NFL
By: Joe Cardoso
Greetings folks! Once again we find our latest “Mover and Shaker” in the DMV, a place where you get a really good mix of people from all walks of life.
One thing that is starting to become popular, not just in sports but in life, is mental health and taking care of our minds and finding balance in that arena. One-way people do that is through Yoga and meditation.
Introducing Chelsea Xeron a former athlete turned performance coach and Kundalini Yoga & Meditation instructor. She runs a performance consulting company and has helped Olympic gold medalists, NFL players, CEOs, and celebrities overcome issues that hinder their performance. She has been featured in US News & World Report, USA Today, ESPN Magazine and CBS News.
Joe Cardoso: Yoga and Meditation. A lot of people know nothing about them, what are the benefits and how did you discover it?
Chelsea Xeron: I started meditating long before I tried yoga. My mom used to teach guided meditations to my sports teams when I was younger. After every practice, we would do a 5-minute meditation. Meditation is an effective way to reduce stress & anxiety, increase energy, improve your mood, train your mind, and so much more. I found yoga a few years later after several sports injuries. I needed a way to recover faster and prevent future injuries and it helped my body immensely. Yoga can increase flexibility, decrease blood pressure, boost your body’s natural ability to heal itself, release tension, and reduce pain.
JC: Staying positive and upbeat in today’s world is HARD. How do you do it?
CX: I credit sadhana, which is a daily practice of yoga and meditation. The idea of sadhana is that you get up early in the morning (traditionally before sunrise) to prepare yourself mentally, physically, and energetically for your day. I’ve found that sadhana has been an integral part of my day. It has increased my positivity tenfold and makes me feel like I can handle anything that comes my way.
JC: At what point did you decide to pursue your current career path and why?
CX: My father died right before I turned 21 and he was a CFO. I was in college studying to get my degree in Finance and it was a huge wake-up call. My father worked 60+ hours a week and never took a vacation. He didn’t enjoy life and that scared me. I wanted to live life on my terms so I decided to pursue entrepreneurship.
JC: Who are the people who keep you PUMPED to keep chasing your dreams and goals?
CX: I’m a self-motivated person, but there are times when I’ve had a really hard day and I feel a little down. Posts from Gary Vaynerchuk, Tony Robbins, or Grant Cardone help me to remember why I started in the first place.
JC: Yoga can be very intimidating for a newbie. Am I wrong or right for saying that?
CX: Social media has changed yoga. For beginners when they go on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest and look up yoga, they’ll find a lot of pictures of yogis doing handstands or some difficult inversion. Beginners think this is what yoga is about and instantly think that they can’t do it or it’s not for them. Yoga is so much more than contorting yourself into difficult postures. Yoga is the union of an individual’s consciousness with the divine consciousness through asana, pranayama, and meditation but that, unfortunately, doesn’t get as many likes as a handstand on the beach.
JC: What do you hope people get out of your challenges and the classes you offer?
CX: I design every class and challenge to help people transform their lives and to help them to experience their potential first hand. I can talk until I’m blue in the face about how great your life can be and what’s possible for people to achieve but unless they have an experience of that nothing will change. My current 40 Day Challenge is helping people to develop discipline, so they can achieve their goals. Several people have already achieved major things and we’re not even halfway through yet. They are witnessing the results of having a clear, focused mind.
JC: What is your approach to diet?
CX: I have a lot of food allergies, so I am forced to eat clean. I don’t eat gluten, dairy, or soy. I try to make food that’s full of flavor and super healthy at the same time.
JC: How did you and your husband start Studio 52?
CX: My husband is a photographer. When we first started dating he had a beautiful 3,000 sq. ft loft that he lived and worked out of. His photography clients would always try to rent the space for events and it seemed odd at first because that was his home and he didn’t want random people in it, you know? But one client made an offer that paid his rent for a few months and it started from there. I saw the potential in the business and put the structure into it and started marketing the space. Now, we have a beautiful event venue in DC and the other division of the brand is video production. Studio52 DC is the business we share together. My husband has his photography business where he travels and shoots ad campaigns while I have my peak performance business. We have a lot going on!
JC: Does seeing yourself on TV or in magazines still seem unreal to you?
CX: It doesn’t anymore. It was definitely a little weird at first but you start to get used to it.
Bonus Questions:
JC: If you weren’t doing what you do now what would your career be?
CX: I would be a CFO. I love finance and that’s what I was studying in college.
JC: What is one thing about you no one would ever guess?
CX: I’m an introvert. I need my alone time to recharge my batteries. I prefer to stay at home rather than going out. I don’t like being in large crowds. Most people think I’m extroverted because of social media but it’s quite the opposite.
Chelsea is SUPER positive and that is something we all could use more of. I cannot thank her enough for taking the time to chat with me and share her story. I have no doubts this is only the start of her journey. Follow along through her social media accounts and websites. Until next time keep it positive, keep chasing dreams and grind to shine.
Instagram Accounts: https://www.instagram.com/chelseaxeron/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/highperformancesociety/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/studio52dc/?hl=en
Website: https://www.chelseax.tv/
