

Steve James: Embodiment, Meditation & Survival At The Edge Of Life | EP 51
Steve James is a meditation teacher, somatic practitioner, artist & the host of the Guru Viking Podcast. With a rich & diverse background, his work todays bridges the worlds of body-based practices & contemplative spiritual traditions.
Growing up in Scottland, his journey into body-based disciplines began at the ripe age of five with martial arts & intensive physical training, eventually leading to elite-level competition as a member of the Scottish Fencing team in his teens. He later expanded his practice to include yoga, qigong, and physical performance
In parallel, Steve's path into contemplative & spiritual disciplines started early through an apprenticeship with a Christian mystic from the Celtic tradition. And this formative experience inspired years of study & deep personal practice in prayer, contemplation, and inquiry. He has continued this journey through extensive meditation practice, silent retreats & extensive studies in world mysticism.
As a result of his unique range of experiences & understanding of human behaviour, high performance, spirituality & interpersonal relationships, he is highly sought after by leading figures at the highest levels of the arts, entertainment & business.
In our interview, we explore:
- Steve's perspective on the value of exploring meditation & contemplative practices that teach us to go beyond the body, alongside body-based practices that deeply engage us into our bodies.
- His personal interest & philosophy around pushing the limits of physical & psychological performance, including his pursuit of arctic survival training in Sweden's boreal forest, where daytime temperatures reach highs of only -24°C.
- Our individual encounters at the edge of life, sharing our personal near-death experiences & reflecting on how these moments have shaped us & what they taught us about life moving forward.
I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with Steve and found it to be a powerful discussion for all the men here seeking deeper self-cultivation, whether physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually with a highly regarded teacher in the transformational growth space.—
Connect with Steve James
Website: https://www.guruviking.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guruviking
Listen to Steve's Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/GuruViking
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Connect with Alex Lehmann:
Website: https://www.alexlehmann.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexlehmann_
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HeartofManPodcast/featured
Listen to this conversation on Apple Podcasts and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heart-of-man/id1697289478
Email: alexlehmanncoaching@gmail.com
Interested in working with me 1:1? Apply here and book a free discovery call with me (1 spot available at present time): https://www.alexlehmann.co/11-coaching
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Episodes you might enjoy: Eli Buren: Embodied Leadership — Cultivating Presence & Depth | EP 29: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1vqmGKNDBxm2pmH8hi6ckr?si=4b60b11ecfd448db