Art of Living

Changed My Life

As a child, I imagined how my lifewould be at 30: I would drive home

from work after four o’clock. All eveningI would do my own things and relax.When I was 30, I realised that the truthwas all different: I came home from workat ten o’clock, totally exhausted, and theonly thing waiting for me at home waslast night’s stinky dishes. Life seemedlike a disappointment. I had been cheated.

I was on the brink of a total nervousbreakdown. I could not sleep, because Iwas going into overdrive all the time. Islept for one hour, two, even if I tried allpossible aids: sleeping pills, valeriana,heavy sports in the evening, heavy sportsin the morning, getting drunk. I was awalking hazard.

Every morning began with an enormousdose of coffee, because I hadn’t slept. Idrank a whole pot of coffee every day. Iwas smoking, and my relaxation was con-nected to alcohol. I thought that to relaxon a Saturday evening I needed a glass ofred wine with my meal. One glass led toanother, and soon the whole bottle wasempty. Because of too much alcohol, Iwas in a stupor on weekend mornings, Ihad hangovers. I knew my life had tochange, but how? I have always been adoer. At school I was a girl of straightA’s.If I set out to do something, I wanted

This article appeared in Voi Hyvin magazine, Finland on September 26, 2008.

Below is an English translation:

Laura Lintula was on the brink of a burnout, when faith

led her to the Art of Living course. From that moment,

a fast recovery of the quality of her life begun.

NAME:Laura Lintula OCCUPATION:Principal of a music schoolTOOL OF CHANGE: Art of Living

Art of Living has taught me to live in the present moment, says Laura Lintula

to do it flawlessly right away. I could not relax, but I had to do something all the time. I still cannot relaxby watching the TV. I feel that I am losing time.

I was also a bundle of nerves. I was constantly in a nervous state. I was worrying about what others wouldthink of me. I loved my job as a principal of a music school, but I felt that because I am a young womanand a blond, I have to prove my competency ten times more than the men. I worked 12 to 14 hours a day,on the brink of a burnout.

When I was four, I told my parents that I want to play the violin. From then on, playing the violin hasbeen an important part of my life. When playing, I constantly tried to exceed myself. The competitionwas hard, and I was all the time worrying what others would think of my playing. Was my interpretationright, did they think I could play? Gradually, the joy of playing diminished.

Breathing and energyMy colleague noticed how bad I was feeling and told me about the Art of Living. I had always doubtedthe alternative treatments. I was thinking along the western line of thought - though I had not resorted toprozac. My colleague was the most balanced person I had ever met. This is why I decided to try the Artof Living course.

The instructor was Tapio Eerikäinen. On the first course day, weprimarily discussed in the group in a warm atmosphere. In the evening, I cried for the first time in a long time. I slept at ten in the evening, which for me was a real miracle. Next time we practised the breathing techniques. I noticed that I really hadn’t been breathing, only gasping.

We were told that during the course we should not use alcohol or caffeine. I quit drinking coffee. First, there were horrible withdrawal symptoms and I suffered from headache, but since then I have not taken caffeine at all. I also quit alcohol. Before, I did not eat red meat, but now I quiteating fish, too. I became lacto-vegetarian.

Art of Living has affected my whole life. I have taken many courses, also in Germany and India, andfound many new wonderful friends, that I would not have met otherwise.

The colleague that recommended the course later became my spouse. We begin our day with breathingtechniques and yoga. These techniques bring me so much more energy that I only need to sleep 5-6 hourseach night. I work as much as before, but it feels different. I can concentrate on the task at hand and turnoff everything else. I also get more out of my spare time.

Joy and purityBefore I was serious and critical. Now I am joyful and smiling. The people that know me have wonderedabout the change and asked, where does this joy of life come from? I have gained self-confidence and Ido not worry about what others think about me anymore. I can say what I really feel and think.

Before, I was nervous when I had to speak to a crowd. Now I go and speak without any written notes,without even the slightest hesitation. Musical performances are still thrilling, but in a good way. BeforeI was a troublemaker and shouted like a siren. The need to quarrel is now gone.

The Art of Living teaches to live in the present moment. We should not worry about the future, but bejoyful at this moment. The teachings are simple knowledge. I aim for a pure life, and avoid toxins. I use

The way I changed

“Everything changes!In this series, people relate how theyhave changed and what has pushedthem onto the path of change. Is itdue to a course, therapy, method,

book or their own insights? And whyto change in the first place?”

ayurvedic medicine. I eat lots of fresh vegetables, mostly organic. I drink different blends of herbal tea.

Selfless service is a part of the movement. I have taken paintings of Indian children for sale at our music school. The profit goes directly to them. They are the first in their families to be able to go to school. Ivisited their school, and the joy of learning was tremendous. The building was modest, but the studentswere enthusiastic.I did selfless service also for the Yoga for Health and Happiness workshop, when the yoga master Sri SriRavi Shankar visited Finland. In December, I will go to Germany for the Art of Living teacher trainingcourse.

Creativity and courageSometimes I feel that the world around me is too busy. Information keeps pouring in from all sides. Lastweekend, I took an Art of Living course; the teacher was an Indian wise man. There was a tranquil at-mosphere of serenity.

After that, I came to the center of Helsinki in the bustle of the street Aleksanterinkatu. It felt crazy, peoplehurrying around, fancily dressed, chattering in their mobile phones. I wondered, where on earth did theyhave to hurry and why did everybody have their hands full of shopping bags? Earlier, I lived in the verycenter at the Kamppi district, but now I could not even imagine that. I live at the suburb käpylä on thebrink of a forest.

Art of Living also frees the creativity. My compositions are not as aggressive as before. I have not daredto play them to others, but now maybe I could. Earlier I would not have dared to give this interview either.Now I do not care about what the others think of me.

What is the Art of Living?

•Art of Living is based on vedic philosophy, out of which the Indian humanitarian leader Sri Sri RaviShankar has developed a formulation suitable for the western mind.

•The courses include yoga, breathing techniques, meditation and discussion.

•Especially important is the breathing technique Sudarshan Kriya, that purifies our system

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