Ray Bass is the associate movement and wellness editor at mindbodygreen and a NASM-Certified Personal Trainer.
She holds a degree in creative writing from the University of Pennsylvania, with honors in nonfiction.
Deepak Chopra, M.D., is nothing short of a legend in alternative medicine.
He believes in being present, doing what you feel like, and living a “clear” life.
Here’s a small taste of his schedule, straight from the source.
His mornings start with several hours in bed.
Ten would be as much as I want, and 1 would be it sucks.
If you say 8, 9, and 10, you’re thriving.
If you say 5, 6, 7, then you’re struggling in some area of your life.
I can confidently say that I’m a 10 out of 10.
(you’re able to monitor that with all these gizmos and gadgets.
I love to get feedback and relate it to how I feel subjectively.)
So yes, I aim for 10 out of 10, all the time.
I just lie in bed and focus on being still.
Then I start my meditation, which usually lasts about 90 minutes, sometimes two hours.
That includes reflection, mindful awareness; it includes mantra practice.
Coffee is next.
Every day, I drink three cups of coffee before noon.
All the research is showing thatcoffee actually prevents five types of cancer1, including reproductive cancer in women.
It also mitigates the risk ofAlzheimer’s2.
It’s animportant antioxidant3.
Then, it’s time for yogawith a teacher or on his own.
I practice yoga for at least one hour every day.
Twice a week, I take a yoga class with a teacher, personal teacher.
But the rest of the time, I do it myself.
I haven’t missed a day of yoga for as long as I can remember.
I don’t remember when I did not do yoga at least every day for an hour.
If I have the day off, I might do an evening yoga session as well.
The rest of the day, I just don’t do anything.
Basically, if I feel like writing, I write.
If I feel like reading, I’ll read.
If Im in New York or in a big city, I’ll walk 10,000 steps.
I do some breathing techniques.
In terms of my dietI eat light.
I have one meal that is a major meal, and that’s usually at 6 or 7 p.m.
Things change, but I usually don’t eat after 6 p.m.
I’m a vegetarian, and I eat mostly plant-based foods.
Basically, that’s my diet.
We take one vacation every year, and my wife spends time between my children.
When I’m in California, she’s there.
When I’m in New York, she comes with me.
I also spend a lot of time in nature.
Bali, or India, Australia, Argentina… We always spend a lot of time in nature.
When his schedule changes, his routine doesn’t break; it bends.
Usually, if I’m on the road, I’m speaking at night, especially at public lectures.
Still, I do my routine.
I do my evening meditation every night.
And when I travel, it’s the same routine.
It doesn’t matter.
I don’t consider my work to be work, so for me, it’s play.
I write every day for as long as I need to, for planning.
When I’m flying, I write a lot on the plane.
I used to read a lot; I don’t read that much anymore.
I get my answers from stillness and, generally speaking, I don’t take myself seriously.
Nor does my family, and that keeps me going.
