Deepak Chopra’s Approach to Travel Is So Simple, but Important

We’ve seen his name don a growing number of travel entities, from his own center for wellbeing in California, to spiritual retreats in Greece, and to branded spas in Orlando. But how does author, advocate and celeb-loved guru Deepak Chopra like to travel himself?

“I’m a simple person,” he told Travel + Leisure in a recent interview. “I insist that wherever I go, there’s a yoga mat, so I can do my yoga without having to leave the room, which is part of my daily routine. I also carry two or three books with me, including poetry books. I find poetry is much more enjoyable than say, reading nonfiction. Other than those few books and an electrical shaver, I do bring my computer because I do daily videos.”

And those videos are among a growing empire of content to his name. To-date, he has authored 95 books, including his latest, Digital Dharma, focuses on the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and how it can revolutionize spiritual wellbeing. On the heels of the book launch, Chopra also unveiled what he is dubbing his “AI twin,” Digital Deepak, a digital complement to his work.

“My personal interest is in elevating spiritual intelligence and personal wellbeing… essentially, how can I use AI to elevate spiritual intelligence and personal wellbeing,” he said. “And that’s the book. With Digital Deepak, you can go on your browser and ask me any question over my lifetime’s work, which includes books, daily videos, Q+A’s from shows that I’ve appeared in and interviews I’ve done. Let’s say I stopped interacting with the world… the content I’ve created will last generations for those who are interested. That’s my fascination at the moment.”

Complementing his digital vibe, Chopra is super into wearables, sharing that he regularly dons an Apple Watch, Ultrahuman and Oura nutrition and tracking rings and a FreeStyle Libre 2 glucose metabolic monitor. He wears all of these biometric gadgets, in part, because he has founded a company called Cyberhuman that leverages metrics to give folks personal advice on their health journeys.

As for how Chopra slows down amid his technological endeavors and retreats aplenty these days? Well, he has some clear thoughts on that as well.

“My attitude is that no matter what I’m doing, I’m having fun,” he said. “So, nothing is work for me. My vocation and my vacation are the same and I have only three criteria. Am I having fun? Am I hanging out with people who are fun in a location that is fun? And am I making a difference to people and increasing their experience of joy? That’s what it’s all about.”