can enhance the practice and understanding of poses.
Taking a moment to connect with oneself is crucial for deepening yoga practice.

Chapters

Follow Jules on Instagram Lauren on Instagram True Love Yoga on Instagram True Love Yoga- Book a Class!

Previous Episode

Yoga and Sleep: A Holistic Approach

In this episode, Lauren Leduc discusses the vital importance of sleep and how yoga can enhance sleep quality. She shares personal experiences with sleep deprivation and offers practical yoga postures, breath techniques, and Ayurvedic tips to improve sleep. The conversation emphasizes the significance of creating a calming bedtime routine and the role of mindfulness in achieving restful sleep.

Takeaways

Sleep is a basic need that affects overall health.
Yoga can provide tools to improve sleep quality.
Child's Pose promotes a feeling of safety and relaxation.
Legs up the wall is a transformative pose for stress relief.
Breath techniques like Brahmari Pranayama can alleviate anxiety.
Ayurvedic practices, such as warm golden milk, aid sleep.
Dimming lights before bed helps signal the body to wind down.
Setting an intention for sleep can enhance sleep quality.
Guided meditations and visualizations prepare the mind for sleep.
Creating a sleep-friendly environment is crucial for restful sleep.

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Sleep
03:23 Yoga Practices for Better Sleep
09:25 Breath Techniques for Sleep
10:22 Ayurvedic Tips for Sleep
12:34 Creating a Sleep-Friendly Environment

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Next Episode

Mastering Yoga Sequencing: Tips for Teachers

In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren Leduc discusses the essential elements of sequencing in vinyasa yoga. She shares five key tips for creating effective and engaging classes, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful sequencing to enhance the student experience. The conversation covers the bell curve structure, the incorporation of themes, working towards peak poses, balancing movement across different planes, and the significance of closing with intention. Lauren encourages both teachers and students to appreciate the art and science of yoga sequencing.

Takeaways

Thoughtful sequencing enhances the student experience.
Following a bell curve structure prepares the body and mind.
Incorporating themes creates deeper meaning in practice.
Working towards a peak pose requires preparation and intention.
Balancing movement across multiple planes is essential for a holistic practice.
Closing with intention helps integrate the experience of the class.
Sequencing is both a science and an art that evolves over time.
Teachers should experiment with different sequencing techniques.
Students should notice how different classes feel and why.
Creating a strong class structure can make teaching easier and more effective.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Sequencing in Yoga
02:06 The Bell Curve: Structuring Your Class
05:17 Incorporating Themes for Intentional Practice
08:49 Working Towards a Peak Pose
12:46 Balancing Movement: Exploring Different Planes
15:08 Closing with Intention: The Importance of Integration

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