Quiet Leaders #7 - From Athlete to Yogi: Embracing a Softer Approach to Life with Peter Anderson

Peter Anderson shares his journey from being a top athlete to finding peace through yoga after battling drug and alcohol addiction. Peter reflects on his small-town Montana roots and the role of nature in shaping him. He emphasizes the significance of trust and self-dependence in his personal development and his creative awakening through photography and yoga instruction.

Peter cites the influence of Julia Cameron's 'The Artist's Way' on his thought process, along with the routines of morning pages and artist dates. He also narrates his path from addiction to recovery, facilitated by yoga.

A transformative yoga session in New York City led him to sobriety. He outlines the tenets of Jivamukti Yoga, focusing on ahimsa, devotion, and service.

He addresses the hurdles of addiction and the crucial step of halting familial patterns. Moreover, Peter underscores the transformative impact of teaching and contributing to others as a catalyst for change.

- Adopting a gentler approach to life through yoga, valuing rest, and being fully present.
- The significance of trust and self-reliance for personal growth and accountability.
- Exploring and embracing creativity in various forms, including photography and teaching.
- The influence of Julia Cameron's book 'The Artist's Way,' particularly the practices of morning pages and artist dates. Yoga can be a transformative tool for overcoming addiction and fostering positive life changes.
- Jivamukti Yoga emphasizes non-violence, devotion, and service, offering a comprehensive approach to yoga.
- While addiction is not a choice, individuals possess the strength to disrupt the cycle of intergenerational addiction and enact positive changes.

Teaching and contributing to others can be an influential method of motivating change and assisting others in their personal journeys.

Sound Bites:
- "I could no longer "Viking" my way through life."
- "Being fully present energetically and physically is much more important, even if that's for one thing, than doing 10 things and not being present to any of them."
- "The people who took me in in Salt Lake City, the Groth family, showed me respect and allowed me to be me."
- "I was inching towards sobriety but wasn't ready.
- "Addiction is not a choice. I didn't choose to be an alcoholic."
- "Some people get so down the hole that they need someone to shake them up."

Chapters:
00:00 - Embracing a Softer Approach to Life
03:03 - The Power of Trust and Self-Reliance
06:07 - Unleashing Creativity Through the Arts, Yoga and Teaching
27:44 - From Addiction to Sobriety
29:07 - Exploring Jeeva Mukti Yoga
33:30 - Breaking the Intergenerational Cycle of Addiction
48:17 - The Power of Teaching and Giving Back

Keywords:
yoga, athlete, nature, trust, self-reliance, creativity, photography, teaching, Julie Cameron, The Artist's Way, morning pages, artist dates, addiction, sobriety, yoga, Jeeva Mukti, non-harming, devotion, service, intergenerational cycle, teaching, giving back

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Follow Peter Anderson on Instagram: @its.about.living
https://www.instagram.com/its.about.living/

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