Discover SKY Breath Meditation
A Powerful Agent of Change
How is SKY Breath® Meditation Different?
Meditation practices are not all the same.
Most meditation and breathing practices taught today are relaxation practices. Relaxing is a good 1st step, but settling the mind into deep meditation, which brings moments of complete stillness, takes more skill and brings greater results. SKY does this automatically and consistently in minutes.
1
No need to watch or control thoughts.
You don't have to do anything with the mind, only breathe.
2
100% Automatic & Consistently Effective
The unique pattern of breath in SKY practice quiets the mind automatically every time, regardless of whatever thoughts or emotions are happening.
3
Global nonprofit organization
SKY is taught globally by thousands of volunteer certified instructors. In the U.S. 10,000 people learn SKY annually and 1,000,000 per year in India.
4
Results are guaranteed
Participants always notice improvements within a few weeks or less of practice and we guarantee it.
5
Sourced from ancient mind-body science
SKY Breath is part of the ancient science of Yoga & deep meditation brought out by humanitarian Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 40 years ago.
6
Benefits shown in 100+ scientific studies
Studies published in peer reviewed journals have shown a comprehensive range of significant benefits including reduced stress and anxiety & better sleep.
7
In a class by itself
SKY practice is completely different from any breathing practices taught in yoga studios. Breathing practices help you relax but unique SKY practice settles the mind directly to the deepest, silent state of pure awareness.
Reviews
"The practices transformed my personal and professional life. I am a better dentist and a better mother. Take the course - It will change your life!!"
—Dr. Sonalika Rungta DMD FAGD
"The teacher was a wealth of knowledge. I came with so much negative energy and when course was done I felt lighter at heart and mind. I have a new look at life and a new understanding. I recommend this to anyone and everyone looking to find their inner peace."
– Claudine Halabi
“Learning SKY (practices) was quite straight forward and unexpectedly simple however the benefits were immediate and profound.”
—Robert J. Fisher MD Carolina East Medical Center
"The weekend was transformative for me; and I have begun a home practice. Thank you for introducing me to SKY meditation."
—Yvonne, Chapel Hill NC
"I have more energy, I'm better able to manage stress and I can sustain my concentration more easily throughout the day. The SKY practice makes meditation easy and it quickly and effectively settles my mind."
—Rob Feeley MD Yale University School of Medicine
Workshop Leaders in U.S.
The mind has a recording function we call memory, but the mind records more than just facts. Intense experiences always have an emotional component which is recorded too. Intense encounters and violent images, in real life or seen in movies, are also stored in memory. These mental impressions accumulate throughout life and they play-back in our mind as fear, anxiety, anger and saddness.
In the ancient Yoga tradition mental impressions were called “Samskaras”.
It is interesting to see the similarity in both sound and meaning with the English word “scar” which refers to an impression left behind on the body from a wound and the Sanskrit word “samskara” being an impression left behind in the mind. Some scars, mental or physical, leave an impression for a lifetime unless you do something to get rid of them.
The Yoga tradition prescribed the practices of breathing practices and meditation as the way to heal samskaras.
Modern psychology: The body keeps the score
Sometimes a specific memory, emotion or unpleasant image will play-back and disturb us and even trigger a stress response. Other times just a vague feeling of unease, worry or anxiety disturbs us for no reason we’re aware of. PTSD is a more extreme version of this mental play-back. PTSD refers to chronic activation of the stress response with symptoms of severely disturbing thoughts, feelings or dreams related to experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.
Modern psychology has recognized the role of the body in holding traumatic experiences that cause psychological symptoms and the limitations of addressing this on the thinking level only. A leader in this field, psychiatrist Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, wrote a groundbreaking paper and book called “The Body Keeps the Score” emphasizing the need to specifically work with the physical body or breath to heal trauma.
FAQ
How long before I can meditate very deeply?
Most people experience deep meditation the first or second time they do SKY practice. In the first week most people begin to notice changes in how they feel or friends comment on how much more relaxed they are. The benefits are cumulative: inner peace, a more open heart, greater resiliency and better health grow stronger and stronger every day. Everyone can do it.
Is there evidence based research?
There are over 100 published studies on SKY, most in peer-reviewed journals, showing a wide range of physical, mental, and emotional benefits. Many benefits are seen immediately from SKY. A study on veterans with PTSD found the significant benefits they gained from one week of SKY practice were still present one year later even among those who didn't continue practicing at home.
Where does this practice come from?
SKY Breath Meditation is part of an ancient science for personal development, expanding awareness and better health. SKY has been taught in 92 countries all over the world by certified instructors for over 30 years. SKY Breath Meditation comes from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar who has contributed widely adopted techniques for personal and social transformation. SKY is taught through the nonprofit International Association for Human Values.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder of The Art of Living Foundation
