September 2014

An introduction to VIHASA and regular modular values-based workshops are run annually with nursing students at the College of Nursing and the School of Nursing, Mt Abu. This has been the case for around 12 years. Currently, this includes 70 new students and 45 students in years two and three, who all attend sessions as part of their professional training.

Also, for around 10 years, an annual VIHASA facilitators’ training takes place at the Gyan Sarover Academy, Mt. Abu, in August for around 30 healthcare professionals from all over India, all keen to take VIHASA forward in their own organisations.

The new Department of Spirituality and Wellbe-ing, at GHRC has been running informally since October 2012, and has now appointed a full time head of department (July 2014). The current activities of the Department, (some of them initiated around 20 years ago), include: Positive Thinking and Stress Management courses daily over one to three hours; one-hour Raja Yoga Meditation sessions every weekday, with 10-12 diabetic inpatients; counselling support and introduction to meditation for patients suffering stress and hypertension, addictions and incurable illnesses like Friedreich’s ataxia or cerebral palsy.