amy smart
“From the Red Carpet to the Green Carpet”
In a city with so many beautiful blonde actresses, Amy Smart distinguishes herself from the rest. Although you might have seen her on the red carpet for films such as Road Trip, Just Friends, Starsky & Hutch, Varsity Blues, and Peaceful Warrior, you might not know that she frequents “green carpet” events too.
This genuine, down-to-earth environmentalist volunteers when she is not working. She has practiced Kundalini Yoga for years and is actively involved with many different organizations. She started as a speaker for Heal The Bay many years ago, educating people about the ocean pollution and solutions for cleaning it up.
For the past few years, she has been working with the Environment Media Association (EMA). Their mission is to put environmental messages into film or TV, as subtle as a Prius driving through a scene. Additionally, she is affiliated with the Humane Society of the US, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Women’s Step-up Network, Children’s Health Environmental Coalition (CHEC), and Environment California. Currently, Smart is the spokesperson for Eagles Forever, a campaign to raise awareness about the endangered Endangered Species Act.
Yogi Times: What has been the most challenging aspect of your personal journey, and how has that strengthened you?
Amy Smart: I think my most challenging moments in my life have been health related. I always use my body as a gauge to check in and see what’s going on. Your body speaks whether you’re conscious or not. I cherish my health and live my life with the awareness that emotions, thoughts, food, exercise, spirituality, and meditation all influence a healthy body. Being in balance is one of the greatest struggles, yet I soar when I am taking care good of myself and am able to live my destiny. Then, synchronicity happens.
YT: What do you consider to be your greatest strength, and your deepest weakness?
Amy Smart: I feel like my greatest strength has always been to see life from a greater perspective, as a whole. I think it’s easy to lose sight of what is really going on and focus on the trivial too often. The planet is a beautiful, nurturing mother never to be taken for granted. My love for life and for the environment has always fueled my heart to be proactive. My weaknesses: As an actor, I struggle with living in the drama, and then detaching at the end of the day. I am learning on this journey how not to fear others’ judgments, and how to be in my power.
YT: What gets you out of bed every day?
Amy Smart: I am naturally a morning person, I feel the happiest in the morning. I feel charged, empowered and ready to meditate and tune in to what I need to do for the day. I am grateful to be alive.
YT: Who was your greatest teacher, and why?
Amy Smart: I have had many great teachers, and I think our lives are a collage of experiences that make up who we are. To name one, I can definitely say Guru Singh. He is one of the most knowledgeable people I have ever met. He took my perspective and expanded it beyond anything imaginable. I have learned great lessons about life from him. He has taught me through Kundalini Yoga and many countless classes at Yoga West. It is a gift to be in his presence.
YT: Was there a defining moment in your life that placed you on your current path?
Amy Smart: I knew in my soul that I had great things to do in this world. I got involved with acting at a young age. I remember my acting teacher saying, “acting is the study of human behavior,” and I thought, wow, I could do this for the rest of my life. It is a never ending education. I felt like the life path of an actor would compliment my “greater work” in this life.
YT: How do you define success?
Amy Smart: I define success by many factors. Are you an honest person? Can you manifest what you want in life? Do you love a lot? Do you give? Are there lessons you are aware of that you want to learn from and grow from? Do you know how to receive? I have to say, ultimately if you can be still and feel contentment, gratitude and peace inside, then that is true success. Money is simply one of many outward manifestations of success, not the only one.
YT: What do you consider your greatest success?
Amy Smart: I have had great success so far, and I think to be able to enjoy it is the key. I felt so responsible and guilty for a while: Why did I have these great things in my life while others didn’t? I need to share it with everyone! I am now finally starting to find that balance of sharing and enjoying it myself.
YT: What brings joy into your life?
Amy Smart: I am so grateful to all of the things in my life that bring me joy. My cats, Yogi and Nala. The way they play and want to drink from the bath tub faucet every morning, and talk when they are hungry. My dog Oscar, his playful spirit and his love for swimming, and his wiggly butt when he’s happy. My friends who make me feel one of the greatest things life has, friendship. The intimacy and love from my partner, my family. The laughter at memories and the trust of a deep love that we share. Volunteering, cooking, funny movies, dancing, yoga, nature, animals, doing something daring, being spontaneous and simply feeling the warmth of the sun on my body.
YT: What words of wisdom do you have to share?
Amy Smart: Take quiet moments of reflection and go deep inside and ask those questions you need to find an answer to, the ones we have a hard time with. Great growth comes with deep reflection. And a desire to go after what you want. Do what makes you truly happy. As my mentor Guru Singh says, “have the attitude of gratitude.” “What do you do for a living? I breathe.”What is the next step for you? Practice my own advice, because they say the advice we give to people is usually what we need most.
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