The Art of Yoga Project is a non-profit organization that serves over 700 at-risk, incarcerated and exploited girls every year, serving over 6000 girls since its inception over a decade ago. Its core work is in detention facilities in San Mateo, San Francisco and Santa Clara counties. The Project goes directly into these facilities, bringing a mindfulness-based curriculum combining yoga, meditation, creative arts and writing. Its mission is to empower young girls while teaching accountability and well-being. Its team includes specially trained, trauma-informed yoga teachers and art and writing educators. To keep girls connected after release, the Project has partnerships with middle schools and high schools that are primarily gang-impacted in their home counties. The Project also has programs for girls in substance abuse treatment facilities, level 14 facilities, and organizations working with sex-trafficked girls.

Please enjoy this conversation with Rocsana Enriquez, a former student and current teacher with the Project.

Rocsana did an interview with the Washington Post in 2015 which includes more information on the importance of yoga with at risk and underserved girls. She is also the subject of a new documentary.

To learn more about the Sexual-Abuse-to-Prison-Pipeline, one of the reasons the Project uses gender-responsive and trauma-informed methods, please review this research from the Human Rights Project for Girls, Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality, and Ms. Foundation for Women.

NPR summarized this report, explaining the benefits yoga has on girls in the juvenile detention system and telling the story of Missy Hart who was a student of the Art of Yoga Project.