Robbie became interested in yoga after spending a year in Asia (including six months in India) when she was 22. While traveling in Burma she stayed in a Buddhist monastery where she was introduced to, and learned basic meditation technique. When Robbie returned to Australia in 1984, she began attending regular Iyengar style classes which formed a strong foundation for her yoga practice.
In 1985 she studied meditation and yoga philosophy with Acharya Upendra Roy in Sydney. Since then Robbie has studied with various teachers and styles of yoga ranging from the more gentle style taught by Satyananda, Ki Yoga, to Iyengar yoga and more recently over the last five years Ashtanga Yoga. In 1987, whilst on the island of Skyros in Greece, Robbie was introduced to Ashtanga Yoga by Derek and Radha Ireland who were teaching there. In 1992, Robbie started a yoga group for women on the island of Aegina in Greece.
In 1995 she studied the Ashtanga Primary Series with Eileen Hall in Sydney. Robbie has also studied Ashtanga Vinyasa style yoga with Dena Kingsberg (in Bali, Byron Bay and Sydney) and Pattabhi Jois in Sydney 2000. In 1998 Robbie began studying with Bianca and Simon at Yoga Synergy and completed Teacher training in 1999 and has been teaching with Yoga Synergy since then. Robbie has also studied with Clive Sheridan in Sydney in 1998 and 2000.
Up until 1996, Robbie worked as a Registered Nurse with children. In 1996 she completed a Post-graduate Diploma in Midwifery at the University of Sydney and has since been working full-time as a midwife, in both labour ward and birth center, where she has assisted women through the natural birth process, including many underwater births. Robbie has also held the position of Antenatal Educator in 2000. From this background and study with other prenatal yoga teachers, Robbie began teaching prenatal yoga classes, which she teaches twice a week and continues to work full time as a midwife.
