Is the Urban Monk retreat worth the travel distance?

Jennifer Gill, a CPA from Louisiana, found the driving distance to the Austin retreat manageable and highly rewarding. She noted the small group setting and welcoming atmosphere made the trip a 'wonderful' and 'beautiful' experience.

Can someone who struggles with meditation maintain this program?

Yes. Jennifer Gill stated she had never been able to sustain a meditation practice before, but this program provided the structure she needed to make it a permanent part of her life.

What is the community like at Urban Monk events?

Jennifer described the community as wonderful and serene. She highlighted that Dr. Pedram Shojai and his family were personally welcoming, creating a perfect environment for working and visiting with others.

Can Living Light help with undiagnosed joint and bone pain?

Yes. Kat Perkins sought the program after traditional medicine and sports doctors could not provide a diagnosis for her joint issues. Through the program's genomic testing and holistic view, she discovered her pain was rooted in inflammation from chronic Lyme disease.

Is the Living Light Reset program difficult to follow?

Kat Perkins describes the program as simple and straightforward, yet challenging. It requires a significant shift in habits, such as eliminating in-between meal snacking to ensure the body is properly nourished rather than just full.

Does the Living Light program provide support or is it self-guided?

The program offers a hybrid approach. Kat Perkins noted there was a lot of self-direction, but she also utilized a dedicated coach and a community website to ensure she wasn't alone during the process.

What do real people say about lifestyle medicine?

45 people recorded interviews about lifestyle medicine across 23 organisations. 14 of them mentioned more energy through the day in their own words. The most common timeframe people described was over a year. Every figure below is a count of what people said in their recorded interview — not a clinical trial or a survey.

First-hand accounts from people who talked about lifestyle medicine in their recorded interview.

What people said changed

Counts of interviews where the person described this in their own words.

More energy14 of 45 mentioned it
“I just didn't feel as good as I felt I should, and I really couldn't put my finger on it, and having exhausted doctors testing and stuff, I just felt like there was more.”Cinde Woodcock
Less pain11 of 45 mentioned it
“Maybe you just need to accept that this is how your life is going to be." And the idea of living with a lot of pain, with a lot of discomfort, with not being able to, uh, play with my grandson, without being able to c…”Kat Perkins
Family & relationships9 of 45 mentioned it
“It really just changed not just my life, but my family's life.”Sanjay Bhojraj
Mental clarity7 of 45 mentioned it
“So the approach at Living Proof Institute has really kind of changed my shift and my focus, both as a person and as a doctor.”Sanjay Bhojraj
Less medication7 of 45 mentioned it
“My skin also feels great and I've also been able to reduce my blood pressure medication by half.”Garvin, Kelly
Felt supported6 of 45 mentioned it
“And I just wanted to meet him, and when I got to listen to more of his speeches, I just got more interested and interested, and I'm like, "I gotta go to his retreat." This is what made me, you know, to go to his retreat.”Mahnaz
Better sleep6 of 45 mentioned it
“Learning how to sleep better.”Kelly Altman
Weight change6 of 45 mentioned it
“Generally I run about 240 pounds. and I was looking to lose some weight - just become more fit, and have a better lifestyle.”Rick Field

See the full data tables for Lifestyle Medicine →Read the research write-up →

How long it took

Over a year · 2

Stories in this topic

Showing 12 of 45 interviews.

What people were sceptical about first

“Kelly Altman initially felt desperate due to pain and knew the treatment wouldn't be inexpensive, but she decided it was time to invest in her health rather than wasting money elsewhere. She concluded that the long-term results of living pain-free made the in…”Kelly Altman
“Joy Eason admitted that she initially thought the program was a bit pricey. However, after being 'down and out' from failed medical treatments, she decided the investment was worth it to avoid further hormonal injections and gain power over her own health.”Joy
“I started the MedChefs program at the suggestion of a doctor who thought it would be helpful in supporting my heart health and my kidney health, and my all around physical well-being, There was no hesitations to start with the program.”Teppera Alys Lowery

Frequently asked

Is the Urban Monk retreat worth the travel distance?: Jennifer Gill, a CPA from Louisiana, found the driving distance to the Austin retreat manageable and highly rewarding. She noted the small group setting and welcoming atmosphere made the trip a 'wonderful' and 'beautiful' experience. — Jennifer Gill
Can someone who struggles with meditation maintain this program?: Yes. Jennifer Gill stated she had never been able to sustain a meditation practice before, but this program provided the structure she needed to make it a permanent part of her life. — Jennifer Gill
What is the community like at Urban Monk events?: Jennifer described the community as wonderful and serene. She highlighted that Dr. Pedram Shojai and his family were personally welcoming, creating a perfect environment for working and visiting with others. — Jennifer Gill
Can Living Light help with undiagnosed joint and bone pain?: Yes. Kat Perkins sought the program after traditional medicine and sports doctors could not provide a diagnosis for her joint issues. Through the program's genomic testing and holistic view, she discovered her pain was rooted in inflammation from chronic Lyme disease. — Kat Perkins
Is the Living Light Reset program difficult to follow?: Kat Perkins describes the program as simple and straightforward, yet challenging. It requires a significant shift in habits, such as eliminating in-between meal snacking to ensure the body is properly nourished rather than just full. — Kat Perkins
Does the Living Light program provide support or is it self-guided?: The program offers a hybrid approach. Kat Perkins noted there was a lot of self-direction, but she also utilized a dedicated coach and a community website to ensure she wasn't alone during the process. — Kat Perkins