YESPLUS GATORS
Keeping UF stress-free and happy :)
Woohoo!! The next YESplus is here!!
August 18-20, 2017. Save the dates!
Weekdays: 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm Weekends: 10:00 am - 1:30 pm
Some Amazing Magic Waiting to Happen Apply Here Now!!
RSVP Here for the free introduction session!!
The YESPLUS Happiness Program has been designed specifically for people to help them discover their enlightened side which is full of joy and enthusiasm! The workshop provides us with tools to manage our stress and energy levels, leading us to a more happy, fulfilled, and meaningful life. This workshop has been taught in 75 universities around the country (including Harvard and Cornell) in addition to progressive and service-oriented institutions such as Google and the World Bank. Check out this link to know more...
The Sudarshan Kriya (SKY) breathing technique is an integral part of the program. SKY is a rhythmic breathing that helps one effortlessly go into a deep meditative state. Below, watch a short video on SKY.
If you are wondering as to why we emphasize so much on the breath, well, it seems there is a direct link between the breath and emotions. Researchers in Belgium had a brilliant test of this (Phillippot, Chappele, Blairy, 2002). They had people come experience different emotions in the lab, which you can reliably do by showing film clips that arouse anger, sadness, happiness. They noticed that, lo and behold, each emotion was associated with a different breathing pattern and depth. But these researchers didn’t stop there. They went further to show that having people breath in these patterns without showing the film clips induced the same emotions they experienced while watching the films – striking evidence showing that we can influence our emotions via our breath.
Research on meditation is flourishing. It has been shown to increase well-being, decrease stress and boost immune function (Davidson et al., 2003), increase focus and attention (Jha et al., 2007),increase feelings of connectedness to others (Hutcherson, et al. 2008), and to increase compassion. Groundbreaking research with both novice and long-term meditators has shown that a part of the brain associated with awareness of self and others, the insula cortex, gets bigger with through the practice of meditation (Lazar et al., 2005).
For more information on research, visit Free The Mind that features work by world-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Richard Davidson.
For more information on the Art of Living, visit http://www.artofliving.org
The YESPLUS Happiness Program
Justin McGurrin was born and brought up in Jacksonville, FL. He went to FSU. He is very passionate about acting which very well reflects in his speech which is always so expressive and energetic.
Justin believes that a good teacher always lives by the principles he passes down onto his students. Its really fun to be a student in his course.
Justin is currently based in Miami and takes time off from his job whenever possible, to teach YES and YESPLUS at various schools and universities across the region.
Karina was born in Colombia and did her schooling there. She later moved to the United States to study and pursue a career in Fine Arts. She worked as an Art Educator at Metropolitan Museum of Art and at Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York.
She is now a full-time faculty with the national body of YESPLUS and is based in Miami. She teaches YESPLUS at various locations in and out of Florida in both English and Spanish. She is a very charismatic and enthusiastic teacher and is still passionate about art and design.
Our YESPLUS Teachers
Annelies is one of the most joyful teachers to be with :) She was a professional ballet dancer before she decided to teach full-time the Art of Living Happiness and the YES! and YES!+ programs. She is currently based in New York City. Her courses leave everyone spellbound and the happiness lingers on forever!
Denitza is beautiful, dynamic, young and enthusiastic!
Denitza was born in Bulgaria where she had been teaching the Art of Living program for some years before moving the the US and teaching here.
Sai is an amazing and versatile personality. He is a not only a Yesplus teacher but also a photographer, a choreographer, a martial arts champion and a software engineer. Born in India, Sai moved to the US for graduate school and has been working here after graduation. He is currently based in Tampa, Florida.
Sai is known for his unique way of teaching the Yesplus workshops. He adds in a lot of fun with dance yoga which is his speciality. Everyone feels a strong sense of belonging around him.
Have a look at Sai Kalyan's amazing photography. Visit his website. Go to his Facebook photography page.
Mona Shah-Joshi, Director of the Art of Living Foundation in Georgia, has been traveling and teaching Art of Living Yoga and Stress Management courses since 1994.
She is a highly regarded speaker and instructor on yoga, wellness and life management and practice and issues relating to harmony and diversity in society. She has taught youth empowerment programs at both suburban and inner city elementary and high schools. Mona is actively involved in developing social service projects with the Art of Living Foundation (AOLF) and the International Association for Human Values (IAHV).
An EE graduate from UF, Tushar works with a semiconductor company in Melbourne. He has been volunteering for YES+ for about 6 years organizing various events and workshops at universities and also International Service Trips for students. His passion for the program and wanting to help more students experience its awesomeness, led him to become a YES+ teacher recently. He is one of the most fun people to hang out with. In his free time, he likes playing the flute, hiking and hanging out with friends
Daniel is one of the coolest persons to be around! He is a spiritual rapper, a web designer and marketing strategist and teaches the Art of Living workshops which he calls "stress-reduction, joy-enhancement". He also teaches a unique program called "YES I Can! - Emotional Empowerment through Hip-Hop". In his free time, he loves to salsa, travel around the globe and climb mountains!
And guess what!!! He is the teacher for our next Yesplus!! :)
Check out his website http://danielmoss.branded.me/
His Rap page https://www.facebook.com/BStillMusic
