"Life Changing"
"May be the fastest spiritual practice on the planet"
"Like Fresh Air to Millions"
41
years of service
180
countries where we have made a difference
Millions
of course graduates
Making Life a Celebration
The Art of Living is an international, non-profit organization founded by Gurudev, a spiritual guide, humanitarian, and voice of harmony.
What if you could drop your stress by changing the way you breathe?
Since 1981, the Art of Living Foundation has helped millions of people to relieve stress and anxiety through breathwork and meditation. And when you drop stress, you naturally feel more connected to the world around you.
In addition to serving busy people everywhere, Art of Living also partners with organizations to address the specialized needs of various sections of society:
- Veterans and their families
- Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare practitioners
- Police
- Prison inmates at risk of re-entry
- Teachers and students at the elementary, secondary, and collegiate levels
Ancient Wisdom + Modern Science
The cornerstone of the courses is SKY Breath Meditation, an evidence-based practice verified by independent studies that clears stress and boosts energy with just a few minutes of practice. Combine this practice with live programs guided by certified instructors, a fully integrated app, community meetups, and destination silent retreats to dive deeper, and you have the most engaging, effective, and fulfilling meditation practice available.
on SKY Breath Meditation (SK&P)
The results of SKY have been documented in over 100+ independent, peer-reviewed studies, including studies at Yale University, Stanford University, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Arizona, and more.
Immune Cell Count
INCREASE
in lymphocytes in 6 weeks & remained in the normal range
Stress Hormone
REDUCTION
in serum cortisol in 2 weeks
Life Satisfaction
INCREASE
within 1 week
Why breathwork + meditation
Your biggest superpower
We breathe 20,000 times a day. Aside from being life-giving, the breath is an unbelievably powerful resource—if you know how to harness it.
Combine breathwork and meditation, and life transforms. You begin to nurture a calm, still mind with a deep connection to inner peace where conscious choices naturally flow. And when there is ease and peace within individuals, we create communities, societies, and a world that resides with more peace—it all starts with you.
The Formula for Transformation
When the prime minister of Slovenia met Art of Living’s founder, he commented, “Only people who have peace in themselves can influence peaceful developments around the world.”
We offer powerful solutions for individuals and for communities.
Online Courses
Millions of lives worldwide have been transformed through Art of Living courses. Rooted in ancient tradition, backed by science, you experience the best of evidence-based breathwork, meditation, and yoga with expert-led live signature programs guided by certified instructors. With dedicated ongoing journeys that build upon your course experience to help you thrive and cultivate sustainable joy and ease.
Community Service
Art of Living is one of the largest volunteer-run organizations in the world and is dedicated to the empowerment of individuals and communities. In partnership with International Association for Human Values, volunteers provide US-based and worldwide service initiatives to support at-risk youth, women's empowerment, disaster and trauma relief, prisoner rehabilitation, and veteran trauma relief.
Here is a Movement That Helps People Build Harmony, Within Themselves and Within Their Communities
“I was much healthier right away”
I was very ill. The medication and the actual illness were very disturbing to the mind. The only thing that helped me other than allopathic medicine was pranayama. It was a complete change...I was much healthier right away. My mind became clear and I became more comfortable in my body. Also, people commented on my skin all the time, so I think it helped with anti-aging. That's a benefit.
“...I sleep at night”
It’s been night and day. On a completely practical level, I sleep at night. And I don’t have to take a handful of meds to do it.
“Come to Work in a Better Mindset”
When I come to work (after doing my practices), having already centered myself, it's way easier to plan... delegate tasks to other people, or work with other people. Now I come to work in a much better mindset, and that in turn translates into the quality of work and the way I deal with people at work. Just the way I process emotions, thoughts, and feelings is different from before.
We’re Online. We’d Also Love to Meet You in Person
We’re Online. We’d Also Love to Meet You in Person
Discover authentic destination retreats for holistic wellness in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina at Art of Living Retreat Center.
Learn More
Meet Gurudev: a Voice for Peace and Harmony
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a world-renowned global spiritual guide, humanitarian, and voice of harmony. Recognized as a leading figure in contemporary meditation, Gurudev is acclaimed for creating evidence-backed techniques that cultivate sustainable joy and peace in daily life.
In his dedication to the service of others, Gurudev continues to be awarded and honored throughout the world and is a celebrated thought leader at venues from the United Nations to the European Parliament and from Stanford University to Yale. Read more
Gurudev
Founder of the Art of Living
Practice meditation. You will get the best of everything the world has to offer.
Got Questions? We’d Be Happy to Connect
Please get in touch through our contact page.