Arlen J

Founder of Prodigy Mindset™

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Arlen suffered from severe depression and anxiety during his childhood years. He used athletics, particularly soccer, to mask his inner struggles. Despite being a four-year varsity letterman, Arlen’s performance waned during his junior and senior years. His inner struggles continued festering without resolution. He attended Schreiner University and played for the school’s soccer team. But Arlen left college and soccer after only two years to pursue film school in Los Angeles.​ It was there that he found a lifelong passion for photography. 

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In 2005 Arlen first became a coach for kids at PowerPlay MD in Los Angeles. He worked under Dr. Lydie Hazan coaching at-risk children. Arlen recognized how important self-awareness was to instill in children at a very young age. His work with children eventually led him to study the physiological function of brainwaves, particularly the Alpha wave, as they relate to self-awareness.

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Arlen felt Buddhism was closely aligned with a lot of his personal beliefs and discoveries throughout life. He became a member of the Soka Gakki International (SGI) Buddhist organization in Los Angeles. He challenged some of the practices at the temple that seemed to encourage negative brain activity versus self-affirmation. He left the SGI with new insights and a clear path towards sustained consciousness.

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The “life hacks” industry started booming around 2010. Arlen had experienced the lows and highs of life. He determined many of these programs were just hot-air subterfuges. All of them lacked the focus on simple concepts like affirmative self-talk that activates those ever-important Alpha brainwaves. Arlen’s real-life experiences, successes, failures, spiritual teachings and coaching experience were all combined to create the Prodigy Mindset™ Gym.

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"ALPHA puts mental hygiene first. It is mind over everything. If you are not focused on the mind first and foremost, then you are not focused at all.” 

- Arlen J, New York Weekly