by Dr. Amita Roy Shah
Building Happier, Healthier Campus Communities: The SKY Campus Happiness Program
I recently attended the SKY Campus Happiness program, and learned how I could start each day with more joy and peace. In a time when college students and university staff are facing unprecedented levels of stress, anxiety, and burnout, this program is making waves across the globe. It’s been created with evidence-based tools for mental well-being. Designed by the International Association for Human Values and the Art of Living Foundation, the SKY program is a comprehensive biopsychosocial approach tailored for students, faculty, and campus leaders alike.
At the heart of the program is a simple, powerful mission: to help campus communities thrive—with clarity of mind, emotional resilience, and a sense of belonging.
What Makes SKY Campus Happiness Unique?
1. Emotional Intelligence
The SKY program equips students with science-backed skills to better understand and manage their emotions. Through interactive workshops and self-awareness practices, students strengthen their emotional intelligence, boosting their academic performance, relationships, and long-term success.
2. Breathwork and Meditation
The signature practice of the program is SKY Breath Meditation—an evidence-based technique supported by over 100+ peer-reviewed studies. This unique breathwork method has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression while improving focus, sleep, and overall well-being. It’s simple, powerful, and easy to practice, making it ideal for the busy lives of college students and faculty.
3. Inclusion and Belonging
In an increasingly divided world, SKY fosters communities built on authenticity, trust, and respect. Through group practices and dialogue, students connect with themselves and others, creating safe spaces where everyone feels seen and valued.
4. Service
The program encourages an attitude of service, helping students look beyond themselves and make a positive impact in their communities. By cultivating compassion and social responsibility, SKY inspires future leaders who care deeply about the world around them.
5. Leadership
More than just stress relief, SKY empowers students to find purpose, lead with resilience, and reach their full potential. Leadership development is built into the curriculum, preparing young people not only for success in their careers, but for meaning and impact in their lives.
Try It Out: Free SKY Wellness Session
This practice has had a profound impact on me and inspired me to become a certified SKY Wellness Coach. Through this certification, I am now able to lead SKY Wellness Workshops that incorporate evidence-based yoga and meditation techniques for students, faculty, staff, and community members.
Recently, I partnered with San Jose State University’s Wellness team to host a session for SJSU students. I also provided this for my own SJSU students so that they could receive extra credit by attending the session and doing a short write-up of their experience. It was incredibly moving to read reflections from students who had never tried breathing exercises before—many shared that they hadn’t realized how stressed they were until the session. They expressed feeling noticeably calmer and more grounded, especially since the workshop was held during midterms. Several students also mentioned that it helped them recognize the need to prioritize their mental health, even though they often feel there’s no time for it. Hosting the session in a group setting made it easier for them to participate, and it gave us a chance to connect through a meaningful discussion about the link between emotions and breath. Many found this conversation especially eye-opening and powerful.
This certification allows for me to lead SKY Wellness Workshops, which include evidence-based yoga and meditation practices for students, staff, faculty, and community groups.
👉 Interested in bringing breath-based meditation to your group? Reach out to me (amitaroyshah@gmail.com) to schedule a free 30-minute SKY Wellness program for groups of four or more and experience the transformative benefits of SKY firsthand.
A Global Movement in Response to a Mental Health Crisis
The need for holistic well-being programs in higher education has never been greater. In response to the growing youth mental health crisis, SKY Campus Happiness has expanded rapidly. In 2021 alone, the program reached over 101 campuses in the U.S. and launched in 14 new countries, including Taiwan, Germany, Brazil, France, Argentina, the Philippines, and more.
Each campus has its own unique strengths and challenges. That’s why the SKY team partners directly with universities. Whether it’s a student group looking for stress relief or an entire university wanting to shift its well-being culture, SKY offers a flexible, high-impact solution.
Looking Ahead
As we move forward into a new era of education, SKY Campus Happiness is committed to building a future where students, alumni, faculty, and staff can thrive, not just survive. The vision is simple yet powerful: happy, mindful, resilient campus communities.
👉 For more information on how to bring SKY Campus Happiness to your campus, contact the team here. Let’s create a future where well-being is not an afterthought, but a foundation for success.