Yoga with Krystal Lin
“People nowadays spend too much time on screen, stuck in their minds and stressed, they need to be guided and inspired in order to really live life! ”
Taiwanese American photographer turned yoga instructor and entrepreneur, Krystal Lin has recently been recognized in Taiwan Tatler as one of the top yoga Instagram handles to follow @kwiztoe in town. Krystal spent her earlier career pursuing fashion photography and digital marketing work upon graduation from Tisch School of Arts at NYU. When she discovered yoga with her best friend back in 2015 she quickly realized that her passion lied elsewhere beyond just the fast-paced environment of the fashion world and photography. We caught up with Krystal to talk about why she decided to move back to Taiwan in the early 2000s, what the yoga industry is like here and how she continues to incorporate her love for photography, visual art, nature, and yoga into the offerings she shares with her students and community through her Yoga Mat by Krystal brand!
Curito:
Krystal, can you tell us a little about yourself, what you used to do for a career and how your yoga/wellness journey began?
Krystal:
Hi! I went to Tisch School of the Arts at New York University for Photography & Imaging BFA. I was a freelance photographer for about 8 years. I also did some digital marketing in between as it is related to image making and creativity. My dream job was to be a fashion photographer, and later on, a photo editor at a fashion magazine. I kind of reached my goals, but at the end, aesthetic is a very subjective thing, and I ended up disappointed in the commercial aesthetics and restrictions in the business. On the other hand, I've always been a freelancer, so I am my own boss, I try to keep my life balanced by always having an outlet to relax - exercise. I've always been interested in sports, but I hated stretching, because it hurts a lot and takes up so much time! I took some yoga classes during college time, of course I couldn't touch my toes at all, it was discouraging but I still liked it a little. I didn't love it until I met some great teachers along the way, who would explain the details carefully. I found out I like smaller classes, so I get more attention from the teacher, which leads me to more progress. Until 2015, my friend Mandy and I spontaneously decided to spend 1 full month on a yoga teacher training course (we treated it like a summer camp). I submerged into yoga without thinking teaching would be an option.
Curito:
You are a photographer by trade, what made you decide to make that switch from full time photographer and artist to teaching yoga and creating yoga related products with your artwork?
Krystal:
I was really lost when photography and yoga were simultaneously a potential career path for me to pursue. There were two years where I was doing both things, and none of it was going anywhere. Right after my first teacher training back in 2015 though, I did host a lot of photography exhibitions - the digitally composed images were all inspired by yoga. So I turned myself into an artist, rather than a commercial photographer, because I wanted my style to be distinct and be the reason for people to hire me. The overlapped images became my thing, I wanted to bring back my essence of photography--extended from collage making. I wanted to make images that convey feelings and imagination, not those capturing real life/moment type. After 2 years of exhibiting, my yoga teaching has also improved along the way, I noticed I really like to "share happiness"-- either through photography or yoga. As time went on, photography has been replaced by technology, and the overall awareness of being healthy has luckily been raised, so wellness became a huge thing at that time. That was when I decided to drop photography and raised yoga into my priority. Leaving photography was difficult, but someone once told me it'll always be part of me no matter what I do, it'll come to use when I need it. Yoga related products came along just recently, I went through a whole long journey to find my path!
Curito:
Why did you decide to come back to Taiwan and build your career here, as a freelancer, artist, yogi and pure entrepreneur? Did you find it difficult?
Krystal:
Taiwan is my home, it's small but cozy. It's not like other big cities, where competition is everything, yet it also has all the entertainment and qualities that all big cities have. Overall, I'd say there's so much to explore in Taiwan, and it's a very very friendly place. Hence, people here care about their mental state, their bodies and balancing their life. It has a niche and weirdly small market, but there is a potential, I actually find a lot of people pursuing their dreams here!
Curito:
What were some of the greatest challenges you encountered transitioning between a photographer into a yoga teacher and creating Yoga Mat by Krystal? What did you learn in the process?
Krystal:
Similar to being a photographer, a lot of people don't recognize female photographers, as there’s a stereotype of females not strong enough to direct or can't carry heavy equipment. A yoga teacher is usually seen to be a leisure job, 'something people with privilege' can do, because it's not an office job. But the truth is, there is a need for people nowadays: to find balance, release stress, adjust postures, train muscles, and be physically capable to enjoy life! So, I tried to ignore stereotypes about being a yoga teacher, I just want to "share yoga", spread awareness of the benefit yoga brings, and how yoga has changed my life. Having a clear goal or purpose of teaching yoga, reminded me to stay on track, and most importantly, this core has brought me customers, clients, students, and so many new friends!
Curito:
Tell us about Yoga Mat by Krystal and the products you have created and what else is in the pipeline!
Krystal:
With https://krystallinphotography.com/, you can tell I want to make artworks that can be seen and used in daily life. I started with just framed artworks to be hung and be seen at home or at offices, I want to bring peacefulness to everyday life. I also made iPhone cases, postcards, and t-shirts with my photo artworks. To add on to that as a yogi, I needed a mat to make me feel secure and confident, so I printed my photography onto yoga mats! They sold so well, they're out of stock now, people liked them a lot, so hopefully, I'll be making new ones soon! I'm also making eco-friendly t-shirts because I love nature, and I love plain t-shirts!
Curito:
Describe a Yoga Mat by Krystal customer!
Krystal:
Someone who is down to earth has their own style instead of following trends, is attentive to details, is interested in the stories, and appreciates art.
Curito:
How would you describe your yoga teachings? Do you teach in both English and Chinese? Was switching your yoga teachings online during these covid months difficult?
Krystal:
As a yoga instructor, I strive to inspire and lead yogis by engaging the mind and body. I want to make them feel comfortable on the mat, learn essential postures with correct alignment, and ensure a safe practice for everyone. My approach is executed with an encouraging, down-to-earth and friendly vibe, with fun variations of some fitness and core exercises. I teach in both English and Chinese or both! This covid year has encouraged me to show myself more online as I'm pretty camera-shy, it has trained me to talk to the camera, teach live on IG and share yoga experiences without blushing.
Curito:
Who are some of your mentors and what inspires you to wake up and do what you do?
Krystal:
I have a lot of yoga mentors, but mainly Rachel Tsai, Maty Ezraty, and Adarsh Williams. They have all strongly imprinted their movements and concepts into my body and mind. I'm always still learning. What motivates me the most is to spread the benefits of yoga, because of its life-changing qualities, I constantly practice compassion, awareness, and most importantly: how to communicate most efficiently and kindly. I’m always learning while teaching, and I try to stay open-minded as I constantly encounter a variety of problems. Everyone has their own reasons for coming to class, and I respect that, especially when the simple act of attending is already an A+ effort in my point of view.
Curito:
What do you hope to achieve in this new decade?
Krystal:
This year, I've been working way too much, my goal was to host as many events as possible since I can't travel outside of Taiwan. I've hosted hiking yoga, wine yoga, picnic yoga, and I'll be hosting more self-care-related events, and eventually, I want to host legit relaxing retreats. "You Only Live Once" has been a guide for me to focus on: most people nowadays spend too much time on screen, stuck in their minds and stressed, they need to be guided and inspired in order to really "live life"!
Curito:
How can our readers follow your offerings and get in touch with you for future collaboration?
Krystal:
Everything's on my Instagram :) Just follow me, and there'll be tons of ways to join my journey!
Curito:
Krystal, we are very excited to be sharing your teachings and Yoga Mat by Krystal products with our readers! Follow Krystal on FB or IG and you can buy her eco-friendly t-shirts online too! Stay tuned for potential future collaborations with Krystal! Namaste :)
First published on November 5, 2020
Check out this interview and mini breathwork class with Krystal (conducted in Mandarin).
