Leadership and Yoga

Today’s episode is with Paris-based yoga teacher and writer Ty Watson. We dive into teaching yoga, creativity, and the art of observation, exploring how attention and discernment shape the way we lead and guide our students. Ty also shares his thoughts on the magic of language and how the words we choose can transform a class. This episode is for yoga teachers and creators interested in language, creativity, and how mindful attention shapes the way we teach, learn, and lead.

Ty Watson’s website: https://www.tywatsonyoga.com 

Ty’s Instagram:
@tywtsn - https://www.instagram.com/tywtsn/?hl=en 

Find Shawna on instagram:
@shawnakru - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/shawnakru⁠⁠

Shawna’s website: ⁠https://www.shawnakru.com/⁠ 

Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year ⁠with my link here⁠: ⁠https://www.offeringtree.com/shawnakru?utm_source=leadership-and-yoga&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=partner-discount⁠  (My sponsor) 

Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND - ⁠https://www.tend.eco/collections/consultations⁠ 

Time Stamps:
00:00 intro
03:29 moving from new york to paris
06:13 how did you find yoga?
10:31 the magic of language: words as spells
12:21 paying attention to detail
13:44 the practice of being observant as a yoga teacher
17:57 discernment & the creative process 
20:33 your body is the container for your psychology
24:44 what matters is the story you’re telling yourself
26:37 time, technique, & repetition
29:41 how do you choose what information deserves your attention?
33:23 what makes an exceptional yoga class for you?
39:53 there’s always a way to change your angle
42:44 morning routine 
50:37 yoga is really about the mind
51:47 your practice should keep you in reverence for what is happening around you
52:56 billboard question

A 3-part episode: my 10k story on instagram, what works vs. what doesn’t, and case studies from yoga teachers with over 10k followers. This is the deep, real-talk coffee chat on social media I wish I could have had with myself 3 years ago. Tune in for case studies from my own story of growing as a small creator on instagram to 10k followers, along with case studies from 4 of my yoga teacher & creator friends.

Find Shawna on instagram:  @shawnakru
Enter for free social media mentorship with Kimi’s Soulcials program! 
Try OfferingTree for free with my link here (My sponsor) 
Yoga Teacher Roundtable free community events & mailing list:
https://www.shawnakru.com/fam 
Own a copy of the guided journal I created, code POD for $33.
https://www.ritualofwritingjournal.com/ 
My friends that I mention: @kimiahajian @benkalra @marlasyoga @brandonberg_

Time stamps:
00:00 intro 
01:30 social media series
04:45 the beauty of my slow growth is that i could document it for you
06:15 the size of the platform matches your mission
08:30 3 part episode agenda
11:30 my 10k social media story
12:40 the 2nd puberty online
19:30 the year i hit my goals & how
24:30 the real thing you need to learn
25:35 what worked 
27:58 what Victoria Hutchins taught me about being an artist
29:00 audience matching
35:00 mission & moral ambition 
37:58 build something cool
38:40 what doesn’t work
45:50 10k+ teachers case studies: Kimi
47:45 message from Kimi - Soulcials mentorship
56:00 how long did it take for you to blow up? case studies.

Today, I sat down with consciousness researcher and author Frederick Dodson to explore the idea that changed how I see everything: levels of energy. From what energy actually is and how it shows up in us, our relationships, places, and even world events, to why we get stuck, why anger can sometimes be useful, and why manifestation is often misunderstood, we unpack the full spectrum, from the lowest states of blame and victimhood to higher levels of love, humor and bliss. We talk about like attracting like, parallel universes of self, healing, belief, and what it really means to raise consciousness. Fred shares stories from his childhood, pieces of the mission he is on here on earth, his views on infinity, leadership, and humanity’s future. Listen to feel empowered, and at the same time, to take life a little less seriously.

Fred’s website & Higher Realms live seminar August 2026, Italy
https://www.realitycreation.org/ 

Find Shawna on instagram: 
@shawnakru - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/shawnakru⁠

Shawna’s website:
https://www.shawnakru.com/ 

Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here: https://www.offeringtree.com/shawnakru?utm_source=leadership-and-yoga&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=partner-discount  (My sponsor) 
Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND - https://www.tend.eco/collections/consultations 

Time stamps:
00:00 intro
01:00 L&Y fam
04:40 levels of energy
08:59 what is energy really
12:30 the scale & categories of consciousness
15:30 anger can be good: relativity
18:40 writing a highly offensive book
20:30 stuck? Why?
23:30 like attracts like, broken window energy field
25:14 every step on the scale requires a new kind of energy
26:30 sincerity & devotion will get you there
27:35 manifestation is watered down
28:45 highest energies to lowest energies
34:30 freeing yourself
38:40 relationships and influence
44:30 infinity: context to take life less seriously
47:40 meaning of life: training
49:00 Fred’s childhood of otherworldly experiences
59:30 Mission 
1:00:00 beings of other worlds and levels
1:06:00 spillover effect, parallel universes of self
1:11:00 how to really believe something new
1:16:30 entering parallel universes
1:18:00 healing: invented pain vs manifested pain
1:21:00 leadership: the making of an exceptional leader
1:23:00 rapid fire & billboard

Part two of an episode on how things mysteriously fall into place. From insane to mundane synchronicities… This is for anyone who wants to feel connected to the heartbeat of life. 
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 prepared for you in part one of this episode, and today’s spontaneous explanation of “how” to live connected to the magic of it all. 

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

Ayurvedic consultation with Art, TEND - https://www.tend.eco/collections/consultations 

Follow me on instagram:
@shawnkru

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

Today on the Leadership and Yoga podcast, Jonah Kest!! Let's talk leadership, creativity, and modern yoga with one of the most well-known and influential yoga teachers of our time. We talk building community in yoga, what it’s really like to meditate, and how life feels when we surrender. 
I also ask him to give his thoughts on the evolution of yoga, and how real transformation happens in our lives. Jonah shares wisdom on teaching yoga, and behind the scenes stories from his creative process and morning rituals.

Join my retreat! 1 spot opened up. Jan 25-29.
Try OfferingTree for free with my link here. (My sponsor)
Find me on instagram: @shawnkru
My monthly newsletter:  leadership and yoga fam, for yoga teacher meet-ups & joining roundtable episodes
Jonah’s instagram:  @kestyoga
Jonah’s website & trainings:  https://www.jonahkestyoga.com/

Time stamps: 
00:00 intro
1:23 leadership and yoga
6:10 yoga from childhood to now
7:30 what Jonah wanted to be when he grew up
9:40 manifestation?
11:60 pressure and legacy 
14:40 qualities Jonah looks for in teachers
16:40 devotion
18:55 pain: we are part of nature
22:30 Jonah’s favorite type of yoga class
25:25 weaving stories into class & experiencing transcendence
26:55 what to do with ideas
28:55 how Jonah energetically prepares to lead
33:40 Jonah’s ideal morning routine
35:20 prana
37:20 creativity is tuned into
39:20 dropping fear and creating from love
43:35 how do we change? actually?
45:50 music & rhythm
49:25 evolution in yoga
51:40 rejection & feedback
54:40 continue to grow as teachers
56:40 Nike signing story
1:00:00 it’s not mind-body connection
1:03:40 doors
1:07:21 yoga impacting the world
1:09:30 fate or free will
1:11:30 losing control
1:17:20 the real yoga is coming back to the fire
1:21:17 meditation is like fasting for the mind.
1:23:25 community & being surrounded by high-energy people
1:29:10 rapid fire
1:31:10 billboard message