For today’s episode, I am incredibly pleased to welcome Aurimas Juodka (pronounced something like OW-ree-mas YUO-dka, which is precisely why he goes by ‘AJ’ for short). AJ is a health and human performance expert who is also an educator, speaker and coach. He’s also an approximation of a superman (seriously, you should see his Instagram wall). And I had AJ on the podcast to chat about the role of digital detox in human optimization.
In this episode you will hear:
- What is human optimization
- Habits that drive us forward or hold us back
- The role and value of technology disconnection in human optimization
- Steps you can take to detox, without going to Indonesia
- How many more minutes of sleep AJ gets when he turns off his WiFi
Listen
Watch
Transcript
R Blank 0:01
Hello, everyone, I’m R blank and welcome to another episode of the healthier tech podcast the podcast about creating a healthier balance with modern technology. Today we’re welcoming our Master Yoda or AJ for short to the podcast. AJ is a Health and Human Performance expert. He’s an educator, speaker, and coach who’s helped hundreds of his clients excel in life physically and mentally.
Aurimas Juodka 0:23
I have a few approaches actually, some of them are super simple, where I just do not touch my phone and don’t turn it on or any technology for that matter until at least 12pm. Usually, I do it until two and just spend all morning meditating. However, whatever that looks like to you, I actually personally practice philosophy of meditation, and I just allow myself to unplug.
R Blank 0:48
Ha’s lessons have been featured in GQ and the Wall Street Journal among other media outlets. He also works at the Istana retreat in Bali, Indonesia to help us clientele optimize their health, well being and quality of life. And today I’ll be talking to AJ about the role of technology and its absence in human optimization in the experience of a detox retreat. Before we begin a brief word, this podcast is brought to you by my company shield your body, where it is our mission to help make technology safer for you and your loved ones to enjoy. Inspired by the life’s work of my father, Dr. Martin blank, one of the world’s leading EMF scientists, I founded shield your body in 2012. And we provide a ton of great and free resources for you to learn all about EMF radiation, like articles, ebooks, webinars and videos. We also have a world class catalog of laboratory tested EMF and 5g protection products from our phone pouch and laptop pad all the way up to our bed canopy. All of our products are laboratory tested and include a lifetime warranty, learn more about our products, and why we have hundreds of 1000s of satisfied customers around the world at shield your body.com that shield your body all one word.com or click the link in the show notes and use promo code pod to save 15% On your first order with free shipping throughout North America, the UK and Europe.
Aurimas Juodka 2:02
Thank you. Thank you for having me.
R Blank 2:03
Oh, no, it’s my pleasure. I’m really, really glad we could make this work from halfway around the world. So jumping right in, I understand that your your current journey began when you considered enlisting to serve in Afghanistan. Is that Is that right? Yeah, that
Aurimas Juodka 2:18
is that is actually accurate? Yeah, I don’t talk about that much, honestly. But that’s something something here that that was a consideration.
R Blank 2:27
Okay, yeah. So sorry, I saw you talk about it in another interview. But maybe then you can start off by telling us about how you got started on this journey.
Aurimas Juodka 2:39
So ultimately, everything happened organically, to be honest with you, it just everything evolved step by step, because I had to solve my own own issues, for that matter. So the whole evolution of a human kind of were the whole approach of what does it mean to be an optimized human? Because we, we tend to focus on mastering our career, we tend to focus on mastering something outside of ourselves, but we forget that we’re on this human experience. And I was constantly pondering what does it mean to be an optimized human? Which areas do we have to address? So in the, in the beginning, I just did that all unconsciously, and kind of let the society that conditioning, whatever else was that that was driving me I was at effect, ultimately, of everything that was going around, and slowly but surely realize that, hey, this is not the way and if we, if I keep going in that direction, I had gentle reminders from my body, from my impairment from different things that I’m going to end up in, in a crappy place, quite frankly. So now, so my journey ultimately started, realize, if I don’t take care of it, nobody else will. And that’s, that was the beginning of that, really, a lightbulb moment of it, you have to take ownership, I have to take ownership of whatever happens, and however it happens. And if if I start blaming or blaming anyone else, or actually looking for scapegoats, or what have you, it’s it’s just I’m just shooting myself in the foot because I still have to deal with a situation at hand. So that would be like a big 30,000 foot view of how my journey started.
R Blank 4:24
I know that I like that I like that the take on because at the end of the day, you’re the one who has to live with you. So taking ownership really makes a lot of what so but is there is there. I mean, what you started out with the question of what does it mean to be an optimized human? And what does it mean to be an optimized human?
Aurimas Juodka 4:42
Well, to be an optimized human, we ultimately are living different experiences, right? So first of all, is our physical body, our biology and our meatsuit that is carrying us through life. So having that taken care of is one piece of the equation. Another one is your emotional regulation because when you Think about it if people don’t not perform because they’re because they’re not, if they’re not able to, they just have all these emotional blockages and mental blockages. So those are kind of intertwine. So we have to take care of the physical obviously, it’s a clear the path where our bodies are capable, then we’re going to our mental capacity, and then it’s going to into emotional. So all of us are capable. The thing is, we have so many interferences in our lives on on a day to day basis that we actually get, get stuck because of that. And finally, then we when we realize that okay, this whole emotional thing, sorted physical stuff, assorted mental stuff assorted was beyond that, every person is looking for that higher purpose. And that’s where spirituality comes in. And it’s a different, you know, everybody has a different definition of a lot of people, myself included, I used to really tie spirituality to religion, where and that’s completely not the case is like, this conversation that we’re having right now can be a spiritual experience for the listeners out there. It’s a spiritual experience of you actually being in the present moment, right now, as cliche as that sounds and actually absorbing the words and being not distracted with anything else. But I mean, probably you’re driving right now, I’m guessing. It’s like, not distracting with anything else. But driving and listening to what we’re talking about. So that’s a that’s a spiritual experience. And it can it can be any. So ultimately, those four areas, when they’re taking care of, that’s what makes us an optimized human, we’re living a full optimizing an experience.
R Blank 6:43
So that your company right is called human optimized. So this is this really is the the core focus of the work you’ve been doing for several years,
Aurimas Juodka 6:55
I have a few companies that one was my is my personal and another one is yoga Lab, which is ultimately about experimentation of our human existence. So yogi, it’s the logo that is yoga in a flask. So we’re experimenting with ancient techniques and ourselves, our bodies, our minds, and then reporting to the rest of the world what worked. So that’s, that’s ultimately, experimentation. And just trying things out has been a massive part of my life, because I ultimately, I was born prematurely had kidney stones when I was 13 years old, and had a heart condition just kind of got into this world with a lot of, you know, started in the negative, and then had to figure out okay, how do I get myself out of this mess, or at least alive, you know. So that kind of led me into experience experimenting quite a bit and unpacking layers and layers and layers, which we start on the surface level, all of us do. So biology, and the physical human body was the first step for me. And then I got into mental health, I got into emotional health and regulation, and then spirituality, follow me because it’s like, okay, I have other boxes somewhat checked, I’m either master them, or I’m very comfortable with them. What’s next? What’s next? What’s next? And I kept asking that question, and it just led me layers deeper and deeper and deeper. And here, we are never ending. It’s never an
R Blank 8:21
no that I would I like I like hearing about this because it’s clear that the system, your system came from just your your own personal need and your own personal journey. And I find that I find that really inspiring. And I want to get into a little a little bit later into how how it is you you work with people how it is you convey their system to other people to help optimize their health. One thing though, that that that I found very interesting in in what I read about your approach is something called the minimal effective dose. Is that, is that right? Could you could you could you talk a bit about that?
Aurimas Juodka 8:54
Yes, exactly that you see, it’s just so easy to overthrow your lifestyle with anything like all of us have a set lifestyle, we are habits of or creature creatures of habits. So we either have habits that are driving us forward or holding us back so we can use them for our advantage or for our detriment. And most of us, unfortunately, have structured our lives in a way that that habitual nature of human animal is actually is actually not beneficial for us. So when it comes to minimum effective dose right now to reverse everything so to reverse that we first of all have to consciously identify the eight this is not working. And then we probably have some subconscious blocks that is leading us to this and the however right now we’re approaching our lives, subconsciously, it’s it’s serving us in some shape or form or another. It’s like it was self sabotage. For example, for example, when people say, I don’t want to hurt myself, but you do because you’re doing that, you know, so it’s there is something that this twisted kink that is driving us to hurt ourselves. So minimal effective dose is ultimately allowing you to pinpoint the very levers that are going to move, move you forward in the most efficient and straightforward manner. Because we, we tend to, you know, overthrow our lives as with fitness or emotional health, mental health, what have you and just kind of immerse ourselves into that. And then when we come out, but we just drop everything, go back to to where we started. So integrating that into your life, it requires that minimal effective dose, because we’re very few of us are able to overthrow it for the rest of our lives, we have families, jobs, all just full pile of things to do. And fortunately, or unfortunately, for some of us, and we can just overthrow, you know, start going to the gym for three hours a day to lose 100 pounds that we’ve gained in the in the past two decades. So the most sustainable approach, really, is to actually take it step by step where, okay, what is it that I want to change? What is that minimum effective dose approach that I’m gonna, I’m gonna actually sustain for the rest of my life. And that’s when you do it. Because if you right now, if you’re if it’s not gonna be there for the rest of your life, why do it in the first place?
R Blank 11:22
Yeah, no. So the least amount of change is the change that you’re going to be most likely to maintain? Yes, the changes that you maintain are the ones that are actually going to help you. There you
Aurimas Juodka 11:32
go. Yeah, no, I like that. Yeah.
R Blank 11:35
And it’s, I guess, slightly off topic. I used to be in software development, and, okay, minimal effective dose approach reminds me a lot about something called MVP, or minimal
Aurimas Juodka 11:48
fibrotic. Yeah.
R Blank 11:51
Which I found, pardon me to be a really effective way of getting complex software projects done.
Aurimas Juodka 11:59
Absolutely. You just you just get something out there. Because how many people are actually researching, you know, the best shoe that they want to buy before they actually start hitting the pavement? I know, you don’t need the best shoe. Just put some shoes on and start. Start running.
R Blank 12:19
Now, yeah, totally. So So the theme this season. I mean, it’s the healthier tech podcast, it’s all about, it’s all about building a healthier relationship with technology and the theme this season. And thank you again, for coming on to participate. The theme this season is is disconnecting, disconnecting from technology. And I heard you talk about quiet Saturdays as a great way to get started on improvement. Is that Is that still a habit that you maintain?
Aurimas Juodka 12:45
Yes, absolutely. Quiet Saturdays or Sundays, I pick one of the mornings. And right now the the, the vary, sometimes I have stuff going on on a Saturday morning. So a move it’s a Sunday, sometimes I just take an afternoon off on Sunday. So it just it’s a variation of it. But it’s it happens nine weekends out of 10. So I have a few approaches. Actually, some of them are super simple, where I just do not touch my phone and don’t turn it on, or any technology for that matter until at least 12pm. Usually, I do it until two and just spend all morning meditating. However, whatever that looks like to you, I actually personally practice Vipassana meditation. And I just allow myself to unplug another approach right now that I have access to, fortunately, at this amazing retreat center, and like a cliffside resort, that is just brilliant and fulfills all my needs. Honestly, it it has a floatation tank. So I closed myself off for three to five hours in the sensory deprivation tank and I just float I just completely turn off my nervous system because we are so dysregulated when it comes to our central nervous system, and what do I What do I mean by that is that we constantly charge our nervous system and it’s you can imagine that as a sliding scale. So you’ve probably heard about fight or flight and rest and digest your your parasympathetic nervous system and your sympathetic nervous system. The thing is that there’s a misunderstanding that we it’s okay to be in a in a sympathetic state, it’s okay to be in that flight fight or flight mode. However, the chronic exposure to that state is that is what actually is hurting us. So in order for us to actually put that sliding scale of somewhere in the middle and rebalance ourselves, that’s what’s necessary for our nervous system to complete to to devoid itself of any simulation for at least a few hours a week. That’s I mean, that’s the bare bare bare minimum because knowing how much we overcharged and put our systems into overdrive, where we’re scrolling on our phones before bed and pick our phones first thing in the morning. That’s, that’s horrible. You’re stimulating yourself from the moment you wake up to a moment you go to bed. And I mean, you can only matter. You see mental health issues being rampant and stress and depression. That’s one of the contributors is that seemed overstimulation and exposure to that simulation 24/7.
R Blank 15:26
I definitely want to continue that thread. Because that I think that’s fantastic. I just want to comment I, my, my brother had a float tank I used to float, and three to five hours sounds like a really long session to me. Is that is that like, at your Istana, which we’ll talk about at your retreat, which we’ll talk about? Is that kind of like, the session length that you recommend? Or?
Aurimas Juodka 15:50
No, actually, for most people, for most people, honestly, it’s 60 to 90 minutes are going to do wonders. And I’m just I’m just more hardcore when it comes to those things. Because simply because I do know how much I overcharge my system throughout the week. And when I have when I have seasons, for example, where I have, you know, 12 to 16 hour days, for a period of time, I’ve the only thing that I want after that is just to not not talk to anyone, and to just have as little interaction or or stimulation as possible. And what’s the better way to do that, then floating you can bring it from there. You can’t talk to anyone. It just you and yourself. That’s it.
R Blank 16:35
Yeah, no, I yeah, those are very powerful devices. I totally agree. I also read or heard that you have you use a kill switch for your in home? Tech. Is that right? Did I get that right? Or? Yes, you’re right. And so you and that’s actually for other reasons. That’s not that’s one of the products that we recommend at my company is how, what why can you speak to? I mean, so you have your quiet Saturdays, you you work to disconnect, how is it that you use this this kill switch or multiple depending, I guess, depending on the rooms, how is it that you make use of those in your regimen,
Aurimas Juodka 17:15
ultimately, it just, it just turns off the the Wi Fi at a certain hour, it just automatically shuts it off. So first of all, you’re not getting non native electromagnetic fields, exposure to that, which we don’t want when we sleep and actually measured that when I lived back in Bangkok. And I simply just one change, I literally ate the same thing. For six days, I did the same thing for six days. And I did three days with Wi Fi on and three days without Wi Fi. And my aura ring, which probably a lot of people listening right now they’re familiar with, it’s a tracking device, a little health tracking device that tracks your sleep. My deep sleep was 15 minutes longer. In average, in those three days that I I had no Wi Fi on everything else was was pretty much the same. So it was fascinating for me to see such a drastic, pretty significant change. Honestly, 15 minutes of deep sleep is a pretty significant change.
R Blank 18:18
Yeah, no, that’s and turning off your Wi Fi at night is a is one of the top recommendations that we make also at my company that it’s great to have the it’s great to have those actual hard data that you’re getting. Is the kill switch just for your Wi Fi? Or do you use it? Do you use it just to depower like multiple devices or
Aurimas Juodka 18:41
just on multiple devices because other than that I have pretty regular sleeping routines. I mean, I do enjoy weirdly enough, I do enjoy your reading things on my phone, I do not really engage in physical books anymore for some reason, it just kind of got used to it, quite frankly. And it’s more it’s just more convenient to store everything in one place because I read quite a bit so it’s more it’s more handy for me however I just flip my phone into airplane mode and it just becomes a reading device and that’s it so it comes to comes to habit and really discipline when it comes to that but it’s it’s pretty at this point I’m kind of Yeah, it’s become automatic.
R Blank 19:29
Now it it’s really great to hear because I wasn’t sure you know going into this interview it’s really great to hear how management of your of your EMF exposure is such an important part of actually one optimization regimen.
Aurimas Juodka 19:41
That’s That’s huge. That’s you just such an underestimated thing. And but I I noticed how sensitive I am to my environment. Once you get into I guess deeper meditative states and and other things where you just expose yourself into we’re just become More internally aware, you realize how many things are actually messing with your with your head and throwing you off balance. So when it comes to wearing earbuds and stuff like that they are convenient, the wireless earbuds they are convenient, but I only only use them when I’m when I’m driving so as to minimize that exposure to pretty much maximum. But it’s a big it’s a big thing.
R Blank 20:27
So So you know, it’s funny, you mentioned aura ring, I guess it’s not funny, like you say a lot of people are using it. But I’m often asked about these because I, I am a strong advocate for minimizing exposure to EMF radiation. And I’m very vocal about not using wearable technology, like you mentioned AirPods. And so one thing I want to get from from you, because you are an advocate and a practitioner of reducing your exposure, but you also use technology specific pieces of technology for specific uses in your human optimization regimen. So how can you speak a little bit to the value of detoxing from technology versus the role of technology in managing detox and human optimization to brush across?
Aurimas Juodka 21:20
Yeah, yeah, no, that’s, that’s a that’s a loaded question. But it’s a really good one. It is, it is a really good one that one of the one of the things actually, that I that I tend to gravitate towards is to really simplification. That’s why minimal effective dose is such a foundational thing of everything that I do, is because once we start over complicating things, I’ll be honest with you, like 999 people out of 100 would just basic recommendation, if they just stick to the basics, they’re going to be they’re just going to be better off than than the rest of the population. All the all of the high tech optimization stuff is becoming more and more sexy. But quite frankly, it is unnecessary. You know, biohacking. I’m a huge proponent of biohacking in different of different approaches. However, how can you hack a computer that is turned off, and most of our biology is most of our bodies are actually not not even powered yet. So you cannot hack it until it’s actually on and connected to the internet. Right? So. So that’s one of the things that that I’m really, I’m really conscious of that to not overload people with all these, all this, these technological bits. So if the technology technologies like smartwatches, smart everything, the reality is that it’s making us more and more stupid, in a lot of these cases. So I do use it quite extensively. So for example, yeah, I have an aura ring. I have, like a polar device, my chest strap when I want to use to train more specifically, and actually would like to measure my heart rate variability more accurately, and more accurate heart rate, all that kind of stuff. For example, I use new calm device. That’s, that’s technology, that’s a pretty advanced technology, I use all these kinds of bio hacks, and just quite quite a few, quite a few things here and there. However, I wouldn’t replace them. If I didn’t take care of the basics, the fundamentals of my biology, where it’s sleep optimization, stress management, nutrition movements, my environmental toxicity, and my mental health, I wouldn’t even bother to even consider those. You know, if for example, whoring is such a simple, simple device that if you’re not sleeping, well, it’s going to give you good data on Okay, the adjustments to make. So if that’s going to drive you forward is going to it’s going to make you make behavioral adjustments, that’s great. But if it’s not, then just drop it, just lose it. So quite frankly, the point of the whole thing is I kind of went on a on a roll hope it is great. If it’s stopped, if it’s over complicated. If it’s making your life harder, just drop it lose it. If it’s actually helping you and data collected data, if you’re not using it. It’s absolutely useless. You can collect as much data as possible if you’re not making decisions based on that, like your, for example, on software, software’s Google Analytics offer 1000s of pieces of data, it’s there, it’s great. But if you’re not using it, what’s the point? You know, so that’s, that’s the same thing with with the human body, as well as if you were not making adjustments if it’s not driving us to change. It’s useless. So like things for example, like continuous glucose monitor. I wear that a few weeks every year to kind of see the adjustments of my of how I react to certain foods. I’m just curious, honestly. So having said something with NFC reading acity and a needle stuck in my arm for a few weeks, I’m fine with that, you know, because of for the sake of data that I’m going to actually act upon, I’m fine with that. If I wasn’t doing anything about it about the data that I collected, well, I just simply wouldn’t use it.
R Blank 25:19
No, I I really appreciate that that kind of approach I often talk about because I with the exception of certain technologies, like air pods, which I’m very strongly against i when it comes to wearables, people ask me, you know, because of EMF concerns, should should they shouldn’t they? And I always recommend engaging in a cost benefit analysis. And it sounds like that’s exactly what what what you’re taught.
Aurimas Juodka 25:45
Precisely. Yeah, I did some action what Sorry Sorry for interrupting some actionable steps for most people’s like if you’re not turning off your your phone or not flipping it into airplane mode when you’re going to bed you don’t have to worry about any EMF exposure beyond that like that’s that’s the first step so there are layers to it. So every single subject there are layers to it and moat for most of us if we cover just 90% of that you don’t need extra bio hacks or any of that nonsense so that’s that’s the ultimate point.
R Blank 26:21
Yeah, and not carrying your phone in your pocket. Yeah, I this is this is great. I would love to talk to you like a lot longer just on this specific set of questions but I want to move on into his Tanna which is the didn’t and did I say that correctly? Is that Yeah, it’s done. Yeah, that sounds that’s it which which is the retreat that you run in Bali and it sounds pretty amazing. I’ve seen photos videos. Fortunately, I did not have the time or budget to go research in person before this episode. Can Can you you know talk a little bit about is tama and also and what made you create this refuge.
Aurimas Juodka 27:02
So Istana is ultimately actually I did not create it, it was my business partners. idea and it’s his baby is just something that I discovered about three years ago and I simply that was that was a place that checked all the boxes for me because it has a ultimately a cliffside retreat center and where we run so I run my high performance retreat there we run the passion silent meditation retreats there and biohacking events, all kinds of stuff. So and it just it’s it’s created to perfection quite frankly, I mean it has a cryotherapy chamber that I am a pretty much a daily visitor of sensory deprivation tanks, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, then we have cold and hot lunches infrared sauna, beautiful steam room and dry sauna as well. So it’s just one of those wellness places where I’m honestly for the past two years during this pandemic that is happening right now. I pretty much have not left that place. So it was I was I was there pretty much on a daily basis from sunrise to sunset. It really it really kept me kept me in Bali and just healthy and I’m gonna hell I guess I’m healthier than I’ve ever been because I didn’t have to travel I didn’t have to move from to go to conferences or you know, fly too much so it was it’s definitely it’s definitely a retreat that i It’s a dream if you’re trying to get away if you’re trying to reset it’s it’s a dream of a destination. Yeah,
R Blank 28:44
no, I I can I can certainly imagine worse places to spend the pandemic refuge so what what kind of people and I don’t know if this? I mean, I know you’ve been there during the pandemic, I don’t know if it’s still been operating. But in general what kind of people attend what make make the journey?
Aurimas Juodka 29:05
So we have depends it depends on which and and to be honest, because we have quite a few things going on the local community, local health community, every single person knows about Astana. Everybody really speaks so highly of it because first of all, it’s the views are incredible sunset while you’re you know, just soaking soaking in a hot plunger or look are a little cold pool to distract yourself from the pain that you’re feeling is like the sunset of great show. So it’s ultimately the every single person who makes it there. They they want to come back. It’s without without hesitation. That’s that’s how I was see and three years later, I still haven’t left. So that’s a definitely attract of for people who have never heard of any of the bio hacks and stuff like that to really help nuts are looking to dive deeper in and optimize properly. So that’s one of the things one of the events that I was running was a high performance retreat, where it’s my colleague, who’s a functional medicine practitioner, we’d we just dive deep into each each areas of biology, honestly. So we’d go to one day to optimize sleep another day to optimize stress management, nutrition, movement environments, and mental health. So a six day retreat, where each day would go deep into each of the topics, unpack them completely make them incredibly actionable, and they will be integrated and sprinkled throughout the day for that experience. And another thing is just even to try out a cryotherapy chamber, which is negative 170 degrees Fahrenheit for to be there for three minutes. It’s a it’s just an incredible experience for someone who’s never tried it. So it’s, it’s it ranges, but as I said, some people just come for for the views, and they then they come out, wow, okay, I can get take care of my health here.
R Blank 31:07
Know that. So what kind of range of you mentioned specific programs, so So there are different programs that are what are those types of programs.
Aurimas Juodka 31:17
So some of them are just simply, people come there on a daily basis for a basic spa access. So they go into hot lunches. So hot lunches about 42 degrees Celsius. So it’s, it’s not like a hot tub, not quite hot tub, but it’s above that. So it’s pretty much pre uncomfortable. So that that’s to release heat shock proteins, and then we’re going into into a cold plunge, which is for the opposite to create a cold shock proteins. So as we know, they’re amazing for your immune system for they’re incredibly anti inflammatory. And we want to we want to generate them as often as possible from their longitudinal studies, than in Finland, regarding saunas and heat shock proteins. So we know at this point that they contribute to longevity pretty significantly, and then their sun axis, axis access in just simple, simple facilities for that. And if you want to take the, it kinda boosts it up a notch a little bit. Then there is, as I said, cryotherapy, sensory deprivation tanks and hyperbaric oxygen chamber. And that’s something if coupled with with a program on let’s say, you’re looking to reduce inflammation, you you want to create, you want to make yourself less insulin resistant, or what have you. That’s something that I tend to do myself, because I enjoy humans who come who come over, when we put together a daily intensive program, just deep dive into, okay, this is what you got, let’s look at the data, look at what’s happening in your body right now experience these things that are going to give you a good kickstart, and then we move on to it, you see, it’s just unless you live in the area, quite frankly, it is difficult to to maintain these practices. However, as I said, for 99% of the population, they don’t need that fancy equipment that are just daily practices that are going to help them reach the level levels of optimal health. So we want to simplify things as much as possible. So we start in a complex manner is like you see what’s possible, what’s out there that okay, how are we going to apply this to your day to day?
R Blank 33:36
So you mentioned the daily practices, so people who come you know, for instance, to your your high performance retreat, which lasts I guess, like a week, something like that, right, right. Yep. So they only have access to these amazing, really amazing sounding facilities for a week. And so but in addition to making use of all of those great benefits, you’re trying to convey, that I’m going changes that they need to make to their lives. Right. Exactly. benefit. So could you speak a little bit to, to the, the, I guess, the the changes that relate to healthier relationships with technology that that I mean, because I mean, I think everyone can kind of sense that you’re, you’re kind of an intense guy, and you’re like you spent three to five hours on a float tank, not 60 to 90 minutes. So So we’ve talked about some of the things that you do, but what are the minimal effective dose changes that you advise your clients to make when it comes to technology?
Aurimas Juodka 34:41
Unplugging is one of those things that is so difficult to do these days. But one of the things that I just kind of make make a non negotiable when I work with people is a at least for for an afternoon or for the whole morning. Just do not touch any technology, grab a book, get lost, go for breakfast with your, with your children without any technology at all whatsoever, because, first of all, just for presence, so we were losing that in human communication, which is becoming more and more, quite frankly, emotionally and relationally autistic, because we’re not, we don’t know how to relate with people anymore. So that’s, that’s problematic. Second of all is because of that constant stimulation. So to develop that better, better relationship with technology. As I said, if I’m working intensely, I’m exposed to right now we’re, we’re on on a call that Ryan is like, I’m using the internet, I’m doing all these things. So I want to make sure that I’m unplugging for a little bit and having zero simulation at all whatsoever, unless it’s a stimulating book that I’m reading. So that’s, that’s one of the things as you mentioned, phone use and carrying your phone around in airplane mode. That’s like, if it’s in your pocket, it’s either either shouldn’t be in your pocket, or it should be in airplane mode. Those such simple shifts, same thing, when you’re going to bed, turn off your Wi Fi. Just turn off your phone flipping into airplane mode, that’s something that my partner as well, just she’s she’s learned over, you know, just after a few times, like of me mentioning or doing that for her? Like, why is my phone in airplane mode is slowly killing you, Donald darling.
R Blank 36:33
Yeah, no, I have those same conversations with my significant other. Yes.
Aurimas Juodka 36:37
That’s, that’s a thing is one of one of such simple once I understand why, you know, obviously, for people who are really interested, I dive into, you know, what reactive nitrogen species are and how they’re more potent than reactive oxygen species and how they’re damaging our DNA and all that schpeel. However, some of them was like, why would I do it? Well, because it’s sapping your energy, you’re gonna feel feel like shit faster, if, as compared to if you didn’t do that. So okay, that’s, that’s understandable. Everybody wants to feel better, and everybody wants to feel more energized. So that’s a simple way to put. So that’s ultimately, those simple little shifts, we just start there. And then okay, let’s find, let’s find the kill switch, that’s, again, one, one time purchase on Amazon, and that’s gonna sort you out, let’s find this, let’s find that, then we start adding things, but I kind of I kind of build it as in in this, you know, we start with a foundation, as we build a house, you know, kind of makes sense. Yeah, haven’t been seeing many houses being built, you know, from top down. So, you know, same thing with our lifestyle changes we want, we want to start with such simple fundamentals, the few that I mentioned, and then see if people can actually implement them and check the boxes and then go from there.
R Blank 37:56
So, wow, I mean, that I love hearing everything that you’re saying, because it’s the same kind of stuff that that we advocate all the time. And it’s, it’s, it’s just so great to hear you talk about it like that you’re, you’re you’re working with your clients to implement these kinds of changes. And you’ve seen that these kinds of changes make big differences for people, right?
Aurimas Juodka 38:20
That’s right. That’s right. It’s so so funny actually seeing some people for example, who I worked with quite a few executives, who just they suddenly as I haven’t slept, I can’t fall asleep. So it’s actually makes me it makes me giggle a little bit. Because it’s, there’s no such thing as not being able to sleep, it’s just you know, that that your central nervous system is so dysregulated that you’re, it’s preventing you from doing it. So you know that a few adjustments like putting on blue light blocking lashes, when after like just within an hour of your bedtime and stopping to stimulate yourself at a certain hour in terms of any stimulus like nicotine, caffeine and other stuff. It just those simple adjustments people come back after literally three days of implementing them and say I slept for the first time in a decade. Can you imagine that is like in a decade or so and you you see how little effort those shifts actually made it just no extra time at all whatsoever. Just low adjustments that took a few minutes to incorporate. Some of them are just one time things like for example on your computer computer if you have Iris software, right that regulates the temperature of your screen right. So most of them are a kill switch. That’s one time purchase that you can just get done and forget about so and then you see such massive shifts and changes then that wow, what what else? What else? Interesting, interesting. thing is that after that, after that initial shift, everything becomes super incremental. So it’s like, at some point, you reach the, the, you know, the concept of rate of diminishing returns. So you reach a point of diminishing returns, where you’re investing more time than you getting out of it, for example, hyperbaric oxygen chamber, I don’t, I would not spend an hour or two there. If I, if I wasn’t able to work in it, you know, so I have my computer in it, I’m actually I’m actually getting stuff done, my phone, my computer, all that stuff. So I’m getting stuff done in, but it’s if it was just me in it for two hours, I wouldn’t make that time investment. So it’s not a that’s going back to integrating those activities into your lifestyle, not overthrowing your lifestyle with activities that ultimately have diminishing returns.
R Blank 40:55
So I would love to keep talking with you about this. But you’ve, you’ve already been so generous with your time, and I feel like I need some kind of excuse to go to Bali.
Aurimas Juodka 41:05
So I need you for sure.
R Blank 41:09
So where can people go? Where would you like people to go to learn more about you and connect with you.
Aurimas Juodka 41:15
So human dots optimized on Instagram is a great place to connect with me, I do do more and more just personal development stuff that that I’m diving, diving deeper into, I still I still consult companies, people, executives regarding high performance. But that’s something that I’m gravitating towards my content is gravitating towards more personal development and, and digging deeper into yourself. So you can find me find me there. And the yoga lab is another one that that is that is our company, or that is geared towards personal development. And then you’ll get lab comm that’s yoga lab.com. And that’s ultimately everything that you would wish you learned at school. But if they didn’t teach you that, there’s so many. I’m going to go on a quick rant regarding that as to how our educational system has become so devoid of usually useful experience, excuse me, because we’re not actually getting pumped theory into our heads. And we’re not actually get to apply it not not even in college, unfortunately. Whereas if you the things like for example, tantra, breathwork, nutrition, fitness, high performance, things like that, we if we’re taught that we’re going to be such happier, more capable human beings, because even some people who are running running businesses, sometimes they until they realize that their business grows to the extent that they grow. And once once they realize that, and once you realize that your career, your success, everything that you actually want is going to grow to the level that you’re growing as a person. So you up leveling and looking for ways to to experiment, and actually take yourself to the next level. It’s It’s a never ending. Most people understand now that it’s not a goal to retire. It’s it’s a goal to actually find something that you you really enjoy doing. And you are going to fall in love with the repetitions and these never ending iterations of of this beautiful human existence that we can turn into a massive experiment.
R Blank 43:38
I love that. I love that vision. I really, I really appreciate you sharing that. AJ, this has been this has been fantastic. This has been eye opening. This conversation actually went in directions I didn’t think about in advance. And I really appreciate you donating the time and sharing your insight and experience with my audience. So thank you so much for coming on the healthier tech podcast.
Aurimas Juodka 44:05
Hey, thank you for having me. And another one another piece of the equation that I have not given to people. That is crucial, actually. So I have one uh, first of all, thank you for having me. And it’s been it’s been such a great conversation. I just love what you’re about. And I see that we have so many intertwining interests and and really philosophies that that we we live by another thing that have to unpack yourself when it comes to healthier technology. For example, to watch a video on YouTube you need technology right or to watch a course which I am going to recommend is absolutely free. It’s called Vipassana Vipassana online.com. That’s a 10 day retreat that is a silent meditation retreat. You can do full 10 days you can do it 10 days in, in partial like for six hours a day, two hours a day. What have you already If you want to start a bit more, less hardcore, one day meditation challenge calm. So you are getting to unplug. You’re getting to know your internal, your internal structure and what’s happening on the inside. And you get to master your mind, because that’s one of the first steps towards freedom from technology. So you become a master of technology and honestly, so Oh, that’s a loved one. I would like to
R Blank 45:26
end on that. And you said that was Vipassana? online.com.
Aurimas Juodka 45:30
Yes. And one day meditation challenge, calm.
R Blank 45:34
Cool. So we’ll get both of those and put those in the, in the show notes. Thank you so much again, ha I really, this was great. I loved it.
Aurimas Juodka 45:43
Thank you. Thank you. Absolute pleasure. Thank you for having me.
R Blank 45:52
Well, as always, I am joined by here by my co host, Stephanie. Stephanie. That was a that was I really, really liked that interview. And I’m going to tell you why. But first, I’d like to hear what you think what you think.
Stephanie Warner 46:05
Yeah, I thought it was really interesting. And you know, I really appreciate his that the his take on a mastery of like biohacking intertwines or intersect so much with what we say about, you know, being more mindful with technology and not using it when you don’t need it. And I really loved that he talked about if you are collecting all this data, you’re using all these devices to do something. And for he used the example of collecting data, if you’re not actually doing anything with the data, don’t use the device. I love that. That whole message that he was he was talking about throughout the day, pretty much throughout the interview.
R Blank 46:53
Yeah, so I agree the so it started with this discussion on the minimal effective dose, which, which I really liked. Maybe there are other human optimization people out there who talk in those terms. But I haven’t heard that. Because you hear from these people and AJ, for all the listeners, you really got to check out photos of this guy, he does not look like a guy who does anything minimally. And for him to to talk in these terms about minimal effective dose, in terms of changes that you can make that are of the scale that you can maintain. I think that was key. And then at the end, when I asked him what is the minimal effective dose of ongoing digital detox, you know, the changes he talked about are the same top changes, we talked about si b all the time, except he can talk about them from the perspective of working with clients, and seeing all the immediate and ongoing improvements to their quality of life that these simple changes bring. And that I thought was just super powerful.
Stephanie Warner 48:02
Yeah, and I think that that, that perspective is really excellent. Because I think oftentimes people if for what I’ve seen in some of our interactions with our customers and our audience, is that people start looking at EMF as a source as a potential source for their discomfort or air or bad health when they’re experiencing the bad health and they’re at the last straw of what can I do to to improve my health. And what I appreciate about what he’s saying is, you know, these little things we can do now can help shine the light on things. Whoa, shoot. So so good for a second sorry, guys, um pick it up. Yeah, I’m just thinking how to how I want it to end that dreams. We’ll clean it up. Yeah, no, I know. I know. I’m giving it I’m giving them their work. Shoot. Hold on, it’s coming. So I I appreciate the perspective of him working with people who are already focusing on their health, not necessarily because they have health issues they’re trying to conquer now.
R Blank 49:26
Yeah. Yeah, no, I agree. And I think part of what what I hear in what you’re talking about is, you know, because because we hear from a lot of people who are worried about their their long term health risk from exposure to EMF radiation, and that is that is, you know, that’s a serious concern. That’s a valid concern. I think people are less aware of the immediate benefits that they can have from Yes, yeah. From from making these types of changes. So by for instance, just not carrying your phone in your pocket. Yes. You are improving your long term health risk. But also you’re going to start seeing benefits in the short term. And you just need to pay attention to see to see what those are. And I thought I thought that was really powerful. Another thing, and this, this will be the last thing I say, is, is this sort of relationship that that that we’re getting at in this season, because, you know, we spend so much time talking about EMF exposure. But EMF exposure is just one of the negative externalities or negative costs of engaging with technology. And AJ was able to kind of tie that all together, where when you use your phone less, you’re going to get less EMF exposure, you’re also going to get less toxicity from Facebook and less of this tech addiction mechanism. And you’re going to start seeing bigger changes that are bigger in scope than just the impact of the EMF. And so it’s the relationship with technology. I think AJ was really good at kind of explaining how this relationship with technology has these multiple negative, negative health effects
Stephanie Warner 51:10
apps on the emotional and mental side. So emotionally, obviously, addiction, carries its problems. And then mental capacity was something that I thought was interesting, because the smartphones are, I believe, he said, making us not as smart or less smart, which is true. You know, I think that’s that’s an important part. And there was one other thing that he said and that kind of going back to EMF is he was collecting data on his sleep. And he turned off his his Wi Fi at night and got 15 minutes more of deep sleep each night. And I think the impact of sleep as well is so important. And we do talk about this a lot but 15 minutes more of deep sleep, I think is is critical to our health, any additional minute we can get of deep sleep, helps our body repair and our mind repair. So I think that was to me, that was something that really stood out. And I do love that he tied in the emotional part because we are seeing so many emotions, the emotional impact, especially on young people from social media. And we’ll say technology addiction but specifically social media addiction. And I don’t think those that’s going to get better unless we all start being more willing to disengage
R Blank 52:32
Yeah, turn it off the off switch.
Stephanie Warner 52:34
Yeah, absolutely powerful. Saturday quite Sunday a little bit Monday Tuesday Wednesday I’m going with that
R Blank 52:46
well that was great. I and and thank you for sharing your thoughts on that on the episode stuff. I think we were of the same mind. That was that was kind of that was just like a perfect episode for us.
Stephanie Warner 52:57
Yeah, absolutely.
R Blank 53:04
Well, that does it for today’s episode. Remember if you like this show and want to hear more, please subscribe to healthier tech podcast available on all major podcasting platforms. And if you have a moment please also leave a review. Reviews are really critical to help more people find this podcast and learn about the important and undercover topics that we discuss. Also, you can learn more and sign up for our mailing list to get notified when we have new interviews, webinars, ebooks and sales at shield your body calm you can also just click that link in the show notes. While you’re there at shield your body calm you can check out our world class catalog of laboratory tested EMF and 5g protection products. Don’t forget to use promo code pod to save 15% On your first order from shield your body comm with free shipping throughout North America and Europe. Until next time, I’m R blank. And I want to thank you so much for tuning into the healthier tech podcast. Always remember to shield your body
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
