Age Less / Live More

“Change the way you think about things, and the things you think about will change.” This cliche sums up 80 percent of modern personal development, but it’s about as useful as marital advice that suggests a minute-long daily hug will ensure everlasting love or financial advice that suggests if you skip your morning latte and save the money you’ll get rich someday. Has any of this ever actually worked for anyone? I doubt it. If I were to ask you about work or family or your country, you’d immediately have an emotionally-charged response—much of which may be negative. You can flip the script and tell yourself a different story, but those underlying emotions brew below the surface. No one has ever thought their way out of any major crisis. It all comes down to action. What are you going to do? With mental health problems, unfortunately, most of us do nothing. We feel depressed or anxious, so we try to wait it out. Our home life is suffocating, so we try a gratitude journal to change the story in our head. The office is a black hole where souls get vaporized, so we spend the day on Instagram trying to change the way we think about things. On this week’s podcast, we’ll talk about the need for the Mind Detox method. Clear out your head trash and make space for new feelings, new experiences, and a new way of living. Listen & Learn: How food and eating habits are often where mental and emotional problems appear How self-care techniques like yoga and tapping can empower you to have some control How your past is never really the past unless you deal with it and resolve painful issues Links & Resources: Sandy Newbiggings ABOUT OUR GUEST Sandy C. Newbigging is a meditation teacher, monk, mentor, speaker, and author. He is also the creator of Mind Detox, Mind Calm, Body Calm and Calm Cure coaching and meditation techniques, collectively known as Calmology. Nutritional Tip of the Week: Frozen Food Got Questions? Send me a voicemail here: Ask Lucas a Question Or write to us: podcast@yogabody.com Like the Show? Leave us a Review on iTunes

Your dental health is very often the proverbial canary in the coal mine, meaning that periodontal disease is often a red flag that systemic problems exist which could be very serious. Proper brushing and hygiene are essential, of course, but dental health starts from within, particularly with the foods and nutrients you eat. So what’s the problem? Our modern diets lack essential bone-health nutrients like fat-soluble vitamins D, K, and A. Foods are loaded with sugar and create an overly-acidic environment in the mouth which can lead to decay. On this week’s show, you’ll meet a holistic dentist who advocates dental care from the inside out, proper nutrition, and of course, great hygiene. Listen & Learn: Is Xylitol good for dental care? Fluoride vs. no fluoride Fat-soluble vitamins A, K2 (4 vs 7) & D3 Should you whiten your teeth? Links & Resources: Dr. Lin’s Website Book: The Dental Diet ABOUT OUR GUEST Dr. Steven Lin is a functional dentist, TEDx speaker, and author of the book, The Dental Diet. As a passionate preventative, whole health advocate, Dr. Lin focuses on the understanding of dental disease through nutritional principles. Nutritional Tip of the Week: Insect Protein Got Questions? Send me a voicemail here: Ask Lucas a Question Or write to us: podcast@yogabody.com Like the Show? Leave us a Review on iTunes

I signed up for my first 12-day meditation retreat in 2001, and then I dropped out two weeks before the start date. I never drop out of anything. Eighteen months later, I signed up again. This time, I was ready. It was exactly as you might suspect: a room full of people sitting on cushions—not speaking, not moving—for days at a time. There were no chanting nor prayers, no incense nor gurus. It wasn’t that kind of place. The instructional aspect of the course could easily be summarized in three words: sit, observe, accept. Within 15 minutes of my arrival, I realized I’d entered a special kind of hell also known as my own head. I sat, and sat, and sat, and sat some more. On the fourth day, someone sneezed in the meditation hall, and I nearly had a heart attack. By the seventh day, I was convinced I could see through my eyelids. The room remained unchanged for the past week, so for all intents and purposes, I really could see through my eyelids. Open or closed, everything was the same. The guy next to me stank of mold and armpits. The person in front of me would groan and convulse in discomfort every 15 minutes. At least, I thought, he was suffering more than me. By the end of day eight, I’d re-lived every single unfinished conversation of my life, from the big ones to the most mundane encounters you could imagine. My own mental archives embarrassed me. They were (and are) so petty. On day 12, when we could finally speak again, I had nothing to say. I was hungry and horny; exhausted and thoughtful. This was my introduction to meditation, and while I wish I could say it was smooth sailing since then, I find it more and more challenging every year; and oddly, the more I struggle, the more benefits I experience. There seems to be an inverse relationship between struggle in meditation and my happiness. My guest on this week’s show is a meditator, teacher, author, and speaker. I’m a novice, he’s a pro. I think you’ll learn a lot from our discussion. Listen & Learn: How spirituality is about a personal practice of inner transformation Why mindfulness means to “remember to wake up” or experience the self in the present moment How Jewish culture of suffering, knowledge, and self-inquiry resonates with Buddhist teachings Why suffering is an inevitable part of life Weapons of peace Links & Resources: What’s Beyond Mindfulness Stephen’s Website Dhamma.org (meditation retreats) ABOUT OUR GUEST Stephen Fulder, Ph.D., is a spiritual teacher, author, and founder of the Israel Insight Society (Tovana). He has been teaching Buddhist teachings and meditation practice to thousands of people over the last 20 years. He has 40 years of Vipassana/Mindfulness meditation and dharma practice and Buddhist studies. Nutritional Tip of the Week: Carbonated Water Got Questions? Send me a voicemail here: Ask Lucas a Question Or write to us: podcast@yogabody.com Like the Show? Leave us a Review on iTunes  

I love everything that’s bad for me, and alcohol certainly falls under that umbrella. It’s a love-hate relationship really, and I don’t drink anymore. At this stage of my life, it’s just not worth it. Am I boring and health-obsessed? Probably. But maybe you are too. Here’s what we know about booze: Sixty-one million Americans are classified as binge alcohol users and 16 million as heavy alcohol users. Alcohol plays a role in one in three cases of violent crimes, and 10,000 people die each year in alcohol-related car accidents in the U.S. alone. But most people who drink too much or too often are not alcoholics, so the problem goes unaddressed and unresolved—and yet, the lifelong impact is massive. My guest on this week’s podcast was an over-drinker who started a 30-day sober challenge that has lasted over six years. If you’re concerned that you might be drinking too much or too often, this is an important show to listen to. Listen & Learn: The difference between high bottom drinking vs. low bottom drinking How moderate drinking can be a story you tell yourself Why alcohol can affect just about everyone Why if you think you have a problem, you probably do What life is like on the other side of the bottle Links & Resources: Belle’s website, book & 100-Day Challenge Harvard study on drinking ABOUT OUR GUEST Belle Robertson is Canadian but lives in Paris. She’s a writer, baker, and caterer. She’s also a “sober coach” and her book, Tired of Thinking About Drinking, is available on her website along with her 100-Day Sober Challenge. Nutritional Tip of the Week: Aspartame Got Questions? Send me a voicemail here: Ask Lucas a Question Or write to us: podcast@yogabody.com Like the Show? Leave us a Review on iTunes

Have you ever driven from your house to the office and were unable to remember anything about the drive? Have you lost track of days and even weeks when stress and frustration turned your brain to mush?  What would your work and your life look like if you knew how to stay focused yet flexible; if you got more of the right things done; if you were helping to create a more peaceful world at the same time? These questions are posed by mindfulness trainer, Marc Lesser, my guest on this week’s podcast.Listen & Learn: Why asking and listening are rare and yet so valuable Why solo meditation practice is miserable for most people How corporate culture can dramatically change when people are present, emotionally open, and connected Links & Resources: MarcLesser.net Marc’s New Book ABOUT OUR GUEST: Marc helped develop a program called Search Inside Yourself (SIY) within Google that integrates mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and business savviness for building strong corporate cultures. He founded and was CEO of three different companies. He is the author of four books and has an MBA from New York University. Marc was a resident of the San Francisco Zen Center for 10 years, as well as director of Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. His latest book, Seven Practices of a Mindful Leader, is available now. Nutritional Tip of the Week: 30-30-30 Got Questions? Send me a voicemail here: Ask Lucas a Question Or write to us: podcast@yogabody.com Like the Show? Leave us a Review on iTunes

I spent my first 27 years of life convinced that men and women were exactly the same except for the obvious anatomical differences and a boatload of socialization. After a big relationship breakup, I read the modern classic book, Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus, and quickly learned I was wrong about so many things. Men and women are very different, not just in how we are socialized but in undeniable biochemical and neurological ways that impact us constantly. Different doesn’t mean better nor does it mean worse, stronger, or less capable. Different means different—wonderfully, infuriatingly different. A huge part of what I’ve been most criticized for in life has nothing to do with who I am as a person; it’s just my masculine self expressing itself strongly. And a huge part of what drove me crazy about women was not who they were as people but their very nature that I didn’t appreciate or understand. Ignorance, in this case, is not bliss. It’s a guaranteed plan for constant conflict at home. This week, you’ll meet the most influential relationship expert on the planet, Dr. John Gray. His books and his work have made their way into just about every school, university, and bedside table in the world. It would be a mistake not to invest time in learning from John.   Listen & Learn: How most modern lifestyles lead to hormonal imbalances How the feminine “recharges” vs how the masculine “resets” Why we need to celebrate differences rather than try to suppress them How to navigate the challenges of polarity Links & Resources Dr. John Gray’s Website John’s Books ABOUT OUR GUEST Dr. John Gray, Ph.D. is the best-selling relationship author of all time. He is the author of over 20 books, including Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus: The Classic Guide to Understanding the Opposite Sex. Over 50 million copies in 50 different languages around the world have been sold. John is a leading internationally-recognized expert in the fields of communication and relationships. His unique focus is assisting men and women in understanding, respecting and appreciating their differences. John's advice can easily be used to improve relationships at home and in the workplace. For more than 35 years, John has conducted public and private seminars for thousands of participants. John entertains and inspires audiences with practical communication techniques. He is a popular speaker on the national and international lecture circuit and often appears on television and radio programs to discuss his work. He has made guest appearances on such shows as Oprah, The Dr. Oz Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, Larry King Live, CNN and many others. He was also the subject of a three-hour special hosted by Barbara Walters. Dr. John Gray lives with his wife and children in Northern California. Nutritional Tip of the Week: Cannot eat raw food Got Questions? Send me a voicemail here: Ask Lucas a Question Or write to us: podcast@yogabody.com Like the Show? Leave us a Review on iTunes

The average life expectancy is nearly 83 years where I live. People are living healthier, wealthier, and longer lives than ever before, but what the heck do you do in that last third portion of your life? Golf or bingo? Yoga or CrossFit? It’s really hard to know what options we’ll have in our 80s, but it also seems pretty foolish not to plan for it now. On this week’s show, you’ll meet a New York Times writer who extensively profiled six elders (over 85) in New York City. He’ll share what he learned about living and dying with us on the show. Listen & Learn: The role of choice in happiness in later life Why isolation from a purpose can be just as painful as social isolation How pain and illness are less important than how people choose to interpret them in the context of their lives How “no regrets” is a common theme with age Links & Resources: John’s Book on Amazon ABOUT OUR GUEST John Leland is a reporter at The New York Times, where he wrote a year-long series that became the basis for Happiness Is a Choice You Make. He is also the author of Hip: The History and Why Kerouac Matters: The Lessons of On the Road. Before joining the Times, he was a senior editor at Newsweek, editor in chief of Details, a reporter at Newsday, and a writer and editor at Spin. Nutritional Tip of the Week: Cooking Oils Got Questions? Send me a voicemail here: Ask Lucas a Question Or write to us: podcast@yogabody.com Like the Show? Leave us a Review on iTunes

After the age of 40, there is less space between your spinal vertebrae than when you were 20. This steady degeneration of tissues happens predictably but can be exacerbated by weight, high stress, extreme athletics, and even accidents. Aside from the natural wear and tear on our joints, many people also suffer from autoimmune attacks which affect the soft tissues, causing pain, inflammation, and even deformity in extreme cases. We’re talking about arthritis. And, not surprisingly, yoga can be a very effective management strategy for anyone with these problems. On this week’s show, we’ll help define and understand the many different conditions of arthritis, and we’ll explore ways to reduce and even eliminate symptoms through movement. What You’ll Learn: How “arthritis” is a general term for hundreds of conditions The difference between wear and tear joint degeneration vs. autoimmune conditions Why knees, hips, and low back are the most problematic How x-rays and scans can give insight into joint-space narrowing The risk of rheumatoid cachexia that includes muscle loss Responsible use of cortisone, ibuprofen, and other medications Why strong quads can add years of life to your knees   ABOUT OUR GUEST Dr. Steffany Moonaz founded Yoga for Arthritis after eight years at Johns Hopkins University where she studied the effects of yoga for people living with arthritis. She now serves as the Director of Clinical and Academic Research at the Maryland University of Integrative Health, which offers the nation's only Masters of Science in Yoga Therapy. She continues to conduct research on the effects of yoga for chronic pain and joint conditions, and she mentors yoga teachers, yoga therapists, and emerging researchers. She is passionate about ensuring that yoga practices are safe, welcoming, and appropriate for people with arthritis nationwide. Links & Resources: Steffany’s Site Steffany’s Book Nutritional Tip of the Week: Sllimming Tea Got Questions? Send me a voicemail here: Ask Lucas a Question Or write to us: podcast@yogabody.com Like the Show? Leave us a Review on iTunes

Environmental activist, Colin Beavan, and his family decided to make a bold statement: they’d spend an entire year living as close to “zero impact” as possible in the heart of New York City. They’d ditch subways and taxis, food that came from further than 100 miles away, and TV. In the end, they’d gain a new perspective on life. Listen & Learn: How the average American creates 1600 lbs of trash each year How Colin and his wife and daughter went “zero impact” for a full year in NYC What it means to redefine life without all the consumerism How to truly be alive Links & Resources: Colin’s Website Colin’s Books on Amazon ABOUT OUR GUEST Colin Beavan is a speaker, author and expert on environmental issues, consumerism, and human quality of life. He has spoken at companies including Clif Bar, the North Face, and Ideo. He’s been featured in numerous media outlets and TV programs including The Colbert Report, Good Morning America, and Nightline. Colin has a couple of books, How to Be Alive: A Guide to the Kind of Happiness that Helps the World and No Impact Man. His documentary film, also called No Impact Man, was featured at Sundance and has been shown in theaters and on TV around the world. Nutritional Tip of the Week: Why is Fruit Sugar Bad Got Questions? Send me a voicemail here: Ask Lucas a Question Or write to us: podcast@yogabody.com Like the Show? Leave us a Review on iTunes

When we think of strength and muscle mass, we typically imagine physique-obsessed bodybuilders staring at themselves in the mirror and clanking weights around in the gym. But what if there is more to the story? What if lean muscle is more than just aesthetics, particularly as we age? My guest on this week’s show is a trial lawyer who represented two former presidents. He’s an avid skier and a gym rat who still skis at Vail with his granddaughter, still tries cases, and remains as sharp as ever at 86 years old. It’s a remarkable story, and Fred Bartlit credits his health to a lifelong commitment to pumping iron. Don’t miss this show—it’s an eye-opener.   Listen & Learn: How sarcopenia can cause a loss of 1% of strength per year after middle age How your telomere length might predict longevity How a lack of exercise correlates with early death How to “die living” not “live dying” as you age Links & Resources: Fred’s StrongPath Website ABOUT OUR GUEST Fred is a former US Army Ranger and trial lawyer who has represented two former presidents. Co-founder of StrongPath, demonstrating that frailty doesn’t need to be an inevitable part of aging, Fred says he’s stronger now at 86 years old than he was in his 20s thanks to a lifelong commitment to good exercise habits. Nutritional Tip of the Week: Healthy skin Got Questions? Send me a voicemail here: Ask Lucas a Question Or write to us: podcast@yogabody.com Like the Show? Leave us a Review on iTunes