Namita Nayyar:
In your teaching, you strive to make challenging poses accessible to students of all levels. What is your approach to breaking down a pose like an arm balance or inversion so that a beginner can feel they have a path forward?
Cathy Madeo:
Basic postures most people can do with clear instructions–think of a lunge pose. But when you have a pose like a split, handstands, or a deep backbend, most people can’t do that and won’t be able to do it with one class. So I teach these poses progressively. That means breaking down step by step how to build into the pose over time. If I am teaching a challenging pose in a class, I give step-by-step progressions so everyone can do something on the journey toward the pose.
Namita Nayyar:
You’ve mentioned that when you started your online school, you focused on programming and did not initially set out to build a community. When did you realize that community was becoming the heart of your school, and how did you intentionally foster it?
Cathy Madeo:
Putting together a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training was a heavy lift. There was writing the syllabus, developing the curriculum, filming, editing, and marketing. My main goal when I started wasn’t “I want to build a community”; it was “I want to deliver the highest quality yoga teacher training online and raise the standard of yoga education.”
Then the students started posting online about the training, meeting up in person, and practicing teaching together over Zoom. I remember watching a branding course with Jeffrey Perlman, and he said something like, “The brand doesn’t create the community, the customer does.” And I found that to be true. Once I recognized a community had formed, I wanted to ensure they felt supported and seen. So I started an alumni newsletter, gave them VIP access and discounts to new programs, launched in-person retreats so they could meet me and each other in person, and began an Annual Alumni Event in Miami, FL.
Namita Nayyar:
Your school has graduated nearly 600 yoga teacher training alumni representing more than 50 countries. What is it like to mentor students from such diverse backgrounds, and what common threads have you noticed among them?
Cathy Madeo:
It reminds me that no matter how different we all are, yoga can bring people together. It’s that shared love that creates such a powerful group experience. I love that the students also are exposed to people of different backgrounds, and each one brings such a unique perspective to the class, which gives us meaningful discussions.
Namita Nayyar:
Student testimonials frequently mention the supportiveness and positivity of your community. How do you cultivate an environment where students feel energized to grow but safe to be who they are?
Cathy Madeo:
It’s so true, thank you! I lead from a place of compassion and a genuine love for helping people be the best version of themselves. I think it sets the tone for a safe environment. I also don’t teach in a dogmatic style. It’s not, “my way is the right way”; it’s “what are the benefits of doing it this way, what are the benefits of doing it that way?” and allowing students to decide for themselves. I believe this nondogmatic approach lends itself to inclusivity.
Namita Nayyar:
You’ve built a massive audience across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. What is your content creation strategy, and how do you balance the need to show up consistently on social media with the deep work of being a teacher and mentor?
Cathy Madeo:
I remind myself that the heart of what I do is train yoga teachers, but I wouldn’t be able to do that to the scale or degree I do if I didn’t post on social media. So they each have equal weight; they are both essential parts of my business. Planning content in advance and batching the filming and editing has helped me manage my time.
Namita Nayyar:
You’ve written about being hesitant to post about being less flexible on social media. What changed your mind, and what have you learned about what your audience truly wants to see from you?
Cathy Madeo:
I have lived my entire adult life with chronic back pain and had several times where I’ve been immobile and had to start over with my yoga practice. Each time, I came back to practice curious to see if I could get my strength and flexibility back, and each time I surpassed where I was before. But the most recent time I had a spine episode in 2023 was so severe that I was unable to practice and was losing function of my right leg. It felt like there was a real possibility I might become paralyzed. That’s when I realized I didn’t want to work to “get back my strength and flexibility” like I had in the past. It was time to approach my practice differently. The first step for me after admitting it to myself was admitting it to my community, and that’s when I started to share. They showed me they followed me for more than yoga poses, and that gave me the motivation to allow my yoga practice and content to evolve.
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The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
