Clubwise - August 10, 2002

Every week, we bring you the latest on the UAE's clubs, associations and groups. We choose one each time and profile it, highlighting its purpose and activities. We also bring you bits of news from other such groups. So that you know what is happening when, where and why.

This week: Art of Living

The hall at Al Nadi Club in Al Ghurair City was filled with around 60 adults vigorously learning various breathing techniques. It was difficult to imagine that breathing could be so strenuous.

If harmony between mind, body, soul and society is what you are looking for, then Art of Living (AOL) is your one-stop club. AOL Foundation website declares its dedication to "serving society by strengthening the individual".

It adds, "We do this by offering programmes that eliminate stress, create a sense of belonging, restore human values, and encourage people from all backgrounds, religions, and cultural traditions to come together in celebration and service."

You become a life member once you complete a basic course, the current fee of which is Dh500 per adult. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar founded this organisation now spread over 130 countries.

The pillars of this programme are yoga, breathing exercises, meditation, service and knowledge. The heart of this programme is a breathing technique refined and popularised by Sri Sri known as Sudarshan Kriya‚ a process that triggers the mind and body to release stress.

"We need to undertake a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside," says Sri Sri. Current medical studies are supporting the beneficial effect of this technique.

The AOL foundation claims that clinical trials have reported increased lung capacity, decrease in stress hormone and alleviation of depression. The programme emphasises the breath-based yoga, which is more spiritually orientated, in contrast to the globally popular exercise-based hatha yoga.

The Sahaj Samadhi (natural enlightenment) meditation taught is a natural system of effortless meditation. It is the art of letting go of everything and being who you are. This puts the individual in the present moment and helps experience a calmer frame of mind.

AOL undertakes humanitarian and educational services in more than 120 countries. This ranges from visiting the residents at a convalescent home in California to the re-construction and rehabilitation of earthquake-damaged Indian state of Gujarat.

Recently, AOL was in the news for their efforts to organise support to the firemen involved in the September 11 events.

Members practice the Sudarshan Kriya together once a week. Apart from that, they can volunteer their time, money or effort for social service.

Major events undertaken in the past one year within UAE include a blood donation camp, undertaking free AOL classes in labour camps, organising a series of musical concerts for children with special needs and beach cleaning in support of the local environment protection campaign.

There are tailor-made AOL programmes aimed at children and young adults too. Members can continue with the basic course free of cost in any part of the world. Higher courses can be taken to advance the skill of discovering one's full human potential.

Globally, the members are kept abreast through an e-based newsletter. Their website is www.artofliving.org .

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