Meet Lex Koettig

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lex Koettig. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lex below.

Lex, so glad you were able to set aside some time for us today. We’ve always admired not just your journey and success, but also the seemingly high levels of self-discipline that you seem to have mastered and so maybe we can start by chatting about how you developed it or where it comes from?

To me, true discipline isn’t about controlling your actions – what you do and don’t do – but instead is executed at the level of the mind. This has been a life-long learning lesson for me that started over 15 years ago when I was in the pursuit of recovery/healing of an eating disorder.

For over a decade I struggled with anorexia and bulimia and tried desperately to “discipline” myself to be “behavior free.” I believed the lie that “healing” or “recovery” looked like eating my meals and keeping them down. Period. But the truth is, there were long periods of time that I was “eating disorder behavior” free but I was still suffering. I had no peace or happiness. I still struggled on the inside even though I appeared to be “disciplined” on the outside.

It wasn’t until I fully embarked on the path of Yoga, not as a form of exercise, but as a foundation and philosophy for life, that I realized true discipline happens at the level of the mind.

Typically, we look at discipline as something we allow ourselves to do or not do. Eat the healthy food and don’t eat the cookies. Wake up early, don’t hit the snooze button. We all turn towards “disciplining” our actions to support our goals, intentions, and let’s be honest, to help us get what we want, even when what we want are noble things like healing, happiness and inner peace.

The problem is that when we focus solely on trying to discipline (or control) our actions in the physical world, we run into feeling burnt out from over-efforting, as well as experiencing tremendous pressure to succeed. When focused solely on our actions we very quickly become dissatisfied with the results, anxious that things aren’t working fast enough, and feeling an underlying sense of lack from repeated attempts at desperately trying to control ourselves in order to obtain happiness. This style of discipline doesn’t have the longevity needed to facilitate lasting change and genuine transcendence.

True discipline starts with correcting one fundamental mistake we all make which is believing we are our thoughts, feelings, sensations and perceptions. No one wakes up in the morning, looks in the mirror and says, “Yes, you know what, I wanna think those same shitty thoughts that led me to be miserable yesterday.” No we don’t. No one does! We wake up and say, “Yesterday was awful, today is a new day, I am going to do better, be better, I am going to be disciplined today.” But what happens? We start off strong, disciplining our actions until the same old shitty thoughts come in – which they always do – and hijack our experience. Suddenly we end up bailing on our commitments to ourselves, feeling depressed, stressed, and anxious. We throw in the towel on our “discipline” and seek comfort, relief and escapism from our inner and outer struggles.

The fundamental problem isn’t that we give up on our disciplinary goals, it is that we do not separate ourselves from our thoughts, feelings, sensations and perceptions. Our problem is that we believe we have no control over the shitty thought, the reactive feeling, the impulsive urge, the dramatic story we tell ourselves and the way we view the world. We tell ourselves we are powerless over these things. THIS IS WHERE DISCIPLINE NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE. Discipline begins when you buck up and own that you are not your thoughts, feelings, sensations or perceptions and that in fact, you have the power and authority to decline the offer of getting sucked into their drama.

As it relates to my eating disorder, my fundamental problem wasn’t the anorexic or bulimic behaviors, rather they were symptoms manifested in the physical world. The fundamental problem was a disconnection with who I really was inside, and because of that disconnection I believed myself to be the self-deprecating thoughts, feelings of unworthiness, and the destructive inner urges that led to the manifestation of eating disorder behaviors.

It wasn’t until I addressed the root problem – which was lack of discipline – that I was able to decline the thoughts, feelings and urges that for a decade led me down a painful path that always left me feeling miserable and hopeless. It was through discipline that I found my way home to my heart and True Self.

My journey of healing wasn’t about disciplining myself to eat a balanced diet, but it was about cultivating the discipline required to not mistake myself to be powerless over a thought, feeling, urge or perception. I took the journey back into my heart of who I truly am inside, which is far superior and more powerful than any urge, conditioned reaction, or habitual behavior. This is one the differences that I believe sets my healing journey apart from a traditional path of recovery.

I lovingly (but firmly) encourage you to call BS on the story you tell yourself that you have no control over your thoughts, feelings, urges and perceptions. Allowing them to be as they are doesn’t mean you have to get sucked into their drama. Decline their offers and remember who you really are inside. This is true discipline. Come back home to yourself and your deepest heart, and trust me when I say that your actions and commitments will automatically and effortlessly change to achieve your highest good and your heart’s genuine longings.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m an Internationally Certified Yoga Therapist and E-RYT500 Yoga Teacher. Having taught Yoga as a physical practice and a philosophy for over 15 years in a wide range of settings and demographics, I can confidently say that teaching is my purpose, my path and my passion. I hold a deep reverence for Yoga as “therapy” and am honored to offer this healing and transformative practice to my students and clients.

What sets me apart from other yoga teachers is my therapeutic approach to the practice and my vast experience and studies of the entire path, not just the physical postures. Traditionally Yoga was taught one-on-one, the teacher knew intimately the details, struggles, yearnings and desires of their student. The teacher would customize the practice of Yoga – physical and beyond physical – to support their student’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual development.

Nowadays this brilliance and customization of the practice is missing. Classes are taught primarily in groups and teachers lack the extensive training and experience that is required to guide others along a true therapeutic path of Yoga.

Over the past few years, I have pivoted my practice to offer individual Yoga Therapy sessions online. I hesitated for many years to do this, fearing that the potency of the sessions would diminish when online, however my work in the virtual space has reminded me that the magic of Yoga truly transcends the physical world of time and space.

My YouTube Channel – Your Daily Groove – is an online studio where I drop a variety of classes to support you getting back into your groove of feeling good, on and off the mat. You’ll find movement classes for the body, meditations for the mind, and lectures inspired by yogic philosophy and contemplative teachings for when you need a good ol’ attitude adjustment. (Wink!) Check me out and subscribe so you don’t miss a beat.

I’ve also been hard at work behind the scenes working on the 10th anniversary editions of my 3-book series, Recovered Connection, about my personal experience healing from an eating disorder using the philosophical path of Yoga as therapy. Diving back into these books has reinvigorated my commitment to support others who are currently seeking recovery/healing, as well as inspired me to dedicate time and energy towards working with teenage girls helping to promote self-confidence, self-acceptance and self-love.

Oh, and you’re some of the first to know…in 2025 I have a few amazing yoga retreats on the books. We are headed to Mallorca, Spain and later in the year island hopping in one of my all-time favorite places, Croatia! Details and waitlists are up on lexkoettig.com .

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Motivation: Don’t wait until you “feel like it” to do something. If it’s a good idea, if it’s important to you, do it asap.

Present Moment Awareness: Life isn’t about being positive, it’s about being present. Being with “what is” without needing to change it, hide it or fix it is an admirable and worthy skill to cultivate.

Sacrifice: When you tell yourself that you aren’t meant to make sacrifices in your life you’re going to be unhappy. Sacrifice is normal and I will remind you that where there is deep love, the energy of sacrifice will flow naturally.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

Okay this is not just a book, it’s an experience. The Presence Process by Michael Brown – this thing will CHANGE YOUR LIFE. If you read this book cover to cover, you will gain insights and nuggets of wisdom that I’m confident you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

However, if you commit to the actual “process” you will be a transformed human being when you close this book. I am not exaggerating, and no I do not have any sort of affiliation with this book. I say skip the 5k on a coach or personal development workshop, buy this book, commit to the process for 10 weeks and I promise you that you’ll be DMing me to say thank you and to share your experience.

Reader beware!! This book is not for the weak at heart…if you are truly serious about leveling up, healing your heart and bolding stepping into the unbridled version of yourself, then buy this book, buckle up and enjoy the ride.

That’s all I’m sayin’!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lexkoettig.com
• Instagram: @lex.koettig
• Youtube: @lex.koettig