IIN Chief Wellness Officer Deepak Chopra continues to be at the forefront of holistic health and wellness. He’s always innovating and leveraging the latest technology and research to make the world a happier, healthier, more grounded place. The bestselling author and visionary sat down with menopause advocate, author, Emmy-award winning television host, and IIN Certified Health Coach Tamsen Fadal for a wide-ranging, in-depth conversation about all things health and wellness. In this portion, Tamsen asks Deepak to describe his daily routine, and wonders how we can listen to our bodies when there’s never been more noise to distract us.
Tamsen Fadal: I know your day starts really early, and I think that your routine really contributes to supporting your longevity in so many ways. What does your daily routine look like?
Deepak Chopra: My routine starts at either 5 or 6 in the morning, depending on what time I sleep. I do two hours of yoga and Pranayama, and then I meditate for another hour, so it takes me three hours to do my routine. And then at 11 am, I start my day. I don't start my day before 11, and I finish everything I have to do by 5. So, my workday is 11 to 5.
Sometimes I’m speaking, sometimes I’m giving interviews, and sometimes I’m giving a lecture at a medical school, or to medical students. Sometimes I’m doing public events. And also during this time, if I have the time, I write. I manage to write an hour every day. At 5 in the evening, I stop working and go for a walk. I walk about five miles a day in New York City.
I eat dinner at around 6:30, and then by 8:30 I'm ready to do another meditation, and some reflection. I doze off by about 9 or 9:30.
Read More: Deepak Chopra on Eliminating Diseases, Living to 120, and How Technology Is Shaping Longevity
Tamsen Fadal: Has it changed throughout the course of your life?
Deepak Chopra: As I've grown older, I've taken more time to do yoga and Pranayama and exercise, and I work less than I used to. But I don't work on weekends or any evenings at all, though there are always exceptions.
Tamsen Fadal: For years, you've talked about how we have to learn to listen to our own body. With so much noise surrounding us — social media, AI, etc. — in today's day and age, how do you practice listening to your own body?
Deepak Chopra: The simplest thing is to learn to do a body scan. Close your eyes, put your awareness in every part of your body, and you'll soon learn to interpret what's happening in your body. There are more advanced techniques, such as yoga nidra, and also something called interoceptive awareness, which is a part of yogi practice. (This includes things like bandhas and kriyās.) But in yoga, that's called Pratyahara, which is a withdrawal of the senses. It's the most useful thing that anyone can do, to learn to actually be in touch with what's happening inside your body.
When we are children, as babies, we all toilet train and learn to control our bladder, our bowels. But in yogi tradition, you go beyond that. You should be able to eavesdrop on your heart, and your gut, and everything else that's happening in your body.
Read More: Deepak Chopra on Menopause, Reconnecting With Yourself at Midlife, and His Favorite Supplements
You can experience Chopra’s teachings for yourself in our immersive course catalog. Dive deep into yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, and so much more, and learn from world-renowned faculty members and experts. Click here to browse the full catalog and find your course.