Keith Mitchell was living the dream, an All-Pro NFL linebacker with fame, power, and a strong identity. He played for the New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars. Known for his explosive power and athleticism, his professional football career was brought to an abrupt end by a spinal injury that left him temporarily paralyzed. He was forced to confront the question: Who am I without the game?

But that moment of crisis became the catalyst for a profound awakening.

During his recovery, Keith was introduced to conscious breathing, meditation, and yoga, practices that not only helped him heal physically but also transformed his understanding of life, identity, and purpose. What began as physical therapy evolved into a spiritual path.

Today, Keith Mitchell is a mindfulness teacher, yogi, and motivational speaker who helps others turn trauma into triumph. He teaches breathwork, meditation, and movement to veterans, corporate leaders, students, and inmates, empowering people from all walks of life to reconnect with their bodies, minds, and inner guidance.

Keith’s message is simple but profound: True power comes not from force, but from presence.

He is the founder of the Light It Up Foundation and has been featured on platforms like The Dr. Oz Show, Forbes, and The Huffington Post. His work bridges the worlds of peak performance and inner peace, showing that even in stillness, there is strength.

This is not just a story of recovery, it’s a blueprint for transformation.

Join a Purpose Lab team starting Sept 1st: www.ourlightnet.org/purpose

Explore Keith’s work: https://www.keithmitchell59.com

Time Codes from Full Episode:

00:00 – Why football was his path to being seen

01:02 – Creating an identity through sports

01:33 – The injury that changed everything

02:01 – “Who am I now?” — losing his sense of self

02:22 – Discovering yoga as a path to healing and union

03:11 – Learning from pain to help others evolve

03:27 – “The human is the medicine”

03:44 – From fans to face-to-face healing

04:24 – Breathing as a key to transformation

05:16 – “This was the only opportunity—I had to act now”

05:50 – Organs, emotion, and the body’s wisdom

06:32 – Emotional maturity through breath and presence

07:09 – Becoming a student of life and the universe

07:22 – Going against the norm and disrupting conditioning

08:02 – What is your truth, really?

08:54 – Growing through mistakes and mentors

09:06 – Living your purpose creates ripple effects

09:50 – Embodying a presence that shifts others

10:14 – Finding your purpose through radical honesty

10:36 – How diet affects consciousness and clarity

11:15 – Illness, mindset, and the power of awareness

11:32 – Creating space for insight and healing

12:01 – “I go where I’m invited” – trusting dharma and magnetism

13:01 – Why spiritual leaders must speak on real-world issues

13:34 – Shoutout to Marianne Williamson & RFK Jr.

14:02 – Retreats, nutrition, intimacy & true transformation

15:10 – The Mindfulness Playbook and upcoming courses

16:29 – Creating the Congressional Yoga Association

16:57 – Beyond sports: becoming a positive influence

17:19 – The call to become a “universal human”

If you're navigating change, searching for your truth, or ready to step into a life of deeper alignment, this one’s for you.

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