Constantly evolving and always learning, Robin Martin can hardly be found sitting still. She’s always balancing on her hands, someone else’s feet, or her board. She has explored all types of yoga styles and adopted them into her practice. Even as a certified 200hr-RYT, Robin simply can’t resist continuing her education with Yoga Medicine for a 500hr-RYT. She learns, adopts, absorbs, and applies; which is why her knowledge is so extensive. When she talks about Yoga, she can barely keep the excitement and education from boiling over.
With all that knowledge bubbling in that quizzical mind of hers, we simply had to ask about her personal practice and teaching methodology.
What pose frustrates you the most?
Probably a lot. But I have a straight answer. Warrior I. That pose frustrates me the most because I have tight hips and it’s very difficult for me to square my hips really completely. Even while I’m emphasizing pressing down on the outer edge of my foot, I feel a pressure on the inner knee so it’s not a terribly comfortable pose for me. It really challenges me and it frustrates me. There are a lot of poses that would be considered more advanced or more challenging so maybe warrior one seems like a strange answer. I think poses frustrate people when they want them and they aren’t in their bodies. Now that I’m saying it out loud, for sure Warrior I.
Do you feel more present in Warrior I?
I am very present. I am definitely more present in Warrior I than any other pose because I am very aware of my body. And I’m trying to get my hips square and relaxing my shoulders.
What pose gives you peace?
Half Pigeon Pose is really peaceful for me. It used to not be. It took a long time for me to find peace in the pose. I find that even in the depths of the stretch that there is a calm for me. I welcome it with open arms when the teacher cues it.
What first brought you to the yoga practice?
Well, flash back 15 years ago. I was super active growing up, and then I was in college and a lot more sedentary and did what a lot of people did in college, drank a lot of beer and gained some weight. I wasn’t really aware of it until right after college. Then after [college] I moved home and I found myself exercising and trying to get back in shape. I had a really stressful job. The more I moved up, the more stressful the job was…It was a Bikram Yoga class and it was a love hate. I pushed myself really hard. I went into that Bikram U|Yoga class with all these assumptions about yoga that were incorrect. It kicked my ass. I realized that the difference between the yoga and all the gym workouts I was doing was I was actually leaving without thinking about all the stresses of my job. For the first time in all the years of exercise and my job, that I wasn’t thinking about all the stress that came with my job. I was actually leaving with a clear head. I could do my job better and I was happier in general.
How has SUP Yoga changed your practice?
I feel like everybody who practices on dry land should try SUP because as soon as you get on a board, it’s not stable. You cannot go into these wild poses that maybe your ego drives. You have to dial that down to find the balance. And to find the balance you have to find stabilizer muscles that you wouldn’t on dry land that you should be using. When you’re on the board, you have to use those muscles or you’re not stable. It’s a reminder when I’m on my board as a teacher of things to cue when I’m on dry land. For me, it’s a big fat ego check. And it’s just beautiful. You’re above the water and it’s just a wonderful feeling.
Where’s your favorite place to take your board?
My in-laws live on Lake Sammamish and that’s where I’ll take my board. I get out there and just kind of teach myself and do my own thing. I love being out in a big body of water. We will put the board on the boat and take the board to the middle of the the lake and I’m just so tiny and the board is so tiny and the water is huge and vast and deep and I just love it—I love the power that surrounds me.
How does Yoga Medicine play into your teaching methods?
I’m in the middle of my 500 hours with her. Tiffany is very heavy on anatomy. More that we can understand the body and help heal the bod with yoga.
How do you find your bliss?
I find my bliss on my yoga mat. I find it on my SUP board. I practice everyday and that hour and a half or so is my time to just let go. I learned that so many years ago that if I can take time to be present and just move with my breath I’m a much happier person—I’m a better wife and a much better mom. And that’s my bliss. It’s my time practicing and it may sound cheesy but it’s true. It’s so true.
Follow Robin on instagram @RobinMartinYoga and practice with her in San Diego for her Bay Bliss Retreat ~ May 8-11