Peace on wheels

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

LIFESTYLE: Mumbai-based spiritual body will roll its mobile meditation van into Pune soon.

Stress is a great leveller. It cuts across age as well as socio-economic barriers. And who would know this better than Academy of Life or AOL, a spiritual body based in Mumbai which decided to take its stress-busting tool — meditation — from door to door. In the first-of-its kind initiative AOL launched ‘Peace on Wheels’, a mobile meditation van in Mumbai last year. The “Peace” van’ will drive into Pune by the end of January.

Formed by the enterprising duo Dr Neeta and Yuvraj Kapadia, AOL is funded through donations. Apart from the meditation van, AOL also runs charitable clinics that treat patients for a range of ailments at nominal charges. AOL understands that de-stressing is the requirement of the day for all and sundry today — from the dabbawalas (for whom it organised a meditation camp recently) of Mumbai to BPO workers to major corporate houses.

Little surprise, then, that it takes its van across Mumbai from Churchgate to Mahim to Vashi – typically, among housing societies and corporate houses. It is parked within the premises of residential buildings and offices and meditation sessions for a batch of 4-5 people at a time are held inside the van. A trained professional conducts these thirty minute sessions and guides people.

“It was a great experience to meditate in the van. I could feel my energy levels rising during the session. I am an HR consultant and our company is hit by recession. I feel rejuvenated after I meditate in the van,” said Varsha Punwani.

Ganesh Somwanshi, a member of AOL told Business Standard that the response to Peace on Wheels is phenomenal. “In Pune we plan to have tie-ups with BPOs, financial institutes, colleges and schools. Students experience a lot of stress before and during exams so we plan to hold free camps for them before the board exams,” he said.

According to Somwanshi, AOL will request corporate houses in Pune to come forward to help the charitable initiative. In an emailed reply, Asha Warrier, COO, California Hypnosis Institute of India (sister concern of AOL) said that Pune has many IT companies, BPOs and banks. “People living here are racing against time. They need to de-stress. The van will reach out to company employees at their door-step.”