Brandon Bays

She was born in Trenton, New Jersey to an American father and a Austrian mother,{{Cite news |last=NP |first=Ullekh |date=2012-03-01 |title=Brandon Bays' self-healing technique allows people to clear their vasanas & sanskaras |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/brandon-bays-self-healing-technique-allows-people-to-clear-their-vasanas-sanskaras/articleshow/12089619.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2025-06-13 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}} who grew up in Vienna, Austria.{{cite web |last=Stoicescu |first=Corina |title=Brandon Bays, The Journey: "Always listen to your heart! |url=https://www.theessenceofit.com/brandon-bays-the-journey-always-listen-to-your-heart/ |publisher=theessenceofit.com |date=May 2, 2014 |access-date=April 15, 2016}}At age 35, she first visited India, a country she later referred to as her “spiritual home.”{{Cite news |date=2012-11-27 |title=Brandon Bays to visit India next month |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/brandon-bays-to-visit-india-next-month/articleshow/17385052.cms |access-date=2025-06-13 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} She has studied the teachings of Indian spiritual masters, including Ramana Maharshi and his student HWL Poonja, who gave her the spiritual name “Janaki,” meaning “born of the self.”{{Cite web |date=2012-03-16 |title=Brandon Bays: 21st Century Healer |url=https://coralesque.com/2012/03/16/lighting-lives-2/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Coralesque |language=en}}

She worked for Tony Robbins for 10 years, presenting the Living Health program as a Master Trainer.[https://books.google.com/books?id=WfSulAEACAAJ The Journey: A Road Map to the soul.] Simon and Schuster. 2001. ISBN 978-0743443920.

She is the author of the book The Journey, first published in 1999 and later reissued in 2012.[http://www.thejourney.com Official website] The book has been translated into multiple languages and forms the basis for her therapeutic approach.{{Cite web |last=College |first=Vitality Living |date=2019-05-10 |title=The science behind The Journey (Brandon Bays) I Vitality Living College {{!}} Vitality Living College |url=https://vitalitylivingcollege.info/the-science-behind-the-journey/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |language=en-GB}}

Bays says that her healing method originated from a personal health experience in which she was diagnosed with a large abdominal tumor.{{Cite news |date=2012-01-29 |title=Brandon Bays on God and spirituality |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/brandon-bays-on-god-and-spirituality/articleshow/11672888.cms |access-date=2025-05-23 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} She recovered without surgery or conventional medical treatment over a six-week period.{{Cite web |date=2013-03-31 |title=Tumour cured 'through meditation' |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tumour-cured-through-meditation-2435267 |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Wales Online |language=en}} She attributes her recovery to a process involving emotional release, accessing subconscious memories, forgiveness, and a form of spiritual connection she describes as "Source" or "infinite intelligence."{{Cite web |title=Inward journey |url=https://www.news24.com/life/inward-journey-20030609 |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}

Following this experience, Bays developed The Journey Method, a process-based approach that combines emotional introspection and guided self-inquiry.{{Cite web |last=Shoval |first=Ofri |title=Free the Cell |url=https://www.haaretz.com/2008-10-23/ty-article/free-the-cell/0000017f-ecc6-d0f7-a9ff-eec7ee1a0000 |website=Haaretz}}

The Journey also incorporates elements of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and includes specific approaches to address phobias and emotional traumas.

Brandon was deeply influenced by a spiritual teacher she fondly calls 'Papaji' ( H. W. L. Poonja ) whom she met in Lucknow, India in the early 90s. Papaji was a teacher of self inquiry in the tradition of the sage, Ramana Maharshi.{{Cite news |last=NP |first=Ullekh |date=2012-03-01 |title=Brandon Bays' self-healing technique allows people to clear their vasanas & sanskaras |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/brandon-bays-self-healing-technique-allows-people-to-clear-their-vasanas-sanskaras/articleshow/12089619.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2025-05-23 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}

Since the publication of The Journey, Bays has conducted seminars and workshops across five continents.{{Cite news |last=Shipley |first=Diane |date=2008-02-20 |title=Don't bite the hand that feeds the inner you |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2008/feb/20/dianeshipley |access-date=2025-06-13 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Her work is particularly noted in the fields of personal development, alternative healing, and spiritual inquiry. {{Cite web |title=Can past trauma result in illness later? |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/can-past-trauma-result-in-illness-later-1.1143943 |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}

Her work gained prominence following her personal account of overcoming a large uterine tumor in the early 1990s, which she claims to have resolved without conventional medical treatment, instead using introspective techniques focused on uncovering and resolving unresolved childhood trauma.{{Cite news |last=Ray |first=Shreya |date=2012-02-06 |title=The healing ‘Source’ |url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/hpdwbLVPWfqjiuEAtXqnXJ/The-healing-8216Source8217.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210422131030/https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/hpdwbLVPWfqjiuEAtXqnXJ/The-healing-8216Source8217.html |archive-date=2021-04-22 |access-date=2025-06-13 |work=mint |language=en}}

Bays contends that unprocessed emotional experiences are stored at the cellular level and that these can obstruct physiological functions, potentially resulting in illness.{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Excellence |date=2016-03-01 |title=Brandon Bays: The Meaning of Life and the Gift of Grace |url=https://excellencereporter.com/2016/03/01/brandon-bays-the-meaning-of-life-and-the-gift-of-grace/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=Excellence Reporter |language=en}} The Journey process is designed to guide individuals through the release of these suppressed emotions by accessing and confronting the core memories associated with personal pain or trauma. {{Cite web |title=Bays book offers guide to emotional freedom |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/bays-book-offers-guide-to-emotional-freedom-1.1019453 |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}Her approach draws from principles in mind-body medicine and cellular biology, suggesting that emotional suppression has measurable biochemical consequences that may influence physical health.

Bays has collaborated with or appeared alongside various figures in the personal growth and consciousness movement, including Tony Robbins, Lynne McTaggart, Wayne Dyer, Bruce Lipton, and Deva Premal & Miten.

Since the publication of her book The Journey (1999), which outlines her recovery and the healing methodology she developed, Bays has cultivated a global following. Her techniques have reportedly been employed by individuals suffering from various health conditions, including cancer, and by people seeking personal development or emotional healing. The method has also found institutional support in some contexts, notably in South Africa, where it has been incorporated into educational programs with government backing.

Despite her popularity among self-help and alternative healing communities, Bays and her methods remain controversial within the medical establishment. {{Cite web |last=Waal |first=Mandy De |date=2010-07-19 |title=Thank God for science! |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2010-07-19-thank-god-for-science/ |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}Critics argue that approaches like The Journey may provide false hope to patients and lack empirical validation through clinical trials. However, some medical professionals supportive of integrative health such as Irish GP Dr. Paddy Rudden and Australian GP Dr. Mark Naim have publicly endorsed her work as a potentially effective complement to conventional medicine.

• {{cite book|title=The Journey: A Road Map to the soul|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wVYENlVgf6QC |access-date=July 9, 2012|year=2001|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-0743443920}}
• {{cite book|title=The Journey for Kids: Liberating your child's shining potential|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=62O4Caqh0oEC|access-date=July 9, 2012|year=2003|publisher= Harpercollins UK|isbn=978-0007155262}}
• {{cite book|title= Freedom Is: Liberating Your Boundless Potential|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U48kmyRhaLkC|access-date=July 9, 2012|year=2007|publisher= New World Library|isbn=978-1577316008}}
• {{cite book|title= Consciousness: The New Currency|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ALRQwAACAAJ|access-date=July 9, 2012|year=2009|publisher=Journey Productions, Limited|isbn=978-0956337900}}
• {{cite book|title=The Journey: A Practical Guide to Healing Your Life and Setting Yourself Free|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JqAxOrdIQFcC|year=2012|publisher=Atria Books|isbn= 978-1451665611}}
• {{cite book|title=Living The Journey: Using The Journey Method to Heal Your Life and Set Yourself Free|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N2alH0jt_3IC|year=2012|publisher=Atria Books|isbn=978-1451665628}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|http://www.thejourney.com/}}
• [https://equalman.com/ Motivational Speaker]

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Category:1953 births

Category:Living people

Category:American motivational speakers

Category:American motivational writers

Category:American self-help writers

Category:American spiritual writers

Category:American people of Romanian descent

Category:New Thought writers