Jennifer+N+SE

⊕ __The A____ℝ____t o__ __∮__ __Livi__ __ℕ__ __g Fo__ __∪ℕ__ __dati__ __σ__ __n__ ⊕     Link to AOLF -[| http://www.artofliving.org/intl/] 

The Art of Living Foundation (TAOL) is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization founded by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. It has been an educational and humanitarian organization in the United States since 1989 but it is currently extended its regional centers to 150 countries in the world, serving up to 20 million people. TAOL is partnered with International Association for Human Values (IAHV) and works in a position of special consultative with the UN’s Economic and Social Council, participating in a variety of committees and activities concerning disaster relief, care for children, women empowerment, rural development bio-dynamic agriculture and youth empowerment.

The Art of Living Foundation provides assistance and practical tools to communities around the world. It operates as a social business with its main activity of organizing Art of Living courses, yoga and meditation workshops. These yoga and meditation courses are self-development and stress elimination programs that empower people to face life’s challenges gracefully. The fundamental of these unique programs is the Sudarshan Kriya, a powerful and reenergizing breathing technique presented to the world by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar after spending 10 days in deep contemplation in silence. More than 100 million people around the world have undergone the Art of Living workshops and resulted in physical and mental well-being and improvement in social relationships. The Art of Living had made ancient practices more available to the common people which were used to be kept exclusive. The workshops offer programs that involve in wide range of age and section of society. The programs have an ability to bind human beings together, influencing them to feel responsible towards humanity as a whole. The majority of the officers of the organization along with most of its teachers and staff are worldwide network of volunteers. Medical research has proven significant benefits of these programs. For example, Sudarshan Kriya can improve blood cholesterol profile with less LDL (harmful) cholesterol and more HDL (beneficial) cholesterol. The Art of the Living Foundation continues to support the victims and spread the idea of meditation today.



** Story of a Volunteer:** "//I have seen people who could not cry, they where haunted by the images of the tragedy. Many had busted ear drums caused by the explosion//." After the March 11th attack in Spain, the people are trying to enjoy life again. Sylvie Dunand, the French therapist is also willing to be useful. She started to organized free post traumatic stress release courses. She presently lives in Madrid and is a volunteer of the Art of Living Foundation, the NGO that wanted to help the victims. She has organized free post traumatic stress release courses in halls offered by hotels such as Hotel Atocha. By contributing 4 days of teaching breathing techniques, it significantly benefits up to 230 grateful victims.

 **Story of a Victim:** “//My name is Marta. I lost my uncle on March 11th in the terrorist attacks. I have a lot of anger inside and want to get rid of it. I can't go on with my normal life//".

A group of housewives, students psychologists, designers all came together because they have one thing in common: post traumatic stress, as a result of the terrorist attack in Madrid on March 11th. After Marta’s confession, which is only one of the numerous despairing stories that the bombs have left, Marta was ready to overcome the psychological symptoms which thousands of people, like herself, were suffering after the disaster. She wanted discard her fear and anxiety that irritated her. The depression escalated from the lost of her uncle and her inability to sleep. The Art of Living Foundation rolled its sleeves to help out. "The breathing techniques that we are teaching are helping the victims of 11-M to release their post traumatic stress" explains the representative of the Art of Living Foundation in Spain. Ultimately, the most fundamental act of life is to breath in. Every emotion creates a specific rhythm or pattern in the breath. We don't have to be victims of our own mind. The Art of Living Foundation has also helped the victims of 11-S in USA, the survivors of Kosovo war and in the earthquake in Gujarat, India.

media type="youtube" key="PrIdJqbfCCo" height="340" width="560"
 * Interview on Main Goals of Art of Living Foundations**:

iMovie Presentation

5 Questions --- __Bibliography:__ "The Art of Living Foundation's Stress Elimination Programmes." //The Art of Living Foundation//. 2009. Web. 06 Dec. 2009. <[|__http://www.artofliving.org/intl/Programmes/tabid/55/Default.aspx__]>. "Art of Living." //AbsoluteAstronomy.com//. Web. 05 Dec. 2009. <[|__http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Art_of_Living__] >. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%; letter-spacing: 0px;">"Art of Living Foundation UK." //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">The Art of Living Foundation UK // <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%; letter-spacing: 0px;">. 2007. Web. 06 Dec. 2009. <[|__http://uk.artofliving.org/traumarelief.htm__]>. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> "Quotable Quotes from Guruji Sri Sri Ravishankar." Guru Kripa Masters Grace. Web. 07 Dec. 2009. <http://gurukripa.wordpress.com/2008/03/27/quotable-quotes-from-guruji-sri-sri-ravishankar/>.

__Pictures:__ <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> http://api.ning.com/files/xA5ztlGljm4boJiiHqcDYVx4KtJ8T5KlcfeJUoE1i-W7gsIYcZJ0uEmaAN48g26Ku*lDgYMXajPHtG2GEXNfBCN9y08jyVXa/AOLF_SWAN_LOGO_Aug05.jpg http://nazret.com/blog/media/blogs/new/SriSriRavishankar.jpg http://www.artofliving.org/intl/ http://www.bodhisattva.com/design/People/ShivaReaSB_class.jpg http://www.internationalschoolofyoga.net/yogaimage.jpg

__Videos:__ <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrIdJqbfCCo (in the iMovie) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUMMtYsda5E http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RNAbNzNHmw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a6hHMTbbTU