It’s a reasonable question! I personally always read the reviews online (and preferably from friends) before I join a course or check out a product. This is why we’re glad we can share some reviews here, as well as a link to an independent review site, TrustPilot, where you can read reviews that people have posted independently! 

Let’s look at "What is The Art of Living?", "What are people saying about The Art of Living?” And “Is there science to back it up?"

What is the Art of Living Foundation?

To quote the founder, Gurudev says, "The Art of Living is more of a principle, a philosophy of living life to its fullest. It is more a movement than an organization. Its core value is to find peace within oneself and to unite people in our society – of different cultures, traditions, religions, nationalities; and thus reminding us all that we have one goal to uplift human life everywhere."

Beyond the general public, some of the social projects that the Art of Living Foundation partners with communities to offer include trauma relief for veterans, long-term rehabilitation for prisoners, disaster and trauma relief, and student support in schools.

What are people saying about The Art of Living and SKY Breath Meditation?

"People who are so busy definitely need it the most. if we do find that time... 10-20 minutes... then it’s so beneficial.” - Rebecca D.

"I was always interested in meditation and I had never meditated before. It was always something that was sort of elusive but I thought that I maybe would never be capable of it. I thought that maybe my mind moved too quickly or I wasn't focused enough. Directly after the course and since then... just this understanding that this moment in the now is to be appreciated and enjoyed... and that released a lot of stress for me." - Lisa P.

"I was just very restless. I could tell that I was uncentered, unfocused. After I did the course, I just felt so calm inside."- Neeva P.

“SKY Breath Meditation has changed my life! It's made all the difference in being able to better communicate with my children and husband, as well as in dealing with technology challenges with homeschooling and starting a business during the recent lockdowns.” - Sonia K.

"I really wanted to learn something that could help me with stress, help me with anxiety, help me attain some type of peace. About 30 days after doing the techniques very regularly, I just got so happy for no reason. And I hadn't experienced that in a long time." - Phillip M.

“Practicing SKY Breath Meditation has enabled me to be a better version of myself.  I function at a higher level. My day is more stress-free, everything flows, and I concentrate better. I get more done, more efficiently, and I am much happier.”- Leonard Y.

“As a new mom, postpartum days were full of anxiety and uncertainty. With all the rollercoaster of emotions, it was quite stressful for me to deal with as a new mom. Daily SKY and meditation were literally a lifesaver for me. SKY kept me energized in spite of a sleep debt so I could meet both personal and work commitments. It also helped me find some peaceful time for myself too.”- Tamalika P.

“I have been looking for this for 15 years! The techniques are truly a gift. When I practice them regularly, I feel great no matter what has happened during the day.”- Charlotte P.

Here are some excerpts and press links:

Harvard Business Review- "We found that the participants who practiced SKY Breath Meditation experienced the greatest mental health, social connectedness, positive emotions, stress levels, depression, and mindfulness benefits."

Prevention.com - "After graduating from breathing boot camp, participants practiced at home and went in for weekly follow-up sessions. Six months later, their anxiety scores had decreased by about 44%, and many no longer qualified for a clinical diagnosis."

IYOG.org - "These findings from SKY literature suggest that SKY practice is well capable of augmenting overall immunity against various microbial, fungal, and viral infections."

PopSugar.com- "the breathing "calms you down in a really profound way...And from there you can think more logically, more rationally, and just more calmly about everything"

Yoga Journal - Art of Living may be the fastest growing spiritual practice on the planet”

SHAPE.com - “not only aims to remove day-to-day stresses, but also target negative emotions you may not know are still affecting you”

Stanford University - “breathing exercise dramatically decreased PTSD in veterans”

Vogue.com - Sudarshan Kriya’s engagement of the parasympathetic nervous system can rebalance brain chemistry.

The science behind SKY Breath Meditation

100+ studies conducted on four continents and published in peer-reviewed journals have demonstrated a comprehensive range of benefits from practicing Sudarshan Kriya (SKY) and accompanying breathing techniques. Here is a brief list of some of the benefits found:

• 33% increase in immune cell count

• 78% reduction in serum cortisol (stress hormone) levels

• Significant decrease in clinical/non-clinical depression

• Significant decrease in clinical/non-clinical anxiety

• 21% increase in life satisfaction

• Healthier blood pressure

• Greater mental focus

• Enhanced deep sleep

• Improved respiratory function

• Reduces PTSD

• Reduced addictive behaviors

How can you get started?

SKY Breath Meditation is a 9-hour course spread over 3 days, which you can take online or in-person at The Art of Living Retreat Center. It's powerful, easy to learn, and can be done by anyone.

To get a taste of the course we invite you to join us for Beyond Breath.

Beyond Breath is a free, online workshop, where a certified instructor will guide you through a basic breathing technique, tell you more about the full program, and answer any questions you have.

Click the image below to book your spot!