Stress Management Workshop: San Antonio, TX
A team of six members from Sri Sathya Sai Centers of San Antonio, Houston and Dallas collaborated to offer an online stress management workshop to members of the Baha’i community in San Antonio on Tuesday, April 13th, 2021. The workshop was developed over several weeks by professional doctors from Houston, Dallas and Austin.
The Baha'i community comprises the followers of Bahá’u’lláh born 200 years ago. The teachings of Bahá’u’lláh are universal and embraces the teachings of all faiths. The primary goal of Baha’i devotional sessions is to bring together and unite people of different backgrounds, races and religions in peace and harmony. Deeply drawn by the similarity between the core teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba and the Baha’i faith, one SSSIO member, invited by her Baha’i neighbor, began attending Baha’i faith meetings, during which she would sometimes share the teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. One time, she shared various spiritually-based stress management techniques that would be of practical use to all. As a result of her outreach efforts, the idea of offering a stress management workshop to the Bahai community took root.
The stress management workshop comprised two parts. The first part, focused on the sources of stress and how they affected the body, mind and soul, was presented by two Sai Center members who were medical professionals. Their presentation drew on their research and professional practice. The second part on the practical application of spiritual teachings of Sathya Sai Baba and Bahá’u’lláh to alleviate stress, was presented by a member of the Sri Sathya Sai Center of San Antonio. Practical techniques to alleviate stress developed by the Sri Sathya Sai International Organization (SSSIO) were demonstrated, including those impacting the nervous, muscular and respiratory systems. Participants had the opportunity to practice these stress alleviation techniques, which were very well received. Attendees reported benefits from regular use of these techniques even several weeks after the workshop.
The workshop had 16 participants including 7 attendees from SSSSIO-USA Region 10. A Baha’i attendee described the session as being very enjoyable. She reflected, “I used to teach a credit course in stress management for the University in Maryland in the Psych department. I do all these relaxation exercises 3 to 5 days a week. But the alternate nostril breathing was new to me.” Another attendee said, “In yoga, we learn balanced alternate breathing. I am glad how this group presented it- as a scientific and practical tool to use when stressed. Well done!”