By Alex McRobs
Even though a big part of our community is Sober Girls Yoga, we have four men on the team - who I've decided are now officially the "Sober Yoga Guys!" If you see them around in the Sober Girls Yoga Facebook Group, that's who they are! I wanted to introduce you to them so you can get to know them better in this article.
Dan Kumar
Dan and I met in 2019 when he provided me a psychic healing reading that changed the entire course of my life. He is basically the reason why this entire platform exists. I met him when I was one month sober, and he told me I was going to create this community. He is my biggest support and we go live together every week on Instagram at 7pm Bali Time on Sundays. Tune in to hear Dan's magic and book a call with him here.
How did you get connected to the Mindful Life Practice?
I’ve always felt like I was part of the inception of Mindful Life Practice... :) one of Alex’s inspirational donors. :)
What’s your relationship like with alcohol? (Are you sober - a mindful drinker - did you ever drink - etc?)
I’m a mindful drinker and don’t believe in having any type of substance to change my mood or feeling.
What services do you offer on the Mindful Life Practice? (Describe what you offer so people can understand what it is)
Im a natural born psychic with over 18 years’ experience in the fields of psychic readings, holistic healing, and providing spiritual guidance to people across the world.
Completely free of any particular religious beliefs, my readings are a reflection of your current situation, identification of the cause of certain situations or patterns in your life, and a practical guide to action-steps you need to take to realize your desired outcomes.
How can intuitive healing support people in sobriety?
It supports them by giving the tools and the answers for the next few steps. Intuitive healing is showing yourself how you can use basic principles and steps to create the desired result; mindful, emotional and spiritual.
QUICK Q&A
1. What’s your favourite food?
Fruit! Any type of fruit but when I’m naughty it’s french fries
2. What’s your favourite book?
The colour purple by Alice Walker.
3. Where’s your favourite place in the world you’ve visited?
Beirut, Lebanon
4. What are your hobbies?
Cooking, hearing the voices of nature and listening to music
5. If you could go out for dinner with anyone in the world - doesn't matter if they're still living or have already passed away - who would you have dinner with and why?
Right at this moment it would be my father, he passed away over 18 years ago and is the main reason I started my holistic practice. I would want him to hear about what changes I’ve helped create in peoples lives and how he is a part of that expression of love.
Khaled Bayad
Khaled is our hypnotherapist and many of you have joined for our weekly yoga and hypnotic meditation session. If you haven't tried it yet, it's free and you can book it here! Khaled does one-on-one sessions with individuals here. Read on to learn more about who Khaled is!
How did you get connected to the Mindful Life Practice?
I met the founder of MLPC, Alex, about a year ago through a Facebook group where she shared her beautiful journey of hers and I found it so resonating. That was where we connected and today through the work that we do together, we are truly inseparable.
What’s your relationship like with alcohol?
Thankfully, I've been sober for the past 6 years and I'm loving it.
What services do you offer on the Mindful Life Practice?
I'm a clinical Hypnotherapist certified by the National Guild of Hypnotists -USA (NGH) and a Trauma Coach at MLPC. I help people to train their subconscious mind to create the life they're worthy of, by finding the "Root Cause" of their current challenges. In my one-to-one sessions, I guide members to heal a variety of mind - body connection matters by effectively releasing suppressed emotions and unwanted blockages from the past. I also help individuals to release their traumas in a very safe space not only through Hypnosis but also through coaching sessions.
How can hypnotherapy support people in sobriety?
Hypnosis is a century-old technique that uses a progressive relaxation method in order to find the root cause of your addiction/drinking by accessing some very old memories which have caused you to your current challenges. By revisiting these events through Hypnotherapy, not only you'll realize what made you start drinking, but it will also help you to release suppressed emotions and unwanted experiences. This emotional release and making peace with your past will create enhanced creativity and long-lasting positive changes in order for you to control your drinking addiction easily.
QUICK Q&A
1. What’s your favourite food?
Definitely Persian Food. (Not saying this because I'm Persian :))
2. What’s your favourite book?
"The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk
3. Where’s your favourite place in the world you’ve visited?
New Delhi, India
4. What are your hobbies?
Since I live in Bali, riding a bike through unknown places and beautiful scenery while listening to music is not only my hobby but it's also my kind of therapy.
5. If you could go out for dinner with anyone in the world - doesn't matter if they're still living or have already passed away - who would you have dinner with and why?
I would say Dr. Gabor Mate. He is a very well-known Hungarian-Canadian physician and author. He has a background in family practice, childhood development, and trauma. His approaches, books, and speeches made a great impact not only in my personal life but also in my professional career.
Matthew Ellis
One of the first people to ever graduate the Mindful Life Practice Yoga Teacher Training, Matt aka Sober Yoga Dad is based in London, England! He has been working with us ever since he graduated and teaches the classic "Fri-YAY!" class at 6am Friday UK time (10am Dubai Time, 2pm Bali Time.) Join Matt and the UK crew for class here.
How did you get connected to the Mindful Life Practice?
I met Alex through One Year No Beer, I can't remember who befriended who, but it was very early sober days for me and I had started thinking about yoga and could I do it. I could never at the point. We started chatting imagine what it would lead to. I had tried yoga before when I was drinking and I never could like it. I get motion sickness and a down dog was like a hard NO! Anyway as I started doing more and more yoga with Alex knew it was for me. In April 2021 during one of Alex's classes I had this powerful feeling that I had to become a yoga teacher and there and then I knew I had to train as a teacher. I became one of Alex's first ever students, I'm proud to teach at MLPC.
What’s your relationship like with alcohol?
I'm sober and on my birthday I will be 1000 days sober. I knew I would do a year, but 1000 days seemed like a great challenge. When I hit it, I honestly am not sure what is next..
What services do you offer on the Mindful Life Practice?
I do a 6AM UK class and call it "Friyay" yoga. My yoga is calm, starts off slow and gentle with a mini vinyasa flow thrown in followed always (probably) by Pigeon pose which I adore.
What's the benefit of yoga in sobriety?
Yoga for me is pure mindfulness, it can take you to a place of calm and away from thoughts of numbing out the world, which alcohol definitely did for me.
QUICK Q&A
1. What’s your favourite food?
Asian probably
2. What’s your favourite book?
The Comfort Book, by Matt Haig
3. Where’s your favourite place in the world you’ve visited?
Mexico or Japan
4. What are your hobbies?
Yoga, playing bass or Ukulele, surfing
5. If you could go out for dinner with anyone in the world - doesn't matter if they're still living or have already passed away - who would you have dinner with and why?
Bono, from U2, I do kind of love him! He's not for me, but has been a constant in my adult life.
Yasir El Mahdi
Yasir is our Operations Manager, and also the layout editor of this magazine. He does everything behind the scenes. If you have any issues with anything...don't hesitate to reach out!
How did you get connected to the Mindful Life Practice?
Through Alex. I feel like yoga was always calling. I was always intrigued by it but didn’t have the time or space. One day a friend invited me to a charity yoga class for Make a Wish Foundation during International Yoga Day where Alex co-taught the class in a yoga studio here in Abu Dhabi. This was during the time Alex was still a full time grade one school teacher. A few months later Alex was posting quotes from the book Meditation from the Mat by Rolf Gates. I read the book and it changed my whole perspective on life. That’s when I made the promise to stick to my yoga practice. Fast forward to the pandemic 2020 when Alex started offering classes over zoom and I asked if I can join, a month later I offered to volunteer and that’s when I started working for the MLPC. I always wonder what would’ve happened if I never asked to join her sessions.
What’s your relationship like with alcohol?
I actually never tried it. I was always the athletic guy so I was never into it. Actually, this is the first time I share this, but when I was at the age of drinking, when many people at my high school started drinking, I remember one day a relative who was staying with us coming late one night stumbling and unable to get his keys into the key hole and barley able to walk to get to bed. Back then I made the promise to never touch a drink because I never wanna be in that situation. It gives me so much purpose working for the MLPC and Sober Girls Yoga and help anyone trying to explore the sober life. You guys rock!
What services do you offer on the Mindful Life Practice?
I work for the MLPC, my job is mostly all the behind the scenes including the on demand, bookings, organization, social media and all the tech stuff. I love this job and I enjoy doing it so much! If anyone has a problem or question please contact me and I’ll try my best to answer you.
QUICK Q&A
1. What’s your favourite food?
Anything Italian, especially pizza!
2. What’s your favourite book?
Meditation from the Mat. Honorary mentions; The Art of Thinking Clearly & what we read recently in our Book Club, When you’re Ready, This is How to Heal.
3. Where’s your favourite place in the world you’ve visited?
Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi. I can’t get enough of it! I’m manifesting living there one day!
4. What are your hobbies?
Yoga, walking, cycling, making Instagram Reels and reading. I’m also adding cooking this year.
5. If you could go out for dinner with anyone in the world - doesn't matter if they're still living or have already passed away - who would you have dinner with and why?
Emma Watson. She’s elegantly smart. Fun fact: did you know that she’s a registered yoga teacher?