Art of Living Foundation

Week before the last week , i attended a workshop by Art of living Foundation. It was a 6 day workshop with nearly 3 hours every day ; a wonderful experience which i enjoyed a lot.

This is my first workshop that made a lot of impact on me. They focused on teaching breathing techniques and yoga. I have been studying many things about yoga and breathing on internet from a long time and i was feeling the need of such kind of a workshop.

The basic concept of Art of Living Foundation is to teach exercises that increase prana. What is Prana? Its a life energy - probably the same as qi/chi. Through Yoga you can considerably increase the prana in your body.

The effects of the workshops are lasting. . There were a number of spiritual lessons which might become a part of my life now. There was one exercise which i will mention as it had a very deep effect on me. In this exercise, the participants were told to sit in pairs facing each other with eyes closed. Then we were told to open our eyes and look at each other silently and then a question was asked. "If God ever comes to you in this face, will you be able to accept Him as God?". It was a very deep thing. The question hit me somewhere deep. and it still echoes in my mind now in my free times.

Earlier i was told by someone that Art of living foundation is promoting hindu concepts. What i have learnt is something that is beyond the domain of any religion (or may be i havent studied enough religions). The founder of the course is an Indian . true !!! ..his teachings are not . He is the follower of the Maharishi guy - the one who started Transcendental Meditation. The main exercises of the Art of living course are clearly given on their website . see. This is unlike other workshops as other instructors usually try to keep their teachings secret and sacred - making it impossible for a person to know what will be offered unless he/she gets registered for the course. Art of living makes it clear as to what they do and thats why they seem honest.

I came to know about Art of living when i was in Michigan , US. The course would have cost me some 400$ , had i done it in US. but lucky me!!.. i found them here and did the workshop at a much much much much lesser price .. :D ..There are only 2 Art-of-living instructors in Pakistan. luckily both are based in islamabad . . Btw, one of them is a VP in Mobilink.... kool ..

Ali Bhai and Noman also attended the workshop. Ali couldn't complete but Noman completed it and is as happy as i am.

The advanced level of the course will be offered after Ramzan. and in that we will have to go and stay at somewhere for sometime... for some 3-4 days.. isolated from the world.. What does that sound to you.. kool or weird.. :d ... well. ...kool to me atleast.. Reminds me of the time when i used to go on Tableeghi Seh Rozas - (a 3 day trip to a mosque) . Those , too , were days.

Oh btw!!... i lost 2 kg weight during the workshop. :D