Rob Hales

I’m Rob Hales, a man who has defied the conventional wisdom that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. In fact, I didn't just learn a new trick; I mastered the ancient art of yoga at the ripe age of 50!

Picture this, a man in his fifties, mid-life crisis in full swing, feeling the subtle yet undeniable signs of ageing creeping up on him. Recognising that his body needed some serious maintenance to keep up with the demands of time. Rather than do what any sensible person would do, I embarked on a quest, not to find the Fountain of Youth, but to uncover the Secrets of Yoga.

Now, here's where the story takes a delightful turn. Instead of attending a conventional yoga class in a serene studio with gentle instrumental music in the background, I decided to become a yoga teacher while gallivanting around a Balinese island! Bali, the land of lush greenery, serene beaches, and, apparently, yoga epiphanies.

It’s fair to say that my journey to yoga mastery was sprinkled with moments of footballing injuries, recovery, a failed attempt to become a runner, hilarity, humility, and a fair share of "I can't believe I'm doing this" thoughts. After all, why should the path to enlightenment be solemn when it can be a delightful, laughter-filled adventure?

While exploring the enchanting landscapes of Southeast Asia, I stumbled upon James Clear's book, “Atomic Habits”. As I devoured the pages, I had a flash of inspiration that was as illuminating as the Balinese sunrises.

I realised I could incorporate the concepts of habit stacking into my daily rituals, modifying my deeply ingrained habit flows to seamlessly incorporate yoga practice, without the need to attend formal yoga classes.

After immersing myself in yoga teacher training in Bali, I spent time attempting to strike a perfect yoga pose on the beaches only to be photobombed by a curious monkey or two, all while researching the fundamentals of behavioural science.

What I learnt from my failed running habit was that aligning my identity with the habits that I wished to cultivate was the foundation of lasting change. Toothbrush Yoga is not just about practising yoga when you’re in bed reading a book; or watching TV, it's about becoming a person who practices yoga effortlessly, seamlessly integrating it into the very fabric of your daily life. It’s about being someone whose identity is about cherishing suppleness and overall well-being.

The Toothbrush Yoga framework provides you with a step-by-step guide to enable you to hack into your unconscious mind's autopilot software and prompt you to practice a particular pose, with minimal effort. As I discovered for myself, the smallest actions, when practiced consistently, can create seismic shifts in your well-being enabling you to evolve your autopilot into the compass that leads you towards a new destination.

As you delve into the transformative wisdom of Toothbrush Yoga, remember that they were crafted by a man who not only embraced yoga later in life but now starts every day bent double with a toothbrush and finishes with legs akimbo reading a book.

My hope for Toothbrush Yoga is that it will get you ready to bend and stretch your way to a healthier, happier you. I hope I can prove that it's never too late to embark on a journey of self-discovery, even if it involves yoga poses, monkeys, and a healthy dose of humour.