School Projects

Austin, TX - City of Austin funds Art of Living Program as Innovative Wellness for Students

“Local Students Learn a 5,000-year-old Technique that has Brought Smiles to Stressed-out Executives, Homemakers, Heads of State, and Enemy Combatants” by Patti Montella 

“I have no more stress. If something bad happens I just am able to relax and take deep breaths,” says Laura Jaimes, a 7th grade student at Mendez Middle School. The 12-year-old continues: “I've changed. When I get mad, I don't say something I'll regret later. I just go to my room and do the breathing practices taught to me and it's like nothing bad happened.” 

Laura recently participated in an innovative program offered to students and teachers at Mendez, by the internationally- lauded Art of Living Foundation (AOLF). The foundation’s ART Excel program (All ‘Round Excellence in Training) for 8 to 13-year-olds is currently being offered as a pilot for 160 middle school students and teachers through a grant between the Art of Living Foundation and the City of Austin’s Health and Human Services Department. Through grants and private donations, the foundation hopes to expand the program to more schools in Williamson and Travis county. 

During the course, the students learn how to release stress and calm their nerves using yoga postures and ancient breathing techniques based on a 5,000-year-old practice.  The breathing techniques are unique to the Art of Living program and, if used regularly, can improve mental clarity, overall health, confidence and a sense of well-being. At the same time, negative emotions such as anger, anxiety, fear, and depression are released  The program is taught to people from every walk of life in 150+ countries, including prison inmates, war refugees, stressed out executives and heads of state. It’s also proved beneficial to this group of initially-skeptical students. 

Like all teens and pre-teens, students at Mendez Middle School struggle with the pressures of growing up, hormonal changes and peer pressure, while trying to make sense of their own identity. Yet many students in this high- risk, low socio-economic Southeast Austin community have additional pressures to overcome. Eighty three percent of students at Mendez  come from an economically disadvantaged household, with 89 percent of the primarily Hispanic student population qualifying for free or reduced-priced lunches. At the end of the school day they walk home through neighborhoods riddled with high incidents of crime, drug use and gang activity.  As if this is not enough, many face the additional challenges of having a parent in prison, living in acute poverty or dealing with some form of abuse. 

Following the shooting death of Daniel Rocha last year, former Austin City Councilman Raul Alvarez was looking for new ways to address the racial tension and anger between the police department and the Southeast Austin community that had escalated to an all- time high.  At the same time, Patti Montella, director of Art of Living Youth Programs, was contacting the Mayor’s office to offer the foundation’s programs as an alternative solution to ease the tension and violence in the community, especially among youth. “Our programs have helped millions of people around the world end the cycle of violence and hatred and live a happier, healthier life - by learning how to release stress and manage negative emotions,” she said. “If we can help people in areas of extreme conflict such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo, I knew we could uplift our own community using these same programs.” 

This past spring, through a grant provided by the City of Austin, the Art of Living Foundation (AOLF)  started teaching a pilot group of students and teachers at Mendez the “art of living”, a life free of stress and full of joy. The program combines the science of the breath and yoga with education that rekindles human values such as love, compassion, non-violence, enthusiasm and a deep reverence for all life, which often become diminished over time with high levels of stress. 

“Traditionally the emphasis in education has been on academic achievement,” said Ms. Montella. “Meanwhile, today’s youth are faced with levels of stress that make academic achievement, success, health and happiness in life more of a challenge than ever before. Consequently, it is essential to empower students with holistic education that develops the whole child and strengthens the personality in order that they are empowered to overcome life’s challenges with confidence and the ability to keep their smile, no matter what the circumstance.” 

Students aren’t the only ones benefiting from the program’s healing breath techniques and wisdom for living a happier, healthier life. Belinda Monreal, an instructional specialist at Mendez participated in the adult version of the course and continues with follow-up sessions today.  “I'm sleeping better. I'm less irritable. If I see a situation, now I'm able to take deep breaths and just take it from there. My sister said that I don't seem as anxious,” said Ms. Monreal. 

The Art of Living Foundation is a non-profit educational and humanitarian organization active in 152 countries. It is the world’s largest volunteer- based organization and a member of the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations.  It was founded in 1982 by renowned spiritual leader and humanitarian, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who was nominated for the Nobel Peace prize in 2006 and 2005. AOLF programs have been actively offered in Austin since 1999. During Austin’s Hurricane Katrina relief effort, AOLF Austin volunteers and national staff taught its special trauma relief programs at the Austin Convention Center and other relief centers throughout Texas and Louisiana. During that time, Shankar traveled from India to Austin to meet with victims impacted by the disaster, as well as volunteers and public officials, including Mayor Will Wynn. 

Independent research studies on the foundation’s adult program indicate its unique breathing techniques reduce cortisol, the “stress hormone”, reduce cholesterol, and relieve anxiety and depression. The studies also indicate enhanced brain function such as; increased mental focus and faster recovery from stressful stimuli, as well as an overall sense of better health and well-being. 

The Art of Living Foundation offers programs for people of all ages including college students, business executives, criminal justice officials, prison inmates, medical professionals and the general public. This year the foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary celebrating its vision of creating “One World Family”. It made history as 2.5 million people representing 110 countries gathered in Bangalore, India for the largest peace and meditation event ever recorded. 

For more information on Art of Living programs worldwide visit, us.artofliving.org  For a listing of activities and programs in Austin visit  www.artoflivingaustin.org

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