This week my guest is Philadelphia-based yoga teacher, Matthew Shaw. Matthew joined the Jason Crandell Yoga Method team as our Lead Teacher Training Mentor this year and has been a longtime student of Jason’s.
Matthew spent 20 years in a previous life as a successful opera singer, performing on major stages across Europe—including Germany, Austria, and Hungary.
In this conversation, Matthew shares how, in the second half of his career, just as he was really taking off, anxiety and depression decided to tag along. He talks openly about imposter syndrome, how he found solace through yoga and Western meds (you know I love my meds so I’m here for it!), and how his whole journey lead him to where he is today.
We spend the second half of the conversation focused on retreats, why they are so vital, and how he creates intentional, supportive spaces for his students to both adventure and reset.
We talk about:
- Why success didn’t solve his self-doubt—in fact, it made it worse
- The cultural pressures of perfectionism in classical performance
- His transition to becoming a yoga teacher and community builder
- The joy he finds leading yoga retreats around the world
- Why retreats offer so much more than a temporary escape—and how they can ripple outward to impact our daily lives
About Matthew Shaw
Matthew Shaw is a 500-hour RYT, retreat leader, and former professional opera singer who brings a unique blend of strength, mindfulness, and artistry to the mat. With degrees in both psychology and music, Matthew’s approach to teaching yoga is both grounded and inspiring, shaped by his lifelong curiosity and passion for personal growth.
After years of performing on international stages, Matthew transitioned from the world of opera to the world of yoga—a practice that had long supported him through the pressures of performance and perfectionism. Matthew has been teaching since 2008 and now helps busy, high-achieving students tap into their inner resilience through strong, breath-driven vinyasa flow classes that emphasize both physical challenge and mental clarity.
You can join Matthew at his in-person classes in Philadelphia or on his weekly livestream classes. You can also join him on retreat next year in several breathtaking settings, including Finland, the Galapagos Islands, and Bhutan.
