Namaste Robyn

ROBYN Lau was convinced that she wasn't cut out for a life in law, halfway through undergoing her LLB at the University of London.
To which her only and elder brother – who himself dropped out of accounting and engineering to do music – forthrightly told her to quit and chase her dreams. But she chose not to.
She was also convinced that toiling nine to five wasn't her idea of a vocation, after working as a paralegal, corporate trainer and business operations manager for several years. But with a law degree and plenty of eloquence to score her well paying jobs – "I was never rejected from an interview for every single job that I wanted," she quipped – why quit?
Heeding her mother's advice to "build character", Lau persevered through her tertiary education and corporate jobs so as not to disappoint her parent, and more so, her own ego. It seemed too late to back out at that juncture, and she was afraid of other people's opinions.
"I thought I needed to let my friends know that I'm not so dumb that I cannot finish my degree. I was worried of what people would think of me if I'm not holding a good position in the company. Am I going to seem like I'm not smart enough? What if I pursue my passion and I don't make a good living? What if I'm not good enough, or as someone else?" Lau divulged.
SPIRITUAL SERENDIPITY
While some individuals deny their life calling altogether, it took Lau seven years to finally decide to practise yoga full-time.
Growing up, the bubbly and chatty lass has always been an active kid. She ran, swam, played tennis and was part of the cheerleading squad in secondary school.
She started attending yoga classes when she was 18, as a way to spend time with, and help her mother cope with the loss of Lau's father.
In little time, the Petaling Jaya native moved on to more challenging poses and positions, and learnt every branch of yoga there is including ashtanga, vinyasa, kundalini, hatha and even yogalates. Lau showed up for classes daily, and weeks flourished into years.
"You know yoga has caught your interest when you start stretching unknowingly in front of the TV, or getting on a downward dog when you're waiting for
something. I was 22 when my instructors told me that I should teach yoga someday," shared the 29-year-old.
Alas, a severe injury would stall her dream for an indefinite time. Lau was on a retreat when she climbed into a hammock and it snapped, sending her crashing lower back first onto the concrete ground. She underwent physiotherapy and interferential therapy, and took painkillers for half a year.
"I was always in pain, if I stood or sat or squatted too long. I stopped yoga for two years, but every time I see the doctor, he'd encourage that I do yoga to relieve the pain.
So when the pain started to subside, I went back – although not as often – and did a lot of hatha and stretching," said Lau.
SWEAT TOGETHER, STAY TOGETHER
It wasn't until Lau got together with her boyfriend – yoga teacher, movement coach, actor and TV host Hansen Lee – that she regained the confidence to freely and fully practise yoga. With Lee's professional guidance, the duo trained together and eventually she was back to practising daily.
In less than two years of dating, their fitness routine evolved into a fully edged yogi lifestyle. The lovebirds started eating clean – with the occasional gastronomic indulgence – and being mindful of their everyday living, actions, words, and emotions.
At the same time, Lee would often ask, "You said you want to teach – what's stopping you?"
That very question, alongside his simple lifestyle, inspired Lau to take the plunge and quit her full-time corporate job to become a yoga teacher.
"Hansen finds the purest joy in the tiniest things, and that influences me.
Before, it was exhausting to constantly chase trends. But I realised that I don't need to live a super luxurious life. I don't need 200 bags or 50 pairs of shoes to be happy," she reiterated.
As if written in the stars, Lau was getting job offers to teach before she even graduated from her month-long teaching camp in Thailand early this year. She currently teaches almost every day, in multiple studios in the Klang Valley, including YogaonethatIwant, Urban Spring, Aravind and Organica Lifestyle.
"I want to teach simply because I want to be held accountable for people who come to my classes. It's not just for a good workout, but to come to a realisation that life is really as simple as it is – I want to be that kind of teacher.
"Of course, it's always nice to put in some workout in there – I always tell my students to ? re up their core! That's always fun," she giggled.