Dubai: The Art of Living Dubai conducted a free workshop for the support staff of the Cambridge International School in Al Garhoud with the aim of reducing stress and providing hands-on tips for achieving greater well-being.
The three day workshop, called the ‘Alertness and Awareness Programme’ focused on creating holistic health for the workers in physically and mentally demanding jobs. Over 100 staff consisting of cleaners, classroom assistants, and technicians amongst others were trained in yoga, breathing exercises and meditation to help them overcome the day-to-day stress and exhaustion of the jobs. The workshops also had interactive knowledge sessions on healthy living providing information on balanced diet, nutrition, proper hygiene and appropriate physical activity.
The Art of Living offers various stress-relief programmes across the UAE and the world to create a stress-free, violence-free society based on human values of peace, happiness and universal brotherhood. Globally, the Art of Living has transformed the lives of 370 million people through its 12,000 Happiness Centers across 156 countries in the last 37 years.
“A happy employee is integral to growth of any organisation. Yoga, breathing techniques and meditation are the way to inner happiness and peace,” says Sujatha Balaji, instructor of the Alertness and Awareness Programme.
She pointed out the programme uses a holistic approach to healthy and joyful living.
“I have been practising the same techniques for about a decade and have had immense benefits from them. It gives me great satisfaction to see the smiles on the faces of the people who come for the programme,” she said.
Talking about the workshop, Nithya Kala, a Sri Lankan support staff at school commented, “I used to have severe asthma before. I learnt the breathing practices and yoga in last year’s workshop and have been practising regularly for a year now and my breathing has improved a lot. I’m glad I found yoga,” she said.
Meanwhile, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of The Art of Living, explained that most people experience stress when they have too much to do and too little time or energy.
“No work remains stressful if we learn how to manage our body, mind and emotions.”
Through his yoga, breathwork and meditation workshops, Ravi Shankar has transformed the lives of millions around the world in the last 37 years. The world renowned humanitarian and spiritual leader will be visiting the UAE for the first time this month and will conduct a two-day transformational meditation master class in Dubai on November 16-17. The sessions will provide an incredible opportunity to the participants to accelerate personal growth and remove deep-rooted stress, by learning the best meditation practices from one of the leading meditation experts in the world.
