"Each one of us is the total sun.

We have come into this world to give light and love."

- His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Full Moon Meditation -

The full moon symbolizes a fullness of consciousness, that glows and radiates. Just as the tides rise and fall according to the moon's gravitational pull, our thoughts come and go in our mind. Let's take a break this full moon night for introspection, to begin a new month in tune with ourselves, the world around us, glowing and radiating. This is a free event, and takes place every month at full moon. Please contact us for details.

Sudarshan Kriya - This breathing technique, brought out by Art of Living Foundation founder His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, incorporates specific natural rhythms of breath that release stress, detoxify the body, and center the mind in the present moment, naturally bringing it to a meditative state. Quietening the mind and dissolving deep into meditation, this technique brings joy, peace, and a sense of belonging to oneself and others. It is in every person’s faculty to experience the benefits of a regular meditation practice and the Sudarshan Kriya breathing technique. Breath and meditation is the body’s natural way to quiet the mind of thoughts, experience deep rest and energize and heal the entire system.

Art of Living Course - The next course is upcoming soon.

Course timings are w

eekdays from 6:30pm to 9:30pm, and w

eekend from 9am to 1pm.

For any questions, please call

(804) 59A-OLVA.

Take a Breath Richmond - To help revitalize the economy of Richmond, Art of Living will conduct free breath relaxation workshops throughout the city of Richmond. This service organization aims to reduce stress in the daily, personal, academic, and professional lives of local Richmond residents. The foundation workshops have been taught across the world for over 28 years, in over 150 countries. The secret is in rhythmic breathing techniques to help calm and focus the mind, this helps in clarity of thought when under stressful times. Local businesses will receive free workshops for their employees, to help increase productivity, retain, innovate and prosper despite the recent economic downturn. Local college students and high school graduates will also be offered free workshops at public and college libraries. Retaining local high school and college graduates for local Richmond jobs is a key goal of this community outreach. The foundation will also work with other local community support groups, especially ones that focus on individuals who may feel more stress, such as the unemployed, homeless, hungry, and single mothers.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar - "The financial crisis, economic turmoil, war, and increased violence in our cities have brought stress at work and at home to an all-time high," says Jonathan Tang, managing director of Red Rooster Ventures and a national board member of the Art of Living Foundation. "Stress is taking a toll on our mental and physical well being. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has a remedy." Known for his deep insight, practical wisdom, endearing presence and his quick wit, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, renowned spiritual leader and global humanitarian, and founder of the Art of Living Foundation, is in demand all over the world, including the European Parliament. In 2000, Sri Sri gave the keynote address at the United Nations Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders in New York City.

Violence Free Stress Free America - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar launched the “Violence-Free, Stress-Free America” campaign in March 2007 at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Joseph Biden, Jr., opened the event, saying, "The Art of Living Foundation has an incredible – actually incredible – following that cuts through all religions, cultures and backgrounds – a very, very difficult thing to do in today's world."

Dalai Lama - "At a time when many people feel that modern knowledge and ancient traditions tend to contradict each other, it is refreshing to come across someone like Sri Sri Ravi Shankar who has been able to reconcile his scientific education with his Vedic training to find a path relevant to contemporary needs." - His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Disaster & Trauma Relief - In 1999, the International Association for Human Values (IAHV), the sister organization for the Art of Living Foundation, is created. Sri Sri and the Dalai Lama are two of the co-founders, among several former heads of state. A key aspect of Sri Sri's humanitarian initiatives has been to provide swift and timely relief to victims of natural and man-made disasters. Extensive relief and rehabilitation work in the tsunami-affected areas of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, trauma relief camps in Kashmir and Pakistan after the earthquake, interventions in war-torn Iraq and in the aftermath of 9/11 attacks in New York - Sri Sri's initiatives have become one of the most vital links in any disaster rehabilitation programs the world over.

Haiti - Volunteers are working with local Haitian leaders on reforestation and relief projects in that country in the wake of the recent hurricane damage. Under his direction and close supervision, volunteers not only collect and disburse immediate relief supplies, but also help survivors overcome the post-traumatic stresses that haunt them.

Hurricane Katrina - Sri Sri visited Hurricane Katrina survivors, volunteers and public officials carrying out relief operation in Texas on September 27. Sri Sri was invited by Austin Mayor Will Wynn to meet with survivors of Hurricane Katrina, where the Art of Living and its sister organisation International Association of Human Values are conducting trauma relief workshops. "It is truly an honour for our community to host a greatly respected world leader such as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar," said Austin City Council Member Raul Alvarez.

9/11 - The Foundation offered free meditation and breathing programs throughout New York City to help the city heal from the trauma of the attacks.

Tsunami - Through the Foundation and the IAHV, 400 tons of supplies are collected within days of the tsunami in Asia. Almost two years after the tsunami, Sri Sri's volunteers are still engaged in trauma relief and long-term rehabilitation of the victims of the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka and Nagapattinam, India. Over 50,000 victims have overcome the trauma of the disaster thanks to Sri Sri's specially designed stress elimination techniques.

Afghanistan - More than two decades of war and strife has almost completely destroyed Afghanistan. Sri Sri's programs are being conducted in the country on a regular basis. The participants are taught some simple, yet powerful breathing techniques and sound meditations, which have a profound impact on reducing trauma levels and stress caused by incessant war scenes. Due to the intense experiences that the Afghans have had, they respond to these techniques immediately and extremely effectively.

Israel - The first course was held in June 2004 in the big neighborhood of Mevaseret Zion, located on the border of Jerusalem. Since then, regular courses are been organized in different parts around the wall. More and more people are signing for the courses. People in these areas live under constant fear of becoming victims of missile attacks and are finding the stress elimination techniques taught by Art of Living very effective in combating stress.

Ivory Coast - The Art of Living planted the seed of peace, and normalcy in Côte d'Ivoire creating bonhomie between Deula and Guéré tribes who were at loggerheads for the last many years. The two-year civil war, which began in 2002, saw the division of the country into a rebel-led north, and government-controlled south. The two tribes who had lived in harmony for years chased each other out of their respective villages, and nobody could enter the village of the opposing tribe without being beaten up. In 2002, the Art of Living resumed its rehabilitation work which was halted temporarily by the strife, and unrest in the region, focusing on measures to help people cope with the trauma of the civil war, improving the quality of life through developmental initiatives, and promoting harmonious co-existence of different factions.

Global Peace - Through the Art of Living programs and personal interventions, Sri Sri has encouraged and enabled many conflicting groups to adopt peaceful means of resolving their issues. Espousing the Gandhian principle of non-violence, Sri Sri calms the minds of aggressors, provides solace and emotional strength to victims and works towards developing long-lasting solutions to achieving peace.

Iraq - In May 2007, HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar visited Iraq as an ambassador of peace at the invitation of the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri-al-Maliki. During his three-day peace mission, HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar met senior political, and religious officials in Baghdad, and Najaf, and held fruitful interactions with people from all walks of life, including Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki. His message of non-violence, and co-existence was received with open arms by the Iraqi people.

Iraq - Amidst extreme conditions, the Art of Living has been working to promote peace in the strife-torn country since September 2003. The Foundation volunteers are working with the women, many of whom have lost their kin in the on-going conflict in Iraq, and help them to become self reliant. "Some of them are widows, we are teaching them computers, tailoring and we are also giving them trauma relief," said Mawahib, Art of Living teacher. The volunteers have set up trauma relief camps in various parts of Iraq, especially in Baghdad. Medicines, food, clothes, breathing and meditation exercises for the mind and soul - the trauma relief camps received a very enthusiastic response from the Iraqi people. At a time when most other NGOs are evacuating their volunteers from Iraq in the wake of heightened unrest, kidnappings, and violence, the Art of Living, founded by Sri Sri, is determined to stay put.

Pakistan - Sri Sri is the first spiritual leader from India to ever visit Pakistan on such a mission. During his visit, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar held informal meetings with political and business leaders, religious heads and social activists in Karachi and Islamabad. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar met with Islamic clerics during which He emphasized the need to "build mutual trust for lasting peace". Sri Sri has extended an invitation for them to visit India in near future. His message helped bridge the spiritual and cultural divide and conveyed his vision of a united and prosperous south-east Asia.

Sri Lanka - In September 2006, he ventured to Kilonichchi for peace talks with LTTE leaders. His peace initiatives began in early 2005 when he sent emissaries for negotiations with the Sri Lankan President and the Tamil leaders. He was been responsible for the formation of a Committee for Peace comprising Hindu and Buddhist leaders including the Dalai Lama to take the peace agenda forward. After undergoing special programs designed by him, hundreds of Tamil youth in Jaffna work hand in hand with Art of Living volunteers to bring relief to the people of North Eastern Sri Lanka traumatized by over two decades of ethnic violence.

Kashmir - In June 2005, when he visited the Kashmir Valley, Sri Sri was warmly received at Srinagar airport by a rally of 500 Muslim youth. The visit culminated in a rare gathering of leaders representing different factions of the Kashmiri people. For the first time, leaders including both the factions of the All Party Hurriyat Conference and representatives of Kashmiri Pandits came face to face in his presence for a dialogue. Sri Sri recently established an orphanage for children who are victims of militancy in the state as well as those that have been orphaned after the devastating earthquake.

Kosovo - In September 2007, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar went on a two-day visit to Kosovo. During his visit, he met the President of Judicial Parliament Council, Hyadjet Hyesni, and Vice-President of Alliance New Kosovo, Ibrahim Makolli. He addressed the members of UN mission, and also a large gathering attended by doctors, intellectuals, and police officers. He specially interacted with war veterans. Before the Art of Living stepped in, former Yugoslavia and Croatia had become cauldron of unhealed traumas from the past causing national hatred. The Art of Living team carried out programs to promote dialogue between Albanians, and Macedonians by broadening the circle of belonging from the narrow identity of ethnic, and national boundaries. The programs have helped reintegrate victims of imprisonment, torture, and internal exile in Albania. Since then, more than 100 nurses, doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, psycho-social advisors and social workers employed in 7 Mental Health Centers all over Kosovo have taken the Art of Living Workshops.

Care for Children - The Art of Living Foundation aims at providing free education to rural and underprivileged populations. Since its inception, the Care for Children project has been providing excellent service in the field of education for children. The schools under this project impart value-based education in a stress-free and child-friendly environment. In these schools, which combine ancient wisdom and modern technology, children get the opportunity to both broaden their vision and deepen their roots, and thus develop in all facets of life. This program has been fully implemented in India and is now in the planning stage for countries in South America and Africa. To learn more about the Care For Children program, please visit the Care For Children website: www.careforchildren.org

Prison SMART - Launched in 1994, the Prison SMART (Stress Management And Rehabilitation Techniques) program helps prison inmates rehabilitate to re-enter society. Today over 120,000 prison inmates from countries across the world including the U.S., South Africa, India and the United Kingdom - have participated in this program.

HIV - The Foundation also offers programs for youth and teens, business, law and government, prison inmates and staff, trauma survivors, people with depression, and programs for people living with cancer, HIV, and other life-threatening diseases.

Honors & Awards - Following are some of the awards that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has received:

• Doctor of Srini Memorial Award by Srini International Organizations, Nellore, India, 2008
• Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa by Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India, 2007
• National Veterans Foundation Award, USA, 2007
• Honorary Doctorate of Science by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India, 2007
• Varshada Kannadiga (Kannadiga of the Year) by ETV, 2007
• Leadership Award for Extraordinary Promotion for World Peace and Harmony by Amity University, 2007
• Sant Shri Dnyaneshwara World Peace Prize 2006 by World Peace Centre, Pune
• Doctor of Philosophy (Holistic Medicine) by Open International University for Complementary Medicine, Sri Lanka
• Order of the Pole Star 2006, highest state honour by the President of Mongolia
• Mahaveer Award for Peace and Non-Violence, England, 2007
• Peter the Great First Grade Award for contribution to the Russian Federation Russia, 2006
• Mongolian Prime Minister's Award for contribution to the nation Mongolia, 2006
• Fervent Global Love of Life by the Cultural and Education Foundation of Human Life, Taiwan, 2006
• Bharat Shiromani Award, New Delhi, India, 2005
• Dara Shikoh National Award for Harmony, India, 2005
• Global Humanitarian Award, Illinois, USA, 2005
• Honorary Doctorate from Kuvempu University, India, 2004
• The Illustrious Visitors Award, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2004
• Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Day, Ohio, USA, 2003
• Phoenix Award, Atlanta, USA, 2002
• Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Day, Austin, Texas, USA, 2002
• Title of Yoga Shiromani (Supreme Jewel of Yoga), India, 1986