Meet Karin, the visionary behind Yoga Journaling! In this month's teacher spotlight, she takes us through her inspiring journey from corporate burnout to discovering yoga, becoming a teacher, and founding Yoga Journaling. Karin shares how her passion for creating stick-figure sequences transformed into a thriving business that supports yogis and teachers alike. She discusses her eco-friendly products, including yoga flow cards, chakra guides, and stickers, designed to make yoga accessible and fun. Karin also opens up about her philosophy, the evolution of her own practice, and her mission to inspire mindfulness worldwide.
Get ready to dive into the creativity and heart behind Yoga Journaling!
Can you share your personal journey with yoga? How did you first get introduced to it?
Unfortunately, I thought for a very long time that yoga was not for me because I was not flexible. In 2016, I was almost burnt out from my management career, which demanded a lot from me. So, more as a defiant reaction, I thought to myself, maybe I should start with yoga. I was lucky to find a great teacher and immediately fell in love with yoga. I started once a week, then three times, and soon every day. I signed up for teacher training after just one year of intensive practice. Mainly to finally do something just for me.
What’s your approach/philosophy to your teaching?
I have been fascinated by creating sequences from the very beginning. No wonder I founded a company where I draw stick figures and create sequences. I love working out a sequence that makes sense in my students' bodies and helps them surpass their own limits. My yoga classes also have a theme, intended to support my students on their spiritual or inner journey. The poses embody this theme.
What inspired you to start Yoga Journaling, and what was your vision when you began?
I've always used stick figures to record my yoga sessions. It was a creative process for me. Creating the sequence and then putting it beautifully on paper. That's also how I learn. Anything I write down, I can remember. At some point, I started sharing these drawings on Instagram – the response was overwhelming. Within a very short time, my community grew to over 100,000 followers.
I've always wanted to be self-employed. After a while, I asked myself: how many signs do I need until I take the leap of faith? The time was right. I quit my corporate leadership career and founded Yoga Journaling. I risked everything. But I just knew I had to do it. Even if I’d fail. It was the right thing to do and to grow as a person.
Your business has grown immensely, and you now offer a wide range of resources from books to posters, can you tell us a bit about each and who they are intended for?
My products help yoga students and teachers take their practice to the next level. Thanks to the stick figures, you can practice at your own pace and get inspired for your classes.
Let me give you an overview of my new products and bestsellers:
- 30-Day Yoga Challenge: This product is for anyone who occasionally lacks the motivation to get on the yoga mat. The challenge contains 30 short 5-10 minute yoga flows to integrate a short daily mindfulness practice into your day. The flows are intentionally very short so that everyone, no matter how much stress they are under, can find the time. In just 30 days, we can change our routines and cultivate a new lifestyle. That is the idea behind this fold-out booklet.
- My Perfect Flow: It’s a card set like no other on the yoga market. With it, anyone can create their perfect yoga flow. No prior knowledge is needed. It’s aimed at yogis who want to transform their home practice and yoga teachers looking for inspiration for their classes. The feedback so far is overwhelmingly good.
- Chakra Flow: This book is a treasure trove of knowledge about the 7 chakras. I’ve read a dozen books on chakras and tried to simplify this knowledge to make it useful for yoga classes or personal practice. It also includes 14 different yoga stick figure flows—two for each chakra.
- Stick Figure Booklet: My debut work. It contains 10 different yoga flows for all levels. A great introduction to my products.
- Yoga Flow Stickers: With these, you can create a yoga flow in your notebook. It looks like hand-drawn. And the best part: the stickers aren’t made of plastic but from eco-friendly wood pulp.
- Yoga Magnets: For everyone looking for a reusable way to create a yoga flow. With my magnets, it’s quick and easy. It’s a very playful method.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about the resources you offer?
All my products are vegan and produced in an environmentally sustainable way. I manufacture in Europe under fair working conditions. The high quality of my products is very important to me. This is especially appreciated within the yoga community.
What message would you like to share with those just starting their teaching journey or looking to incorporate your resources into their practice?
Yoga teaching can be overwhelming, especially in the beginning. You quickly start to wonder, 'Am I good enough?' And the truth is: you only get better and grow by doing it. That’s why my message is: Dare to follow your passion and allow yourself to make mistakes. You learn from them. My products support you in getting better, but also when you don’t have time to prepare. Life happens. Sometimes all you need is a little help from a stick figure :-)
What impact do you hope Yoga Journaling has on the broader yoga community and beyond?
Yoga has personally made me a better person. If everyone practiced yoga, we would live in a better, more mindful world. That’s what I wish for this planet. That’s why my mission is to bring as many people to yoga as possible. To achieve this, we need various resources and well-trained yoga teachers who can spread the teachings of yoga around the world.
How do you envision the growth of Yoga Journaling in the coming years? Are there any exciting plans or projects on the horizon?
I’m a big fan of 'Think big, start small.' My vision is for Yoga Journaling to one day play a role in the life of every yogi in the world. I’m taking the path toward that goal step by step.
I have many ideas. In the future, I also want to offer more digital products. It’s definitely going to be exciting.
How has your own yoga practice evolved over the years? Do you find that it influences your work with Yoga Journaling?
Absolutely! I completed a 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training focused on fascia. This completely changed my way of practicing, and you can see some of that reflected in my products. After my first teacher training, I started training for handstands, which also influenced my practice.
How do you balance running a business with your personal yoga practice?
It's really not that easy, especially in stressful times. I've made a commitment to myself to meditate for 10 minutes every morning—no matter how much is going on. I manage to stick to this quite well. Additionally, I try to incorporate a bit of movement into my daily life. Sometimes it's two hours of handstand practice, other times it's five minutes of stretching in the kitchen or a walk in the woods. Yoga can take place anywhere. As long as I'm mindful, I practice yoga.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the community?
I share a lot of free content on Instagram and I’m glad for everyone who joins and shares my love for yoga. I also always communicate on my product launches and events there.
Which Manduka product(s) do you currently practice on, and what makes this mat your go-to choice?
I really enjoy practicing on the PROlite® yoga mat. I think it offers the perfect combination of the advantages of the original Manduka PRO™ yoga mat, while still being easy to take with you. For my handstand practice, I love the eKO® SuperLite Travel yoga mat because it is thin and protects my wrists while also providing the perfect grip. I also wear the Dhara leggings and tank top whenever possible because they are comfortable to wear and optimally support my practice. When I go to the gym, I always have the yogitoes® hot yoga towel with me – it's perfect for placing on top of mats and equipment.
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Instagram: @yoga.journaling
Website: yoga-journaling.com
