Ep.51 - Chris Luera, Criminal to calisthenics champion

Chris Luera has spent a lot of time behind bars, but now he swings from them. From gang life and drug abuse to competing for glory in fitness, he's not only turned his life around to influence others with his positive change, but he's also risen to the top of his fitness game as a world champion in calisthenics. It all starts with hope. Born into a family of drug addicted parents, Chris Luera was surrounded by social services and abuse from day one. His birth mother died when he was 18 months old, and he went into foster care aged two and a half. His biological father couldn't cope.  Chris' great aunt, aged 56, adopted Chris and took him in. His aunt and uncle became his mother and father. Despite this new loving environment, he'd began to experimented with drugs and was arrested by the age 11. He was smoking crack cocaine by 13, and descended into a life of gangs, crime and meth addiction between multiple prison sentences. What followed was an incredible turn around of positivity and giving back to the world through fitness. After many failed attempts, Chris got clean when he returned from prison and dedicated his time to positivity. He found a job and started to do his parents proud. Tragically, his mother passed away, and in a desperate attempt to get some sleep at this time, Chris used the gym as a way to exhaust his body. It was here he discovered a new passion of calisthenics. From humble beginnings in the gym and working out at Venice Beach, Chris is now 3x Middleweight World Champion and WCO Master Trainer. His Tatted Strength brand is followed by thousands, while his book and motivational speaking is showing the world how anyone can turn their life around.   Episode Highlights :  The importance of a strong support network, full of people that will stand by you no matter what and guide you in making the right decisions. Why you need to look at the people you're around if you're in a bad mindset. How a positive outlook is all about perspective, and why it's so important to always be working towards something so that you counteract any negative thoughts with activity. How to keep yourself busy and avoid apathy in times of great stress, depression or distraction. Why you should share your knowledge through as many outlets as possible, and how you can make a start in publishing to further your influence.   Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Chris Luera…