The 12th annual social justice speaker, Chris Eder, spoke about how yoga and mindfulness has helped him in his struggles of life.
Annie Goodman/The Lion's Roar

For the past 12 years, the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice has had a guest speaker give a lecture as a Social Justice Speaker. This year, they invited Chris Eder who has struggled with problems such as PTSD from his time spent in the military and ADHD. His lecture was on how yoga has helped him overcome these problems and more. Dr. Marc Settembrino, assistant professor of sociology, sought out Eder to speak to the students this year.

“It’s interesting you know,” said Eder. “We met on the Internet and became instant friends. He actually bought a product of mine and then later he reached out to me and said, ‘Hey, this is who I am and this is what we’re doing down here. Would you be interested in speaking on this?’”

Eder at first did not believe he was fit for the task.

“In my life, I’ve never done anything for money,” said Eder. “I’m not in the business to be rich. I’m not in the business to not be poor either. I consider myself to be a servant warrior. So, initially, when Marc reached out to me and asked me to do that, I really didn’t think this would be right for me. Then I started thinking about it. If there was just one person in this audience that it resonated with, then I’m doing it.”

However, Eder left feeling accomplished after having a talk with one of the students who approached him after the lecture seeking advice.

“My intent coming out here was not to do that,” said Eder. “My intent was not to have this pretty intimate one-on-one with somebody. In the back of my mind, I was hoping for that. That’s why I said yes to this. That’s why I came. So, luckily for me, besides having an amazing poboy with fried oysters, I was actually able to reach out and touch someone on a very deep level.”

Although Eder only found out about this presentation a few months ago, he feels he has spent his whole life preparing for it.

“This is a lifetime for me,” said Eder. “It’s a lifetime of preparation. What steps in the universe brought the four of us here today? I could say that there was months of preparation that led me here to you, and I could tell you there were 44 years of preparation that led me here today.”

Eder had a list of things he wishes students to be more cognizant of after his presentation.

“I think the most important aspect is the breath and sensation,” said Eder. “As you inhale, know that your breathing in. As you exhale, know that you’re breathing out. Know that you is you, and it’s good to be you. Knowing that things are going to change, knowing that it’s okay to fail at things, knowing that it’s okay to say no to things, knowing that it’s okay to change your mind about something, knowing that it’s okay to cry, knowing that it’s okay to visualize yourself being successful and knowing that only you define successes.”

"Get a quart of ice cream, chair, sit down, breathe and think about your path to peace and purpose," said Chris Eder.
Annie Goodman/The Lion's Roar

Chris Eder explained how, due to his illnesses, he should be dead or divorced. However, it is thanks to yoga that he is still alive and happily married.
Annie Goodman/The Lion's Roar