Light Watkins is a bestselling author, meditation teacher, keynote speaker, and founder of The Shine Movement.
With over 500 global talks, he inspires others to embrace mindfulness, spiritual minimalism, and inner peace. Through his books and speaking, Light helps people simplify their lives and cultivate happiness from within, guiding them to live with purpose and authenticity.
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Mindset Shifts for a Better You (videos of you speaking / speaking highlights)
My path
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I’ve been a seeker of spiritual knowledge for as long as I can remember
Growing up in a family of six in Alabama, I always enjoyed spending time alone, contemplating the mysteries of life.
After college, I thought I would work in advertising, but life had other plans
I spent about 7 years modeling before I began exploring yoga and meditation in my downtime.
I moved from New York city to Los Angeles and became a full-time yoga teacher
I met my meditation teacher and felt a deep inner calling to become a teacher myself. However, this was 2003, and meditation teacher trainings didn't exist at the time.
I delivered a TEDx talk on meditation that received a million views
My first book, The Inner Gym, was published in 2015. As the wellness industry grew, I became a recognizable meditation teacher, leading to more opportunities for collaborations, speaking, and writing. Watch my TEDX Talk.
I embraced minimalism in 2018, kept only what fit in a carry-on
After releasing Bliss More, I used my book tour to experiment with minimalism, eventually downsizing from a carry-on and backpack to just a backpack.
My Journey to Inspiring Inner Peace and Fulfillment continues
During the pandemic, I launched my podcast and published my third book, Knowing Where to Look, which grew out of my Daily Dose of Inspiration emails. In 2021, I created The Happiness Insiders, an online community with 2,000 members focused on meditation and inner happiness. My fourth book, Travel Light: Spiritual Minimalism to Live a More Fulfilled Life, became a bestseller in 2023, offering a framework for minimalism from the inside out. Check out my books.