The Art of Living

What The Art of Living does

The Art of Living is a non-profit spiritual and humanitarian foundation founded in 1981 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and headquartered in Bengaluru, India. The organization delivers stress relief, meditation, breathwork, and yoga programs built around its proprietary Sudarshan Kriya (SKY Breath Meditation) technique, alongside advanced practices (Sahaj Samadhi, Part 2 silent retreats, Chakra Kriya, Sanyam, Shakti Kriya) and specialized offerings such as the Sleep and Anxiety Protocol. Distribution spans 180+ countries through a hybrid model combining in-person courses at local centers and destination retreats (Bengaluru International Centre with the newly inaugurated Dhyan Mandir, Boone Retreat in NC, Sri Sri Wellbeing Centres), the Journey App with a freemium subscription, teacher and volunteer training programs, and a certified network of 37,000 programme leaders supported by over 1,000,000 volunteers.

The business model is multi-stream and aligned with non-profit operations: course fees (one-time paid, with free intro sessions), app subscriptions (freemium with 14-day trial), global donations, teacher certification programs, retail merchandise, and CSR-funded projects with corporate and government partners. Customer segments span individual wellness seekers (primary), corporate professionals, college students, prison inmates and correctional staff, farmers, and K-12 students through targeted institutional programs. The organization also operates a substantial social service portfolio including water conservation (175 billion liters conserved, 70+ rivers rejuvenated), free rural schools (1,350), environmental restoration (81 million trees planted across 36 countries), and prison rehabilitation (800,000+ inmates and staff across 65 countries). Digital infrastructure is light, relying on a website AI Assistant for text-based queries and standard third-party integrations (Stripe, HubSpot, Google Analytics, VWO) rather than proprietary AI/ML systems.

Name

The Art of Living

Legal name

International Art of Living Foundation

Website

https://artofliving.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The Art of Living is a Bengaluru-based non-profit foundation founded in 1981 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, delivering meditation, breathwork (Sudarshan Kriya), and yoga programs to individual wellness seekers, corporates, students, inmates, and farmers across 180+ countries through courses, retreats, and the Journey App.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wellness and Meditation Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Guided Meditation Instruction (1:1 & Group) (HSADAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Meditation Apps, Digital Courses & Online Communities (HSADAJAH), General Yoga Instruction (Hatha/Vinyasa/Flow) (HSADACAA), Meditation Retreats, Workshops & Immersive Programs (HSADAJAF), Wellness Retreat Centers (Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness) (THAGAMAB), Wellness & Mindfulness Classes (Yoga Workshops, Meditation, Breathwork) (THAJAKAK)

Keywords

• Meditation programs
• Breathwork training
• Wellness courses
• Yoga education
• Spiritual retreats

Headquarters

HQ city

Bengaluru

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Course Fees: Revenue generated from in-person and online courses including Art of Living Part 1, Part 2, Sahaj Samadhi Meditation, Sri Sri Yoga, Sleep and Anxiety Protocol, and advanced courses. Courses are offered both free (intro) and paid (full programs).
2. App Subscriptions: Journey app offers 14-day free trial with premium subscription access to meditation library, yoga sequences, and wellness content.
3. Donations and Contributions: Global donations from supporters worldwide funding humanitarian projects, service initiatives, and organizational operations.
4. Teacher and Volunteer Training: Revenue from training programs for certified teachers and volunteer instructors who deliver courses globally.
5. Retail/Bookstore: Sale of books, wellness products, and merchandise through art of living store.
6. CSR Partnerships: Corporate social responsibility funding from partners like HDFC ERGO, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Dynapac for specific social projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Art of Living delivers structured wellness education programs centered on its proprietary Sudarshan Kriya (SKY) breathing technique, Sahaj Samadhi Meditation, yoga, and advanced spiritual practices. Courses are offered through in-person centers, silent retreats, online delivery, and a mobile app, taught by a global network of certified teachers and supported by a worldwide volunteer base.

Product overview

The Art of Living operates as a multi-product wellness platform offering meditation, breathwork, yoga, and spiritual education programs across multiple delivery formats. The core product portfolio centers on the Art of Living Part 1 course (featuring SKY Breath Meditation/Sudarshan Kriya), Sahaj Samadhi Meditation, Art of Living Part 2 silent retreats, Sri Sri Yoga, and the Sleep and Anxiety Protocol. The offering extends to advanced practices (Blessings, Chakra Kriya, DSN, Sanyam, Shakti Kriya) and professional training programs for volunteers and teachers. Digital access is enabled through the Journey App mobile application, which provides guided meditations, yoga sequences, breathing exercises, and wisdom content. An AI Assistant powers customer interactions on the platform. The company also operates physical retreat centers including the Boone Retreat and manages international ashram locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The founder and spiritual leader of The Art of Living, whose name is used as a brand identifier for courses, wisdom content, and the Gurudev brand.
• Art of Living Journey App
• Sri Sri School of Yoga
• Sri Sri Wellbeing Centre
• Project JalTara

Products and services

• Art of Living Part 1 (SKY Breath Meditation) Foundational course teaching the evidence-based SKY Breath Meditation (Sudarshan Kriya) technique that quickly reduces stress, balances emotions, and restores calm; intended for individuals new to the Art of Living curriculum.
• Sahaj Samadhi Meditation Practical, effortless meditation practice that teaches participants to let go of worries and enjoy deep rest through guided techniques, suitable for beginners and experienced meditators.
• Art of Living Part 2 (Silent Retreat) Advanced silent retreat course offering an unplugged multi-day immersion experience as a vacation for mind, body, and spirit; targeted at graduates of foundational courses.
• Sleep and Anxiety Protocol Targeted program teaching breath regulation techniques to activate the vagus nerve, calm the nervous system, and unlock deeper, more restful sleep; designed for individuals struggling with insomnia and anxiety.
• Sri Sri Yoga Foundation Program Online foundation yoga program integrating physical postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), and meditation for holistic wellness; targeted at beginners seeking a structured yoga curriculum.
• Advanced Courses (Blessings, Chakra Kriya, DSN, Sanyam, Shakti Kriya) Suite of advanced spiritual programs including Blessings, Chakra Kriya, DSN (advanced Sudarshan Kriya), Sanyam, and Shakti Kriya for experienced practitioners seeking deeper transformation.
• Volunteer Training Program Certification program preparing individuals to serve as Art of Living volunteers delivering courses and community programs globally.
• Teacher Training Course Comprehensive certification program qualifying graduates to professionally teach Art of Living meditation, breathwork, and yoga courses.
• Art of Living Journey App Freemium mobile application providing guided meditations, yoga sequences, breathwork sessions, wisdom content, and community features for ongoing practice; supports the digital subscriber funnel into in-person courses.
• Sri Sri Marma Practitioner Training Specialized practitioner training in Marma therapy, an ancient Ayurvedic practice involving energy-point manipulation; intended for wellness professionals and dedicated students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% increase in ability to remain calm in challenging situations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Gulf NewsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 June 2026Official Event Partner for Mastermind Awards 2026 at Anantara Downtown Dubai, bringing global media reach exceeding 500 million across 200 countries.
• State Mission for Clean GangacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 June 2026Adi Ganga waterway restoration initiative in Kolkata mobilizing 230+ volunteers to remove 200+ kg garbage, with Rs 630 crore Namami Gange programme funding.
• Save Groundwater Foundation (USA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 May 2026Project JalTara implementing low-cost groundwater recharge structures across 10 villages in Jalna district, Maharashtra, restoring water security and enabling farmers to cultivate two crop cycles.
• Dynapac CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 20261,360-tree plantation initiative across three acres in Hanumanthapura village, Karnataka along NH-48 corridor, focusing on 12 native species for ecological restoration with CSR support.
• World Championship of Legends (WCL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2026Champions for Change global clean water initiative leveraging WCL's 423 million global viewership to deploy advanced water filtration technology for underserved communities worldwide.
• HDFC ERGOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 May 2026CSR Employability & Workplace Readiness Program training 401 graduates in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka with 67% female participation, focusing on communication, financial awareness, and stress management.
• BIMSTECcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 2026Week-long Youth Leadership Exchange Programme bringing 70+ emerging leaders from 7 BIMSTEC member countries to Bangalore and Bhubaneswar, organized by Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with Art of Living.
• Kotak Mahindra BankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026Natural Farming Awareness Campaign across 100 villages in Anand district, Gujarat, training 1,500+ farmers with 70%+ actively practicing natural farming methods and 45 Krushi Ratna Awards.
• Bihar Prison DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 February 2026Five-year agreement for prison education and skill development across all 59 Bihar state jails, integrating Art of Living rehabilitation programs for inmates and staff.
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2026MoU for wellness and stress management sessions to chartered accountants and CA students, facilitated through ICAI's Committee on Promoting Work-Life Balance for professional well-being.
• GallupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2025Global study on meditation and wellbeing partnership with Gallup World Poll. Results expected December 2026, targeting to inform public policy, education, and workplace wellbeing initiatives globally.
• Hindustan Aeronautics LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2025Groundwater recharge initiative in Bundelkhand's Gobind Sagar catchment area (42.82 sq km) with 238 recharge wells, supported by HAL CSR funding and local administration partnership.
• Ashirvad PipescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2025Water conservation infrastructure support for Bundelkhand groundwater recharge project using recharge structures for aquifer replenishment.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Isha Foundation: Indian-origin spiritual organization founded by Sadhguru offering yoga, meditation (Isha Kriya), and inner-engineering programs globally with a similar guru-led, course-based monetization model and large volunteer ecosystem.
• Transcendental Meditation / Maharishi Foundation: Long-established meditation movement offering instructor-led TM courses with a similar proprietary technique, certification-driven teacher network, and global retreat-based delivery model.
• Headspace: Leading consumer meditation and mindfulness app with guided meditation, sleep, and focus content. Direct overlap with Art of Living's Journey App offering and digital wellness subscriber base.
• Calm: Top-tier meditation and sleep app competing directly for digital wellness subscribers and corporate wellness contracts; sets the consumer UX benchmark Art of Living's Journey App must meet.
• Insight Timer: Largest free meditation app with a global teacher community publishing courses and live events; overlaps with Art of Living's freemium guided-meditation content and live community sessions.
• Chopra Foundation: Dr. Deepak Chopra's meditation and wellbeing platform offering courses, retreats, and certified teacher programs; directly comparable Indian-rooted, guru-anchored wellness brand competing in the same premium segment.

Emerging players

• Waking Up: Sam Harris's mindfulness app emphasizing secular, philosophy-grounded meditation; targets the same high-intent Western professional audience but with a non-spiritual brand frame.
• 10% Happier: Meditation app targeting skeptical corporate professionals and stress-prone white-collar workers; competes for the same B2B/B2C corporate wellness channel Art of Living is pursuing with ICAI and other partners.

Broad incumbents

• Gaia: Subscription streaming platform for yoga, meditation, and spiritual content with a large library of instructors; overlaps with Art of Living's video and wisdom content distribution play.

Regional players

• Arogyam Yoga & Meditation Center: India-based yoga and meditation retreat operator offering residential programs comparable to Art of Living's Boone Retreat and Bengaluru International Centre immersive experiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/artofliving
• YouTubeyoutube.com/SriSri
• Facebookfacebook.com/theartoflivingglobal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-art-of-living
• Instagraminstagram.com/artoflivingusa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Art of Living