"Instructor School Changed My Life": YFFR Instructors in Their Own Words

Every YFFR instructor started in the same place: day one of instructor school. In this From the Vault episode, we revisit three years of On Air conversations with YFFR Trainees and Instructors. Each of these 4 conversations describes what instructor school did for them, and what it could do for you.

In this episode:

Debbie Stiesmeyer, law enforcement officer and YFFR instructor, on the aftermath of a double homicide call, turning her guest bathroom into a hot yoga studio during COVID, and why breath work belongs on every officer's tool belt.Firefighters from the Developing Tactical Resilience cadre, recorded the morning after a 24-hour training. New instructor Patrick "Armie" Armitage talks about the strength in stillness, and Tuna explains how one question, "challenge or threat?", reframed his universe.Maggie Eastman and Sarah Hall, two breast cancer survivors who met on the mat at instructor school. Maggie shares the moment her mind and body stopped being at war, and how instructor school changed the direction of her career.Eric Brenneman and instructor Rachel Warmath on going from terrified to confident as a new teacher, why we require recorded practice classes, and the 400-plus-instructor community you join when you certify.

Content note: Debbie's segment describes the aftermath of a homicide call involving two young children. Please listen with care.

Interested in finding your own Instructor School story?

Our next in-person instructor school is March 1–5, 2027 at the Bernalillo County Training Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico. You don't need to be a yoga teacher, just ready to do the work for yourself first.

Register: yogaforfirstresponders.org/instructor-school

Learn more about our on-demand training app, online courses and in-person training at yogaforfirstresponders.org.