How to Drink from the Fountain of Youth: 30 Steps to Everlasting Youth

By Rich Tola

If you ask Rich Tola, he'll say the proof is in the pudding. Especially when it comes to looking, feeling, and being at least 20 years younger than your actual age. And who better to teach you How to Drink from the Fountain of Youth than someone who already does: author, filmmaker, and modern-day yoga master, Rich Tola.

A true believer that anything is possible if you set your sights and try, Rich has been passionate about fitness, wellness, and youthful living for the past 50 years. And if you think it's not possible, think again. Because anyone can learn Tola's 30 Steps to Everlasting Youth and start feeling younger today. All you need is a positive, can-do attitude, plus the burning desire to stay young forever. Because, as Rich says, "Youthfulness is not contingent upon your physical body or even how old your face looks, but rather the force and energy you emanate into the universe. It's all about your aura surrounding your mind, body and spirit. That said, take my old-school advice and you’ll never be out-of-shape and overweight...I guarantee it.” So get started today, with being younger and staying younger, forever.

This book is ideal for anyone looking to lose weight, feel more energized, be more confident, define their personal goals and aspirations, plus grow mentally as well as improve their entire outlook on life. Rich Tola is also know for his films, Boulevard Zen and Skateboard Bandits, as well as his heartfelt and witty memoir, Simply Between Millions: From Wall Street to Hollywood.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rich Tola
• Release date: Mar 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005952884

Rich Tola

Author, filmmaker and modern-day yoga master, Rich Tola, has been creating mindful and motivational content across all media platforms since 2006. His new book, How to Drink from the Fountain of Youth: 30 Steps to Everlasting Youth, provides step by step instructions on living healthier and happier and is ideal for anyone looking to lose weight, feel more energized, be more confident, define their personal goals and aspirations, plus grow mentally as well as improve their entire outlook on life.A certified yoga teacher, Rich has taught his fitness style of Tola Yoga to more than 3,000 classes throughout the United States. Upon completion of his yoga-inspired film, Boulevard Zen, Rich also founded The Boulevard Zen Foundation, teaching the benefits of yoga to women and children survivors of domestic violence. His reality TV series pilot, YogaStyles of Rich and the Almost Famous, is where yoga meets history throughout the streets of Chicago, while his recent short films, Skateboard Bandits and Zen Diaries: The Lockdown, were both winners at the 2019 Global Shorts Awards.From humble beginnings in Trenton, NJ, the son of an old-school Sicilian barber, Rich graduated from The University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) and received his MBA from Northwestern University (Kellogg). In the 80’s, he was an All-Ivy League baseball player who worked for Wall Street juggernauts Goldman Sachs and Drexel Burnham Lambert before living in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia as an International Bank Consultant. In the 90’s, he was a top-producing New York City real estate broker and high-flying Internet entrepreneur securing The Trump Organization as his first strategic client. In the early 2000’s, Rich was an award-winning real estate broker and developer restoring historic landmarks throughout inner-city neighborhoods. On Valentine’s Day 2006, Rich took his first acting class in New York City and has never looked back.His memoir, Simply Between Millions: From Wall Street to Hollywood, takes you on a wild and witty ride from the heights of Wall Street to Hollywood’s Boulevard of Broken Dreams. It’s a fast-paced book with a heartfelt story about perseverance and spiritual awakening, and as one reader puts it, “a wildly entertaining and inspirational book on life never getting you down – even when you’re down!”

Book preview

Intro

Anyone Can

The first question you might ask is, what does it mean to drink from the Fountain of Youth? Are we talking eternal youth here, or better yet, some new purple liquid distilled from the cosmos that’ll make you 20 years younger?

Wouldn’t that be nice, another quick-fix solution for today’s quick-fix societies to accomplish just about anything in life. Fat chance on that ever happening, at least not until I team up with Elon Musk and SpaceX.

Nevertheless, I’m going to convince you that anyone - and I mean ANYONE - can stop getting older and start being younger. That is to say, by adhering to my 30 Steps to Everlasting Youth. No doubt the primary emphasis here is on stop getting older, while the secondary is on start being younger. In order to drink from the Fountain of Youth, all you need are the following:

the mindset,

the energy, and

the aura of youth

For your second question it would then be appropriate to ask, So who’s this youth expert, Rich Tola, and why has he got me thinking about such a ridiculous concept? Like anyone can really restore their youth. Yeah, right. And by the way, what makes Tola an authority on this universally accepted, mythical Fountain of Youth, anyway? Emphasis on mythical.

Well, that’s easy. Because the proof is in the pudding. Always. Not to mention it’s always best to learn from the best. At the very least, be sure to heed advice from someone who has the goods to show for it. And how about someone who has been focused on it for the past half-century.

That would be nice. And that would be me.

Now that I’m well into my 50’s - just turned 57 to be exact, for years my goal has been to look and feel, and most importantly, to be 20+ years younger than my actual age. Believe it or not, I really think I got stuck at age 30. I know that sounds ridiculous, right, but you be the judge.

It doesn’t hurt that I’ve been embracing good health and wellness - including all facets of fitness and weightlifting - since as long as I can remember. To be more specific, my old-school Sicilian father had my brother and me doing push-ups and sit-ups as toddlers before evolving us to more advanced weight training exercises. At age 12, I received the President’s Council for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition Award. By 1979, at the ripe young age of 16, I started working out at Man’s World Gym in Trenton, N.J. A bodybuilder’s haven where I trained with professionals and champions like Joe Dodd, Phil Hill and Don Palmucci - on a daily basis. That was 40 years ago, and it was also during The Terminator’s, aka Arnold Schwarzenegger’s bodybuilding heyday.

I have been lifting weights everyday ever since, totaling more than 15,000 hours. Add to that, fitness and wellness certifications in Personal Training, Cycling and Yoga, while over the past 15 years I’ve also taught more than 3,000 yoga classes throughout the United States. Plus, walking 5 miles everyday, a clean bill of health from my doctor, and a blood pressure of 110 over 70.

Of course, it does help to have those so-called good genes when it comes to your body type. I’m very fortunate, albeit, youthfulness is not contingent upon your physical body or even how old your face looks, but rather the force and energy you emanate into the Universe. It’s true. I also believe you can be overweight - and in some cases obese - and still drink from the Fountain of Youth.

Now it’s always best to look the part and not be out-of-shape or overweight, plus it’s much healthier for your body to be fit, active and strong. Everyone knows that. And if you don’t have the knowledge (or inspiration) to get in-shape or to reach and maintain your ideal body weight, you definitely will after reading this book. I guarantee it.

Regardless, what matters most when it comes to youthfulness is that your presence – as defined by the halo or aura surrounding your entire being – remains vibrant and effusive.

So whatever you do, let the force be with you. Well, let’s not get carried away with any George Lucas and Star Wars theatrics here, but safe to say that a youthful force enveloping your entire being is what it’s all about. And my ‘30 Steps’ will definitely get you there. At the very least, they’ll put you on the right path to reach the Fountain, if you seriously decide to follow them. Forever, would be nice, but that’s up to you.

Now don’t take this as some pie-in-the-sky mumbo jumbo, because they work. Well, maybe it is a little out there and hard to imagine, yes. I mean, mythical does mean imaginary, right? But wildly enough, doing something imaginary and against all odds is also very doable, is it not?

And before we begin this amazing journey, let me first say that my goal in writing this book and every other art form I’ve ever created, is to inspire everyone on the planet to take the bull by the horns and never let go. Whatever you commit to in life, do it passionately and with conviction. And if that’s not happening, then find something else that floats your boat. Then stay confident and stay the course, and hold on for dear life. Then never let go and victory will surely follow.

In my previous career - and I’ve had many – selling real estate in New York City, I was taught by the best that successfully handling any property sale listing was like riding a bucking bronco. Most likely you’ll get thrown from the horse, they would say, but whatever you do, never let go of the reins. Even when you get thrown from the horse. Because if you never let go, that out-of-control bronco will eventually get tired and come to a complete stop. Meaning, you’ll close the deal and earn the commission. Something that was quite challenging (and rare) to do with NYC real estate in the mid-1990s. No kidding, it once took me 29 months to sell a stunning, 8-story commercial loft building in the Flatiron District. Quite a long time to stay the course and remain hired without getting fired along the way, or worse yet, losing the listing to another broker.

As for these Steps you’re about to digest, read them in any particular order, because all Steps lead to the Fountain of Youth. Cumulatively. And just like I tell my yoga students, if something I’m teaching - or preaching - is not working for you, then do it your way. I’m simply giving you the secrets to my success that have helped me stay strong and youthful - for the past 50 years.

I also hope you enjoy our Glossary brimming with 50 words to be exact, to help catapult your language to the next level. Because it always serves you well to empower your mind with a good vocabulary. Plus, check-out Best of the Best, an alphabetical listing of the inspirational and preeminent trailblazers and celebrity artists referenced herein. At the end you’ll find blank pages to chronicle your Dreams, Actions and Small Victories, as well as some good old-fashioned Journaling.

And finally, that last Step 30 - Self-Correct, is reprinted in its entirety from my memoir, Simply Between Millions: From Wall Street to Hollywood. It’s one of my favorite chapters with a no worries approach to getting off track. Just self-correct and you’ll quickly be back on track.

Because in the end, the only thing that really matters is your burning desire to make it happen and your stick-to-it-of-ness, aka perseverance.

Enjoy the book everyone, and I’ll see you at the Fountain!

Peace – R

Step 1

Keep Moving Mind – BODY - Spirit

Did you know that baby Dolphins do not sleep during their first month of life? It’s true. They stay awake while staying very close to their mother and they keep moving at all times. Plus, they stay very alert and aware, just like their Moms do, who also stay awake for that entire month as well, to protect her baby against predators.

The key is these newborns keep moving at all times to keep their bodies and their minds alert and aware, all the while sharpening their swimming skills and learning all about their new environment. And since Dolphins are also one of the 10 smartest animals on the planet, right behind Humans and Chimpanzees, not to mention they can also recognize themselves in the mirror, maybe they can teach us a thing or two.

So what does this have to do with everlasting youth? Well, it’s not only some cool, sea world trivia, but this interesting observation about a finely tuned, highly intelligent, very playful and social and family-oriented aquatic mammal, can teach us a lot. Because embodying youthfulness forever starts with keeping yourself active as opposed to inactive, as much as humanly possible.

Keep Moving: Two simple words that pack a whale of a punch! Did you also know that Orcas, more commonly know as killer whales, are the largest member of the Dolphin family?

Also true.

As for the truthful definition of this simple phrase, well, everyone knows the word keep means to continue. As for the word moving, although it may seem obvious, its application thereof is really not. Moving means that whenever you can, you should always keep your body in motion as opposed to idleness, or worse, inertia. Now what about stationary activities? Those are exceptions to the rule - like eating, driving, meditating, working at your desk, feeding your baby or watching TV - and do not fall into the category of humanly possible. So no worries, stay seated. But as soon as you finish or even take a break, you should get up and move around.

Keep the body