Robin Samples - Yoga Studio Owner Explores New Frontiers in Chicago and Beyond

Robin Samples is the vibrant owner of Bare Feet Power Yoga located in Chicago. With a rich history of travel and residency across various states in the U.S., Robin eventually found her home in the Midwest.
Starting her journey in yoga through a Bikram class and later branching into power yoga, she founded her studio in 2012. Her business has thrived for over a decade, evolving with the community and the changing yoga scene.
Beyond her role as a studio owner, Robin passionately leads retreats, emphasizing integration with culture and ceremony, and continues to expand her offerings in wellness and spirituality.

Robin's website: https://www.barefeetpoweryoga.com/
Follow Robin on IG: https://www.instagram.com/BAREFEETPOWERYOGA/

Key Takeaways:

• Robin Samples details her evolution from teaching 17 classes a week to focusing on special workshops and retreats that emphasize heart-centered experiences.
• She stresses the importance of maintaining a sense of community and human connection within her studio, valuing the simple joys of interaction and mutual growth.

Thanks for listening to this episode. Check out: 👇
Free Grow Your Yoga Live Webinar - Every Thursday at 12pm EST
➡️ Click here to receive link

New Student FREE Livestream Yoga Special ~ Try 2 Weeks of Free Unlimited Livestream Yoga Classes  at Native Yoga Center. info.nativeyogacenter.com/livestream
Sign into the classes you would like to take and you will receive an email 30 minutes prior to join on Zoom. The class is recorded and uploaded to nativeyogaonline.com  ➡️  Click Here to Join.

Practice to a New Yoga Class every day with our nativeyogaonline.com course called Today's Community Class with code FIRSTMONTHFREE.

Native Yoga Teacher Training 2024- In Studio and Livestream - for info delivered to your email click this link here: ➡️ https://info.nativeyogacenter.com/native-yoga-teacher-training-2023/

Subscribe to Native Yoga Center and view this podcast on Youtube.

Thank you Bryce Allyn for the show tunes. Check out Bryce's website: bryceallynband.comand sign up on his newsletter to stay in touch. Listen here to his original music from his bands Boxelder, B-Liminal and Bryce Allyn Band on Spotify.

Please email special requests and feedback to info@nativeyogacenter.com

Transcript

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 @nativeyoga, and check us out at nativeyogacenter.com. All right, let's begin. Well, yeah, what a fun conversation I just had with Robin Samples. Check her out on her website, barefeetpoweryoga.com Follow her on Instagram, at @barefeetRobin. And then she also has an Instagram for her studio, which is at @barefeetpoweryoga. She kept going, she keeps going. She keeps it lively. She's so full of good vibes. And I had so much fun talking with Robin, I'm so glad that we recorded it. And I'm more glad that you're actually here listening and supporting. Thank you so much. This was so fun. And I think that listen to this one a second time and listen to this one a second time if you're having a tough day, because Robin's energy is infectious. And I mean, she's so amped and in a good way. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Robin, gratitude, gratitude, gratitude. I'm going to drink some water and ask the water to give to me what it is that I really need. So if I need a little happiness, I'm going to say water, will you please be happiness and I'm going to drink the happiness. Thank you for that tip. Loved it. Let's begin. Oh man, I'm so excited. I'm connecting today with Robin Samples. And she's the owner of Bare Feet Power Yoga in Chicago. And of course, you can find her at that website name barefeetpoweryoga.com. But Robin, thank you so much for doing this with me. How is your day going so far? Thank you so much for having me. So far, my day is going just swell. I took a yoga class this morning. I'm here in Chicago and we have a beautiful day. It's winter. So whenever when the sun comes out, I'll tell you what, people perk up and there's just like good vibes all around. That's cool. I've only been to Chicago once via train. I was taking the train from New York to California and it went through Chicago and so I I got off the train. I walked around a little bit, and then I got back on the train. So I can't really I think that counts is going to Chicago once but not really good. But the one impression I had and I've been in New York and this is a 1992 so I don't know if things are the same or different but I'm probably different. I I was amazed at how white and clean it looked like it just seems so like everything just looked like it mostly colored white or painted white. And then it just like there was it's just seems so like there was it just seemed clean to me. But is that the impression how would you describe Chicago? That's a that's a great first impression to have, I will say for being a big city is really clean. I think that we do a relatively good job of keeping the streets, the community, the parks, all all clean. But there's, you know, the idea of white buildings, I was like, I wonder where he was. There's many Assize skyscrapers. Chicago has a wonderful lake to which feels like an ocean truthfully with how big it is and how expansive it is. One of the great lakes I love that about Chicago, the people here are really friendly, very down to earth. There's lots of really wonderful culture of music, tons of awesome diversity. It's a really great city to live in. I've been here now for I want to say like 1415 years, so it very much feels like home to me. And I love being in the Midwest, just this really awesome Midwest kind mentality. Very cool. Where were you born? I was born in North Dakota Fargo, North Dakota. Fargo. I've never been there either. That's cool. i How old were you when you left North Dakota. Alright, so I was I only live there for like nine months, so truthfully, I do not remember hardly anything about being there. But I was fortunate enough in last to like two years ago or a year ago, I went there to go back. And it was so cool to just be back and get this sense of like, oh, this is where I was born. But after there, I lived in Mississippi for a period of time. And then I lived in Minnesota. And then I lived in Georgia. And then I lived in Iowa. And then I found my way to Chicago. Oh my gosh, that's a great like uptown, like from the west, to the south, to the north, to the south, to the north, to the west, to the east, to the south. Remember all those places? Yeah. That's really cool. So you've seen a good cross section of America, North America. Yeah, that's like it. That's cool. And you're the owner of a yoga studio, I have myself, my wife and I also own a yoga studio. So I'm so excited to ask you questions about your experiences. Can you tell me when did you open your studio, I opened barefeet power yoga in 2012, June 2012. So now we've been open for this is my 12th year of business, a lot has changed. I've been in the same space the whole 12 years. Cool. It's a really small intimate space, like 1300 square feet. When I opened my studio 12 years ago, it was very different the whole the whole yoga scene than it is now. I was also quite like, young and naive in the best way and opening a studio. And so you know, like when I open my doors, like my dad and I installed the floors together a friend and I did like the baseboards, we painted everything you know, so it was really like, grassroots effort of of building this space. And it's been really cool to see the way it's evolved over this like decade plus, yeah, that's awesome. That brings back memories, too. We did it. We did it the same way here as well. My dad helped me lay the floors. My mom was in hair painting. My wife was pregnant with our first child. And we were like, Oh my gosh, we bought a house. We're opening a studio and having a baby all at the same time. Are we nuts? You know what I mean? Like? Yeah, we're working our butts off. And yeah, you're right, that naivety like Wow, isn't that fun? ever look back on that. Like just how ambitious and naive that is really cool. Because so grateful. Yeah. So great. Yeah, I was honestly, yes. Yeah. Well, what? What was your first yoga experience that you remember? Okay, so my first yoga experience was in college, I was an athlete, I was a swimmer. I swam for University of Iowa, Go Hawks. And we did like a yoga Pilates class. Interestingly enough, I apologize for the sirens. If you happen to hear that city living, no worries, but Ashton Kutcher is and taught the class to us. And I remember being like, Oh, that's so cool. But yoga, Pilates was the first experience. And then after college, I took a Bikram yoga class with one of my good friends who ended up being the person that really introduced me to yoga. And so that was like a hot sweaty experience that we got to share. Yes, yes. I'm familiar. Yeah, it was. Yeah, I I think I did like two bedroom classes. And then she opened up power yoga studio at that time. And so then I started diving into power yoga, and I love like her philosophy. I love supporting her. And I loved the variety that she would bring into her classes as well. And so then power yoga was really what drew me into the full yoga path. I feel like at that time period, the power yoga scene was really instigated by barren Baptist and say barrel Bender, birch. Those are two like really famous names back then. But what what teacher did she have that she got power yoga introduced? Barren Baptists? Uh huh. Yeah, yeah. Amazing. Yeah, go ahead. No, I remember when I got his book. I think it was the power of something. He's in crow pose on the front. It's the version of pro we have your knees kind of little off the side of your. And of course, he had his bandana on. And I I just I just want to mention real quick. One thing I loved about his book is at that time, my wife and I owned a Bikram yoga studio in San Diego, and we had gone to India to study Ashtanga Yoga batavi, Joyce and Mysore and because Bikram had this really tight, radical approach with the students that like if you ever tried to go out on your own, you'll never make it. You'll never survive without me type of thing that when my wife and I were thinking about coming back here to Florida to open the studio, I was really nervous because I gotten brainwashed a little bit by be Chrome's ethos. And so, Barron's book was kinda like, Look, I've studied with Bikram, I started with a young guard study with batavi, Joyce had been all these different people. And look, I'm doing my own thing. And I looked at him like, Well, if he can do it, it's possible. You know what I mean? So I guess I really appreciate parents for that. Yeah, what an inspirational man, he's the one I did my first 200 hour training with, as well, back in, I think, 2009 and 2010. And it was just incredible to be in that kind of space with him, the level of like empowerment that he's able, he was able to share with us. And that was the experience. You know, when I went into teacher training, I didn't know if I was going to, like, do this full time, or if I was just like, interested in deepening my practice and understanding of yoga. And there was one night in his week long training where we did noble silence. And then I was like, walking back, as in Toulouse is gorgeous. I looked up at the stars. And I remember just being like, I gotta share this, like this. There's something here that people need to do more of. So such an inspirational man. He is, I know what book you're talking about the journey into power. Thank you. I really wanted to get that title. Right. So if anyone listening wants to read it, it's good. I liked what he did. Right? Yeah. Very cool. What other influences because you've been at it for a few years. Now? What other influences have you and there's probably a lot so even if you have to condense it down to maybe top three or five other influences? What where else you drawing inspiration from your teaching and your practice? That is such a good question. And I have like, wrote down this really long list, and I was like, I don't know how we're going to talk about right, we can try so many people, like I feel like almost any class that I take, I'm like learning something from you know, there's so many incredible teachers out there. I've had some some teachers I've only taken like two classes from that have completely transformed, like, the way I see things. You know, I also I gotta give the woman who taught me yoga like who introduced me to yoga Adrian Smith. She's out in in California, like, I'm so grateful for her and her constant teachings that she that she brings, and honestly, with all of the amazing Yogi's out there lately, I find myself learning from those that don't even like practice the asana, you know, I do some retreats, and will haka, and some of the yogi's, down in will haka are like, so inspiring to me, just their way of living in their culture and their living from the heart space. You know, I have a mentor that I work with to Ricardo Sun eagle is his name. And he's fantastic. Like, he doesn't practice, you know, the power yoga, he's more of like a Qigong man, but like, just the way he can, like, teach me about the philosophies of yoga is really inspiring. And then I like I love Janet stone, what she's up to, again, so many different teachers that I could list as well. I'm writing them down, I'm writing them down so I can go follow them and, and then maybe even ask them to be a guest on the show. And I'll use your name. I'll say Robin mentioned you. That's cool. Keep going. You can name more if there's if you made a long list. We don't have to, like give their full biography. But if there's any others you want to give credit to. I think it's good to give teachers credit because yoga is this lineage element. And we're all passing it and sharing it and so anytime we talk about our teachers, whether they have a good reputation or not now, I think it's still important I think it's important even honor them even if if they're not in good standing with it's fair the world. I don't know. Yeah. All right. I hear ya, I hear ya. You know, things happen. Life happens. Yeah. There was so there the what I what I mentioned, there was like maybe a class I took Donovan, last name MoGraph. And he does amplified yoga, and I took his class twice at Wonder last and that's the only time I've been in contact with him. But I'll tell you what, that just completely shifted my energy for like such a long period of time and I loved how he took like the Kundalini practice made it really like fun and accessible and just, like, transformed this experience where I was like, wow, like, this is so fun and wild. That's awesome. Donovan McGrath, McGrath. Yes. All right, McGrath. Oh, cool. Yeah. And just a lot of the teachers that wonder less you know, Anna Flores took a fantastic workshop with her. Sean corn learned a little from her and these are all people that I just feel like you know, I dabble and do like a weekend training with and then I did my 500 hour with a program called Live Love teach was no longer exists. But there was a man Philip Urso, who really appreciated his teachings and of just like silence and simplicity and and then Debbie Williamson. Who ended up like opening up her own chocolate company after leading 20 plus years of owning studios and teacher trainings, and she taught me a lot. And really a lot about Living from the heart, and just having this ability to just, like, give you permission to just do just go create, like, be authentic to who you are like, this is what yoga is gonna teach, you know? So I'll leave it there. But I'm so glad you took the time to compile that list. That's awesome. That's awesome. I know. Right? And yeah, and there are more I know. I mean, that's what's really cool about this and like yoga as an umbrella. And then how diverse and then you add in our own personal experience, we start teaching, and then how we put the spin on it. It's pretty incredible. Yeah, that's cool. So now, as a yoga studio owner and a mother, how do how many classes a week are you currently teaching? Right now I just teach two classes a week. But I enjoy leading workshops as well. I arrange my weekly schedule ranges anywhere between like two and six classes, depending on what's needed. Like tomorrow, I have a cacao ceremony that I'm hosting. So a little bit outside of the yoga practice, but still something that really drops us into the heart space. And I love those sorts of events, lots of Moon ceremonies, Moon flows, different experiences like that, which are incorporating the sacred circle, in addition to movement, meditation, mindfulness, that's awesome. When when I checked out your website, I noticed you have like a really diverse group, a lot of different offerings, from a lot of different people that all it's really interesting. And so what is your ethos in regards to? Alright, so if I, when I think, Okay, I'm going to do a workshop, there's like two things that I keep into account when I host somebody, are they local. So that means we don't have to think about airfare, we don't have to think about accommodation. And we don't have to come up with a, there's a little more pressure I find when we host somebody that's bigger and from outside of town, because you just got to make sure it works like enough people come I live in a very small town in relation Chicago has a big population. So I'm sure the dynamic is where I've always wondered, would be like to own a yoga studio in a city. Because sometimes, like I mean, it's probably a false idea. Like, I'll think like, if I was in a city, there'd be so many more people, so many more, so many more people would come in, you know what I mean? But, I mean, maybe it is as simple as that. What do you think just in relation to that question, like you're in a city, and you have a small space? Are you packed for every single class where people like, you can't even handle the amount of people coming through your door? Or do you still have moments where you're like, wow, I really got to do something to get some more people through the door. it ebbs and flows. To be honest, I think one of the benefits of the city like you said is, and I'm on a on a street that many pedestrians walk on. So just the walk by traffic is really nice for sharing, like, what it is that we do, and people seeing like, Oh, hey, there's a yoga studio in my neighborhood. So that's really helpful. So part of you is corrective. Like there's a lot of people, people who just walk in, yes. And there have been some times over the last 12 of years, where are so many classes were full, like we have a small space, and we would fit like, you know, an inch between pupils maths, it was like one of those. And after COVID, that definitely changed a lot for us, honestly. And it's it hasn't been the same, since we have certain classes that hit capacity and some classes that are very lightly attended. It really just depends, honestly. Yeah, it's not, I don't want to say it's good to hear that because I kind of want it to be the way it used to be. But I've we've noticed the same thing, even though it's the exact same thing. And maybe someone's going to say, well, she's in Chicago, and there's a different outlook on COVID. You're in Florida, there's might be a different outlook on COVID. But I just want to throw a little spanner in that theory, because even though maybe someone might say, well, in Florida, you were lucky we got to stay open. But that didn't mean that everybody wanted to be around people. And then Chicago might say, well, there's probably stricter guidelines. I'm guessing there were I could be wrong. Maybe there wasn't there were there were That's what I heard. Yeah, we did. And but we're both noticing kind of the same thing. So that's interesting. What do you what do you take from that? I think it's a behavior shift. I think during COVID Regardless of whether you were closed or open, you know, everybody kind of handled that slightly differently. There. was a lot of time for people to recalibrate, to align themselves to change their behaviors, because things were changing all over. And it's really a collective consciousness that we're working with. So even though you know, I'm in Chicago, you're in Florida, we still are part of this collective experience. Great. So I believe that people have shifted their behaviors like pre COVID. It was like, you've never stopped. I don't know about you, but I sure didn't. And I remember right before things shut down for us, I was at this point where I was like, I need a break, like, oh, my gosh, things are just going, going going, I don't have a moment. And COVID required us to take that pause. And now I find with a lot of people, they're like, oh, no, I don't practice yoga five days a week anymore. I do it twice a week, you know, so their behavior has shifted, and they're like, knowing that I like my meditation at home, or whatever it is. And I like to dive into this practice as well as this practice. So I just think people's behaviors have shifted since then, and it's, I don't know if it's ever going to be the same or ever gonna go back to where it was part of me wishes it would but the other part of me like very much appreciate that we have a little better balance now. Yeah, even if for the business, it isn't necessarily ideal. Yeah. Yeah. Great answer. Cool, you teach about two classes a week, you're teaching more workshops? Is that something that you evolved toward? Like, were you doing more like teaching 16 classes a week and then decided, well, hey, maybe I could do have a little more energy? If I if I just do two? And then I make it where? Because you're the studio owner? So people want you? Like they they want you to teach all the classes? Do you agree with that? Or do you find that you've been able to cultivate not so much dependency on you? What's How do you? How do you manage that? Over time, it's the ladder. But when I first opened, I did teach 17 classes a week, you know, is there all the time, and that was very intentional on my part to like, I wanted to keep my overhead low, I wanted to get to know my community, what it was that I was doing, and then slowly would bring in teachers, and many of the teachers that I've had have been with me for a long period of time, which is why now I don't think I have to, like be there teaching all the classes, because my teachers have like, grown up with us, you know, so they are very much part of the community just as I am. So it gives me less pressure to be there all the time. And I started cutting back on classes, once I had my child, you know, and once the business started moving on, it's more on its own getting those good teachers in there. And then I truthfully can't remember why I dropped down just to two classes. But I think it was, I had this idea of like, well, I want to do bigger workshops less often. And if I'm really accessible, if people can find me all the time, then they're not going to come take my special workshop, because I'm teaching eight times a week, you know, or whatever it was. So very intentionally decided I'm going to teach less, so I can put my energy over here as well. And then also have been doing more retreats. And that's something that I really have a lot of passion for in this moment in time. And so putting a lot of my energy there as well. And recruiting for those because those are just so much fun. Yeah, where's your top of top three retreat places, you've held retreats? Well, the one that I love the most is Wahaca. I just got back from that in November. It's such a special place, just such a beautiful culture and amazing people and just the whole setup that we have. Because it's not just a yoga retreat. It's like we do yoga or movement, but really diving in to the culture to the ceremony. We do a sweat lodge, we do cacao ceremony, we do fire ceremony, you know, so it's just such a nice shift from the daily life in the city. And so I just love, love that so much. I've always wanted to go to a haka. I'm a surfer and Puerto Escondido is like, you know, Mexican pipe, and the heavy heavy wave like now I probably won't be surfing that, because I have to be a little more careful these days with my back and all but the it looks like an amazing place. I'm going to go a little bit out on the limb here. And you do not have to answer this. So if you just don't feel comfortable publicly speaking about this, but Oh, haka is kind of very famous for psilocybin because, you know, I think that's actually one of the first North people out. I think that's where the mushroom basically got introduced into culture. I mean, there was involved in culture all along, but in terms of Western culture, Sure, do you involve that in this in your retreats? Or do you like, well, this is pro professional, and that's a little too wild. So let's not go there. I am a big fan of plant medicine, honestly, it's something that came into my life more during COVID. And so I find myself very fortunate to sit in ceremony with some amazing shaman who work so closely with the plants. So that is something that we, we participate in, per People's Choice. It's such a powerful experience to have, that's really cool. I heard someone that was they were getting ready to go to a workshop, and one of the requirements was, you can only come if you do participate in it, and I thought, red flag. You know, like, let that be someone's choice. You know, but um, so I'm glad that you said that. And I just want to I won't stay on that topic the whole time. But when I saw your website, I did notice that you offer cannabis in yoga classes, and I was like, Oh, my gosh, I haven't seen anybody do that. And so can you tell me a little bit about what the culture in Chicago is in terms of legality? And is it? Is it at a recreational level in Chicago? Yes, it is. Yes. And there, there's been threes all over the place. So that's, that's a non issue. That's like no legal element. What about all over? What? Okay, got it? What about? Like, what about the actual experience of it? Do people like that? Or, you know, does it make? Do you have students that aren't comfortable with that idea that see that you offer that happening? And therefore maybe choose not to come to you because of that? Or can you just shed a little light on what your thought processes have been around the subject? Yeah, so I think all of that is true. I think that the experience is one that's safe, that's really light hearted. And there's a depth to it as well. It's, we offer these experiences, I'd say every six weeks or two months, and we have a nice group of people that like just love this. It's we've had people that are new to cannabis that want to explore it in a safe way. And I think this is a great way to do that. Because, like you had mentioned, you know, there's many different options of how you want to consume. And you can take as little as you want, or as much as you'd like, It's trust yourself. Choose your adventure with guidance. When asked it when asked gotcha. I think that there are people who see that and say, Oh, that's not for me. I don't like that they're doing that. And I don't want to go there. And I recognize that I am not for everybody. Right? No, he is. But yeah, but I also think that there's a group of people who see this and love it. Because with cannabis being recreational here, like it's all over the place. And I think sometimes we lose the intentionality when consuming this magical medicinal plant. And so this experience that we created is designed to bring people back to like the why, like, why are we choosing and how are we going to use this plant to help elevate our consciousness together? So it's really quite a magical class that we have. That's cool, Robin, I appreciate your adventure, adventure spirit. What other things have you offered at your studio that maybe you feel like you were I want to say pioneer, but that maybe you've you made you uncomfortable? Maybe nothing makes you uncomfortable? But have you had any things that like, like made you laughed, etc? uncombed like, like, oh my gosh, should I do that? Or will they like it? And then you go you do it and you go oh my gosh, I was amazing. Why did I why Was I nervous about trying doing that? Like, I'm it could be anything from like, I don't know, a sound bath or? I mean, that doesn't sound that's how I feel. Yeah, I understand your question. Yeah. I think all the time. Honestly, I think that there's like, one of the things that I enjoy is like is learning things and bringing them and I recognize like, I'm not always an expert in in everything, but if there's something that lights me up, I want to share it with with my community. So I'll just take a very simple example like in ceremony there's a lot of singing there's and there's such joy and singing and I'm by no means like a professional singer, but in my classes lately I've like started adding more song like singing to the group or inviting them to sing with me, you know, and like, Oh, it's so scary, but then it's received you hear them like joining in I'm like, oh that This is awesome. That's so yeah, just different things I play with all the time and there's some things that don't hit. What's an example of what that would be? Oh, I wouldn't have to think about that. I probably recapitulated them or release them from my memory. word good word. With the recapitulate No No, I'm kidding you. I catch you off guard. It's okay. I know if I tried to think of that I'd have well gosh, what is something that I've done? That we're not doing that again? We know the song One is a big one. That's that's a tricky one because I love to sing on a munch of Lisa. And not 100 Munch. Elisa is so challenging to learn. And if some muddy somebody's already self conscious about chanting, and then you give them this 40 Verse mantra sung in dialect of Hindi and or Sanskrit they, they a derivative of they're just like, Whoa, this is way too much. And, and so sometimes I feel like I'm singing. I'm just like I'm performing. Now. Everybody's just sitting watching me. And then that question of like, what is my intention right now. And ultimately, ultimately, my intention is if everybody sings together, that's when it's really fun. That's when it feels really good. So then, but when people don't want to participate, again, that really awkward space of like, what am I doing? No one's really enjoying this. And it's just such a, it's such an uncomfortable thing. But at the same time, I still go there every now and again. So that's, that's, yeah, it's good to hear that you've had a similar similar type of feeling. Absolutely. I even like some things I'll share because I try to keep it pretty authentic and share what's on my mind. And there. Remember, there was a class where I had them standing and tree pose, and I shared something and immediately I was like, I really shouldn't have said that did not work so well. You know, so things like that happen all the time. But we have this practice of instant forgiveness. That's one of the things one of my teachers really put it instilled is like, you do something you just forget instantly and move on. Like, let's not carry that with us. Just let it go as if there was one aspect of being a yoga teacher and or studio owner that you could remove from the equation, what would it be? No. Maintenance of the space? Like the like, the main is like the roof, the water pipes, the toilets, the all that they never, you know, expenses of it. Oh, cool. Yes. All right. Good point, I would take that one. high on the list. If, if there's something you could double like it, something that you love about it, and aspect of it. If you could increase that aspect? What would it be? The people, the people, cool? The connections that like the community, the time like before class, or after class where people talk? Yeah, you know, where they share, or they give each other hugs? Are they walk home together? You know, whatever it is? Good point. That is pretty cool. Nice. What are your dreams and aspirations in relation to future goals in relation to your yoga teaching career? The word that comes to mind is expansion. I think I mentioned this a little bit. But continuing on this path of doing like more workshops, less often reaching bigger groups of people collaborating with other fantastic teachers here in Chicago, and expanding my offerings. Just as much as I had mentioned, going to my first teacher training, looking up in the sky and being like, I have to share this. That same feeling came over to me when I sat in my first ceremony, like in a teepee around a fire in a circle. And I was like, more of this, like, how do we do more of this? So that's really my goal. And I know that's pretty general and broad. However, there's like a feeling behind it that it makes me very excited to lean into and these next couple of years. That's cool. Awesome. Where's your next retreat? Do you have one scheduled? Great question. The next one that we have on the radar is planned to be in Arizona this spring. And then there's a couple I'm working on this summer that would be more local. And then we'll haka again in November, same as last year. Very cool. Can you tell me a little bit about an app that you are involved in recently, can you? Can you tell me a little bit about how that came to be and what your role in that project is? Yes. So I'm the super grateful to be involved in a corporate wellness initiative by guaranteed rate, they have developed an app and invited me to teach classes and be a part of it. It's pretty amazing what they've put together. It's like high production, you know, like, the app quality is fantastic. The videos are amazing. And they're all like, 1015 20 minutes long over yoga, do a lot of meditation, there sound healing, there's a variety of many instructors. And it's, you know, a year ago, they reached out and were like, Would you like to be involved in this? And I was like, guaranteed rate, like, this is interesting. You know, what are we doing? Because it's a mortgage company, or Yeah, the mortgage company Exactly. But however, I'm a person that like, loves new opportunity and loves adventure. And, and I also trusted the people that, you know, helped connect me to this. So I was like, yeah, like, let's do it. Let's see what this is all about. And as I've watched it over the year, kind of go go through all the processes and launch, it's really awesome to be a part of something like this, where you see large corporations taking an initiative to bring wellness to keep it accessible to make it more accessible, because it's free, all the classes are completely free. And it's, it's awesome. You can like, I'm gonna take my yoga class and then get my financial advice. I'm they go hand in hand, if you don't have good financial health, it's hard to feel well, and if you're not well, it's hard to it is actually genius. I like hearing that. That's really cool. That is cool. Yeah, I'm definitely gonna check it out. We'll have the link in the description, so people can click in and see you on there. And like you said, it's totally free. So there's no, you know, you can just go there and check it out. That's awesome. What is your thoughts and feelings about collaboration versus competition? And have you fallen into the trap as a yoga teacher and studio owner of feeling competitive with other studios around you? Or have you been able to maintain a fairly healthy balance with seeing all I'm going to use this actually, I got a chance to interview Cassandra Reinhardt, who's a yoga teacher, and she's really popular on YouTube. And she said, all boats rise with the tide. And I love that, because it just this idea of collaboration instead of competition, that if I lift you up, we're both going up together. And it's not that, Oh, no. Robins doing an app. And she's doing free yoga on there. Well, I have a studio business, how am I going to make a living? If she keeps giving away things for free? How am I going to pay my bills? And so there's this little quandary that we sometimes land? And can you talk a little bit about how you've navigated that challenge as a business owner? Mm hmm. That's a really great, great question. And it's been it's been something that has ebbed and flowed over the years. Honestly, there's, I remember, there was a point for me where I did feel a level of competition, which is also interesting, because I come from an athletic background. So competition, in some ways was like, in my blood, you know, when it comes to like, racing, and it can be really, it can be really healthy. Don't, don't you agree? Like, we can we grow if there's someone else pushing us, we're like, Oh, I'm gonna keep up. Exactly. So it can be there can be really like a healthy balance that comes with competition. I think that's a beautiful point. There was a point for me several years ago that I remember, I was like, I just, I can't I can't follow anybody anymore, like on social media that is having a studio because I would see things and be like, Oh, my God, I'm not doing that. I have to do that. And then it felt like this hustle, where I like, had to keep up and I had to be everything for everybody. And so once I once I like centered myself on that, and I and I kind of released that competition that I felt I started aligning with like, well, I don't have to do at all. And the beautiful thing is if somebody else in Chicago is already doing it, thank you. Like, let me do this thing over here. Instead, and it's I love that idea. He said, like we all lift each other up, because there's plenty of people in the world. There's so many people who need access to yoga, we are certainly not at a point where everybody's doing it, you know, so I think there's plenty of people that need it, plenty of opportunities to offer it. And just we have to constantly we meaning me, I have to constantly bring myself back to that that space of like, this is not competition, right? We're all in this together. We're all part of the human race like we all want to see one another six. See, because when we do, then it only expands from there. You know, and sometimes I'll be honest, like, sometimes it's hard when I hear like a teacher, who is like teaching at my studio, who's now going to go like, do this thing over here. And like, Yes, I'm so happy for them. But at the same time, like, all they're leaving, you know, or whatever it is, and it's like this hole to fill. So I have to constantly keep myself in check. I'm like, no, no, like, this is best for them. And this creates opportunity over here for somebody else who wants that wants that space. So it's constant navigation. And I think a lot of it also is ingrained in culture, like we do live in a competitive culture. So the environment seems to be that way. And I'm just speaking very generally. So to always come back to that space of like, Yes, and I observed this over here, but I'm choosing this path, because there is enough, like, you know, we can all take care of each other. Because like you said, we just keep elevating each other. And I know there's that story of the man who he grew corn in his yard, and every year, he would go to the fair, and he would always win, like best corn, you know, every year at the fair, and he would just hand out his seeds to all of his neighbors and be like, here, you want the best corn grow this plant this seed do that, you know. And over time, his neighbors and people would be like, Why are you doing that? Like, why are you giving away your secret recipe? And he's like, well think about it, if they're all growing the best corn. Well, when the wind blows, you know, the crops are like sharing that energy. So it's like, in fact, it just elevates the corn that I get to offer. You know, I'm like, yes. I'm ready to blow corn dust. I'm ready to pollen. It's born. Yes. That's classic. Robin. I love it. I love it. It's a good analogy. I know. You know, one thing I'm finding with the internet, like, one thing I love about doing this, personally, is that I write you a letter. Hi, Robin. I'm a yoga teacher. And your yoga teacher? Would you be willing to like talk to me on this platform? And you write back and you go yes. And no. I have now you now I could hear you saying that before? I wasn't sure that. I didn't know you were gonna be so full of energy and good vibes. But I mean, I kind of figured you were because I Oh, yeah. On that note, I want to make mention a special thank you to Mindy gray for introducing me to you because she came in to take class and she said she had trained and practice with you and and I asked her, do you know anybody that would like to be on a podcast? Do you think that'd be interesting? And she's like, I gotta talk to Robin samples. She's such a beautiful human. And so I, you know, I kind of had a good feeling already. Like, I figured you'd be open to it. But like, I don't feel like you're not threatened by me. I feel like the internet, almost like broadens the sphere. And for me, like, when we were in California and had a yoga studio, we were very small fish. And no, no, we were Yeah, we were very small fish and a huge pond. Because there's so many famous teachers around us. And we just felt like for brand new teachers and who's going to come to us, I mean, there's all these legendary Yoga Journal famous people. And then when we came back to Florida, my hometown, it was like, there was hardly anything going on. No one had ever practiced the stronger around here. And we were just like, we felt big, you know, and which is not good for the ego. But we felt big. And so when I started getting into the internet, and dreaming of being able to cultivate and earning a living, no matter where I live off of the internet, I thought, John, this really tiny fish in a huge pond. I mean, this pond is its global, right? I mean, it's the biggest pond we have, in my opinion in terms of intellect. And so I was like, I just stayed away from it, because I just didn't believe in myself. So then when I started thinking that, you know, I'm just going to do podcasting. Because I like to talk to people as something I can do. Okay, let me start anomala getting a little bit of like, oh my gosh, I can actually do this. And but I don't I feel like the competitive element has somehow been pulled out of it, but it's so competitive on the internet, right? Like I mean, once you agree trying to like you like when you look social media stuff, it's so competitive. It's all about how many numbers you have and he's got the more numbers and he's got the bigger and the which is so annoying on that level. But I think um I don't know, I just wanted to talk like that just kind of see where where and you kind of already touched upon it. But any thoughts that came to mind when I went on that long rambling track? No, I appreciate that. And I can completely relate, you know, it's, it's so true. There's, there's so much out there, there's so much content out there. There's so many like cool people doing cool things where it's almost like this, how can I keep up? Or why is anybody gonna want to like, learn from me or whatever it is? I think that's, I think that's part of the challenge of the internet, you know, at the same time, just like you said, now we have access to so many things that we otherwise wouldn't have, which is like, pretty cool like you and I probably never would have met 50 years ago. No way. Now we would have to write a letter we would have, I would have to look up I would open the phone book. I don't know. Do you have to tell me your age? I was born in 73. I would have opened up the phone book. Do you remember from books? I do? Yeah, I was 85. All right. So we're kind of close. Yep. I mean, for those of you that are listening, that don't ever remember, the phone book is pretty funny. Because like, you'd be in school, and you'd think like, bothers that person in class. And I like I wonder if I could call them. So you could open up this book, and you look for like their last name. So I'd be like samples. And it'd be like 100 samples in there. So you're like, and I mean, not that I would ever do this because it's kind of creepy. But you know, you go phone number by phone number like is Robin there? Is Robin there? It's so different now. It's a totally I mean, I guess. Okay, I guess my next question for you then. How similar is everything though? Like, because, you know, like, we say everything's so different. But what what do you think is the same? That has not changed even though we have all this new technology? Gosh, I have to think about that. Like, I think at the like, it'll be a lot of the human experience is the same, even though so much has also changed. I don't even know how to answer that question. Do you have an example? I would say go I'd go straight to love. Love is Love is no different. Emotions. I don't think emotions. I think love hate anger, peace. I feel like that's always been the same. I don't think that's I don't feel like that's changed throughout my life. I remember feeling love. I remember feeling anger. Right. I mean, I can remember that as a kid. And I still feel all those range of motions today. So I think that's the same. I don't know that anything else come to mind when I said that? Outside of emotions? No, I think that yeah. And you know, choose the word that serves you best, but I think about the idea of like, energy, God consciousness, you know, that feels like a thread that's moved through, even if the understanding is different of it. But I agree with you like the feelings like yeah, love. Yeah, absolutely. Cool. Yeah. And there's, you know, what, Wait, one more example. Okay, one thing because I love the elements. And many of them have changed as Earth has changed. You know, water is different. The earth is different, you know, which doesn't change, Fire. Fire. Fire is never polluted. Fire is like always the same. Good one haven't gone there. So then, you know, if we got let's go to another element Earth, I mean, but then fundamentally, has the earth changed? I mean, I think this is a great Oh, you taken us down a good track? Could we reason out that fire wood? would fire be different if I burn? If I throw my VHS by throw my plastic on the fire? Gosh, we'd have to study chemistry at this point. I mean, you're right. My first thing I think is like fire is fire. But I mean, if we really went into the molecular level of fire, does fire change depending upon what fire is burning off of? I don't know the answer that one. I mean, we'd have to go to some pro science person, but what do you think we will I think I would need backup on this. But that's the air would change. So it's like whatever we're burning goes into the air. So now the air is different, but the fire is the same. I liked that. You brought this up. That's such a good thought. I'm gonna have to dive in more on that. I mean, oh, good contemplation. Yeah, that's a good one. And we're only going water. All right, we might have to remap to do a round two on this one. You and I can do some research. I mean, the one the one thing we hear matters neither created nor destroyed. Right, like matters matter. So we're not making new matter. The amount of matter that exist is is there is this. I mean, I guess this gets into the concept of finite versus infinite, because when we start studying ecological issues, I think one of the big questions we got to come down to, if we're gonna get like down to some nitty gritty ones is like, Do you believe the universe is infinite? Or do you believe it's finite? Because then a lot of the, say environmental, environmental change, rhetoric, buy into our thinking, it's finite, will run out of trees will run out of oxygen will run out of water will run out of. But in theory, according to that nothing is ever created nor destroyed idea that lends me to think a little more along the infinite. Like when we think of renewable resource, like without a doubt, in my opinion, if humans were removed from the equation, the Earth would boom, it would just start growing. There would be plants, animals, insects, I mean, I don't, unless we were to collide with the sun, or change the distance we were from the sun. Because I mean, that's another thing I think about too. Like if we're spinning around the sun, without a doubt, like, we are staying right on track, but surely we they're getting a little closer, or we're getting a little further, I can't imagine that we are just constantly spinning at the exact same distance from the Sun. Base if we watch any other sort of element in that we can see on earth like, I don't know, remember, get my two out there. Sorry about that. Everybody loved it. I just had to go there. Go there. Yeah, I mean, I'm sure in like, as we rotate around the sun, the distance is changing just a little bit. Yeah. And with your question of infinite versus finite, I think it's both. It's both it's, it's both good. Yeah, both are true, everything because everything is existing, all at the same time. Yeah, there wouldn't be wouldn't have infinite if there wasn't finite. You know? Do you think theism and atheism are both true? I would have to think about that one a little more. All right. But I mean, based on this argument, because it both exist in the same sphere, you know? Yes. All right. Good. Good answer. Yeah. Just keep it light. Right. Like, just simple. I agree. Robin. Oh, my gosh, where else? Can we go from here? No kidding. Well, I mean, I like the idea of simplicity, like you said, because I think that is something like the internet. While as we talked about how amazing it is. It does make everything very complex. And I think complexities in some ways is amazing. But simplicity is what I'm feeling like such a pull towards, you know, like, just like, simple living, you know, are my basic needs met? And is the sun shining? Yes. Good point. What was good? Can you think of something that you've done recently, where you had a simple living moment, I can think of one but I just want to, I want to, I'm curious if something comes to mind for you. Like we've had that realization of like, wow, I haven't done this in a long time. This is simple. And this is great. Apart from mean, I use a good example of seeing the sun. That's a really good one. This is something that I tried to do as often as possible, to be honest, like, just yesterday, I was sitting and watching my birds, not my birds, the birds outside. I didn't, I just moved recently, and and my old place, I had a lot of birds that would come hang out. And I loved them. And we would chat all the time. And I was like, I hope they find me in my new place. And sounds like enticing them here with birds seen but either way they found me. Like just like sitting out the window and like watching them fly. You know? Yes. Great example. I love it. Right? You have a connection with some wildlife. You have to leave them but you do something to try to retract that same type of energy back to your sphere. That's cool. Yeah, that's cool. Yeah. All right. Yeah, yeah. Do you have a simple thing that you thought of over the Thanksgiving holiday? I did. 1000 piece puzzle. I haven't done a puzzle. I can't tell you how long it's been since I've put my computer down and stop trying to edit podcasts and just did a puzzle. And it was so great. And my father in law and I just bonded over this puzzle and we had a great conversation and I think our conversation went places it wouldn't have gone had we had not and what stare stared so intensely at something I think there's something cool about like two people being across from each other, working on the same project together that required such intense focus. But yet it creates freedom that was this, we could talk about anything in it. It was it was neat. And I reminded me of how important the analog is, you know, to keep the analog in our life even that digital is so cool, you know? Yeah, you know, I keep bringing up the haka. But I was just there. And one of the things that they talked about is, they're like, you know, per your example is like, We think too much. We're like thinking all the time. And they had talked about, we really need to find space and also yoga like space in the mind. But they would say these simple things like like you did doing a puzzle, or one of the things that they said was when you're walking somewhere and you find yourself overthinking, just start singing. Just sing instead. And let that help clear the mind. You know, that's a good one. Yeah, that's cool. I'm gonna watch your website, to I would love to go to a haka. I would really like to do that. So that I can join you for a retreat. That would be amazing. Yes, that would be really fun. Yes, absolutely. Oh my gosh, Robin, well, you are fun to speak to. And I'm glad I had this opportunity. And you can handle my like all over the place. SNESs. And thank everyone listening for putting up with me if I go out there and But Robin you reeled me in? Well, and I like that. Is there anything that you want to share before we move our conversation toward a close? Um, thank you so much for having me on. You know, I feel like there's a level of like blind faith that you had an A to we haven't met before. And I really appreciate everything that you offer, as well. I've thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and all of the places that it's gone, you know, so thank you for shining the light in your small town in Florida. I think it's amazing what you're doing. So yeah, just want to say thank you, to you. And thanks for having me on. It's a pleasure. That's cool. If there's any buddy listening, that's going through a really difficult time. And we'll keep it really vague. They're just down and out. What little tidbit of advice or inspiration, would you share with them? Huh, hmm. Let's see. I don't know. I mean, sometimes I get really down and out. To be honest, I'm an extremely positive person. I've got so many good things going for me. I feel great right now. I'm actually doing really well. Right now. My body feels good. I've worked through some challenges. And I but I do recognize that I do still get down. I know there's people listening that are having a down day to what do you do when you and but maybe I know there's people out there that are perpetually positive. Or yeah, continuously. You know, it's It amazes me in my some of my wife's family. They're just really personally, personally, perennially positive. What what do you do, and if you have a moment where you're just like, I just can't do this anymore. I feel Yeah. Some of the things that can't come to mind, one, but a movement, you know, it always feels good to turn on a song and dance, and just like, let yourself be free and move, whatever it is through you. I always like feel uplifted. After a little bit of house music, you don't turn it up. Whatever it is, the other thing that I think about is so one of the elements water, water holds your vibration, having a glass of water and like telling the water how you want to feel, you know, like help me feel happy. I want to feel joyful. And also gratitude like thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, the more grateful we are the easier it is for these like feelings of like joy to come back in. So like even creating a list like thank you for the plant that I sit next to you. Thank you for this Christmas tree. Thank you for the sun that shines you know simple, very simple things and that always shifts my my mindset as well. Perfect. Thank you, Robin. Yes, thank you so much. Thank you native yoga podcast 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. stir.com And hey, if you did like this episode, share it with your friends, rate it and review and join us next time