Next up in camexpo’s Q&A series is Demo Theatre session host Chris James. Here Chris shares his personal journey to complementary health, and discusses the challenges of running a successful business.
Chris is a yoga and meditation teacher, and the founder of health and lifestyle company Chris James Mind Body. He has over 14 years’ experience, including teacher training, one on ones, workshops, masterclasses, and on clean break retreats in the UK and internationally.
Who or what has been the biggest influence on your career?
There have been many people who have influenced me in my career: Yoga Master T.K.V. Desikachar, and the late Colin Gunton, professor of systematic Theology at Kings College London. However the single most career defining moment was when I was the victim of an unprovoked attack in the year 2000, which left me with a broken neck and dislocation at #C2, #C3, and #C4. I was very lucky to survive, as I sustained the same injuries as Christopher Reeve.
To recover, I used the intense Yoga practice that I had established in India. I used the techniques of intelligent movement, breathing, meditation, and visualisation to bring the intelligence back into my body. It was at this point that I decided to become a teacher and to help others.
What do you love about your work?
My teaching has always focused on the traditional Master/Pupil one on one model, rather than classes. I have helped people recovering from cancer, people learning to walk again, and other debilitating conditions, as well as professional athletes and sportsman; including one of Britain’s Iron Men. Most of all I enjoy the close personal relationships and friendships that come out of my practice.
What are the biggest challenges in running a successful health and lifestyle company?
Moving the business from a service to a product model has not been without its challenges. And after the ‘C word’, or Cashflow in my case, the biggest challenge has been about spinning plates, forks and knives. However I have seen the business grow immensely recently, with key staff now in place, and a growing list of exclusive retailers including SpaceNK, Wholefoods, Harrods, and Liberty.
What’s your most memorable work moment?
Professionally, my most memorable work moment was witnessing one of my clients cross the finish line at the London Marathon last year. If you had met him just two years before you would never have recognised that it was the same person!
In a business sense, it was when I first saw my name on one of my products ’12Days’ on a shop shelf – it was at Harrods a few years back. Nobody would have been able to tell me when I started, that a simple idea that had started its life in a shoe box and an A4 print out would end up in this place!
What are the key points you’ll be covering in your Demo Theatre session at the show?
My focus will be on a 360 degree, 365 days a year natural approach to achieving optimum levels of wellness. This will include tips on how to devise a practice of intelligent movement, combined with regular bio-rhythmical cleansing, key to this will be exploring the mind, body, gut connection.
Why would you recommend practitioners/therapists visit camexpo?
The sheer range and volume of workshops, exhibits, keynote presentations at camexpo makes this a destination for anyone who wishes to keep abreast of the possibilities in complimentary health.
No comments yet.