The Stress - Free Sports Initiative:  Art of Living Sri Lanka scores a unique `sports forward` idea  

Tough guys don`t cry but they could quietly crumble under stress or a burn-out. A sports person’s life is peppered with several challenges - the pressure to perform, high risks and low rewards, the temptation of match-fixing, morale and mood swings, the trauma of an injury, the politics of a sport, and the excruciating pain of losing a much coveted title. One reason or the other can mar or make sports a stunning choice for youth today and stress seems to be a common thread that runs through all of these challenges.  

It is these very insights that triggered the concept of a refreshingly new `sports forward` idea titled Stress - Free Sports. An initiative to be launched by the Art of Living Foundation in Sri Lanka this autumn - winter. The concept is set to mark a milestone in the sports careers of students and youth in Sri Lanka.

Education is a key objective of The Stress - Free Sports Initiative and is designed to help both upcoming and professional sports persons to arm themselves with techniques and processes to cope with stress and its accompanying factors. The Art of Living Foundation has the expertise in the realm of stress management and personality self-development and has been delivering programs in over 151 countries.

Some of the programs in this initiative include the Science of Breath seminar for physiotherapists, psychologists and doctors specializing in sports medicine. Yoga and breathing techniques for District, Province and National level sports persons and school and university students actively engaged in sports and games. Lec - Dem`s (lecture cum demonstrations), talk shows and reality shows are in the planning stages to be aired on the sports channels.  

The impelling need to curb hooliganism at live sporting events across the world is also being addressed by the Stress - Free Sports Initiative. Currently, designs on the drawing board are being given final touches for several public service campaigns to be released in the social media to promote awareness on the need for violence - free sports. While better - educated young sporting talent produces more responsible, open-minded and creative sports persons, public service campaigns are also being designed to encourage parents to give emphasis to both education and sports. 

Leading sports celebrities in the continent, television channels and the print media are expected to come on board to give a fillip to the new `sports forward` idea that is dedicated to a stress - free and violence - free society. So that we can all enjoy our favorite sporting encounters till that nail-biting finish.  

Those who wish to partner us on the Stress - Free Sports Initiative of the Art of Living Foundation Sri Lanka may contact us at slartofliving@gmail.com