By Sejal Shah | Posted: February 19, 2020

Did you know that there are concrete things we can do, starting today, to boost our levels of happiness, vitality, and well-being? Did you know that there are several spiritual practices and ancient wellness techniques that have been validated by modern medical science?

Meditation has emerged as one of the most effective and scientifically-proven ways to handle stress. Regular meditation eliminates stress, roots out several lifestyle diseases, and restores a sense of wellness at the physical, mental, and emotional levels.

Ronnie Newman, a Harvard-trained award-winning researcher and published author in the field of mind-body medicine, recently visited the Art of Living International Center in Bangalore, India, where she got an opportunity to interview a world-renowned meditation master and the founder of Art of Living, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

This is not Ronnie’s first encounter with Sri Sri. More than two decades ago, Ronnie learned powerful breathing and effortless meditation techniques from the master, and for the last 20 years, she has been practicing meditation and teaching meditation programs with the Art of Living Foundation. During this time, she has been extensively involved in scientific research on SKY breathing and Sahaj Samadhi meditation in collaboration with many medical schools. 

Ronnie has spoken internationally on various topics related to science and spirituality at many world-renowned institutions, including the United Nations, the World Bank, and the National Institutes of Mental Health. She has been interviewed by media ranging from Newsweek to Prevention Magazine, and has appeared on NBC, CNN, and PBS. She is currently co-authoring three studies on SKY breathing meditation in collaboration with two medical schools. She is also the Director of Research and Health Promotion for the Art of Living Foundation, and a faculty member at Nova Southeastern University’s Lifelong Learning Institute. Her most recent research was published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

In this fast-paced age, stress and depression take a real toll on both physical and mental health. Stress, anxiety and depression are known to be significant factors in the onset and progression of a wide spectrum of illnesses. Yoga, meditation, and deep spiritual knowledge are the answers to all these modern problems.

In this fascinating interview with Ronnie Newman, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar gives some great insights into meditation practices. Drawing upon her cutting-edge research, Ronnie throws light on how well science and spirituality are connected, and how meditation, with its enormous benefits, has become an essential practice for everyone. She also talks about very interesting studies on ‘mirror neurons’ as well as ‘wizard brain & lizard brain’ in the context of meditation practices. 

Click below to listen to watch this fascinating interview which is followed by a beautiful guided meditation by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

In the meantime, join a free Beyond Breath online session from the comfort of your home to experience the magic of a guided meditation with a live instructor.

Sejal Shah, E-YRT 500 Sri Sri Yoga Teacher, YACEP, Meditation Teacher, Happiness expert, NYU Post Graduate Medical School approved Yoga-CME retreat facilitator, Mind-Body Wellness Writer, Homeopath. She can be followed on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.