Robin Martin ~ Blissful in Seattle

I am so delighted to bring  Robin Martin on the podcast. During this conversation we discuss topics like:

• How she got into yoga.
• The decision to become a yoga teacher.
• Balancing social media pressure and social media stardom.
• Passive flexibility vs active mobility.
• Advice for budding yoga teachers.

About Robin
I’m Robin Martin, a certified yoga teacher based in Seattle, WA, USA. My practice and my teaching are ever evolving. While vinyasa yoga is my favorite style of yoga to both practice and teach, I have studied many different methods of yoga with numerous master teachers and appreciate the beauty in all styles.
I earned my 200 Yoga Alliance certification through Tiffany Cruikshank of Yoga Medicine. Additionally, I have 4 advanced training certifications in shoulder, hip, spine and myofascial release through Yoga Medicine. I am also certified to teach paddleboard yoga.

Visit Robin on her website: https://www.robinmartinyoga.com
Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robinmartinyoga/

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Transcript

Todd McLaughlin: 0:33

Welcome to Native Yoga Toddcast. So happy you are here. My goal with this channel is to bring inspirational speakers to the mic in the field of yoga, massage bodywork and beyond. Follow us native yoga, and check us out at nativeyogacenter.com. All right, let's begin. Welcome to Native Yoga Toddcast. I'm so excited to have the opportunity to interview Robin Martin. Robin Martin is a yoga teacher that lives in Seattle, Washington. She teaches locally in studios around where she lives. She teaches on Zoom and she also leads international retreats where you can join her. One of them's coming up in Greece actually check her out on her website, RobinMartinyoga.com. And also follow her on Instagram at@RobinMartinyoga. All right, let's begin. I'm so excited to have this opportunity to speak with Robin Martin and Robin, how are you? How are you doing today?

Robin Martin: 1:43

I'm doing well. Thanks so much for having me on your pod on your Toodcast, if you will.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:47

Thank you so much. My wife, when I said I was gonna do a podcast. She said you have to do a Toddcast and I couldn't argue with you argue with her. So thank you.

Robin Martin: 1:57

It's very cute. Thank you.

Todd McLaughlin: 2:00

I appreciate that. And where are you joining us from Robin?

Robin Martin: 2:03

Seattle, Washington. Northwest Coast USA.

Todd McLaughlin: 2:08

Are you born? Born and raised there?

Robin Martin: 2:11

I actually yes. I'm well, yeah, one of the few natives. I think of the area. I was born in Seattle. I grew up in Olympia, which is the state capitol. It's about 90 minutes south of the city. Both of my parents grew up in the city. But my dad got a job for the State Department of Fisheries. And that was located at the, you know, the Capitol area. So that's where I grew up. And then I headed right back to Seattle. I went to University of Washington, and I've stayed in the area ever since I travel a lot. I travel all over the world. But Seattle is home. Wonderful. Are you in downtown Seattle? Actually, no, I'm on the east side. I did live in the city. For a while after college, I lived on an area called Queen Anne Guinan Hill, which is right in the city. And that's actually where my mom grew up. And then I moved to the east side, which is for those who know the area Bellevue Washington is it's the it's on the east side of, of Lake Washington. And then I am on the other side, there's Lake Washington, and there's like some admission, I'm on the other side of Lake Sammamish. And some Irish Washington. Nice. I have about 30 minutes outside of the city. Awesome. I've never been but my sister used to live there. And she loved it and just always raved about it. I wish I had gone and visited her while she was there. Where did where was she living when she was? Oh, that's a great question. I know you stumped me. I don't remember the suburb they were in to be honest. Yeah. It's always just you know, you're always curious, right? Of course. That's cool. Do you teach yoga in a studio? Or are you teaching more like on retreat basis? Oh, I teach all of it, all of it. And everywhere. I teach retreats, I teach in several studios in the city, and I teach at home I teach. I have regular zoom classes leftover from the COVID era when they all kind of started but I have a I have a relationship with iHeartMedia. So I teach for those guys a couple days a week and then I have privates that actually come to my home. So I have Yeah, it's a pretty it's a pretty full and and interesting schedule. And I really like it because it's such a variety of places, temperatures, vibes, you know, all of that. And then yeah, traveling, I have taught at lots of festivals and workshops around I taught in, in Saudi Arabia in October of this past year, just I was invited. It was a wonderful opportunity to teach at an event that they were hosting there. The Crown Prince was hosting. So yeah, I have a very, I have a very colorful teaching history and hopefully going forward, it will continue.

Todd McLaughlin: 4:57

Yes, that's amazing how many yours have you been teaching?

Robin Martin: 5:01

I've been teaching for about 12 years? 13 years? 12? I think.

Todd McLaughlin: 5:05

Cool. Yeah. And how about practicing? When did you start practicing?

Robin Martin: 5:09

May of the year? 2000. So it'll be it'll be 23 years in May will be my Yeah. Yeah. Hard to believe considering I'm only 24 years

Todd McLaughlin: 5:20

old. Yes. A miracle. That is incredible, right.

Robin Martin: 5:28

My mother was pregnant with me in utero.

Todd McLaughlin: 5:31

Yes. Don't you love that one? That's like the best yoga answer. Right. I've been practicing since in utero. Have you heard that theory that while in utero, we practice every yoga pose that's ever been created? I've never heard that. No, I've heard someone say that. I guess there was that. This idea that 84 number and that there's 84,000 Different yoga poses or Shiva practiced something within the realm of 84 84,080 4 million. And that in utero, we actually go through all of those positions before we actually come out. I don't know how true that could be. I tried to try.

Robin Martin: 6:09

And, you know, I mean, they as as the baby is forming in the uterus, it is changing and moving around and right. Who knows? I don't know.

Todd McLaughlin: 6:20

That's a good point. I know. It's kind of fun to think about.

Robin Martin: 6:22

I can't know. However, I don't, I have to have to question that. Because, like the post Padmasana for example, Lotus Pose would require a lot of maneuvering to get into. It's the one where your heels are tucked up by the creases of your hips. So I don't I can't really imagine.

Todd McLaughlin: 6:43

Yeah, yeah, I don't. I don't think I think it's I think it's a myth. It's a fun math.

Robin Martin: 6:49

Yeah, it's it's interesting. I mean, I could see just like, you know, but what is that? I don't even know what I don't. They're not gonna be grabbing their foot doing a Dancer Pose. So I don't. Yeah. I think that I have just, yeah, good point. He bumped that one. Yeah.

Todd McLaughlin: 7:10

Are you a mom? I am. How many children do you have? I have two. Nice, awesome. Do you mind me asking how old they are? Like what? No,

Robin Martin: 7:18

I don't. They're 16 and 18. Oh, cool.

Todd McLaughlin: 7:21

I have a 16 year old and a nine year old. Okay. Yeah, is your 16 year old driving?

Robin Martin: 7:27

Well, she I have two daughters. And, and it's funny, they they just didn't seem to be in any rush to get their driver's licenses. My 18 year old finally got hers at some point. But she also had the whole issue where she did her her driving school during COVID. And so she had to wait till the drivers were available to do her drives. And it was they were very backlogged. And my younger one is kind of in the same situation, though, she was done with her whole driving school while still 15 And she's just anxiously waiting to do her drives that she wants to get a driver's license. My older one just didn't seem to be in any hurry. And same with I have nephew. Same with them. And, and I was just reading an article just today, oddly about how how kids today don't have this sense of urgency or drive, if you will, to drive the way. I mean, I couldn't get mine fast enough. I mean, I was yeah, it was like, the day I turned 16 I think was at the DMV getting my driver's license. 100%

Todd McLaughlin: 8:27

What would you if you had to take a stab in the dark? The reason that is that kids at age 16 aren't chomping at the bit the way we were?

Robin Martin: 8:36

You know, well, I don't know. I mean, doesn't make any sense to me one I know that I lived a bit out in the sticks. And for me, it was freedom to be able to drive. One my daughter her her closest friend drives drives her around so maybe that's the reason why she doesn't she's not in such a hurry. They can you know, it's easier to get around. They can Uber they can. They're just you know, or walk to think like we're much closer in here where I live than I was to anything where I grew up. I it's beyond I really don't I can't really I can't really explain it because I think it's crazy. That would be my guess is this freedom. So I don't

Todd McLaughlin: 9:15

know. I hear you. I kind of pushed my son. I was like, it's for your 15 We're getting your learner's on the day of you're gonna want your license when you're 16. Let's go.

Robin Martin: 9:26

Does he have his license?

Todd McLaughlin: 9:27

He does. Yeah, he's cruising. So far. So good. Knock. When did he turn? 16 Knock on wood. July July 11. So he's been going now? A little while. I guess it's been almost like eight months already. Yeah.

Robin Martin: 9:40

Yeah, mine just turned 16 Last month, but she Yeah, and like I said she's just waiting for her waiting to do the drives with the with the driving school. When when I was 16. We had driver's ed in high school. I think it was I think he had to pay extra for it. But it was like it was something you could do. Right and you did all the drives like teachers volunteered to do the drives with the students. And we were it was I mean, they don't have that. At least not Yeah,

Todd McLaughlin: 10:06

it's different. It's different. You're right. You're right.

Robin Martin: 10:09

I find it disappointing for

Todd McLaughlin: 10:11

them. But I know it's come on you guys. And I'm, well, do you remember your first yoga class?

Robin Martin: 10:19

I remember the first year of a class that I took, yes, where and what? And what was it like, oh, gosh, it was well, it was May of 2000. And it and I remember, like everything because I had a friend who was I was into fitness, I was, you know, I went to college, and I was not in my peak fit. I was an active kid growing up, I was always involved in some sort of sport, never that good at any one thing, but but did a lot of things. So I was always just really active. And I went to college, and I was not very active. And I and I graduated. And I was just like, wow, I'm not in very good shape. I was surprised because I didn't really notice it as it was slowly happening over the course of the four years. So I joined a gym, and I started exercising, and then I just really got into fitness. And, and, and one of the I took a lot of group fitness classes, and one of my teachers was this, this guy, and he, at one point was like, Hey, you should take a yoga class with me. And I was like, that doesn't sound like something I want to do. And, and I just kept thinking I had all these preconceived notions of what yoga was, I didn't really know I pictured people sitting and maybe chanting and maybe stretching. And you know, none of it sounded, I wanted the hard workout I wanted, like, that's where I was, in my fitness. In my, my fitness career at that time wasn't a career, but it was just about, you know, going hard. And feeling like I had a really good workout. And I had a really stressful job, horrible job that I would take with me to the gym. And I would be thinking processing I'd be on the bike or in the class and I just be like, ah, and and so he this guy, Jeff is the name of the this group fitness teacher. And every time I saw him, he would tell me to join him for yoga class. And every time he told me to join him, I would say now, two years later, he was still at it two years and like he's never gonna he will never stop. And so he's like any would say, come get sweaty with me. I'm like, I don't like being too hot. I don't you know, I was like, so finally, it was the it was Cinco de mio. And this is why I remember the date. So well. I remember that was the day that I finally said, Okay, I'll meet you for a class. But it was Cinco Demayo. So I'd gone out. And the next day, I didn't feel like going to do anything. So I didn't. Then I felt then I saw him and I was like, I don't know. And he's like, and I think he said he didn't go either. I'm like, Okay, I will go, I will go the following weekend. I will I will just do this. So I went so whatever that date was the weekend after Cinco Demayo of the year 2000. I took the class, it was a 90 minute Bikram yoga class, and I rolled in there, like, I was gonna win yoga, I was gonna, like, kill, I'm like, I'm in a really good shape. I work all the time. I had a little sports bra and like little shorts on and like, that class handed it to me harder than anything I've ever experienced in my life. I was fighting panic in that room. I was just like, I can't breathe. This is insane. I can't balance like this or stretch like this, or, you know, I was not that flexible. I was probably sort of strong, but not that probably not that strong. You know, like, I just, it was so so challenging. And it was kind of horrible on many levels. But I happen to be somebody who likes to be pushed. And I was shocked. Like, it just wasn't what I expected at all. And so I think during the class itself, I really didn't like it. But I think I felt physically pretty good after. And so when it came to doing it again, I was like, No, I'm like, but I'm but I'm curious. I was curious. So I did it again, like a week later. And it was I think it was maybe a little bit better. Because I'd had the first experience. I knew what to expect that I just kept going some classes were harder than others, you know, depending on the temperature or the teacher or whatever. And I just kept going I just I would go once a week and twice a week then. And I was living on Queen Anne at the time in Seattle. And this was on the east side. It was in an area called Kirkland. You're familiar with the Kirkland brand from Costco. There's your Kirkland. That's where that comes from. And so I was I was taking class there and at the studio, and I wouldn't even there were other Bikram studios much closer to me, but I'm a creature of habit and familiarity. I just didn't want to go anywhere else. I'm just like, I just I feel comfortable ish at this place. So that's where I'll go and and then I got pregnant with my first daughter. And you know, everybody tells you not you know, you shouldn't be in the hot room. You But I spoke to my OB and then another doctor, and they're like, Well, if your body is acclimated I mean there, people have babies in hot environments all the time hot climates, you know, people live in Africa and have babies, and it's really hot. And they're like, as long as you're, you're acclimated, and you can sweat and you're not holding that heat, and you're by a door or by window. So I kept doing the yoga while I was pregnant. And I, and about halfway through my pregnancy, the gym just did not appeal. But the yoga was very appealing to me. So I kept doing it, I had beautiful, healthy babies, I was yoga all the time. And then I after a while, and I quit my horrible job. And at some point, probably about six months into my yoga practice, I realized that my job was actually much better than it was before I ever did practice yoga at all, it was much more manageable. I was less of a stress case, I could deal with the issues that I was handled daily, much better. It you know, it got me through, I bounced back from my pregnancies so fast, that I don't even like to tell my pregnancy stories, because people are just like, that's just not even right. I mean, it's not like I do like to tell them but, but I was pre pregnancy weight 10 days after my first and 18 days after my second Wow, you were just like super fast, not pre pregnancy fitness level. But in all my clothes, I was wearing all my normal clothes. And, and, and it didn't, you know, and I was right back in the studio as soon as I could be soon as you can be and, and my, my deliveries were fast and non complicated. And, you know, healthy. I say beautiful, because their mind, but beautiful baby girls. And so I just I'm like this yoga, there's something to it. Yeah, you know, there's something to it and, and my body felt good. And my stamina was better. And I started getting flexibility and getting strength and having better balance. And my mind was in a better place. For everything that I was doing, whether it was family, friends, work, whatever. And so I quit that job and I was a stay at home mom. And that's really not I wasn't really designed, I don't think to be a stay at home mom. And and so as soon as I as soon as I could after, like when they were old enough, I decided to do a yoga teacher training. And because at that point, I've been practicing for about 10 years. I so my first was born in 2004. My second was born in 2007. So it was like around 2010 I think that I did that I did that I decided this was what I was going to do. Because it also made no sense to do something like this and then teach a yoga class for $50 when I had to pay more than that, for childcare to teach the yoga class, I had to wait till they were like old enough to be in some sort of school. And but I that I just Yeah, I knew that I wanted to do something. And it just made sense because it was flexible. In terms of hours and things. I could still be a mom to my girls and teach yoga while they were in. In preschool. That's when I started. They were in preschool. And and yeah, and then it just went from there.

Todd McLaughlin: 18:13

I'm so curious about did you go take Bikram yoga teacher training at that point? Or did you make a jump, excuse me into a different style.

Robin Martin: 18:23

So I made the jump into a different style before I did the teacher training and I was taking I was taking these Bikram classes because I wasn't familiar with any other style of yoga. And and every now and then, a teacher would come into the studio and teach a different style like there would be a guest and they teach something different and I was always intrigued and blown away by the different you know, I didn't I didn't really pursue I think part of the the issue for me was that I had a taste of vinyasa. Then I got pregnant, I think with my second and I couldn't like it wasn't a good time for me to change things up. Also, I knew Chaturanga were like this low pushup, and I just thought, Well, my belly is gonna hit the floor. I don't know if that's a great idea. There was a lot of inversions and things that we didn't do and Bikram Bikram was a very easy practice to modify for pregnancy. Yeah. And he also is a little more complicated. There's, there's a lot of things that you there would be a lot more modifications in vinyasa and a lot of things that I probably would have avoided in vinyasa in pregnancy. I also did prenatal training with my teacher training, but because I had been practicing for so long at that point, and my practice was something that I took very seriously. And it was something very important to me that if I was going to do a training, and I was going to share the experience that that I had practicing, I wanted it to be the best training that I could find. And something that resonated with me the most and so, I did a lot of research and I am someone who, if I read yoga mythology or yoga history or yoga philosophy, it's easy for me to absorb if it's interesting, if it's entertaining, it's easy enough I mean, it's hard. Anatomy is difficult, because I'm not like, I'm not necessarily naturally fascinated by the inner workings of the human body. And so and it's very, very complicated, and it's very, very complex. And so like, I have a degree from the University of Washington and editorial journalism, I like to write, I like to read, you know, I'm curious about things. I love history. But anatomy is just tricky. And I and I feel that because Asana is a physical practice, that if I don't know the body, I'm not doing a service by teaching yoga if I don't understand how to teach it safely. So all of all of my training, and I have a lot of different I have, I have my 200, my original 200. Our was Tiffany Cruickshank, who now has yoga medicine is her is the brand at the time it was before yoga medicine, I think that I think she came up with that like a year, a couple years later, but I have certifications and myofascial release, and, and like module certifications, like extra stuff on the shoulders, hips, spine, so a bunch of different areas of the body in addition to my regular training, and I feel like I feel very confident in in knowing how the body works, and just knowing that

Todd McLaughlin: 21:17

that's cool. Robin, with the mouth. With the myofascial release, did you go with John Barnes, technique, or Oh, yoga

Robin Martin: 21:24

medicine,

Todd McLaughlin: 21:25

gotcha. All yoga medicine and applying I'm so sorry.

Robin Martin: 21:29

That's okay. Again, get it,

Todd McLaughlin: 21:32

I get it, I can actually turn my volume down over here. So I can really clear my throat without annoying you. If you don't even notice, if you rub your chin, I'll pull your volume down soon. And you can really let loose and I'll put it back up. I'm curious, in relation to the myofascial release, was it primarily with any yoga technique perspective, or was it on a hands on massage type of training?

Robin Martin: 21:54

It was so we did a lot of it was designed to be incorporated into yoga practice, however, it was, we used implemented different tools for it. And a lot of there was massage technique, a lot of palpation of our we would have partners and we would practice on them. But we use myofascial release balls a lot. And then, but so it's not, it's not necessarily something that you can just bring into a yoga room because you have to like some of the gear, I really like the ball and I in fact, my students love it too. They love when when we do a myofascial release, and I do it with my online group a lot because they just I just tell them to have a tennis ball on hand, and I have my equipment and so, uh, you know, we'll go over it on through the zoom, there's only one studio that I teach that actually has the proper equipment to do it, you can use a block, you can use it, you can improvise with a yoga block, but it's not quite the same. And it's just really, you know, you're really you want to really get into the the fibers of the connective tissue to hydrate the tissue for better function of the of the muscles that are connected to the tissue. So, but it's, yeah, I mean, I learned about it from a cellular level, and I can explain it from the Myo fibroblasts and the fibroblasts and what happens and you know, and it's fascinating, but, but again, for me, just the 200 hour, I was just like, you know, the anatomy part was, Tiffany just focuses on anatomy. We went to a cadaver lab and I studied the muscles on dead bodies in my 200 Hour, which is unheard of. That's unheard of. Yeah, unheard of. Yeah, there's, there's a 200 hour, there's a 200 hour yoga teacher training on every corner of every Yes, you know, of every city of every studio, and some are better than others, you know, gonna be better than others. And so I talked to a lot of people who do trainings and come out and just don't feel ready to teach.

Todd McLaughlin: 23:53

Yes, I hear you were watching that like crazy all over the world, right? Like, do you would you say, well, since 2000, I mean, my first Bikram yoga class was in 2000, as well, and I know Yes. And at that point, it was exploding like yoga was just coming into this place. Exploding there really wasn't a lot of yoga fashion clothing around yet it was like the internet wasn't even happening yet. So if you wanted a book on yoga, you had to go to your bookstore, and hope they had maybe i A Yang gars book light on yoga, that'd be something I would find David Swensons book was out there, the practice manual, that was cool. I was so excited to find that you could find maybe a Bhagavad Gita or something of that nature. But there really isn't a lot.

Robin Martin: 24:44

I can go to my little library over here because we have to get certain books for the training. Yeah, and my teacher training and although that was 10 years later, this was we're talking about the year 2000. I did the training in 2010. So yeah, in the year 2000. I didn't even bother like I didn't mean, I mentioned that I didn't, I was so resistant to take a yoga class because I didn't, you know, like I had these ideas of what it was, and I just didn't think it was going to be for me. And what's funny is the things other reasons why I didn't want to go, I think are like, I completely subscribe to them now. I'm a believer. Totally sold.

Todd McLaughlin: 25:18

But the reason like so Oh, gotcha, the things that you were thinking you'd be repelled by

Robin Martin: 25:23

stretching the chanting the, you know, the, what I thought was just gonna be like, woowoo and weird. No, I, I think that it's all good. I mean, whatever I don't, I my, my focus is still very much on the physical practice. But, you know, the breath work, there's a lot of things that have a lot of, you know, a lot of a lot of function and, and really support the mind body connection. And I, and I'm, I'm open to it all, whereas I was so closed off. You know, I was just like, No, this is like, weird. They're weird.

Todd McLaughlin: 25:56

Yeah, there's a transition process that that takes time for some of us to Yeah, the first time I heard someone chanting with a harmonium, I thought, oh, no, this is like being back in church like, Yeah, I think so. And then I started, you know, sobbing and loving it.

Robin Martin: 26:14

Have to go and then and then I'm like, actually, well, yeah, that's it's so true. But no, you're right. There wasn't. Yeah, yeah. It was. It was just so different than and there wasn't, you know, people ask me they're like, why why would you be criminal? There wasn't anything else. That's what that's what, that's what the yoga offering

Todd McLaughlin: 26:32

was. That was all that was available. Yeah,

Robin Martin: 26:35

that was it. Yeah. And I had and you know, it's funny because, you know, Bikram has he has a terrible reputation and

Todd McLaughlin: 26:41

terrible, terrible, terrible. Yeah, he's like,

Robin Martin: 26:45

it's horrible. Like he's, he's, he's, he's a bad man on many levels. But yes, but I had an experience where a gal a local Bikram teacher friend of mine, because I was in that Bikram community, you know, that's what I was doing for the first however many years and she but but by this time I was I don't know if I was teaching vinyasa, but I was practicing it almost solely. I wasn't I wasn't taking become classes anymore. And I also hurt my knee because of Bikram yoga. I tore my meniscus because pose

Todd McLaughlin: 27:18

what which pose to stand?

Robin Martin: 27:21

Well, that would have been a combination. Because I was I did toe stand all the time. But it was the it was the version of tree, which is a half lotus. And never once never one time did any teacher ever say the knee is a stable joint. The hip is a mobile joint, in order to do Lotus safely or Ardha Padmasana, half lotus, you have to rotate your hip, you have to have your heel in your hamstring and rotate your hip and then gently tuck your heel into the into the you know, inner crease of your hip. Nobody ever ever, ever, ever said anything useful. I picked up my foot and pulled it into my hip crease over and over and over. I treated my knee like it was a mobile joint. And I just was wearing down the inner the medial meniscus every time I did it. So just over the years over the years over the years, finally it was just like, done. Yeah, so

Todd McLaughlin: 28:09

can you I want to ask you questions around joint longevity. I'm curious, though, how did that evolved? Or eventuate? Did it end up with you needing a surgery? Or was it something that you were able to back off of give your time to self to heal and it did heal?

Robin Martin: 28:26

Well, the issue with meniscus tears is they can't heal on their own because they don't get any plasma, they don't get any tissue with no blood. It's living but it's not. It doesn't regrow or heal or grow back together. So a tear is going to cause it's going to cause like, if I if I took my, my I took my heels my hamstring, my knee will it will catch the torn piece of tissue catches a ligament in my knee. So if it catches, I can't straighten my leg all the way I can't put pressure on me like it's really pretty gross. So I had an MRI I was considering surgery, but it was recommended to me from another yoga teacher and massage therapist friend of mine that I go see a guy who he's a new like a like a because he's a chiropractor but specializes in different things. And he had he had a laser he had laser therapy on my knee. And it it's definitely not 100% But it's a million times better than it was because the laser brings it brings plasma into the area that doesn't get it normally. So it does create some healing. But it's still you know, the injury is still there, but I just I work with it. And you know, my my issue is that I just downtime is almost impossible for me right now. I can't imagine it because I can't you know, there's a lot of things that I that I haven't pursued over the years just to keep my body safe and healthy because this is my job. Yeah, this is my job. So so you know just I have to So how I mean that surgery is a little scary. It's like, well, what if something goes wrong? And b What if, you know, it just takes a long time? It's only a meniscus tear. It's it's a pretty minor surgery, but I'm pretty functional. I just avoid Lotus. Yes, I just don't do that.

Todd McLaughlin: 30:14

That's cool. I from following you on Instagram, you have wonderful range of motion. I'm curious. When was there? Was there a time when we were practicing maybe in the Bikram world where someone said oh my gosh, Robin, you're so flexible holy cow. Look what you can do it was there like a moment where you you said you didn't start off feeling really flexible? So it wasn't was there like an incredible growth process that happened where all of a sudden your body just started to release and open up? Or how would you relate that experience? I

Robin Martin: 30:49

don't think anybody's mind was blown by my amazing flexibility in the makerspace because it wasn't so amazing. Um, I would say that that you know, it was just over time you know, if you're moving your body in certain ways over time you're going to open it up and and I won like I couldn't do the splits you know, I couldn't there's a lot of things that just were not I couldn't do but But I decided so at the end of Bikram we would do the the that it's funny because he had weird names for all the they're not the actual Sanskrit terms. He had weird like there was some weird or whatever you'd like Johnny Johnny sure awesome evidence like John you shirt, Shoffner, whatever I whatever, yes. Just these weird names. But it was that seated stretch, right, you're gonna see and you're reaching out over your leg and you're on the second set, we were given an option to practice splits if we wanted to. And so And it's funny, because at some point, they took that away. We can't do that anymore. That's against the rules. Bikram doesn't let you do that,

Todd McLaughlin: 31:56

like big trouble. Yeah. So weird.

Robin Martin: 31:59

But so I practice splits during that stretch. And I was doing it like, every day, I was taking these classes every day. And so eventually, my body just opened up. Yeah, and you know, like doing it repeatedly, repeatedly. And now I incorporate strength into everything that's flexible. And this is what I try. I speak to this a lot on my social media, I speak to it a lot in my classes. Eventually, maybe I'll do a training specifically for I did actually do a training for it for a little while, I partnered with a couple of guys who had a mobility, mobility business down in Las Vegas. And we got together, we created a whole yoga mobility program, and we were doing some trainings and then COVID came like, the timing was just really too bad. But, but it's, if we so we can, you know, like flexibility is, is is nice. Strength is great. Being really strong without flexibility is a recipe for injury. Being really flexible, without strength to support, the flexibility is a recipe for injury. So it's meeting in the middle. And in, in the earlier years of my practice, I was definitely focused on flexibility, I just want to go deeper, you know, I want to stretch more. So that pole, dancer, right, you're grabbing your leg and you're pulling yourself into this stretch in your hamstring. There's even like splits on the ground, you have gravity, the weight of your body, there's straps to help you pull, there's blocks to help you get deeper, there's all these things and all these ways to deepen this stretch. But if you're not using anything at all, you have no gravity, you have no strap, you have no block, you have no ground, no wall, can you find the same depth. And if you can't, how much different is that depth compared to what you can find with the help with the aid with the support. And ideally, it's not that different. So an example of that, I'll just, well, I'll just say if I'm, if I have my leg, my foot and I pull my leg, I'm pulling my leg and pulling my leg, and I pull it up to here and I let go. And it goes down to there. The difference between where I can pull it, which was up to here, and when I let go where I can hold it on my own is down here. That's you know, that's the gap between between the flexibility and the mobility, my natural range of motion without help, if I can pull it all the way up here and let go and it stays that I have the strength to support the flexibility. Yes, because I can hold myself in that same position without the poll. Does that make sense? Does. Okay, so I, I do a lot of that now. I mean, this is how I practice. This is also how I teach. So when I teach a back bending class, because I think that people know me from my back bends more than anything else. I get that a lot. It's like, oh, yeah, you can do those really be back bends. They just assume it's anatomy. I'm hyper mobile, I was a dancer, I was a ballerina. I was a gymnast. I was none of those things that I'm not hyper mobile. And so That's all a myth, it's not true, it's just moving in a safe way for you know, years of learning and repetition, dedication, commitment, you know, the, you're not going to be really good at something, you're really strong at something, if you don't commit to it, you will never talk to a professional athlete who, who hasn't devoted their, you know, like a tremendous amount of time, to their art to their, their fitness to their activity, or whatever it is that they're, they're doing their sport. So, it's a lot of commitment. But in order to make it a healthy thing, and not something that could potentially harm me, it's that focus of balancing strength and flexibility that keeps my joints safe in the end. So I was saying, like, when I teach a back bend, class, I focus on active back bends the whole time. And until you know, the very end, maybe maybe there's a little bit of pole or a little bit of push, but even with dancer, we're just reaching back for our foot, we're just trying to get the foot somewhere near the head, or hands, I should say, or the head or whatever. And eventually, you know, maybe you close that gap between your hands and your foot. So you're not like cranking everyday and I don't get me wrong, I still will grab my foot and pull myself into a dancer but but I try to focus on moving into the depth of poses without the pole without the push without the the element of gravity or the strap or the block, or whatever to assist in those things. Those tools are wonderful. When applied properly, and for certain poses, and certain things like yen, give me all the blocks, give me all the bolsters everything and I'll just, you know, get myself situated and breathe into some deep stretching. But when it comes to general joint longevity, you need strength to support your flexibility.

Todd McLaughlin: 36:52

Great point, Robin, I'm curious. You have a large following on Instagram. How do you balance the pulling your body into a place knowing that I might get more interest, like, like I hear from other Yogi's that are attempting to build their social media? Like, I'll try to show off to do something that's a little beyond what I probably could or should do. Because if it looks more exotic, then I'll get more attention, which will equal more followers and more likes. And I'm curious how you've been able to balance maintenance of that, and have pressure? I don't know, I guess that's one question I have, do you feel social media pressure having a large following?

Robin Martin: 37:50

You know, I probably maybe I felt it earlier on while I was building my following mean Instagram for the last few years just hasn't really. I feel like I've just been kind of stagnant. Um, but there was definitely a period of time where I was growing very quickly. And, and I definitely, I actually, you know, was talking about my meniscus, the kind of the final straw for it was when I was doing some pose for a picture. And I was doing this half lotus are unbalanced thing that I had seen somewhere. And the thing with the thing that's so fascinating about social media is that I saw so many things I had never seen before. And I wanted to try and I didn't really know how to pursue getting into those things. There's just a picture. And so I would try to figure it out on my own. And sometimes it wasn't the healthiest manner. This was you know, again, much earlier on in my practice now we're talking about 10 years ago. I've been on since 2013. So I I definitely Yeah, so the meniscus thing, I was doing this arm balance, and I did it was a half lotus, arm balance, and I just could feel the pain in my knee. I could feel it. And I looked at the and I had to record myself doing these things. I would just take a screenshot and that's what I would post. And I looked at it and I was just like, I can do it better. I can do it better. My knee was already in so much pain. I was like my knees already. You know? Yeah, it's already messed up. So whatever. And, and I Yeah, so I remember that very specifically. There haven't been well, there were a few times where I hurt myself getting into things. I remember another one like, it was one of my side because laying on my side and I was doing this like side Capozzi thing and and I just wasn't really properly warmed up and I pulled something on my side and it hurt for a long time. I seem to remember these specific incidences maybe there weren't too many but I don't do that anymore at all. Yeah, at all. Like what I if I don't know if I can, if I pull something up, can I show it to you on my phone?

Todd McLaughlin: 39:51

You can and some of you some of you are just listening and just so you're aware those of you listening this video is on YouTube so you can see See what Robin is about to show us if you want to watch the video part. However, absolutely, you can show me.

Robin Martin: 40:08

Yeah, I'm just gonna see if I can find it. So we have, I work with a clothing brand. And whenever there's a new, a new launch a new color or a new thing that comes out. It's as as part of it's a job, like it's a job. I wear the stuff and I and I do and I pose in it. And I like to, for me, it's it's a fun creative outlet, because I'll see the color and the style. And I'll think, what can I do in that? Where would that look good? What kind of an environment does that work in, you know, so if it's like a big warm coat, and like, I think I'll go to the mountains for that into the snow. It's not far from where I live and, or I'll go to the, that looks like something that I could do in this parking garage that I post in a pose and a lot or whatever, or it just depends on. So this an outfit that's coming out in a couple of days. It's shiny, and I'm like, Okay, well, that, to me has kind of an urban feel, I think I'll go and go to this one urban alley that I like I work with a photographer all the time, we haven't really we have fun. And I'm like, and I'm like, you know, for the urban feel. I think I want to wear these heeled boots. And I want to do a dancer in it. And I want to like and I'm like this is gonna challenge me, this is gonna be really hard. Because I'm like, I really want it to be like a, like a needle straight line split kind of thing in heels in this outfit in this alley in Seattle. And this is my it's what I did. I haven't posted it yet. I'll share it and I'll share it in a day or two. But yeah, heels. The heels made it very difficult to balance. Because being up on your I'm on the ball of my foot, and it's pushing me forward, it just makes me want to fall forward and step forward. But I'm like, but my thought is, you know, I'm like, I just want to do this thing that's gonna be really strikingly beautiful more than anything for the for the clothing for the brand. I'm like, I want to like showcase. Yes. How cool this is. But it's, this is not, this isn't what I'm normally doing either. I'm not normally like standing around some huge deep dance, certainly not heels. Like that's not. So I realized that even in this day and age, as long as I've been on here. And as long as I've been doing this, I still do some things for for visual interest. Yeah. You know, for sure, but not necessarily for somebody to like, copy and hurt themselves.

Todd McLaughlin: 42:24

Good point. I'm curious too, because I know like in terms of speaking about joint longevity, and I'll see, I'll get feedback from people that'll say, Well, I can't do that, or that's unsafe, or why would you show that Todd? Because that's, you know, so outside of the range of what normal is normal range of motion? Do you ever get that sort of kickback at all, when you demonstrate those types of deep expressions of Asana?

Robin Martin: 42:55

You know, it's, it's funny, I think, I don't know if I just have I'm fortunate with my, my audience, I rarely, rarely

Todd McLaughlin: 43:06

get negative. That's amazing. Robin, that's

Robin Martin: 43:08

cool. That's rarely rarely. Maybe that's an aura thing.

Todd McLaughlin: 43:13

Like, maybe you're just putting out good vibes and therefore,

Robin Martin: 43:16

yeah, you know, I mean, I don't I'm kind of a drama free zone. Like I don't I'm not a big fan of, of anything. That's dramatic. But, but I yeah, I don't I, it's a funny thing. I had this conversation very recently with a friend of mine, about how you, you know, you get like, I get a lot of really, really lovely compliments and comments on my posts, even when I'm like, sometimes I'm just like, Oh, I'm doing a challenge. For example, I'm hosting a challenge and whatever the pose is, the image that I took, you know, to me, it's subpar, and I don't like it, and I don't like what I'm like, I like nothing about it. And I'm like, people are gonna be nice anyway. And I feel bad because I wouldn't even want to comment on this terrible thing. They're like, Oh, wow, that's really, you know, I did this thing where? Honestly, I don't do. I am not at all at all. A gratuitous sensual poser. Not my thing. Not my thing. But I was.

Todd McLaughlin: 44:15

Do you mean, the bikini shot? Like, is that is that what you're referencing? Well,

Robin Martin: 44:20

I mean, I don't mind I wear bikinis and stuff. But I mean, I just mean like, those, like the super crunchy were thong and yeah, like, and I know, like, I know, a number of those out there. And it's very purposeful. And I'm not a big fan. I'm not a big fan of sexualizing yoga in general, because that's not what yoga is in my opinion. But for you know, people will do things for likes whatever and so I did this the other day I well, I don't know I had my daughter was with me and we're in my in the in this parking garage where I like to take photos because I like the concrete and it's generally very nice light. And I have a nice camera. At this point. I've invested in some nice gear and my daughter was two In my picture, I was like, Well, I am like, I'm going to try this, the pose for the challenge was a forward fold. And I'm always trying to be creative. I'm like, I don't just want to do like a normal can't just be a normal forward fold. So what's a creative fold? And so I did this one, and it's actually quite a crotchy shot. And I was like, I don't know if I should even post this. But I, I had posted the same thing, I think a couple of years ago. And, and for whatever reason, in my head, it wasn't like that big of a deal. And, and it's funny, because again, all the comments were tasteful. Not one person said something crude and inappropriate. One woman, one woman said something about, she was doing her best to not say anything, like she had to control herself. And I replied with just like a couple of emojis, like the one like the, you know, the monkey. Like, I was embarrassed. And she, she came back and she said, Wow, that probably just made me sound like a pervert. And I said, Well, I said, Well, I, I just explained that I wasn't gratuitous. Typically in that, that, you know, like, you know, I mean, I don't, you know, like, but it's funny, because friends of mine, who who it just it was sweet. Like I could tell that they were struggling with what to say about that pose. They're like, Oh, I love a good Forward Fold. You know, he was just funny, but I generally, but yeah, I would say that I, I really don't get a lot of feedback or criticism. I have, though, when I when I have posted. Sometimes like, you know, when I I go through phases, sometimes I'll do things that are more educational and instruct instructive, or whatever. I mean, it's a little that's a little risky, though. Because if you're instructing something, and it's something that it's just I feel like it's a little risky, because if somebody tries it, does it and it doesn't work out. Is there a liability? Like I don't know. But showing the difference between the passive flexibility and the active mobility, I do that I'm probably going to actually do that, again, here. Pretty soon. It's been a while, but I used to do it a lot when I was really, you know, like, trying to get the point across of the importance of balancing strength and flexibility. And there's usually somebody who's just like, the first one is active. And let's say you can't not I'm that you're not saying it, right? No. And I'm like, well, for my, I said, for the purpose of the illustration here, I'm like, there isn't going to be anything that is completely passive, unless you're just laying there in shavasana, or whatever. So there's always going to be some level of something's been reactive. And, and like, I'm specifically referring to the front of the hip, and this, whatever. And usually, even those people who are rude will come back and say, oh, yeah, I'm sorry. I see what you mean. You know, and back off.

Todd McLaughlin: 47:41

That's cool. Yeah, but I know it's a, I think genuine, I have a sense that the majority of the world is positive and good. And there's just a minority that will tend to take those sort of shots. So it's nice to hear that. You don't contend with that much. That's reassuring.

Robin Martin: 48:03

I don't but you know, it's a it's a it's a funny thing. And maybe it's kind of a sad thing is that, despite all of the lovely things, there, if there is one negative thing, you hold on to it, you're just like, yeah, yeah. And I think I don't know, if people just figure, you know, because you, you know, I get it, like I put myself out there, I'm a public figure. I understand that. But that doesn't mean that I'm not a sensitive human, you know, like, it's not. And I don't again, for me, it's not bad. But I have friends that tell me stories of some of the stuff that they have been told or heard maybe they're, you know, like, a little bit more curvy or whatever. And I didn't know people can be so cruel. I've not experienced that. I have not experienced that. Yeah, yeah. You know, and as far as like, nobody has, I'm trying to think if anybody has ever said that I've done something unsafe. Did I because I don't I'm not really like somebody. I've done some things on ledges and things that are questionable, that people could question but even then, yeah, you know, they don't nobody really says anything. I mean, I wouldn't recommend getting on a ledge to somebody else. But there's a legend Seattle that happens to have a gorgeous view of the city. And, and when I get up there, and when I get up there and, and this is like, this is just a fun. This is just when when I get up there and do things on that ledge because it's a it's a tourist destination. And it's photographers and tourists combinate packed that place. They'll though people will clear away, they'll give me the space to pose up there and I feel a little bit too like I'm like, It's my city, my city. Like, you know, and people will say, you know, the photographers will gather around and take pictures of me up there, but they're very respectful and, and, you know, they're there. Like, I think that they think I'm a little bit of a daredevil. It's not but I'm not risking. I don't I'm not a high risk. Person Yeah, I don't do things that are gonna, you know, like, I'm not risking my life by being up there and doing whatever.

Todd McLaughlin: 50:06

That's cool. Robin, I, you have a retreat coming up in Greece? Is that correct? That is correct. Where are you going to be holding the retreat?

Robin Martin: 50:16

We're going to be in Santorini and Crete splitting the time. Have you

Todd McLaughlin: 50:20

been to Ireland? Have you been to both places already before?

Robin Martin: 50:23

I've been to neither of those places I've been to Greece, I've been to other islands that I have not been to Santorini are created. And I have heard the most wonderful things about both of those islands. So I'm very excited.

Todd McLaughlin: 50:34

How do you structure your retreats? Do you focus on like them as a training? Or is it that you'll just have a practice in the morning and then let people do whatever they want during the rest of the day? Is that all day? Yoga? Engagement? What is your How do you focus or structure your retreats?

Robin Martin: 50:52

Well, I've been leading retreats for many years, I think my first one was like in 2015. And they've, they have evolved over the years. And what I have found that the that creates the most enjoyable retreat is when you can give somebody especially if it's far away somewhere interesting, which is where I like to go as far away and interesting. If you can give them an experience that involves yoga, and culture. And so the yoga aspect, it takes care of the jetlag, you feel really good. Once you start to move your body, it allows you to to, you know, like deal with the, you know, the time difference and everything and function better. We usually have a yoga class in the morning, and in the evening, so a Vinyasa or something that we're moving a lot in the morning and then more restorative in the evening. But it depends if there's a day where there's an activity scheduled that in that gets interferes with either morning or afternoon, then we'll just, you know, adjust things accordingly. But, but we are all about experiencing because culture involves food. It involves history, you know, it involves landmarks or whatever or things that they do in that area, whether it's a custom skill or religious type of thing, it depends. When we were in Bali, we visited a temple, we had we had the most in We visited a beautiful beach, like a beach club place. And we went to some wonderful restaurants we had, we had some tasting menus, because the food very hot. I mean, it was so it was just it was really fun. And it was really good. And we did, we we do in Bali, we let's see, I'm trying to remember, I don't think we did an embolic we're going to do this in both Greece. And in Portugal, we have Portugal coming up in September, we'll do one day where we go on a hike in on both of those, these experiences, we have a boat excursion, we have a cooking class in Greece, we have so we have a fairly packed itinerary, but everything is optional. So for the person that comes in, wants to just hit it, you know, kick it by the pool, they can do that. It's up to them. You know, it's, it's whatever you want it to be, but we like to give somebody a full experience. If they're going to come and travel all the way with us. They're gonna feel good physically, and they're gonna learn a lot about where they are, and they're going to enjoy the food

Todd McLaughlin: 53:13

nice. When you say we are you teaming up with a fellow yoga practitioner teacher or with a, a tour, organised organizer,

Robin Martin: 53:25

well, both actually both. And I've and I've led retreats by myself, and I've put them together by myself. And, again, learning experience, I have found that the best case scenario is when you have your closest friend who's also a fantastic yoga teacher with you, because then we can take each other's classes we get to move to so we get to feel better about the jetlag, and everything. But also it gives this gives the retreaters a better experience, we're able to be more hands on, and to do more for them. And I never really thought to use a retreat, organization, a company until COVID. And, and it was interesting to me because they had to deal with all of the logistics, all of the crazy stuff that you know, like vaccination requirements and, and testing requirements, because it was complicated. And so and then and then we realized these companies, not only do they deal with those logistics, they have really cool itineraries, and they plan really fun things and they're able to coordinate do things that we can't do, because we just wouldn't know who to contact, how to you know, make those things happen. And so, it makes for us, we show up, they create the plan. They've got the itinerary we arrive we make sure that our people are taken care of. But it's, it's great. Like I love these. I've worked with multiple companies at this point. So

Todd McLaughlin: 54:53

that's cool to hear. I've never worked with a company but it does seem like they would take a lot of the work off of the play on your hands let you actually have fun On with retreat guests and,

Robin Martin: 55:02

and I haven't really noticed a loss in income, and it's less work. So

Todd McLaughlin: 55:07

yeah, that sounds like a no brainer,

Robin Martin: 55:11

right because these retreat companies have arrangements with the with the different, the resorts and hotels and places we're staying at some beautiful, luxurious properties, because they have the relationship, they're able to get a much better deal. So there's not like a huge upcharge all of our retreats are within the same price range. They're not inexpensive, but for what you're getting. So the retreat, this Greece retreat, it's seven nights, it's an eight day experience. Obviously the travel days or travel days, but the the Santorini location, the resort it's a it's so beautiful, everybody staying in a suite, and they have their own plunge pool. The place in Crete is gorgeous is not quite like that. But it's also like a sweet setup. And it isn't. It's no, I mean, we did a three night retreat in Utah. I mean, yeah, it was a Utah Zion enzyme three nights, and it was about the same price. Day Greece retreat, and it's almost all inclusive, not quite, but most of the meals are included. And all of these excursions are included. And, and it's 2900 per person sharing a room a little bit more if you're in your room, but yeah, 2900 for Yeah, for two very high end luxury places for seven nights.

Todd McLaughlin: 56:27

Yeah, that sounds amazing food.

Robin Martin: 56:29

You're, you know, the yoga, all the excursions and everything. It's

Todd McLaughlin: 56:34

that's cool, Robin, pretty good deal. Sounds good. It sounds amazing. I can imagine nice blue sky white Greek architecture on a hillside. Amazing food, swimming in the rain.

Robin Martin: 56:48

All of it all of it. I can't wait. I have done those things. I have been degrees. It is pure magic. It is pure magic.

Todd McLaughlin: 56:56

Awesome. Robin, what advice would you give a budding yoga practitioner that wants to pursue a career as a yoga teacher? Maybe if you're even thinking of your own daughters, like if they're to say they came to Mom, I want to, I want to do what you did? What sort of advice? Would you give that new young, budding yoga practitioner teacher? To get started? Like, what would you now having the years that you have under your belt? You've had enjoyed the success of leading retreats and holding trainings and classes and working in different venues in class in studio settings on the zoom setting one on one privately. What sort of advice would you give somebody?

Robin Martin: 57:47

You know, I mean, I guess probably the first thing I would tell anybody, because I've been asked this before is that I think that, that there, you know, it's to expect to have the same result that I had isn't a reasonable expectation. There are it's time its place its people, it's there are so many elements that come into play. Because the yoga teaching world there are many, many, many of us, right, there's a yoga teacher, since there's a training on every quarter, there's a teacher on every you know, every two feet, there's there's a lot of a lot of teachers to have to really make a financial, financially successful career. If you don't own a studio and you don't, you know, you're just a, you're, you're like somebody like me, who teaches and travels to teach. I think that keep your expectations in check. Don't become a teacher right away. Give yourself plenty of time to explore the practice, First, understand what it is that you like about the practice. And what it is that maybe doesn't resonate with you about the practice. Maybe you dive deeper into things that don't resonate with you so that you have a more complete picture of what it's what it involves, I feel like there are way too many people who decide they want to be a teacher without having experienced the practice. And so they come in and they're teaching and they I can tell when I'm taking a class, I'm like, This person doesn't know how to keep my body safe. They don't have to keep their own body safe. It's like I said before, way earlier on this on this podcast, it's a liability. You need to you need to be able to bring something that's safe to your students, and interesting and creative and all those things. So again, just learn it, breathe it, live it, understand it, then do a training at that point if you're still you know if you still think that this is something that you want to do and take the crappy class time, teach right away get the 6am class that's what I did. That's you know, that's you dive into the you know, you just have to you you can't Beggars can't be choosers you get what you get as a parent and you don't get upset. You know that line probably. But you know you you As you pay your dues, you you teach the classes that aren't optimal, you, maybe you teach a style that you're not necessarily like, it's not your favorite, but it makes you better because you're more well rounded that way. And then, you know, if you want to share your stuff on social media, it may or may not be received. It's these days, it's tough to grow. It's very, very different than it was when I started. And, you know, it's just, if you're if, but if it's something you love, and you're passionate about it, by all means, yeah. And go, I'm very, very passionate about it, I love it like I am, to be able to do something that I love and that I, that I truly, truly believe has such a tremendous impact on the mind and body of, of a human being is amazing. I feel so fortunate. The term blessed is a little bit overused in the in the whole yoga spectrum. But I feel very, very, very fortunate that I am in a position to be able to share something that makes people feel better.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:01:08

That's amazing. Robin, I can feel your passion. I'm like I get on my soapbox. I love it. I agree with you. I agree with you. 100% I, I want to be respectful of your time. And we're coming in and around about the one hour mark. So I wanted to touch upon joint longevity, which we did get a chance to do. I wanted to hear about your retreat. Thank you for sharing that. Yeah, we did get to talk about aloe and your relationship with aloe and how there was not a

Robin Martin: 1:01:45

whole lot about Yeah, that I am not sure I mentioned that it was Aloe but I think that that's kind of totally a known fact. Yeah, that I work for that I work with the company, I work with the brand. And I have for many years now since 2017. And, and it just, it's a different side. That's a good that's a different side of of my I do teach I have a few classes on the ELA moves up. But, um, but I am for me, that side of my world sort of more like the modeling of the clothing or whatever. That's just a creative outlet. And that's just fun. That's just a really fun, fun thing for me to do.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:02:19

Do they treat you? Well?

Robin Martin: 1:02:20

They are wonderful. Yeah, they're wonderful. We've we refer to it as a family for years and years. Part of the family and they've always, excuse me, they've always been as I have to clear my throat. They've always been wonderful to me. And yeah, I mean, I cannot. There isn't a single thing, a single complaint that I know. And the clothes themselves are quality style. And I love I love them. They've been outfitting me since 2017 They have saved me so much money on my yoga wardrobe. I can't even begin you know, they've kept me stylish. And yeah, and and they and it's a great. It's been a you know, it's been a really wonderful opportunity. And I hope it lasts. Nice. I really do.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:03:08

That's cool. Robin, I'm so thankful for you to take time out of your day to speak with me. Is there any other words of wisdom mandore advice you would like to share? Before we wrap up our session together?

Robin Martin: 1:03:26

Oh, boy, I don't know. I feel like a lot of like nuggets along the way. I would just say yeah, if you if you're, if you're starting a practice, start slow. Find somebody in person, if you can, you know self taught isn't the way to go. Because that's I don't even know what that means. I read that a lot. I'm a self taught yogi. Nobody is self taught somebody's teaching you something. So make sure that that whoever's teaching you something knows what they're doing when they're teaching it to you, so that you form healthy habits and safe habits. And if you decide from that point on that you want to share the practice you want to teach. Again, just do your homework and make sure that what you're doing what you're putting out there, what you're sharing is something that's keeping people mentally and physically safe.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:04:08

Yeah. Thank you, Robin.

Robin Martin: 1:04:12

Those are my Nuggets. Those are my words of wisdom

Todd McLaughlin: 1:04:14

was great. I really appreciate it. Robin, thank you so much.

Robin Martin: 1:04:19

Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it as well.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:04:23

It's fun following you. I recommend everyone listening. Please give Robin a follow. You'll see the links in the description below. Check her out on her website. Join Robin in Greece.

Robin Martin: 1:04:33

Yeah, join me in Greece, the May 13 through the 20th and if you do join me on my you know, if you follow me on social media, I always respond to comments and questions. Always, always always. So if you were to comment on a post, just make sure it's nice.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:04:50

You are you are a sensitive human being.

Robin Martin: 1:04:53

Because I'm out there I'm still I still I have feelings too. But, uh, but yeah, you know, I do interact, and I really appreciate the support. Awesome. I

Todd McLaughlin: 1:05:06

really do. Awesome. Thank you so much.

Robin Martin: 1:05:10

Thank you so much.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:05:11

I'll keep in touch.

Robin Martin: 1:05:12

All right, sounds good. Okay, thank you. Bye.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:05:20

Native yoga taught cast is produced by myself. The theme music is dreamed up by Bryce Allen. If you liked this show, let me know if there's room for improvement. I want to hear that too. We are curious to know what you think and what you want more of what I can improve. And if you have ideas for future guests or topics, please send us your thoughts to info at Native yoga center. You can find us at Native yoga center.com. And hey, if you did like this episode, share it with your friends, rated and review and join us next time