Wikipedia

Draft:Pedram Shojai

Early Life and Education

edit

Pedram Shojai was born on July 21, 1975, in Tehran, Iran, and moved to Southern California during the Iranian revolution. Shojai graduated high school in 1993 and pursued the pre-med track at UCLA,[1] before ultimately graduating with a BA in History.[2]

Shojai's deep interest in health and wellness began at UCLA, where he discovered Tai Chi and Daoist philosophy. These experiences had a profound effect on him, ultimately leading him to become a senior student of Grandmaster Carl Totton at the Daoist Institute of LA and Share K Lew.[3] He took ordination as a Daoist Minister and later became an Abbot of that tradition in 2010.[4]

Career

edit

Shojai began his professional career as an acupuncturist, but always had a passion for health-focused media. He produced his first film, Vitality, in 2012,[5] and continued working on health-based movies, including Origins in 2014,[6] Prosperity in 2016,[7] and The Great Heist in 2022.[8] During his work on these projects, he also published numerous books, which have landed him a New York Times Bestseller slot.[9] These works include "The Urban Monk" (2016),[10] "The Art of Stopping Time" (2017),[11] and "Focus" (2020).[12] All of these contributions share the purpose of promoting alternative health perspectives.

The Urban Monk

edit

The Urban Monk brand was born out of a recognition that the challenges faced by modern individuals when working to maintain a balanced and spiritual life were often overshadowed by their immediate obligations.[13] The Urban Monk guides its audience toward peace and serenity, the importance of balance, and the pursuit of peace within the present.[14] Shojai has made various media appearances on the topic of The Urban Monk brand, including The Today Show on NBC,[15] where he advocates for a more integrative approach to health and wellness.

Health and Wellness Advocacy

edit

Shojai's contributions to alternative medicine are characterized by his opposition to the prevailing "pill-for-ill" model and his advocacy for lifestyle prevention.[1] His beliefs state that the healthcare system’s focus should include vitalistic principles, and attempt to enhance health and quality of life rather than merely the absence of disease.[14] His films and courses at the Urban Monk Academy are designed to teach the establishment of positive habits that contribute to overall well-being.[6]

Awards and Recognition

edit

Shojai's efforts have been featured in the Integrative Medicine Journal.[16]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Pedram Shojai: Meet the Urban Monk - Sounds True". www.resources.soundstrue.com. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  2. ^ Register, DEEPA BHARATH The Orange County (2016-03-20). "Best-selling author lives life like an urban monk". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  3. ^ Family, Jessica Peralta | OC (2008-12-04). "The Spirituality of Health". Orange County Register. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  4. ^ Shojai, Pedram (Jul 10, 2024). "Home". The Urban Monk. Retrieved Jul 10, 2024.
  5. ^ "Pedram Shojai | Executive, Producer, Director". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  6. ^ a b Design (2023-07-06). "Films and Series | The Urban Monk". Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  7. ^ "IFC Center - Prosperity". IFC Center. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  8. ^ "The Great Heist: Awaken Your Financial Freedom Course". store.theurbanmonk.com. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  9. ^ "Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous Books - Best Sellers - Books - Feb. 21, 2016 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  10. ^ Griffith, Charelle (2020-06-19). "[Review] The Urban Monk by Pedram Shojai, OMD". Charelle Griffith. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  11. ^ "The Art of Stopping Time by Pedram Shojai: 9781623369095 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  12. ^ "Focus: Bringing Time, Energy, and Money into Flow". Goodreads. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  13. ^ Shojai, Pedram (2023-10-06). "The Urban Monk: A Contemporary Approach to Cultivating Mindfulness | The Urban Monk". Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  14. ^ a b Shojai, Pedram (2023-05-10). "About | The Urban Monk". Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  15. ^ "#StartTODAY: See Jenna Bush Hager Learn Mindfulness From an 'Urban Monk'". NBC News. 2017-01-27. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  16. ^ McCloud, MFA, Andrea (April 15, 2006). "Vitality Healthcare strives for continuity of care: an interview with Pedram Shojai, LAc, and Rand Torralva, MD". Integrative Medicine: A Clinician's Journal. 5 (2) – via Integrative Medicine Archives.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Draft:Pedram_Shojai&oldid=1233895748"