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The Art of Yoga Project is an organization that seeks to rehabilitate teenage girls in the juvenile justice system by teaching them art, yoga, and journaling. The program was founded in 2002 by yoga teacher and nurse practitioner Mary Lynn Fitton, and it became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2005.

How it works
The Art of Yoga Project currently teaches in several sites in California and Oregon, including the Margaret J. Kemp Camp for Girls (part of the San Mateo County Juvenile Correctional Facility in San Mateo, California), the San Francisco Juvenile Justice Center, and the Muriel Wright Residential Center in San Jose, California. The project has a curriculum that runs for a fall, winter, and spring session. Generally the girls in the program participate once or twice a week in a two-hour class, practicing yoga for the first part of the class and transitioning into art (such as painting, collages, and crafts) and journaling for the second part. Studies have shown that practicing yoga produces a number of biochemical responses that reduce stress and improve one's mood. After the participants leave the justice system, the Project tries to provide each girl with a a yoga mat, a journal, the art she created in the program, and a list of local studios where she can practice for free.

Organization
Mary Lynn Fitton founded the Art of Yoga Project after noticing the widespread body image issues, teen pregnancies, and physical and sexual abuse among teenage girls she worked with as a nurse practitioner. She felt that yoga could be a way to improve the self-esteem of teenage girls trapped in a cycle of negativity. . A large proportion of girls in the juvenile justice system are survivors of physical or sexual abuse, come from homes where domestic violence is common, and have engaged in self-inflicted violence.

Testimonials
“When I practice yoga I feel whole, I feel nothing is beyond my reach. I feel beautiful, strong and perfect, and fortunate that I am me” Art of Yoga Participant, Age 17

"Most people have the wrong idea about yoga. They thinks it's crunchy granola. They are wrong. The girls often tell me that yoga teaches them how to slow a situation down, how to regulate their fast breathing so that they can apply this to their situations. This is the missing link in their rehabilitation" - Sharon Jones, Management Analyst, Probation Department, County of San Mateo, California

"When I get mad I use breathing techniques. It keeps me cool..." - Participant exit interview, summer 2008

"I handle my anger better than I ever have in my life." - Participant case study interview

"The Art of Yoga project gives us a way to "see" someone who at times feels invisible, and forgotten." Beth Sparks, Yoga Teacher, The Art of Yoga Project, Lithia Program

"I usually see things black and white. Do you know what I mean? Good or bad. Yes or no. But after I do yoga I feel like a new person and I look at things in new ways. My mind opens up. I see there is more than just yes or no, more than one choice, more than one path. I like this idea because so far the path I’ve chosen hasn’t been great. I’m ready for a new one."

Impact
In 2008, AYP served approximately 400 girls from the Juvenile Justice Systems in San Mateo, Santa Clara, and San Francisco Counties.

Key outcomes from 2008 winter and spring participant evaluations:

Self Awareness:

* 80% reported that they "often" or "always" talk more easily with their therapists since they started doing yoga

Self Respect

* 100% reported that they respected themselves more and had more positive thoughts about themselves, with 80% doing so often or almost everyday.

Self Control

* 100% of girls reported using breathing techniques outside of class * 90% reported that yoga helped them manage their anger either sometimes, often, or almost everyday * 80% of the girls agreed or strongly agreed that the spring program kept them from doing harm to themselves * 100% of students reported that since they started doing yoga, meditation and creative arts, they can focus better in school.