Taking a breath

In Belgium however, The Art of Living is little known and mainly active behind the scenes – literally, behind prison walls.

“Sri Sri Ravi Shankar never had the intention of founding an organisation,” says Katrien Hertog, coordinator of The Art of Living in Belgium. “Some 30 years ago he started teaching breathing classes in India. As his course became so popular, he figured he needed some sort of canteen to give everybody something to eat and drink. Gradually people were coming from very far away, so he built a place where visitors could spend the night.”

It was the first Art of Living centre. The breathing technique sudarshan kriya is still the core of The Art of Living. “We get rid of about 80% of the toxins in our system through breathing,” Hertog explains. “A better technique can increase our lung capacity. The technique works on deeper levels as well, by aligning our mind with the present and transforming negative emotions. This is an effective way to enhance stress relief.”

Hertog points to studies done in India investigating the effects of the breathing therapy on depression, blood pressure and cholesterol. “The first results,” says Hertog, “confirm what we’ve been experiencing all the time.”

Hertog, 34, first experienced The Art of Living in 2003 when a friend convinced her to follow a course in Germany. “I didn’t really know what it was about, but I trusted her judgement and went along. After the first session of sudarshan kriya, I experienced such a feeling of peace and rest, something I didn’t think even existed. With my background in peace building, I knew this technique could make a difference on a much bigger level.”

Within a year, Hertog began organising Art of Living courses in Brussels.

Belgian scepticism

Introducing the Art of Living techniques in Belgium turned out to be more challenging than expected. “One reason is that people are quite sceptical about the phenomenon of a guru or master,” says Hertog. “In the East, people are proud to have a teacher; in the West, we seem to think that having a master is a sign of weakness, as if it implies they couldn’t do things by themselves.”

Hertog calls Ravi Shankar “one of the most remarkable people on earth. He has the ability to empower people and bring out their inner strength, while at the same time making them sensitive to others. Having a guru sets you free; it develops and stimulates you.”

Over the last decade, about 600 people have taken part in courses in Art of Living centres in Brussels, Leuven and Antwerp. “They were either dealing with problems of all sorts or looking for something to stimulate their spiritual interests.”

Spread over a few days, Art of Living instructors explain how breath is linked to the body, mind and emotions. “It’s important that people who followed the course continue to practice the techniques at home, but only about one in six sees it through,” says Hertog. That’s unfortunate, especially in our country, with such a high depression and suicide rate.”

Singing in the rain

Amongst the millions worldwide who subscribe to Art of Living techniques are managers of the World Bank, prisoners, politicians and victims of natural disasters. Some people managed to shake off addictions because of the course, others felt empowered after personal misfortune.

“The reason why the movement appeals to so many people is because it’s universal: Everybody breathes, and everybody is looking for a happy life,” Hertog says.

The Art of Living also strives to be holistic, with yoga, breathing and meditation, “but also knowledge, service and celebration,” says Hertog. That was the overall sentiment during the World Cultural Festival in Berlin to honour the movement’s 30th birthday.

About 45,000 attended people attended the event last month. “Sri Sri Ravi Shankar addressed the crowd from the same spot Hitler did so many years ago to preach his hatred campaign.

Everyone in that stadium could feel the possibilities – that the better world we were all longing for is already there, and that it really is possible if only we come together. It was also pouring down with rain that day. At the end, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said: ‘Singing in the rain, dancing through all obstacles. That’s the art of living’.”

Prison SMART

Hertog is also working on the stress management and rehabilitation programme Prison SMART in prisons in Leuven, Ruiselede and Dendermonde. Worldwide, more than 250,000 prisoners have followed the course. “In Bulgaria, for instance, Prison SMART is running in all the prisons,” Hertog says. “Working with prisoners requires a slightly different and more intensive approach, as you have to deal with a lot of stress, unreleased emotions, addictions and a whole lot of ego.”

But she claims that after a few days of breathing and meditation, “the transformation is enormous. One prisoner told me he experienced freedom and peace for the first time in his life. He’d been working out every day to shake off stress and anger, but it always came back. He said the course has changed him in a way no other therapy ever had.”

One of the organisation’s first “students” in prison, was a man convicted of murder. “He had no idea when or if he’d ever be released, which made him depressed and suicidal,” Hertog explains. “I encouraged everyone I knew to send him a card, making him feel he wasn’t alone. He received more than 400 letters and continued corresponding with one of them in particular. They got married a while ago in the prison, and I was invited to be their witness.”

The prisoner is now writing a book about his experiences. “It’s unbelievable what can happen if you put yourself aside and give something to others,” says Hertog, “without expecting anything back.”

The Art of Living operates centres in Brussels, Leuven and Antwerp in English, Dutch and French

www.art-of-living.be