With the sudarshan kriya, a unique rhythmic breathing being the main tool that apparently removes all physical, emotional and mental debris leaving the followers better equipped to handle life's challenges. However, the best part seems to be that the philosophy is entirely undemanding of any kind of a change in lifestyles or religious beliefs. A code of living that simply weaves itself into the fabric of daily life without asking for any form of sacrifice or deprivation with changes that are, apparently, life changing at the very least.

All of which combined is probably responsible for this sudden wave of popularity for the wonder course that is sweeping over the country. With Pune being no exception. Increasingly, amongst the circles that matter, everyone's into the Art of Living. Only, unlike other fads that have a fleeting life span, this is one way of life that seems to be here to stay.

At least, going by the reactions of its young and upwardly mobile followers in the city who went for the course apparently with sceptic eyes and returned 18 hours later with a completely new vision of life. ``It's changed my life by almost eighty per cent,'' enthuses Gitanjali Rai, well-known gazhal singer and an ardent follower of the Art of Living philosophy for the past one year.

It was a chance meeting with the guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the International Art of Living Foundation, at a satsang she had been ``dragged to'' in Mumbai that stirred in her a desire to go in for the course. ``Once I did it I realised this was what I had been waiting for all my life,' she adds. Such was the change in her perceptions and attitudes that even her husband Kishen who had been her greatest critic till then regarding her belief, also went in for the five-day course. Today, he is on his way for the advanced courses that may well make him a teacher of Art of Living in the near future.

``Basically the course enhances your creativity, ability to control stressful situations and fills you with renewed energy. It washes away the year of toxic debris that have accumulated inside us in response to anxieties, fears and illnesses and prepares you to deal with everyday pressures effectively,'' explains Kishen. ``Everybody is on a mission to change the world. What they do not realise is that it's much easier and better to change your own self.''

The tool to that end is supposed to be the sudarshan kriya, a rhythmic breathing process through which toxins and stress are relieved and natural energy and oxygen restored in every cell of the body. Once learned at the basic healing breath workshop, it can be practised at home and benefitted from.

``I do not miss my meditation and sudarshan kriya practise for a single day. You simply have to take out this half an hour for yourself in the morning and the rest of the day just falls into place on its own,'' smiles Kishen who claims to have become more intuitive, cool-headed and aware of his every action and emotion since he did the basic and advanced courses. Both he and Gitanjali have since converted, on their own accord to satvic food and hold satsangs in their home every Thursday.

For Monu Walia, it was her actress sister Sonu Walia who persuaded her to do the course which was to change the course of her life. ``I agreed mainly because I wanted to learn meditation. There I was surprised to find a lot of young crowd and people like Padmini Kolhapure, Poonam Dhillon and some other celebrities. I was like let's see what's going on. For the first three days I thought I had heard it all before. But on the fourth and fifth day we did the sudarshan kriya which simply transformed my life. I was reborn. I looked at the world with new eyes and since 1994 Art of Living has become the centre of my being. I recommend it to everyone I meet. I remember when I went to do the advanced course in Bangalore which was really something else. After 15 days, I came away in bliss. I could not stop smiling. There was this constant feeling of being spaced out or perhaps I should say spaced in!'' gushes the 30-year-old who had a shot at the glamour world earlier but returned to Pune unable to take to Mumbai andits crowds.

Then there is Nisha Yezdagardi, owner of Farshid's. She describes her experience at the six-day course she went in for, six months ago, in Pune followed by the ten-day advanced one in the ashram in Bangalore as the most profound experiences of her life. ``I went with lots of questions in my mind and came back with everything just sorted out on its own. I didn't have to ask for the answers. They came from within,'' she reveals. ``The two very clear changes have been that one, I feel totally connected to the guru and somehow everything I want to happen, be it material or emotional, just happens. Secondly, your reaction to situation changes. Now, I don't get angry like I used to and can handle all situations with ease and equanimity.''

Yezdagardi dismisses the notion that perhaps it's just a fad that has caught the fancy of the young and the restless. ``If I hadn't done it myself I may have concurred, but how can anything that comes from within you and change you so much be a temporary fad?''she counter-queries.

``It's appeal and permanence lies in its simplicity and the fact that it deals with reason and not religion,''supplements Rajeev Waddan, who has a company that organises conferences.``Art of Living gave me an amazing burst of energy so much so that I don't feel fatigued even at the fag end of the day. Plus it cured an ear problem that had been plaguing me for months.''

For Kishen Rai too the course, it seems, did wonders for his asthama and sinustis.

With 1500 centres in India and its branches spread in 95 countries all over the world, this latest form of alternative therapy sure seems to be gathering followers by the hordes. In Pune itself thousands of people, especially those belonging to the educated strata, have adopted the philosophy in their lives. A philosophy that teaches you a much needed technique in today's fast paced world-the Art Of Living.