The Biggest Transition of My Life (So Far)
I’ve never been someone who talks about “signs from the universe.”
Sure, I stay in tune with nature. I follow my intuition. But it’s usually more of an ebb and flow — not some lightning-strike moment of clarity.
That was until April 9, 2023.
My wife, Carrie, and I had just returned to Japan for the first time since the pandemic. It was our fourth visit together.
While our flight arrived late and immigration was a mess, something felt different.
Despite the heavy jet lag, I woke up that first morning with a deep sense of peace and ease.
Honestly, I can’t recall ever feeling so clear.
It was as if the universe was saying: This is where you need to be.
In other words, it felt like I had arrived home.
That afternoon, as we sat on a bench in Roppongi, I turned to Carrie and said, "Babes, we HAVE to live here."
From that moment on, we started scheming.
Over the next two years, we navigated shifting plans and unexpected challenges.
Sometimes, it felt like a pipe dream, but we kept working toward it.
And now, almost exactly two years later, we’ve made it happen.
We’re moving to Tokyo on April 1st.
We’ve just been approved by Japanese immigration to live there for at least a year under student visas while enrolling in a Japanese language program.
This is our next step, and hopefully, the beginning of something much longer.
And despite all the challenges behind us—and the many still ahead—I’ve returned to that same feeling of clarity I had on that April morning two years ago.
In my heart, I know this is the right path.
What This Move Means for My Teaching
I know many of you might be wondering how this move will impact my teaching, so I want to be as transparent as possible about what’s ahead.
As clear as I feel, this transition is also bittersweet.
Living and teaching in LA has been an amazing chapter in my life. In many ways, it feels like I found myself here. I truly love this city, and I have a feeling I’ll be back again someday.
I’m also deeply grateful for the connections I’ve made with students and fellow teachers.
At the same time, I know this next step will allow me to offer something even bigger.
Here’s what’s happening over the next few months:
My in-person classes in LA will end after the second week of March. This part is tough. I’ll miss seeing you all before and during class, and the shared energy that comes with practicing together. If you’re local, I’d love to see you before I leave.
My livestream-only classes will continue through the end of March. If you’ve been practicing with me online, you can still join me through March, but I’ll be pausing live classes for a bit once we land in Japan. Life will be too chaotic at first, and I need time to figure out how everything will fit together.
For my private online students: I’ll still be available for 1:1 sessions, but I’ll need to adjust scheduling based on the time difference. If you’re working with me privately, I’ll reach out soon to discuss next steps.
April will be a huge transition month. I’ll be taking a short pause on online classes while I get settled. But I’ll still be showing up through writing and video content.
More content for YouTube & my newsletter. Even while my live classes are paused, I’ll be putting more energy into high-quality content on other platforms. I want to make sure you still have access to teachings, and I’m sure this whole process will give me plenty to reflect on and share.
By May, I’ll be relaunching my Embodied Mindfulness Membership. This will be the biggest shift in my teaching, creating a consistent online home for students to practice with me no matter where they are in the world.
A Reimagined Embodied Mindfulness Membership
Starting in May, I’ll be completely revamping my monthly Embodied Mindfulness Membership to better serve my students.
Each week, I’ll offer:
One Hatha practice (similar to my Level 1/2 classes at Circle Yoga)
One Flow practice (similar to my midday flow at Dragon’s Breath Yoga)
Two Yin Yoga classes (the heart of my teaching)
Since the time zone difference may make live attendance tricky, all classes will be recorded and available within 24 hours. The library will continue to grow, so you’ll always have new practices to explore, and you can revisit your favorites as often as you like!
The program will be $97/month, but as a thank-you to my current students, I’m offering a lifetime 25% discount to those who sign up at launch.
(Reply to this email if you’d like to be on the early access list.)
The Road Ahead
The next few months will be a whirlwind.
But through it all, I’m grateful to have my mindfulness and Yin practice to keep me grounded.
To my LA students, I will miss you deeply. But I hope we can stay connected through my online offerings.
And to everyone reading, I’d love to hear your thoughts or questions.
I’ll continue sharing reflections here as I move through this transition. There’s so much ahead, and I’m excited to explore it with you.
—Rob
