What or who is Everest Mindful Thaiboxing?
Our method at EMT utilises intense physical exercise (Muay Thai) and tabatas or HIIT exercises, breathing exercises (Wim Hof Method (we also incorporate some yogic stretching)), fasting and a ketogenic diet, cold therapy, sensory deprivation (float tanks) and meditation/visualization form part of our method to optimise existence.
My name is Paul Eduardo Arguelles and I am one of two head instructors and founders of Everest Mindful Thaiboxing (EMT). I was born in Edinburgh and I´m 33 years old. I have quite an international background, my Dad is Colombian, Mother Scottish and Grandmother from Chile. I have lived in England, New York, France, Thailand during extended periods and the last 10 years in Barcelona, Spain. I have a degree and masters in psychology and I´m a certified Muay Thai Instructor and life coach.
I come from a very sporty but also educated family, my Dad worked for NASA as a computer scientist and my sister managed to get into the top 300 in the world during her professional tennis career, she played Wimbledon also. I have fought professionally around 30 times all around the world, most notably winning at Max Muay Thai tournament in Bangkok and Kunlun Fight in Shenzhen, China.
My partner is Mauricio Olivera, the other head instructor and founder of EMT. Born in Uruguay on the 8th of January 1990, he has been living in Barcelona for 18 years. Mauri has always excelled at and enjoyed sporting endeavours, competing in the following; Muay Thai, Jui Jitsu, Football, Tennis and Swimming. He has a degree in physical education and is currently studying to have a second degree in Chemistry. Mauri is a certified kettlebell instructor and personal trainer.
So! We have total passion in what we do, we love Muay Thai and martial arts in general and have been teaching with success for years. But we are constantly learning about ANY way to help ourselves and in turn help others become happier, healthier and stronger. As long as it is science backed we will use both the newest technology or ancient forgotten knowledge. Always studying, travelling and going to seminars, reading etc. We just completed the online Wim Hof course and plan to go to the Pyrenees with Wim in June, potentially becoming official instructors at a later date. In June we will complete a Vipassana meditation course where you can´t talk or have eye contact for ten days. We don´t stop, constant growth.
We always thought health came from what activities you do and how you fuel yourself. True to a certain extent, modern society is seemingly missing a huge part of the puzzle...dedicating time to your mental state. One quick example, you´ve trained your arms twice this week but how much happiness training have you completed? Meditation is scientifically proven to increase happiness amongst a myriad of other benefits but is pretty much ignored in today's society.
We believe that by reconnecting with ourselves & nature we can restore health and happiness, and that regardless of what training you do or what you eat, if you don't dedicate the same amount of energy or more into your mental health then eventually health and vitality will leave you. Due to getting badly sick whilst living in Thailand and curing myself with the above methods over a difficult 18 month journey, we really are passionate about spreading this knowledge. And the fact that we are living this lifestyle through and through and have felt its benefits, results in our enthusiasm being infectious.
Being able to be involved with our sporting passion of Muay Thai daily, heal ourselves and others is not something we are going to give up easily. Money, fame & women don´t make you sustainably happy, helping others and being loving to those around you is how we achieve true happiness. It's the classic treat others as you would like to be treated, this is a golden and universal rule for a reason, we are intrinsically connected to each other in a way which science is yet to understand. Unless you are good, kind, friendly, warm and loving you are not going to enjoy this life, and that's a fact. We gotta figure out a way to enjoy this life...and that's the funny part, we already know how to organise our health and the world yet nobody does it! We objectively know all these things, the right path for a happy healthy strong person is to do all the things we already know! So what are they?...
...Take care of your body, lift heavy things, run up hills, take care of your health, eat vegetables, get proper rest, take care of your mind, try to reduce stress, meditate, be kind, this is not a magical checklist people! Stop the fizzy drinks, stop the bullshit, start working out, eat some more vegetables, challenge yourself, learn new skills, push yourself to the limit of discomfort. All this gives us a sense of how our amazing body feels to be in when it's moving and flowing as it should and was designed to be. Enjoy every second of the day, allowing you to become more loving.
So if we know what to do why aren't we doing it? We need to retrain our brain. It's not designed to seek uncertain, uncomfortable, scary or difficult situations, in fact it is there to protect us from those and keep us alive. But to be the best boyfriend, wife, friend, entrepreneur or person, and to attain the life you want, the career, your dreams you absolutely must do scary, uncertain, uncomfortable and difficult things. So let's kick til your lungs burn, fast together, get in really cold water, meditate, do breathing exercises and generally optimise our existence so we can go from existing to living.
