My journey into breathing and meditation: The Art of Living

Art of Living breathwork and meditation

Very often we wait for something to happen to make that decision that impacts our lives, to make that decision to take care of ourselves, our health and wellbeing, and our happiness. I too fell under that category until one day I realized that I was going in a direction that I wasn't supposed to be going. 

This was 13 years back when I was a frustrated teenager who was just few months away from completing her schooling. I was extremely stressed, anxious and would lose my temper often. I would lose my friends because of my short tempered nature. I did different things to control myself; self-hypnosis, and some of the meditations would be guided by my father who was meditating for many years. But none of that had a long term effect on me. I would feel physically restless while doing the meditations. I needed something different.

A friend of mine had informed me about the Art of Living course many years back when I was in 8th grade and would hand over the course pamphlets to me. But I never took it seriously as I didn't know what it was. Surprisingly, I developed a very strong urge to take up the workshop while I was completing my schooling and in 2007 during Navratri, I took up the course in Abu Dhabi. In the very first experience of the SKY breathing, I noticed a sense of peace and calm within. My grades improved so did my relationships with those around me. I was no longer throwing things at people or unnecessarily yelling at the top of my voice. I could feel a deep sense of serenity and started enjoying my daily practices. I still continue to enjoy my daily practices and feel that deep sense of rejuvenation and wellbeing. 

There have been moments where I lost my job and still felt that I could handle it with calmness and ease. Being an instructor and volunteer with the Art of Living, I feel the importance of breath and meditation on our overall wellbeing and as long as one can breathe, this is a workshop that is not to be missed....