The cornerstone of The Art of Yoga Project is The Yoga and Creative Arts Curriculum, an 18-week course that combines health education, character development, yoga, meditation, and creative arts. This gender-responsive program teaches at-risk girls to: a) identify the issues that cause them to make poor choices; b) manage their anger and impulses; c) become accountable for their actions to themselves and their communities; d) develop a productive outlet for their emotions and dreams.
Each two-hour class begins with a rigorous, strengthening yoga practice and follows with a creative art activity. Throughout the class, facilitators lead discussions on yoga-related themes such as nonviolence, sexual ethics, and integrity.
The Yoga and Creativity Curriculum uses yoga’s Eightfold Path as a foundation for learning. The Eightfold Path presented by The Art of Yoga Project uses a secular, non-religious approach. Yoga embraces all religions and can be a method applied to any religious practice. Those without spiritual inclinations can also practice yoga.
The Eightfold path consists of eight different aspects of a yoga practice:
1. Five guidelines for living--values or personal attitudes to cultivate. These are called Yamas
Sometimes referred to as “Yoga Don’ts” these are:
Non-violence, non-stealing, non-greed, sexual restraint, and non-lying
2. Five productive and healthy habits to develop. These are called Niyamas.
Sometimes referred to as “Yoga Do’s” these are:
Cleanliness and good hygiene, contentment, self-discipline, accountability, self-study and spirituality. These guidelines for behavior are universal and could be found in almost any religious practice or social philosophy.
3. Many physical exercises for a healthy body. These are called Asanas.
Asanas develop strength, flexibility, endurance and coordination. Asanas can lead to better functioning of each system of the body.
4. Breathing exercises to calm and energize the body. This is called Pranayama.
5. A practice of calming and stilling the senses and to prevent overstimulation called Pratyahara.
Pranayama and Pratyahara can help an adolescent with anger-management and impulse control. In a volatile situation, she learns to create distance and “take big deep breaths” while considering consequences. This facilitates better in-the-moment decision making instead of reaction without thinking.
6. Concentration techniques to increase focus and grounding called Dharana.
Many girls from the program report a better ability to study schoolwork after yoga practice.
7. Meditation techniques called Dhyana.
Meditation offers a young woman a technique for self-reflection. She begins to develop an awareness of her thought patterns and subsequent behaviors, the first step in learning to change them for a more productive lifestyle.
8. Developing Spirituality or a sense of connectedness to all human beings and nature called Samadhi.
Samadhi encourages pro-social behavior in the largest sense. Participants can be guided out of the self-indulgence often characteristic of adolescence and into accountability and service to the greater community.
Format
The format of each two-hour session is as follows:
3-minute quiet time and/or inspirational reading
Check-in
Presentation and discussion of theme for the morning by project staff
45-minute physical yoga practice led by certified yoga instructor
5-7 minute rest called svasana
Transition to art or writing activity usually with guided meditation
40 minute art activity led by project staff or guest artist from the community
10-15 minute sharing
Homework assignment, evaluation and close
Below is a brief outline of themes and art mediums for each season:
Fall: Introduction
Building strength and flexibility of mind and body
Introducing Yoga’s Eightfold Path:
Basic yoga postures and theory including history, purpose and benefits of yoga
*Visual arts such as collage, sculpture, life-size body mapping with paint, mandalas, mosaic and mixed media.
Winter: Introspection
Yoga and the journey within Yamas and Niyamas :Introducing personal discipline and yoga’s guidelines for living, including non-stealing, non-violence, personal hygiene, integrity of word and action, and sexual mindfulness.
*Creative writing, journaling and poetry for self-reflection and centering
Spring: Integration
Finding unity in diversity
Deepening a yoga practice: learning breathing, concentration and meditation techniques, partner work, cultivating friendship, respect, team-building, tolerance and productive contribution to the community.
*Group art projects such as murals and group sculpture. Also improvisational theater and collective poetry.