Age Less / Live More

What if you become so focused on exercise and healthy living that it becomes an unhealthy obsession? What if you're a parent and eat a balanced diet but struggle to feed your kids well? What if yoga is giving you a hernia? On this week's podcast, I'll do my best to answer these great listener questions and more. Listen & Learn: Risk vs.reward of yoga Whether or not kids should be vegetarian 8+16 meal timing How to eat healthfully when your friends/family don’t ABOUT THE HOST In 2002, I worked for a New York City book publisher doing a job I hated. I drank seven nights a week, abused drugs, and smoked a pack of cigarettes a day. For food, it was pizza and takeout—anything quick and easy to keep me going. No one consciously decides to destroy their health, but over the years, that’s exactly what happened. I was bloated and flabby, unable to sleep without alcohol. My eyes were red and puffy, and I struggled to get excited about anything. I had so much potential, so many opportunities, but when you’re sick and numb to the world, everything feels impossible and uninteresting. Enter yoga. A friend dragged me to a yoga studio, where I suffered through one of the most uncomfortable experiences of my life. In that first class, I was sweating and dizzy, unable to do even the most basic postures. I was the youngest person there, but the way I moved, I felt like I was 90 years old. I couldn’t bend forward, sit cross-legged on the floor, or balance in a tree pose. Looking at myself in the mirror, I remember thinking, “How did I end up in such bad shape?” I hated that first class so much, I knew it was exactly what I needed—so I kept going. People assume yoga classes are meant to be wonderful, peaceful experiences. This is not true. A good class should be the most challenging and uncomfortable hour of your entire day. When you push yourself on the mat, real-life problems become lighter and more manageable almost immediately. Hard yoga = easy life. For the next 380 days, I practiced yoga every single day. While traveling, I used audio or video recordings. If I was in a new city, I’d go to any studio I could find. When my teacher told me to take a day off to rest, I’d ignore the advice and go to a class at another studio. The same way I’d fallen in love with things that were killing me (drugs and alcohol), I’d now fallen in love with something that was feeding me and fueling my growth. And it worked. In six weeks, I lost almost 40 pounds (and had to replace my whole wardrobe). I quit drinking and smoking altogether, and most importantly, I found a renewed passion for life that is truly priceless. I remember walking around New York, still dripping with sweat from class, with a big, stupid grin on my face as if I’d unlocked a special secret. My life was changing. Within six months, I’d quit my job and moved to Thailand. Within a year, I was teaching full-time to packed classes in Bangkok and later, Hong Kong. I opened my first studio in 2006 and that same year began training teachers. To date, I’ve taught more than 30,000 students and trained more than 3,000 teachers in 41 countries. I love my life and my work, and as a result, I’m in better health mentally and physically than I was in my early 20s. YOGABODY was built on practice, sweat, and struggle. It’s the physical manifestation of everything I care about in life, and my greatest hope is that some of my passion for this practice and lifestyle rubs off on you when you walk through these doors. Nothing worth doing in life is easy. Movement is more powerful than meditation. And practice is everything. 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 Thanks to our sponsor: Four Sigmatic - makes delicious Mushroom Superfood Blends and Mushroom Elixirs. Four Sigmatic believes in the real magic of functional mushrooms like Reishi, Chaga, Cordyceps, and Lion’s Mane, as well as other superfoods and adaptogens like rhodiola, eleuthero, and schisandra to help us live healthier, more enhanced lives. Visit: FOUR SIGMATIC and use coupon code "yogabody" for 15% off your order. Learn More

Most people know more about Game of Thrones than they do about their own digestive system. They know how many nuclear warheads are in North Korea, but they don't know their Vitamin D levels or their fasting blood glucose levels. This is a problem. The term 'mindfulness' usually conjures up the image of a monk sitting in Lotus Pose in the middle of the forest, but everyday mindfulness is just as important and often overlooked. On this week's podcast, you'll meet a mental fitness biohacker, Kasper van der Meulen, who focuses on personal growth and transformation. Listen & Learn: Biohacking 101 The risks and rewards of the Wim Hof Method How to transition to minimal footwear and even barefoot running Crafting your personal health transformation ABOUT OUR GUEST Kasper van der Meulen is a Wim Hof instructor, biohacker, coach, author, and speaker. He wrote the book MindLift: Mental Fitness for the Modern Mind Nutritional Tip of the Week: Rinse Your Rice 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 your first yoga class, your hamstrings will hurt like hell. After your first day snowboarding, your wrists will ache and your bum will be bruised. After your first week struggling to play Knockin’ on Heaven's Door, your fingertips will be raw. Welcome to the awkward and irritating world of new skill acquisition. The journey from grossly incompetent to somewhat capable is simultaneously the most challenging and most rewarding part of learning. In the yoga studio, I see it every day. People poke their head in the door, take stock of the room, the instructor, the students, and proceed home to watch Netflix and eat Häagen-Dazs because it's easier than confronting the learning curve that awaits them. The benefit of avoidance is obvious—Netflix won’t cause you pain, won’t embarrass you, and won’t ask anything more of you—but the losses are catastrophic. Every day you spend stagnant, consuming rather than creating, it eats away at your vibrant spirit until there’s nothing left. On this week's podcast, you'll meet author Josh Kaufman, who is obsessed with that initial learning phase. He has figured out how to break through the barriers of inertia and uncover what someone really wants. Listen & Learn: Why learning is so important to the human condition The importance of pre-commitment to a phase of learning Why the 10,000-hour rule applies mostly to elite athletes and musicians Why great teachers are so difficult to find—and rarely teach How to leverage published material to supplement great teaching Links & Resources: Josh's Website Forever Fluent Book ABOUT THE GUEST Josh Kaufman is the author of three bestselling books: The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business, The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything... Fast!, and How to Fight a Hydra: Face Your Fears, Pursue Your Ambitions, and Become the Hero You Are Destined to Be. His TEDx talk on “The First 20 Hours” has been viewed more than 12 million times, putting it in the top 10 most viewed TEDx videos and top 100 most viewed TED Talks published to date. Josh's research has been featured by the New York Times, BBC News, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes, Time, BusinessWeek, Wired, and dozens of other publications. Josh has been a featured speaker at the Aspen Ideas Festival, World Domination Summit, Pioneer Nation, MicroConf, Bacon Biz, Stanford University, Google, and IBM. Nutritional Tip of the Week: Best Form of Sugar to Use 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 Thanks to our sponsor: Four Sigmatic - makes delicious Mushroom Superfood Blends and Mushroom Elixirs. Four Sigmatic believes in the real magic of functional mushrooms like Reishi, Chaga, Cordyceps, and Lion’s Mane, as well as other superfoods and adaptogens like rhodiola, eleuthero, and schisandra to help us live healthier, more enhanced lives. Visit: FOUR SIGMATIC and use coupon code "yogabody" for 15% off your order. Learn More

Xanet Pailet was in a marriage with zero physical intimacy for more than 15 years. Most people don't go that long, but many do wait years before they openly address these issues; however, by then, permanent damage to the relationship may have already been done. Sexuality is a definitive part of the human experience, and when it's not working, it's one of the top reasons couples split. So what's going wrong? Past trauma, self-esteem issues, guilt, shame, and a general lack of communication all contribute to the complexity of physical intimacy, so it's not surprising most people avoid the issue, if possible. Who wants to open up that Pandora's box? On this week's show, Xanet will share her insights and expertise based on both her personal experience and decades of coaching others. Listen & Learn: How a sexless relationship can harm your spirit and your life Why abstinence is a ridiculous idea, even in spiritual traditions Why the definition of 'sex' should be broadened to include many different ways of connecting on an intimate level How to navigate the challenges of modern pornography Links & Resources: Xanet's Website Living an Orgasm (book) ABOUT THE GUEST Xanet Pailet is a certified tantra educator, sexological body worker, and somatica-trained sex coach, who has worked in the therapeutic field for more than 25 years. She's the author of the book Living an Orgasmic Life, available on Amazon, as well as on her website. Nutritional Tip of the Week: Fish Oil 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 Thanks to our sponsor: Molekule has completely reinvented the air purifier. From the inside out, Molekule has reimagined what clean air ought to look and feel like—unobtrusive, portable, and 100% effective. Visit: MOLEKULE and use coupon code “Lucas” for $75 off your first order. Learn More

I struggled with chronic sleep deprivation for more than a decade. During that time, I’d fall asleep in the barber’s chair. If I was talking on the phone while in bed, I’d pass out in the middle of the conversation. On airplanes, I’d be asleep before takeoff and the flight attendant would have to wake me up after landing. My world was hazy. My focus was hour-to-hour. Generally speaking, my head felt like a swamp I had to wade through to get anything done.  A poor night’s sleep affects your mood, your decision-making, and even your appetite—but we all have bad nights. The only way to escape the occasional restless night is to live a monastic life, without kids, neighbors, construction, work stress or a partner. To live a full life, for most people, means losing some sleep now and again. And you know what? That’s fine, if you can recover. On this week’s podcast, you’ll meet a sleep expert who focuses on high-leverage strategies, not micro-tactics to improve your sleep. Listen & Learn: How understanding your chronotype can help you optimize sleep  Sleep deprivation vs. insomnia, understanding the difference  Why 'sleep drive' is like hunger or sex drive—it has its own rhythm and cannot be forced Why you should not force yourself to sleep earlier Why you should force yourself to wake up earlier How light and movement are the key to waking up Links & Resources: Sleepy Head Clinic ABOUT OUR GUEST Stephanie Romiszewski has a degree in psychology and behavioral sleep medicine. Her interest in sleep disorders began while studying chronobiology, during which time she assisted sleep research at Harvard Medical School. Stephanie has worked in NHS clinical sleep disorder centres across the UK, diagnosing and treating a number of sleep issues, such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, parasomnias, insomnia, movement disorders and circadian rhythm disorders. Nutritional Tip of the Week: Flouride 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 Thanks to our sponsor: Four Sigmatic - makes delicious Mushroom Superfood Blends and Mushroom Elixirs. Four Sigmatic believes in the real magic of functional mushrooms like Reishi, Chaga, Cordyceps, and Lion’s Mane, as well as other superfoods and adaptogens like rhodiola, eleuthero, and schisandra to help us live healthier, more enhanced lives. Visit: FOUR SIGMATIC and use coupon code "yogabody" for 15% off your order. Learn More

Mark Lukach's wife spent nearly two months in total in psychiatric wards during three different bipolar episodes. Mental illness appeared seemingly out of nowhere with suicidal thoughts, delusions, and dangerous behavior. While this story sounds extreme, I promise that someone you know and care about is suffering right now, as well. That being said, there's a good chance you can help. On this week's show, we'll look closely at mental illness, which affects one in every four households today. My hope is that this family's story will inspire you to find the courage to deal with the darkness.   Listen & Learn: Why suicide is a huge (and growing) problem all over the world Medication vs. natural solutions—what's best? Why talking and listening will always be important How to remove the stigma of mental illness and get help Links & Resources: Mark's Website Suicide Statistics (referenced in the show) ABOUT OUR GUEST Stephanie Romiszewski has a degree in psychology and behavioral sleep medicine. Her interest in sleep disorders began while studying chronobiology, during which time she assisted sleep research at Harvard Medical School. Stephanie has worked in NHS clinical sleep disorder centres across the UK, diagnosing and treating a number of sleep issues, such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, parasomnias, insomnia, movement disorders and circadian rhythm disorders. Nutritional Tip of the Week: Fermented Foods 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 heard someone blame their weight gain on a 'slow metabolism?' It sounds logical, but what does it mean exactly? What is considered 'slow?' When we talk about metabolic health, it's important to define what it really is. You'll quickly learn that it's multifaceted and you'll need to work separately on each area. On this week's podcast, we'll talk with Ann Louise Gittleman, the first lady of nutrition, who has very practical advice based on decades of extensive work in health and nutrition. Listen & Learn: How to optimize your metabolism for weight loss, health, and longevity Why pine nut oil is amazing for digestive problems (among other things) Why many people have lower HCL and bile production as they age Why bitter foods are so important Links & Resources: Ann Louise's Website Radical Metabolism ABOUT OUR GUEST Ann Louise Gittleman is a nutritionist, internationally recognized as a pioneer in dietary, environmental, and women's health issues. She is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author, with more than 30 books on health and nutrition. In her books, she covers a wide range of topics, including diet, detox, women's health, men's health, perimenopause, menopause, beauty, and the environment. Gittleman holds an M.S. in Nutrition Education from Columbia University, a Ph.D. in Holistic Nutrition, and she has the title of Certified Nutrition Specialist (C.N.S.) from the American College of Nutrition. She has also been featured in dozens of TV programs, as well as online and offline publications. Nutritional Tip of the Week: Why Eat Small Fish 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 Thanks to our sponsor: Four Sigmatic - makes delicious Mushroom Superfood Blends and Mushroom Elixirs. Four Sigmatic believes in the real magic of functional mushrooms like Reishi, Chaga, Cordyceps, and Lion’s Mane, as well as other superfoods and adaptogens like rhodiola, eleuthero, and schisandra to help us live healthier, more enhanced lives. Visit: FOUR SIGMATIC and use coupon code "yogabody" for 15% off your order. Learn More

If you can balance well, your yoga practice is more fun, you’re faster and nimbler, and you might even live longer. Sound far-fetched? Check it out: falls are the second leading cause of accidental or unintentional injury deaths worldwide. 424,000 individuals die from falls globally. My balance has improved massively in the past couple years, but historically, I’ve had terrible balance. I assumed it was something I just had to live with, but I’ve learned that poor footwear, bad walking patterns, and zero balance training all created this problem—and it’s largely reversible. On this week’s Yoga Talk Show, you’ll learn about balance training for athletes and anyone who seeks optimal health. Listen & Learn: Why balance involves your: vestibular system (inner ear), proprioception (body awareness, sensation) and vision How anyone can learn balance at any age using simple at-home tools and approaches Why balance is a software problem, not hardware How a slackline give you a “fall announcement” so land on your feet and stay safe How 25% of your bones and muscles are in your feet and another 25% in your hands Why slips and falls are the #1 cause of injury (and potentially death) for people over 65 Links & Resources: World Health Organization Stats on Falling SlackBow Site   ABOUT OUR GUEST Jim is a lifelong innovator who was looking for ways to maintain his own athletic performance, and in the process, he created The Slackbow Balance Training System, a body and mind fitness program that can help at any age. Nutritional Tip of the Week: Iron Supplements 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

Everyone has some area of their life where they feel totally stuck, and it usually falls into one of three categories: health, wealthy, or relationships. It's very rare that all three of those areas of life are flowing smoothly at once time, it's usually a balancing act where family life is awesome but work is a mess, or work is cruising but your health is suffering. Have you experienced this? On this week's podcast, we'll talk about engineering a breakthrough in your life with a counterintuitive approach. Listen & Learn: Why past trauma, pain and unresolved issues often keep you from moving forward Why micro failures are better than big fails How micro successes can snowball into a flurry of wins Why it's so challenging to change, and why it's essential to who we are Links & Resources: Switch On Now Website ABOUT OUR GUEST Nick Jankel is an author, philosopher, and professional speaker who develops tools for organizations, leaders and everyday people to transform themselves.  He is the creator of The Switch On Way a process that has been used by over 50,000 people and 50+ Fortune 500 companies across the globe and has been featured on the BBC and MTV. He is the author of two books, Switch On, and new book, The Spiritual Atheist available on Amazon. Nutritional Tip of the Week: Honey Before Bed 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 Thanks to our sponsor: Four Sigmatic - makes delicious Mushroom Superfood Blends and Mushroom Elixirs. Four Sigmatic believes in the real magic of functional mushrooms like Reishi, Chaga, Cordyceps, and Lion’s Mane, as well as other superfoods and adaptogens like rhodiola, eleuthero, and schisandra to help us live healthier, more enhanced lives. Visit: FOUR SIGMATIC and use coupon code "yogabody" for 15% off your order. Learn More

A little girl named Charlotte was having as many as 300 seizures a week, some lasting as long as 30 minutes. Her body was frail, her health was suffering, and her parents were at their wits' end. After every other medical intervention failed, the family tried a nonpsychoactive extract from marijuana called CBD and their lives were never the same again. Charlotte's story was one of the first to capture people's imagination, from lawmakers to cannabis growers, and in the years since, has helped spawn an entire nutraceuticals industry around this powerful compound. On this week's show, we'll lay out the risks and rewards of self-administered CBD oil. Listen & Learn: Why most (but not all) CBD products contain little to no THC, meaning they will not get you high How CBD impacts the receptors already present in your body How CBD can reduce inflammation, including inflammation in your brain How to make sure the product you're using is safe and healthful The real legal and safety concerns surrounding CBD products Links & Resources: Omax Health ABOUT OUR GUEST Evan DeMarco is a sports medicine and nutrition expert, author, public speaker, and frequent guest on television and radio. As an entrepreneur, he is currently creating a functional medicine and nutritional supplements platform. Nutritional Tip of the Week: Can You Supplement Everything 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 Thanks to our sponsor: Molekule has completely reinvented the air purifier. From the inside out, Molekule has reimagined what clean air ought to look and feel like—unobtrusive, portable, and 100% effective. Visit: MOLEKULE and use coupon code "Lucas" for $75 off your first order.       Learn More