News from Jamaica
“Past is dead. Future is unknown. Where is life? Life is happening right NOW”.
“Past is dead. Future is unknown. Where is life? Life is happening right NOW”.
On August 12th,
2014 the Art of Living Foundation Jamaica and The Ministry of Youth and Culture
organised a one day introductory seminar for youth: Mental Health Matters. The
seminar was attended by 50 youth leaders from various schools and homes and for
the first time were exposed to breathing, yoga and meditation. Their response
and experience of this workshop was such that the Ministry of Youth on the same
day issued a press release confirming a roll out of Art of Living Youth
Empowerment Seminars to more schools. The Student council youth leaders
participating on this workshop personally were motivated and geared to become
ambassadors of Art of Living and take them to all the schools and universities
in Jamaica.
The session was
conducted by Mr. Dushyant Savadia, an International Program Director with The
Art of Living Foundation.
Mental health is
not just an absence of a mental disorder, but also a psychological well being
of a person, which largely depends on the state of mind, which in its turn
determines the quality of life. That is why it is highly important to teach
youngsters how to handle their mind, not letting it to scatter all over the
place, to regret or to daydream 24/7. The importance of the present moment was
emphasised by Mr. Savadia numerous times: “Past is dead. Future is unknown.
Where is life? Life is happening right NOW”.
Seminar attendants
got to know powerful breathing techniques, that enabled them to relax and
de-stress. Participants also got the experience of Sun Salutations,
strengthening exercises to achieve a better co-ordination between mind and
body. Moreover, youngsters got an experience of meditation, which is a very
powerful yet effortless technique that allows the mind to take a break and
relax completely. Highly charged with the wisdom and benefits of breathing techniques and
meditation taught in the seminar, students vowed to practice at home and
incorporatethese in their daily lives and prolong the benefits of the seminar.
The feedback of
the participants was highly positive and many of them said that they were feeling much calmer and more peaceful,
willing to learn more breathing and meditation technique themselves and bring
this knowledge to their peers.
Similar event took
place in Doctor’s Cave Beach Club House in Montego Bay, where the session was
conducted by the local Art of Living Teacher - VandanaChandiramani.
Art of Living
Jamaica will continue the collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Culture
to bring this valuable knowledge to the youth across the country. Inspired by
this event, the Ministry of Youth has issued a press release that they will be
engaging Art of Living workshops to more and more youths in schools and
universities.
ART OF LIVING
ACTIVITIES IN JAMAICA
In Jamaica the
AOLF has been active for the past 2 years; and has worked with the Ministry of
National Security, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Youth and Culture. Art of
Living Jamaica has successfully carried out a series of stress-management and
rehabilitation programs for inmates at various prisons in Kingston. Courses
have reached out to at-risk youth, teachers, farmers,
inner-city communities, corporate and senior management staff of the Ministry
of National Security. Our service initiatives and stress-management courses
have benefited thousands in Jamaica, bringing a positive change.
