22 October 2015
Occasionally the hustle and bustle of our daily lives can take over, which in turn results in us having the tendency to put aside our general happiness and wellbeing. As a result of this, we decided to check in with Jacqueline Hurst, founder of The Life Class and leader of positive thinking, keen to discover the secrets behind living a happier and more positive life. The Life Class was the first UK virtual school helping people ultimately live a better life; being highly praised for its great success, it has provided help to people who have struggled with a whole range of issues from weight, anxiety, depression, confidence, public speaking and more. We hugely admire her desire and passion for helping others achieve their optimum happiness, and ultimately being the best version of themselves that they can be.
JACQUELINE’S DAY ON A PLATE
BREAKFAST
I start the day with a bowl of old fashioned Weetabix with almond milk and a banana. I’m practically obsessed with this breakfast as it gives me the perfect balance of energy and satisfaction. It fills me up and prepares me well through until lunch.
LUNCH
My days can sometimes be back to back with clients, running the school, working on my websites or meeting with big brands to give talks or discuss the life class, but lunch is the perfect time for me to stop everything for 15 to 20 minutes and focus on some self care, nourishing my body. I go for a smoked salmon sandwich at Pret with a fruit salad or a big tuna and white bean salad when I’m at home. If I’m out for lunch with clients I always go for something that will keep my energy stable throughout the day and something that will fill me up and keep me focussed. I never cut out food groups and all food is allowed. Nothing is restricted.
DINNER
Dinner is usually fish and vegetables. It sounds so boring but I absolutely love the simplicity of it. If I’m out with friends I will do the same. There are some days I fancy a steak or a burger but mostly it’s simple food in a simple way.
My food is probably the same as my philosophy with life – don’t complicate things!
SO JACQUELINE, WE ARE HUGE FANS OF THE LIFE CLASS AND THE CONCEPT BEHIND IT AND WOULD LOVE TO KNOW HOW IT ALL CAME ABOUT. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START IT?
I’ve worked with thousands of clients over twelve years and have had the honour and the privilege to see people change their lives, get happier, live bigger, let go of feelings and behaviours that didn’t serve them and ultimately create lives they love. I always had a dream to help as many people as I could but with only 8 hours in the day and 7 days in a week I couldn’t actually do anymore. Then I realised the best way to help more and more people was to go virtual. It sounds odd but one night whilst I’d been thinking about all this for a good few weeks prior, I woke up at 2am and the words ‘The Life Class’ popped into my head – and so it was meant to be! I bought the domain name and then a few months later I had a hip Operation which put me out of the office and flat on my back for over two months. It was the perfect time to write my course and so every day that’s exactly what I did…and so The Life Class was born!
YOUR INSTAGRAM PAGE IS MOST DEFINITELY A GO-TO FOR A DAILY DOSE OF MOTIVATION AND INSPIRATION! HOW DOES IT FEEL KNOWING THAT YOU ARE HELPING YOUR THOUSANDS OF FOLLOWERS LIVE A HAPPIER AND MORE MINDFUL LIFE?
To me, knowing that I’m helping people, giving back, helping others feel better, open their minds more, become more positive or happier is the best feeling in the world. We can all spread this message to each other as long as we’ve got our own heads right first – that’s what we teach you at The Life Class and once you’ve gone through this course it’s almost impossible to feel miserable easily ever again!
PART OF YOUR AIM IS TO HELP PEOPLE REACH A HIGHER DEGREE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE – WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR OVERALL HAPPINESS?
It’s so important to do this because we all need to learn to live from a place of empowerment and strength, not blame and misery! Emotional intelligence has to be learnt, it’s not something we get taught at school but it’s something that once you have learnt it, will provide your life with the best tools possible to have the happiest life you know.
HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK IT IS TO HAVE A POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON LIFE AND HOW MUCH DO YOU BELIEVE THAT A POSITIVE MIND DOES REALLY LEAD TO A POSITIVE LIFE?
I believe 100% that a positive mind equals a positive life. You get out what you put in. If you are always believing in the good, always believing in the magic and mystery of this amazing universe and how it works then good things come back to you. How you think ultimately creates how you feel, what you do and your outcomes, so thinking right is the key to a happy life. At The Life Class we literally teach you the ways you can do this and learn how-to start thinking correctly to create the life you love.
APART FROM MEETING CLIENTS AND RUNNING THESE COURSES, WHAT ELSE WOULD A TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF JACQUELINE HURST INVOLVE?
It would involve a few Barrecore classes, a couple of trips to the amazing guys at Isokinetic, a lot of laughter with friends, a couple of straight black filter coffees from Pret and a little meditation throughout my day in 5 minute spurts.
WE KNOW THAT LEADING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE DOESN’T ONLY INVOLVE EATING A BALANCED, HEALTHY DIET BUT IS ALSO ABOUT STAYING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE WAY TO WORKOUT AND YOUR IDEAL TIME OF THE DAY TO DO SO?
I love training in the morning as it helps me manage and juggle everything the day will be throwing at me. Barrecore helps me get into my body each morning and TriYoga is also a wonderful place to counteract the crazy. I’ve also been spending a lot of time with the very knowledgeable people at Isokinetic in Harley Street who are amazing for helping you get back to fighting fit after an operation.
LIVING A BALANCED LIFESTYLE, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE AS BUSY AS YOURSELF, IS SOMETIMES EASIER SAID THAN DONE. WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE A BALANCED LIFESTYLE AND HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT YOU STICK TO ONE?
I think having a balance is the most important part of a self care practice. It’s not only talking about it but actually doing it that counts. Scheduling in time to do things that make you feel good is key. Balance is not over working or over playing its having both in your life in a way that works for you. For me it’s meditation throughout my day, seeing a set number of clients each day and not pushing on past that amount ’just because’, it’s about taking long weekend breaks in the middle of a mad month with a little sun and sometimes silence. It’s about working really hard and then counter balancing that with some very lovely me-time too.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR BEST PIECE OF ADVICE TO SOMEONE WHO STRUGGLES TO KEEP THEMSELVES MOTIVATED AND HAVE A POSITIVE MINDSET?
Struggle is natural and real and it’s important to remember everyone struggles at points in their lives, no one has a perfect life. I think it’s also to remember that nothing stays the same way forever. This too shall pass. For me the times I’ve struggled the most I have grown the most, learnt the most, and my self development has propelled to another level. They don’t call it ‘growing pain’ for nothing! It’s how you deal with the struggle that counts.
AND WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN?
To take it a day at a time. Every day I take it one day at a time. Also, My grandmother once told me ‘out of small acorns huge oak trees grow’ I still love that piece advice just as much as the day I heard it.
IF YOU WERE TOLD YOU COULD GO ON HOLIDAY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD BUT WERE ONLY ABLE TO TAKE THREE THINGS WITH YOU, WHERE WOULD YOU GO AND WHAT WOULD YOU TAKE?
I’ve just come back from there!! I have a special little secret spa in Spain that I love. I would take a bikini, sun lotion and and my music. Done!
AND LASTLY, WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOURSELF AND THE LIFE CLASS?
I plan to keep practicing my work and running the school. I have a book in the pipeline and a few amazing opportunities with some big brands coming up. Ultimately though, the core of me wants to help everyone get their thinking right and feel amazing. It’s a ripple effect. The better you feel, the better you act and in turn the nicer you are to others…the more people who take the course the happier world we live in! The life class is starting a revolution here in the UK and we want as many people to be part of it as possible. We are spreading the light…
To see more of what Jacqueline is up to and check out The Life Class, visit the website here: http://www.thelifeclass.com
