by Kara-Leah Grant The back of his book says it all: 'How did the crystal-meth addicted, alcohol-abusing porn star cross the road to become a beloved, world-famous yoga teacher?' And how did he? How did Les Leventhal transform and rise from the depths of the darkness to a place of light? Like all transformative journeys, Les Leventhal's certainly didn't happen overnight. Les was just 17 years old when he ran away from home, and the East Coast, landed in LA. No money. No friends. Nothing but … [Read more...]
Video Interview with Bikram Teacher Lucas Miles on Drugs, Addiction and Yoga
by Kara-Leah Grant I first met Lucas Miles at the lecture Bikram gave in Auckland in January of 2012. He was this crazy tall, lanky tattooed guy who spoke a mile a minute and had some damn interesting things to say. Later, he sent me a link to some articles he'd written about his journey into yoga. It was intense reading - Lucas has lived one helluva life. I attempted to cajole him into writing something for The Yoga Lunchbox, but he never got as far as sending me an article. Then this … [Read more...]
Healing the black hole: John Ogilvie’s story from drug addict to yoga teacher
John's article first appeared in Australian Yoga LIFE by guest author Ana Davis John Ogilvie is one of those rare people you meet with whom you feel an almost instant heart connection. There is a glint in his eyes that tells of an inner-spring of joy and a hint of boyish cheekiness. His presence is one of yogic lightness that makes it difficult to imagine him ever having plumbed the depths of despair and spiritual emptiness that characterise a destructive drug addiction. Nowadays John … [Read more...]