Talal Khalaf

Talal Khalaf is a meditation, breathing, and meditative therapy facilitator from Kuwait. He is regularly conducting sessions both in Kuwait and internationally.

Talal was was interested in character analysis and personality development since childhood. He began his inquisitive journey by travelling across the globe to understand the different cultures, individuals and community behaviors.

The findings, experiences and learning led him to introduce his own signature program which is "Meditative-Breathing", practiced and followed through his Joya Center.

We sat with Talal this month to know more about what meditation is all about and why would someone need to join his program.

We really enjoyed our discussions and were amazed to learn so many interesting things. Here is our exclusive interview with Talal for our readers.

INTERVIEWED BY: JAMEEL ARIF (@jameelarif) CORDINATION: FATIMA AL-JUTAILI (@f_jay23) PHOTOGRAPHY: RIYAS (@riyas.photokw) LOCATION: in2raw (@in2raw)

Please introduce yourself to our readers. I am a proud Kuwaiti national and have diversified training in breathing, meditation, and trauma release Techniques. Working on the platform I have built up a meditative breathing and Joya Center. I conduct courses, therapies and workshops internationally and facilitating other training institutes too.

Tell us about your education. I have attended various courses and conducted therapies, thus becoming a Certified Breathing and Meditation facilitator. My experience added up to recognize me as a Certified Trauma Releasing Specialist. I am a Certified International Trainer through the UK Training Board.

How did you first become interested in Meditation? As I have mentioned before, my inquisitive journey in finding the people’s behavior and the influence of ethnicity and culture on the behavior of a collective group, I have found that the meditation techniques were practiced in many countries like India, China and other Asian countries to have a stable and healthy mental and behavioral condition. This led me to experience meditation and it’s benefits. It was not me finding meditation, rather, it found me!

How would describe Meditation? Meditation in a single note, is an art of living. It’s being alive, and being aware of what is happening at each moment. It helps you to discover yourself and the situation you are in each moment, it is the way to live the moment. Meditation opens the door to live out each moment cheerfully, with the actual realization of it.

How is concentration different from Meditation? Concentration is about spending lot of energy to focus on a specific thing. The whole attention is on that particular subject matter, which results in forgetting about ourselves and rest of the things around it. While meditation is being awake or being aware of the moment and observing what is happening at that moment. We understand about ourselves, we are aware of the moment and observes each and everything happening at that moment.

What are the benefits of practicing Meditation? Meditation is not a technique, rather it is an art of living by understanding the reality. The first benefit is that it teaches us to understand ourselves, our mind, emotions and behavior. As it helps to understand the situations and we can live that moment peacefully without engaging our mind, thoughts or emotions. Thus, meditation gives us clarity, peace and calmness, which finally brings relaxation to our body too. Meditation balances our energy, and helps us to invest the energy in required quantity to the required aspects alone.

Where’s the best place to Meditate? Any place is perfect for meditation. You can meditate in your Bedroom, in your Kitchen, at your office, even when you are driving, eating, or walking. Meditation is not an exercise. It is all about being, being awake, being aware of what is happening. For example, while you are eating, being aware of the food and taste smells that you are having, and enjoying the same with its taste and flavor, that itself is a meditation. Or if you are going for a walk, seeing and listening to the nature, the sound, enjoying the fresh air, and you being aware of all this, becomes a meditation. In a nutshell, every place is perfect for meditation.

Where do you teach or conduct your sessions? The Meditation Programs are conducted in all GCC countries, some African countries like Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and Asian Countries like India, Nepal, China, and in USA, UK, etc. Totaling 21 countries.

How different is it to provide your therapy online Vs. one -to -one sessions? Most of the therapies; groups or one to one, even if it is in an open session. They will be taught first on the Trauma Release and other therapies and Train the Trainer, as a group. 80% of such therapies, when progress becomes One-to-One. Most Programs for Balancing, Harmony, and some of the Meditation and Breathing has to be conducted as a group, even though they are not therapy. But through online, some of the breathing techniques, Awareness techniques, and some other Programs for Balancing, Harmony, Meditation, etc., are conducted. So, for therapies, online will not be productive, our online program is mostly for balancing or relaxation breathing or some meditation training but our therapy and trauma release is of line

What is the Breathing Therapy? There are many kinds of Breathing. But in our Breathing Therapy, it not only increases the capacity, but it releases the Trauma from the Body and clears the mind, releases hidden emotions (since childhood) which were affecting the body, behavior and state of mind. The benefit of Meditative Breathing is that it brings back people from negative Emotions, Trauma, Depression and keep their body and mind in pleasant state. They will not be living in the past, but will be able to enjoy the present moment, as they are aware of everything.

Who would need it and why? Most of the people need the Meditative Breathing. Breathing is the primary essential that brings life. Teaching someone to balance the Oxygen and Carbon dioxide in their body will help them to be healthy and stable physically, mentally and emotionally. This therapy helps them to leave the past behind, to see themselves and their potentials. They will be approaching life positively and thus become an achiever in life.

What are some of the greatest accomplishments thus far? The therapy has changed everyone’s state of mind and the thought process positively as the pain, the fear and the suppressed emotions are being released from that person. As they feel safe, there will be clarity in their thoughts. The brain sends good signal to the body, resulting in the production of good hormones like Dubamine, Exetocene. The proper functioning of brain and the nervous system regulates the imbalance of hormones. This therapy brings healing to the body too.

Is one session sufficient? What is the duration of typical sessions? The number of sessions and their timings completely depends on the nature of the therapy and the history of the person. Some therapies extend from 1 and half hour to 3 hours. Most of the breathing sessions for the trauma release is from 1 hour to 2 hours. Some of the programs are conducted for 3 to 4 or more than 6 days with morning and evening sessions of 12 to 16 hours, to work on the body, mind and emotions. Can meditation help with depression and anxiety? Of course. Meditation can almost heal the person completely form depression. It is not a technique or a treatment for a particular period of time. It brings clarity, awareness, positivity and gives good vibes and signals to our body, a relaxation for the brain, body & muscles. Meditation not only releases the good hormones, but it puts a check on the releasing of bad hormones like Cortezone and Adrenaline. This gives a calmness and composed state of mind, helping us to see oneself and the surroundings.

Is there anyone who should not meditate? Everyone can meditate and there are different kinds of meditation too. As I mentioned earlier, it's not a technique, but it's all about living out life in its fullness. Tell us about some of your hobbies? I do read a lot, practice meditation, do my physical exercise as well as breathing exercise.

What’s the best way for people who want to experience your therapy to dive into them? We conduct regular programs in more than 21

"Meditation in a single note, is an art of living."

How often do I have to practice meditation before seeing benefits? Meditation can be practiced every day. Living on each moment. In the beginning, you might have to consciously bring yourself into that awareness. But in due course, it becomes a lifestyle. You can see the benefit of meditation on a daily basis. And if you are aware, or being awakened, we can see the benefit of it, moment to moment too. countries & people can join us, considering the accessibility and the nature of the program. This is announced in our website which is www.joyacenter. com. Currently, the interested candidates, may practice it through my YouTube channel, Instagram, where I upload different videos periodically.

Your message for us at CP magazine. Thanks to CP Magazine for introducing us to the public, or rather, introducing Meditation and it's benefits to the public, especially during this Covid pandemic. These days, people all over the world, are adversely affected, either financially, mentally, emotionally or even spiritually. Meditation is the tool that can bring you out of this traumatic experience all by yourself. You can have clarity in your understanding, positivity in your thoughts, peacefulness in your actions, and enjoyment in your life. It's not the situation that controls you, but you, being aware of yourself will walk through it peacefully. Stay healthy, stay safe.