Are You a Robopath?
27th Oct 2025 | Author - Viraj
Lewis Yablonsky, a sociologist and psychotherapist, first coined the term “Robopath” in his 1972 book Robopaths: People as Machines. He used it to describe individuals who, while outwardly functional and efficient, have become inwardly mechanical — living without emotional depth, creativity, or authentic connection.
When I first came across this concept, I saw myself reflected in it. During my corporate years, I often operated like a machine — meeting targets, attending meetings, executing tasks with precision — yet feeling emotionally detached and spiritually hollow. There was little space for joy, imagination, or the simple pleasure of being human.
Yablonsky warned that robopathy was becoming a social epidemic, and we can clearly see its symptoms spreading through our modern world. Many of us move through life on autopilot, shaped by systems that reward performance over presence. We operate from acquired patterns, influenced by the media, social conditioning, and the relentless chase of external validation.
Even our celebrations and expressions of love have become ritualistic — birthdays, festivals, weddings, even “quality time” are often reduced to social performances or checklist events. Exploring the world has turned into ticking off destinations from a bucket list. We mimic the lifestyles of those deemed “successful” and try to fit into circles of power and influence, hoping proximity will bring us significance.
In the process, we lose touch with our unique nature, ignoring the quiet inner voice that wants to live, create, and love differently. We resist becoming our own authentic version — fearing that our individuality won’t be accepted by the world’s machinery of norms and expectations.
No wonder so many people feel drained, restless, and disconnected. We are efficient but not alive, connected yet lonely, informed yet unaware.
Yoga as the Path Back to Aliveness
This is where authentic yoga becomes a profound medicine. Yoga, in its truest sense, is not just about stretching the body — it’s about stretching beyond conditioning. It helps us break the robotic patterns that keep us repeating the same emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.
Through mindful movement, breath, awareness, and meditation, yoga leads us inward — from body to mind, from mind to wisdom, and from wisdom to the subtle essence of being. In that inward journey, we rediscover qualities that make us human: love, compassion, stillness, and bliss.
Real yoga is not a ritual; it’s a reawakening. It invites us to live fully, to feel deeply, and to express our unique rhythm of life — not as a programmed being, but as a conscious, creative soul flowing in harmony with existence.
So take a pause.
Breathe.
Ask yourself — Am I living like a robopath, or am I truly alive?
Yoga gives us the tools to remember who we really are.
