Zen and the Art of Robot Vacuums

Lately I’ve been exploring how technology can help create a little more space for the things that matter to me most — like yoga. Enter my household cleaning crew: two robot vacuums with very different personalities.

Upstairs, I’ve got Robbie. Robbie is the quiet type — reliable, steady, and perfectly content handling only my bedroom and yoga practice space. He’s small but mighty enough for his little domain. Think of him as the zen monk of vacuums: he keeps the sanctuary clean without complaint.

Downstairs, though, is where the real drama happens. Enter Roberta (may she rest in dusty peace). Roberta was my first downstairs vac, but once Labrador number two joined the family, she simply threw in the towel. After battling endless tumbleweeds of fur, she waved the white flag and retired. Honestly, I don’t blame her — I was vacuuming daily (or at least every other day) on top of her efforts, and still losing the battle.

That’s when Euphie came on the scene. Bigger. Stronger. Armed with a self-emptying station the size of a small outpost. Euphie is determined to win the shedding war (knock on wood). She doesn’t flinch at dog hair — she inhales it, powers up, and goes back for more. Around here, we call her the commander of the main floor.

Just today, as I was writing this, Euphie performed her very first self-empty. The roar of fur disappearing into her station sounded like a victory cheer. Even Kobe and Diesel came trotting over, ears perked, tails wagging. To them, it must have sounded like a spaceship docking. They watched wide-eyed as if to say: what new sorcery is this?

Between Robbie upstairs and Euphie downstairs, I no longer spend my Saturdays chasing fur balls with a broom. Instead, I get to roll out my mat, breathe, and practice.

Yoga reminds us that clearing clutter matters — in the body, in the mind, and, apparently, on the floor. Thanks to Robbie and Euphie, I still pitch in when needed, but the weight of daily cleaning is lighter. And with that, there’s more space for practice: less dog hair, more down dog.