An invitation from a coworker at Gucci introduced Robert Nguyen to yoga. Years later, a demanding fashion career—with eighteen-hour days and constant travel—left him ready for a change.
In this episode of Hello, Friends, I sit down with Robert, my friend and fellow yoga teacher at Equinox in New York. His classes have influenced both my practice and my teaching, but this was my first opportunity to hear how his life in fashion led him toward yoga.
We talk about the quiet confidence that first caught his attention, the decision to change careers, and why he kept studying long after becoming qualified to teach. Robert shares how watching his students shapes each class, and how curiosity guides his choices beyond the yoga mat.
Our conversation also explores his love of travel and vintage fashion, the beauty of restraint, and what happens when a familiar practice no longer meets your needs. These days, Robert’s idea of luxury is time alone and a little quiet.
Chapters
00:00 Meet Robert Nguyen
01:17 A Gucci coworker and the first yoga class
04:00 From fashion burnout to teaching yoga
08:58 Why keep learning?
11:42 Life beyond work and the yoga mat
13:41 Teaching with your eyes
18:00 Fashion, beauty, and restraint
21:07 How personal practice changes
22:38 Quiet as a form of luxury
24:37 Investing, travel, and vintage fashion
27:41 An unwitting mentor
28:34 Stay connected and share your story
How have yoga, meditation, or mindfulness shown up in your life in an unexpected way? I’d love to hear your story—or hear about someone you think would make a wonderful guest.
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Music: “Cinematic Fairy Tale Story” by Zakhar Valaha Music
https://patreon.com/ZVM