Art of Living to Promote Stress-Free Houston
Last Updated: July 04, 2008

“Stress is the trash of modern life; we all generate it, but if you don’t dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life.” ~ Anonymous

Research from the American Institute of Stress revealed that ‘stress’ is the number one health problem that the United States faces and that stress levels are escalating in children, teenagers, adults and the elderly alike. What makes this issue even more alarming is the fact that stress is the key cause of violence in society, according to several studies. Is a stress-free, violence-free America going to be a pipe dream after all? It does not have to be! Can tragic incidents like the Virginia Tech and Columbine shootings be prevented? Definitely! Every step counts. We, as individuals, can make a significant contribution to reduce stress and violence in our communities and make America a better place for us, our children and generations to come. We have the opportunity to be the change we want to see in our communities.

“Creating a Stress-Free, Violence-Free America” initiative was launched by H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of The Art of Living Foundation, in 2007 in Washington D.C. The visionary gathering included many prominent members of Congress, senators, educators, professionals, scientists and business leaders, who came to acknowledge and honor the work of the Foundation and its founder.

As part of this national initiative, the Houston chapter of The Art of Living is organizing an intimate gathering of community leaders to promote a stress-free, violence-free Houston in the presence of Rishi Nityapragya, the International Director of Programs of the Foundation. The event will take place at Rice University on Monday, July 7th at 7pm. For event details, contact Anita Cheeti (832 407 0024, houston@us.artofliving.org).

Rishi Nityapragya will share his depth of wisdom and global experience on how we can transform individuals and communities to realize greater fulfillment and happiness in life through inner peace. ‘Nitya’ means always and ‘pragya’ means awareness; ‘Nityapragya’ means always established in awareness.

An inspirational speaker and singer, Rishi Nityapragya is known to bring a sense of wonder and lightness to all he meets. Full of love and energy, he has touched the lives of more than a million people around the world. He has spoken at the UN Millennium World Peace Summit, the first ever Yoga and Meditation conference in Iran, and various other international forums and over 70 colleges and universities.

Volunteer-driven, The Art of Living Foundation is an international, non-governmental organization, which engages in a wide array of educational and humanitarian programs that uplift individuals, make a difference in local communities, and foster global change. It is United Nations’ largest volunteer-based NGOs and works in special consultative status with the UN’s Economic and Social Council. The Foundation, which has a presence in over 140 countries, has brought trauma relief, conflict resolution and peace initiatives to more than 25 million people, many of them in inner cities, prisons and areas devastated by war and natural disasters.