Our program has had the opportunity to work in collaboration with Mary Lynn Fitton and her organization for the past five years.  During that time, the teen-age girls in residence at Lithia Springs have had the opportunity to learn how yoga can help them to foster character development, self-awareness and positive self-esteem. 

The youth in the program have greatly benefited from the instruction and practice that they have received. Youth are learning about themselves in a more holistic method, giving them an opportunity to draw on additional resources from themselves.  Many of the young women have internalized what they learned and have continued to use yoga to help them manage their worlds.  The project has truly been a gift to the girls we serve.
Stephanie Atkinson
Managing Director, Lithia Springs Program

The Art of Yoga Project is unique because of its innovative approach to character development, which uses a gender-specific curriculum based on the philosophy of yoga to teach self-awareness, self-calming, and self-control. The Art of Yoga Project’s multi-dimensional technique is particularly effective for the girls in the juvenile justice system that have had histories of juvenile crime, substance abuse, severe physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and neglect.

We have worked with Mary Lynn Fitton since October of 2005, when she began leading a team of volunteers to teach yoga each week in the juvenile hall.  The girls have responded well to these sessions and have reported feeling “safe,” “relaxed,” and “content” after the sessions. The staff has noticed a difference in the girls’ behavior after the yoga sessions, and has subsequently requested more yoga classes per week.
The Art of Yoga Project has strong leadership, a clear and important mission, and a well-designed program with a track record of success with at-risk girls.
Honorable Marta S. Diaz
Judge of the Superior Court
Juvenile Judge of San Mateo County

Kristin {volunteer yoga teacher with AOY} is awesome and Yoga is going really well. The girls love it and report that even if they have been in "bad moods," by the end of the class they are relaxed and positive. It is definitely the most positive group run at the house in months. I had the opportunity to observe most of the class last week and was impressed with Kristin's ability to engage the girls and create a safe and comfortable and fun environment...an extremely challenging proposition. It helps that she is clearly a natural and the girls respond to her authenticity and enthusiasm, which typically is a reason for ridicule and resistance.
Aimee Armata
Director, Tracey's Place of Hope, a residential
treatment home for girls in San Mateo, California