43: Light Watkins On Making Meditation Accessible & Cultivating Inner Joy
b"Teacher and innovator Light Watkins has been revolutionizing the practice of meditation since 1998\\u2014and now, he's on a mission to make meditation an everyday practice, for everyone. As first a meditation practitioner and then apprentice to his Vedic Meditation teacher, Light has worked to deconstruct meditation and make the practice more accessible and sustainable.\\nHe\\u2019s the instructor of the mindbodygreen classes A Meditation Expert's 14-day Guide and Meditation For Anxiety and founder of The Shine Movement, a global pop-up inspirational variety that spotlights the stories of everyday people. Light also takes his expertise on the road, traveling around the globe hosting workshops, panels, meditation trainings and retreats. His TED Talk, \\u201cDebunking the 5 Most Common Meditation Myths\\u201d further echoes his uplifting efforts to bring meditation into the public sphere, along with a focus on cultivating inner strength, as demonstrated with first book titled, The Inner Gym. And if that doesn\\u2019t seal the deal, Light is dedicated to using his platform to spread positivity and inspiration in all ways, including his daily inspirational email called The Daily Dose and his new book, Bliss More: How to Succeed in Meditation Without Really Trying.\\nIn this episode, Light recounts his many career paths\\u2014from yoga instructor to model and board game entrepreneur\\u2014and life-changing realizations that ultimately led him to meditation. We discussed the transformative power of using mantras while meditating, the resurgence of meditation, and the importance of introducing the practice to pop culture. Plus, Light shares his insights on building a healthy inner life and owning the shift of dialogue around meditation from one of productivity to sustainability.\\nWhether you\\u2019re a bonafide meditation follower or a skeptic looking for more information, you won\\u2019t want to miss Light Watkins\\u2019s simple and refreshing real-life perspective on meditation as an art form, daily practice, and way of life.\\nTo contact Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail podcast@mindbodygreen.com. \\nFor all sponsorship inquiries, please e-mail sales@mindbodygreen.com. \\nWant to join our podcast newsletter? Sign up here!\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices"