Seminars teach techniques in breating and meditation
Published in the Oct. 1-14, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
Krishna Datla works with participants in a recent breathing workshop session in Morgan Hill. Photo by Marty Cheek
The Art of Living Foundation is a volunteer-based, nonprofit, educational and humanitarian organization founded in 1981 to promote a stress free and violence-free society. In 2013, it kick-started a stress free and violence free campaign in the Bay Area in response to the Dec 14 , 2012 school shooting in Sandy Hook, Conn. It recently started giving Happiness Seminars in Morgan Hill to teach people techniques in breathing and meditation.
Morgan Hill Life asked organizer Krishna Datla about the Art of Living Foundation and its goals of spreading happiness.
What is the Art of Living and why is it bringing Happiness Seminars to Morgan Hill?
We recently started collecting happiness surveys in Morgan Hill and Gilroy from more than 200 people. The results showed that 52 percent of the residents were happy quite often and 18 percent were only sometimes or rarely happy. To the question of what prevents them from being happy every day, 70 percent replied that external circumstances, including other people’s attitudes and the state of the nation, causes them stress.
AOLF offers many highly effective educational and self-development programs and tools that facilitate the elimination of stress and foster deep and profound inner peace, happiness and well-being. AOLF offers courses for teens, adults, veterans, prison inmates, and others. These include breathing techniques, meditation, yoga and practical wisdom for daily living, and have helped millions around the world to transform their lives.
How can learning certain breathing techniques help benefit the body and mind?
Breathing techniques that are taught by AOLF will help anyone to enhance the quantity and quality of life force, clear blocked energy channels, harmonize the body, mind and spirit, boost the immune system, rejuvenate the body and mind, and slow down the aging process.
How might teaching children these techniques help them perform better in the classroom?
The techniques we teach to high school students help reduce stress, anger, anxiety and depression. It also improves focus and concentration and enhances learning ability. Practical knowledge we discuss increases self-confidence and inner-strength to helps students handle peer pressure and make healthy choices when faced with life’s challenges.
How might learning certain breathing techniques be good for helping reduce insomnia and getting a better night’s sleep?
There is an abundance of evidence that breathing techniques can improve sleep patterns. Research indicates that an overly aroused sympathetic nervous system is an important causative factor in chronic insomnia. Our nervous systems are usually excessively aroused by stress, tension, overindulgence in stimulants such as tea and coffee, use of drugs, habits like going to bed late, too much stimulation in the evenings through the TV or computer, and indulgence in dietary habits that don’t suit our constitution. Usually, however, insomnia results primarily from mental and emotional stress. Breathing techniques, if followed regularly, help relieve stress and are very effective in relieving insomnia.
How did you personally get involved with the Art of Living Center and what is your background in breathing technique training?
In 2003, one of my colleagues informed me about a breathing technique workshop. Initially I was skeptical. Out of curiosity I attended the workshop and was amazed by the Sudharshan Kriya breathing technique. I felt very happy and rejuvenated after doing it the first time. After completing the workshop, I started practicing the Sudharshan Kriya everyday for 20 minutes and I noticed that many positive aspects flourished in me. My springtime allergies were no more, my energy levels remained high and my productivity at work increased. After a few years of mastering the art of breathing, I thought of giving it back to society and started volunteering. I attended the teacher training program with AOLF and started teaching these techniques five years ago. The most important thing I realized is that when we contribute to someone’s happiness, it brings back so much fulfillment and happiness within us.
How difficult is it to learn these breathing techniques taught by the Art of Living?
The techniques we teach are easy to learn. Generally, we teach them in a four- or five-day format called “Happiness Program.” By attending, you can learn powerful breathing techniques, and introduction to meditation. After completing the workshop, the participants will get a daily practice toolkit, which can be used to customize the breathing practice based on one’s own lifestyle. In addition, participants will be part of the AOL community which meets once a week and and practices these techniques in a bigger groups. We are organizing the Happiness Program in Morgan Hill from Oct 2-5, with experienced faculty members.
