Light Watkins is a bestselling author of four books, an accomplished meditation teacher, founder of The Shine Movement, and an inspirational keynote speaker and workshop leader. He has delivered over 500 wellness-themed talks around the globe since 2007.
This is his story.
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...
Instead of working behind the camera, I ended up in front of the camera and modeled for about 7 years, until I started spending my downtime dabbling in yoga and meditation.
I then moved from New York to Los Angeles, CA, and became a full-time yoga teacher.
Shortly after relocating, I met my meditation teacher and felt a deep inner calling to become a meditation teacher myself. But this was 2003, and there were no meditation teacher trainings.
In 2007, I had an opportunity to attend a Vedic meditation training in India…
Afterward, I returned to my one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles and began teaching my friends and former yoga students how to meditate. Turns out, I was pretty good at it, and many more people from all walks of life came to learn. I then started traveling to teach and hosting international retreats.
In 2015, after personally teaching thousands of people to meditate, I gave a TEDx talk on meditation, which garnered a million views.
This is the time when my first book, The Inner Gym, was published. Meanwhile, the wellness space was growing into a multi-billion dollar industry, and I was becoming one of the most relatable and recognizable teachers in the meditation space—which led to a spike in opportunities for collaborations, speaking, and writing.
The non-profit sober social event I founded (called The Shine) began drawing 200 to 300 people per event.
The Shine grew into a global movement, with events in LA, NY, and London, with each event including meditation, live music, an inspirational talk, and philanthropy.
In 2018, inspired by the minimalism movement, I got rid of all of my possessions that didn’t fit into a carry-on bag to become a digital nomad.
I had just released my second book, Bliss More, and used my multi-city book tour as an opportunity to experiment with minimalism. And after about a year of living from a single carry-on bag and backpack, I downsized to just my backpack.
During the pandemic, I launched my podcast and published my third book, Knowing Where to Look
In 2016, I started sending out a Daily Dose of Inspiration to my email list, and that became my next book, Knowing Where to Look: 108 Daily Doses of Inspiration. I also began hosting my weekly podcast, The Light Show, while giving virtual talks to companies and organizations on topics like finding your purpose, tapping into inspiration, overcoming fear, and of course, cultivating mindfulness.
I created the world’s first meditation-centric online self-help community
In 2021, I launched The Happiness Insiders, which is an online community that offers meditation-centric challenges and masterclasses for becoming the best version of you. There are currently 2,000 members working on various aspects of their inner happiness.
Travel Light was published in 2023
My fourth book, Travel Light: Spiritual Minimalism to Live a More Fulfilled Life, became a best-seller. Travel Light details my framework for minimalism practiced from the inside-out. The idea is external minimalism doesn’t bring about peace, if you’re still holding onto outdated belief system and emotional clutter. I show the reader how to cultivate fulfillment on the inside in order to experience true peace on the outside.
