Monday, August 22, 2011

Why Do the Yesplus Workshop? (Part 1)

One of our good friends Manjunath asked us to write the top ten reasons why one should do Yesplus. I thought about it and decided to ask all the participants who have completed the workshop in Austin the same question. “Tell me the most important reason why someone should do Yesplus.” I was overwhelmed by the responses. Here are some of the responses.

To explore inside. Kriya definitely boosts prana and immunity. Purely physical aspect. — Kalpesh Soni

To get back focus. — Mazhalai C

To realize one’s own internal/personal power and the ability to understand situations and be calm if things/people are not in control. — Niharika Nidhi

Apart from experiencing a glimpse of spirituality, learn and practice simple techniques for learning to live a happy and content life. — Sucharit Ghate

To appreciate life fully. One should take it just for the Kriya. But, I think the whole package of life lessons is much more than any book/talk could offer. My key take away was a simple thing – Be happy no matter what! I’d recommend it to anyone who wants more out of life. — Vinodh Kumar

Different experience. — Kilol Shah

Brings dynamism in that person in form of openness, confident… all comes through surge in energy due to practices in workshop. Everyone knows about these good qualities, read somewhere but only practices/kriya makes it reality. — Manisha Soni

Hmm… I think I learned how to have clarity from the course. Now, nothing really holds me back when before I would let the past bring me down. — Sumuk Raja

To get back in touch with how to live life with confidence and enthusiasm. — Ambica Ashok

To me in this busy world, doing yes plus is a special time with yourself, you get to know yourself better, more like a guided introspective experience. — Rangakrishna

I think a course of this sort helps you become more aware of yourself kinda forcing yourself to take the time to think. — Sindhu

People should do it for the kind of awareness and enthusiasm it brings in their young lives and also because it will change their life forever. — Deepika Akella

Makes a person more active/dynamic. — Mathura

I would say to join Yesplus is the greatest honor to yourself because it helps you see how capable your body is, especially when your mind becomes open. :) — Sarah Lovin

Brings confidence and dynamism. — Shalini Batra

It is endless fun from start to finish. — Manjunath

Ben had more then a sentence to share.

The top reason…hmm that’s not easy.

I believe in today’s society we are constantly bombarded via multiple angles and mediums with information that negatively influences our perceptions of each other(cultures and societies) and ultimately how we interact with each other as individuals. YesPlus creates an environment of unilateral acceptance of our diverse backgrounds and cultures. Through YesPlus’s teachings on breathing and meditation individuals attain improved clarity of thought and peace of mind. Provided a clear and balanced mindset we are able to better frame our emotions, understand our thoughts and act in accordance with the wisdom of Guruji and the YesPlus instructors.

An old Chinese proverb(via a fortune cookie): “For the things we have to learn before we do them, we learn by doing them.”

YesPlus facilitates an environment to learn how to be a better person, both to ourselves and to each other.

Articulating my statements above to someone that does not understand humanity’s predicament and it’s individual impacts is difficult.

– Benjamin Block

Thanks to all who responded. :) We will continue to have fun Yesplus courses in Austin, as well as in many others places around the world. Do tune in if you haven’t already!

More sharing from Austin Yesplus-ers in the next post.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Info Session at Liquidation Channel

On Friday, July 29th 2011, the Liquidation Channel hosted an information session for its employees. The session was aptly named "Breath in Life, Breath out Stress" as all of the 50 attendees felt energized yet calm after. Shyam and Poornima led the session and talked about the effects of everyday stress at workplace on our bodies, minds and souls. Shyam explained how achieving success in life might mean many different things to us, but one of the most pivotal measurement of success is to have a healthy body, a stress-free mind and a smile that never fades away. Often, when we are energized, we are not calm and when we are calm, we are in a state of inertia. By regulating our breath, we can achieve a state of inner peace and outer dynamism. Even our emotions have associated breathing patterns! By breathing in certain rhythms, we can enforce positive emotions and discourage negative emotions.

The group at the Liquidation Channel showed a lot of enthusiasm regarding this knowledge. When Shyam led them through Bhastrika pranayams and a guided Ram meditation, the crowd woke up feeling energized and uplifted, and even greeted Shyam with an applause! Overall, it was a great experience and a privilege to have attended this information session. We are very excited with the feedback we received, some of which included "Life changing," "I felt giggly right from the start. Awesome experience," "I came to work feeling very exhausted, I didn't know how I was going to make it through the day. After the meditation, I felt so energized I didn't know when the day was over. I did it again when I went home and slept like a baby."

If interested in hosting an info session at your workplace, contact Shyam (shyam.gannavaram@gmail.com) or Poornima (poornimaaol@gmail.com) to make your office a happy, smiling one.



Monday, August 01, 2011

The world culture festival

Art of Living celebrated its 30th anniversary in the form of world culture festival on 2nd and 3rd of July 2011. Here is a short video of the celebrations.

Also, checkout what Austin's own Anoop Iyer had to say about the memorable event.

Science of Breath

Meru Chikitsa – Ancient Ayurvedic Spinal Care Treatment

About Meru Chikitsa:
Meru Chikitsa can be described as an ancient Ayurvedic healing technique/treatment/system that incorporates mechanical, psychological, bio-force, biochemical and nervous aspects of the spine. The term "Meru Chikitsa" is a Sanskrit word which means "Spinal Therapy".
The technique involves spinal manipulation, breathing and gentle pressure / massage to balance nerve impulses, blood and other body fluid currents to restore harmony of the body. It has also been reported to enhance and bring balance for the spine to restore more "Prana" and to facilitate longer periods of Meditation.

Who can benefit?
Everyone!
Everyone's Prana can be boosted and balanced to positively impact well-being.
Also, an immediate/permanent relief can be achieved especially if one is challenged with headaches/back pain/leg pain/sciatica/carpal tunnel/shoulder problems/digestive problems/leg or ankle pain/depression/low energy.

Experience sharing:
Here is a blog post from Manjunath's blog about his recent experience here in Austin...

About Rachael:
Rachael is a graduate (1998) from National College of Chiropractic USA. Inspired by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, she has traveled around the world for the past 20 years and provided healing through 'Meru Chikitsa' for  hundreds of people thus positively impacting their well-being. She also offers nutritional counseling. She can be contacted at meruchikitsa@gmail.com.

Consulting fee:
$60.00 for a 20 minute session

Appointment:
To schedule an appointment, email Sanjeev Mathur at <2sanjeevm@gmail.com> or call @ 512-203-6751

Sunday, July 17, 2011

My experiences of GURU PURNIMA

Dear Friends,
A few of us just returned from an absolutely incredible week of silence, celebration, wisdom and joy in the presence of our dearest Guruji His Holinesss Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. I'm very privileged that this was my 12th Guru Purnima with Guruji but he never ceases to amaze! It is very hard to put into words the depth of the experience we had. As many of you have already experienced many times, it is an amazing phenomenon to witness Guruji: tirelessly giving unconditional love and care to all that come, taking away everyone's garbage &amp; burdens, and transforming tears of sorrow into tears of gratitude, such profound wisdom one moment and then playing pranks and mischief the next. The gratitude and fullness everyone felt in the room on the day of Guru Purnima was so palpable. (I know some of you are new to the Art of Living and/or have not been around Guruji yet. I would ask you to not believe a word of this and go seek and trust your own experience. Definitely be sure to find yourself in Guruji's presence anytime he visits this part of the world!)

One of the many beautiful things Guruji said was this: He asked everyone if we could all do just one thing: DO NOTHING! For 20 mins everyday atleast, do absolutely nothing! The mind is constantly engaged in doing, in planning, in analyzing throughout the waking day. And the highest is achieved not by our effort but through effortlessness. It takes a certain effort to get onto the train (taking the course and doing the practices everyday for example) but once you are on the train, it is time to let go completely and sink inwards. All the veils, desires, impressions, patterns, cravings and aversions that the mind is caught up in prevent us from experiencing our own depth, our own divinity. And meditation along with Sudarshan Kriya are the surest means to lift ALL those veils so our essence may shine forth in its full splendor. (the complete video of his morning talk on Guru Purnima day can be seen here.)

There are two very wonderful opportunities where you can learn and practice DOING NOTHING :) coming up:
1. If you have not learnt the Sahaj Samadhi meditation practice taught on the Art of Meditation course, there is one coming up soon July 22-25. The priceless gift of meditation is something you can give yourself everyday for the rest of your life along with the Sudarshan Kriya.

2. We shall be having the next Art of Silence program offered at the Texas ashram over the Labor day weekend Sept 2-5. For this one, you won't have to take any days off work and it will be conducted by none other than senior teacher Philip Fraser! Even this time in Canada, Guruji said that in a world and lifestyle so full of noise, it is absolutely essential for everyone to take 2-3 Silence programs every year. So if its been more than 6 months since your last Silence program, I'd say just jump in! You'll be so glad, promise!

And as we take care of ourselves, let us take care of of our global family and share &amp; care. If you have any ideas on how we can bring lasting relief and celebration into the lives of our fellow beings, do share!

Jai Gurudev! ("Victory to the Highest within us")
Much love &amp; gratitude,
shyam


"There is a place you can come where everything is beautiful. Tourists travel from place to place looking for beauty. With photos and souvenirs they try to take the beauty back home with them. They only get tired and tanned. Yet the most beautiful spot anywhere is right here. When you come here, you find that everything is so beautiful wherever you are. Where is this place? Don’t look here and there; come within you. When you are here, then any place becomes beautiful. Then wherever you go, you add beauty there. If you are unhappy, even the moon irritates you, sweet things nauseate, music disturbs. When you are calm and centered inside, noise is musical, clouds are magical, rain is liquid love. Book yourself on a trip to this most beautiful place in the universe. Then you’ll find that every day is a vacation and a celebration."
---Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Sri Sri Ravishankar interviewed on Tehelka

Sri Sri Ravishankar, the founder of Art of Living foundation and a humanitarian of the highest order. Recently he was interviewed by Tehelka, a leading independent weekly news magazine in connection with the on going stir in India against corruption.

The interview is worth a read for the balanced and wise answers he has given to the journalist asking questions. My favorite is the last one, “Will you ever join active politics?”,
 
Here is a link for the interview.