For immediate release
Contact: 877-625-9702 ? courses@artoflivingaustin.org
Five Thousand People to Breathe Away Stress
Volunteers of the Art of Living Foundation Launch a Week-Long Initiative to
Create a "Violence-Free Stress-Free America"
Austin- Cathleen Sippel was no stranger to high pressure situations and stress. The Houston/Clear Lake resident was the owner of an interior design business in Houston and a European antique business in Dallas, a volunteer with numerous community humanitarian projects, and the mother of a troubled teenage son.
"I was successful professionally, but was enjoying it less and less. I was stressed out about expanding and maintaining it all. The crisis with my son pushed me into major stress overflow," Sippel said. "As I forced myself to relax, I suddenly realized that I had forgotten how to. That was a decisive turning point. I realized something had to change."
A friend recommended that Sippel try the Art of Living course, a five day workshop that has helped more than 25 million people in 140 countries relieve stress and increase energy through practical wisdom and breathing techniques.
"It changed my life," said Sippel. "My mind was quieter and more focused no matter what was happening in my life, and my energy levels increased. It impacted my life so dramatically and positively that I now concentrate all of my volunteer time to organize with the Foundation and let other people know there is a simple solution to stress -- just breathe."
Sippel is a coordinator for the Art of Living Foundation's campaign for a "Violence-Free Stress-Free America." As part of the campaign, about 120 cities across the country in June will host the Art of Living course. More than 5,000 Americans are expected to participate in the course that week. In Austin, the workshop will be held in the Palmer Events Center from June 6th to 9th. For more details, please visit www.artoflivingaustin.org.
Stress is the number one health problem in America, with stress levels escalating rapidly in adults, children, teenagers and the elderly, according to the American Institute of Stress. Stress in an individual is not only detrimental to health and emotional well-being; it's also a key trigger of violent behavior. In the Art of Living course, participants learn unique breathing techniques designed to reduce their stress, thus decreasing violence and increasing human values in the country.
The cornerstone of the Art of Living course is the Sudarshan KriyaTM, an innovative breathing practice developed by renowned spiritual leader and humanitarian His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The technique is based on the yogic principle that the breath possesses specific rhythms that can be used to naturally detoxify and energize the body. Independent studies of the Sudarshan Kriya show that it lowers cortisol (the "stress hormone") and cholesterol, and provides relief from depression and other symptoms of stress such as insomnia, fear, anxiety and grief.
Volunteer-driven, the Art of Living Foundation is an international non-governmental organization that has brought trauma relief, conflict resolution and peace initiatives to more than 300 million people, many of them in inner cities, prisons and areas devastated by war and natural disaster.
Sri Sri, who founded the Art of Living Foundation, launched the "Violence-Free America Stress-Free" campaign in March 2007 at the Foundation's 25th anniversary celebration at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Joseph Biden, Jr., who opened the event, said, "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." Visit http://us.artofliving.org/human-values/launch-of-campaign.html for more information.
In Austin, hundreds have taken the Art of Living course. Internationally, the Foundation works with its sister organization, International Association of Human Values, in providing numerous humanitarian and charitable works. In the United States, Art of Living's humanitarian efforts have included providing disaster relief in New Orleans after the hurricane, trauma relief programs for American veterans, programs for at risk youth and youth leadership programs across the nation. During relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina, Houston was one of the Foundation's main hubs of operation.