My Yoga Journey
with Robin Straeter

Robin Straeter is a yoga teacher in Germany. In this interview, he shares his yoga journey and motivation for practicing yoga. 

Yoga is discovering the deep connection between the body and the mind... I can remember that I hesitated before entering the room where I had my first yoga class. Still inside that room I was not sure if I had done the right thing. Every time when starting something new, your body resists. Breaking this resistance often shows to be worth it in the end.

Interview with Robin Straeter
Published 18 April 2020

What does yoga mean to you?

For me, yoga is discovering the deep connection between the body and the mind. When you practice yoga, you create strength physically and mentally. At the point where you touch your yoga mat, your mind is starting to turn off. At this time, all that is left is the existence of the self. Later on, when you lay down in Shavasana you can analyze your yoga practice by listening to the signals that your body sends out. Then you can realize that yoga means experience. You will notice that you become happy, strong and blissful by practicing yoga.

​When did you first start practicing yoga and why?

I started practicing yoga when I was 20 years old. I visited a yoga class at the gym. Next to bodybuilding and an office job office, I was searching for balance in my life. After my first yoga experience, I started to visit that class once a week. A few times I practiced yoga at spiritual festivals or together with friends. At that time, I never thought that I would become a yoga teacher.

But the peak that made me fall in love with yoga was on my journey through Asia. While I was volunteering in an organization in Thailand, I met people that were interested in yoga as well and we started to practice together. After my time at the organization, I continued traveling together with a special person to me and, together, we were practicing yoga almost each morning. When we decided to travel to India, the idea of learning more about yoga in the country of its origin came to my mind. I attended a yoga training course and graduated earlier this year. And now, I am on my yoga journey.

Were you ever resistant to learn yoga? 

The time when I was not aware of my consciousness was the first resistance to yoga. At that time, I was trapped in old habits and never thought about practicing yoga. I can remember that I hesitated before entering the room where I had my first yoga class. Still inside that room I was not sure if I had done the right thing. Every time when starting something new, your body resists. Breaking this resistance often shows to be worth it in the end.

How has yoga impacted your life?

Yoga impacted my life completely. Each morning I stand up and practice sun salutations in order to honour the new day, my body and the pleasure to be alive. A lot of times, after the sun salutations, I get so motivated so that I practice more asanas. The strongest impact that yoga had on my life became visible by my attending a yoga training course and now sharing my positive experience with other people! I hope that all people will experience the beauty of practicing yoga practice in their lives.

Why should someone practice yoga? ​

People should start practicing yoga because our daily life makes us feel lazy. We use millions of excuses to avoid effort. We use the car for short distances. We use the elevator instead of walking the stairs, and we have a huge variety of unhealthy food in the supermarkets. We forget to be active. I can only recommend others to start practicing yoga so that they become healthy: mentally and physically. You will start to deal with your body, with your mind, with the environment - you start to love yourself and your life.

What are your favourite asanas and why?

My favourite asanas are the simple ones. I like to be in Tadasana (mountain pose) because in this pose you can discover a deep body feeling. I like to be in Malasana (Squat or Garland Pose) because you can feel the flexibility in your hips and in your lower back. Furthermore, I like many asanas of ashtanga yoga, including Marichiasana (sitting twist with forward bend), Kukkutasana (rooster pose), Urdhva Dhanurasana  (upward bow) and Shirshasana (head stand), to name a few.

I can only recommend others to start practicing yoga so that they become healthy: mentally and physically. You will start to deal with your body, with your mind, with the environment - you start to love yourself and your life.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would like to let you know that you are special. Please never forget the power deep inside yourself. Never lose the faith in your life. Treat your body well. Don’t harm other beings on the planet and respect our mother earth.

Robin's yoga journey teaches us that there is something inside each one of us that is inherently strong, joyful, powerful, motivated and caring. These powerful states and emotions are sometimes overpowered by the trials and tribulations of life, but yoga offers us the opportunity to connect to our deepest and most authentic self. And when we do, it transforms your relationship to yourself, other beings and the world at large. Namaste!

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