(Photo Courtesy of Art of Living at ASU)The Art of Living, which focuses on bringing happiness to people all over the world, through activities like mediation and yoga has made its way to ASU.
Located in more than 152 countries, The Art of Living is one of the largest nonprofit, non-governmental organizations in the world. It was founded by philanthropist and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
YESPLUS!, a part of the organization on campus, offers a combination of yoga, pranayama or breath control, meditation and the Sudarshan Kriya which is a breathing technique. The goal is for students and working professionals to achieve a perfectly balanced state of mind.
Global studies sophomore Stephanie Hoyt, who is the president of The Art of Living at ASU, said she became involved with the organization in August 2013.
“The transition between before mediation and after meditation is amazing,” Hoyt said. “Seeing that keeps me going.”
Hoyt said the meditation classes help reduce stress and let people know the organization is there to help.
The organization's social media campaign, Pay It Forward, involves volunteers passing out cards with positive inspirational messages to students on campus every month. Hoyt said the campaign was very positive during finals even though some students were apprehensive to the message at first.
“Some (other) people started crying and gave us hugs,” Hoyt said.
Hoyt said the goal of Art of Living at ASU is for students to know the organization is there and they exist.
“Just the fact that we can have a large impact,” Hoyt said. “In the end of the day, it’s a good thing to go to bed to.”
Art of Living at ASU partners with the Well Devils Coalition on campus and many of the other wellness clubs university-wide.
Biomedical sciences junior Vallari Somayaji, who is the vice president of the organization, said her father informed her about Art of Living at ASU.
“It changed my life,” Somayaji said. “You think its a burden taking up all this work, but it actually makes you happy.”
Somayaji said she handles the logistics of the organization like publicizing and organizing events.
“We stay connected with people around the world,” Somayaji said. “I want a lot of people to know about it.”
Volunteer Jitesh Vaswani recently graduated with a master’s in electrical engineering at ASU. Vaswani, who was an international student from India, said he found out about the organization during his junior year in high school and wanted to stay connected to it when he moved to Arizona.
“I got intrigued; I became more efficient,” Vaswani said. “I could do so many things.”
Vaswani said Art of Living at ASU gave him many different volunteer opportunities and he helped with Pay It Forward.
“It made me more content in my life,” Vaswani said. “It gave me confidence in my life that I would do well.”
Reach the reporter at jwilli62@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @JonWilliams_23
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