The International Association
for Human Values
Interviewer: You know, Art of Living teachers have worked with military men for several days.
What do you think, did anything change in the soldiers behavior, or has everything remained as it was?
Cpt. I. Lavrentiev: Sure, the work of Art of Living [breathing practices] has allowed emotional and psychological tension to be released from the soldiers, especially from those soldiers and sergeants who were drafted.
Dmitrij K., Sergent: As for me personally, it seems I have become more peaceful. I don't pay attention to those around me.
My surroundings have started looking more real to me. I really began to understand the circumstances, the situation.
Piotr P., Soldier: But I can't give any real explanation to it. It has to be experienced.
Evgeni K., Soldier: My attitude has improved greatly, I have even gained respect for myself.
Piotr M., Soldier: When you communicate with people after these techniques, you can feel that your attitude is different.
You explain something to a person and you aren't rude, you are actually soft.
Cpt. I. Lavrentiev: And the most important thing I've noticed after these workshops, the military men can carry out these practices on their own.
I want to emphasize on their own without the help of psychologists.
According to commanders of the units, when the Art of Living was running courses, the situation in the group was strikingly stable.
There weren't any conflict situations. For this period, not a single violation of the code of conduct occurred in the regiment.
The commanders of the units have noted that for the duration of the workshops, the level of insubordination that occurred dramatically reduced.
Not a single case of insubordination. I think this is because of the workshops conducted by the Art of Living.
On behalf of our regiment I want to express gratitude to the Art of Living, and also to express my wish that these type of workshops should be organized as often as possible and not only in our regiment, but everywhere in all military forces.
10/31/2004
What do you think, did anything change in the soldiers behavior, or has everything remained as it was?
Cpt. I. Lavrentiev: Sure, the work of Art of Living [breathing practices] has allowed emotional and psychological tension to be released from the soldiers, especially from those soldiers and sergeants who were drafted.
Dmitrij K., Sergent: As for me personally, it seems I have become more peaceful. I don't pay attention to those around me.
My surroundings have started looking more real to me. I really began to understand the circumstances, the situation.
Piotr P., Soldier: But I can't give any real explanation to it. It has to be experienced.
Evgeni K., Soldier: My attitude has improved greatly, I have even gained respect for myself.
Piotr M., Soldier: When you communicate with people after these techniques, you can feel that your attitude is different.
You explain something to a person and you aren't rude, you are actually soft.
Cpt. I. Lavrentiev: And the most important thing I've noticed after these workshops, the military men can carry out these practices on their own.
I want to emphasize on their own without the help of psychologists.
According to commanders of the units, when the Art of Living was running courses, the situation in the group was strikingly stable.
There weren't any conflict situations. For this period, not a single violation of the code of conduct occurred in the regiment.
The commanders of the units have noted that for the duration of the workshops, the level of insubordination that occurred dramatically reduced.
Not a single case of insubordination. I think this is because of the workshops conducted by the Art of Living.
On behalf of our regiment I want to express gratitude to the Art of Living, and also to express my wish that these type of workshops should be organized as often as possible and not only in our regiment, but everywhere in all military forces.
10/31/2004
Transcript of Video Interview:
After tragic events in Beslan, the military men of the unit have participated in maintaining public order in the city and in the Republic as a whole. Along with the civil people, the military men have experienced a series of stressful situations.
The Art of Living at our request has run a series of stress management workshops.
The results are positive. More than 200 military men and some officers have participated in this course. The psycho-emotional state of the military men improved. I suggest this program should be introduced into all military units who conduct battle in hot spots.
Cpt. I. Lavrentiev, Unit Psychologist:
Our regiment is fighting battles against terrorists in the territories of the North-Caucasus region. Practically all military units have participated in the counter-terrorist operation to restore constitutional order on the territory of the republics of Chechnya, Ingushetiya, North and South Ossetiya.
Interviewer: I have heard that your guys have participated in the liberation of the school?
Cpt. I. Lavrentiev: Yes, our guys did participate directly in the liberation of the school. Fortunately, there were no victims. But nevertheless, some military men have got psychological battle traumas.
After tragic events in Beslan, the military men of the unit have participated in maintaining public order in the city and in the Republic as a whole. Along with the civil people, the military men have experienced a series of stressful situations.
The Art of Living at our request has run a series of stress management workshops.
The results are positive. More than 200 military men and some officers have participated in this course. The psycho-emotional state of the military men improved. I suggest this program should be introduced into all military units who conduct battle in hot spots.
Cpt. I. Lavrentiev, Unit Psychologist:
Our regiment is fighting battles against terrorists in the territories of the North-Caucasus region. Practically all military units have participated in the counter-terrorist operation to restore constitutional order on the territory of the republics of Chechnya, Ingushetiya, North and South Ossetiya.
Interviewer: I have heard that your guys have participated in the liberation of the school?
Cpt. I. Lavrentiev: Yes, our guys did participate directly in the liberation of the school. Fortunately, there were no victims. But nevertheless, some military men have got psychological battle traumas.
Russian Military Unit speaks about improvements after learning the breathing practices:
