The Art of Living Foundation (AOLF), together with its sister organization, The International Association for Human Values (IAHV), are offering  online, evidenced-based breathing techniques to help health care workers stay resilient on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The AOL Foundation is a non-profit, educational and humanitarian organization, founded in 1981 by Global Humanitarian and Peace Ambassador – His Holiness Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (www.srisri.org). The IAHV, also founded by His Holiness, is a worldwide organization which holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The programs taught by the AOL have positively impacted more than half a billion people around the globe.

Even prior to COVID-19, healthcare workers in South Africa have been subjected to a high degree of mental and physical stress due to work demands. This causes substantial mental, emotional and physical impact, and has a negative ripple effect on patient care and personal lives. With the added wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, this burden has heightened significantly.

IAHV and AOLF are cognisant of our already strained mental health care resources, which will, with COVID-19, likely undergo even further duress. We would like to support our healthcare workers on the frontlines with evidence-based techniques, at a discounted rate.

Over 70 peer-reviewed, independent studies have shown established benefits of the AOL breathing techniques. These benefits include the following:

• Significant reductions in anxiety.
• Significant relief from depression.
• Significant reductions in PTSD symptoms.
• Increased levels of optimism, well-being and quality of life.
• Increased energy levels.
• Improved quality of sleep.
• Increased mental focus and heightened awareness.
• Reduction in cortisol.
• Enhanced immunity, cardiovascular and respiratory function.

These research articles may be found at the following sites:

• https://www.artofliving.org/research-sudarshan-kriya - research summary with references.
• https://www.research.artofliving.org - original research articles.

As our expression of our sincere appreciation towards all health care frontliners we have packaged together our techniques via two separate Options as per below.