The Art of Yoga Project: A Gender-Responsive Yoga and Creative Arts Curriculum for Girls in the California Juvenile Justice System

Abstract

As girls enter the juvenile justice system, they stand on the precipice of a lifelong cycle of crime and incarceration, yet still have the opportunity to turn toward healing and rehabilitation. With this in mind, The Art of Yoga Project (AYP) has designed a gender-specific intervention that combines Yoga, visual arts, and creative writing to help girls learn how to create a positive future for themselves. This article introduces AYP and shares the goals, objectives, and experiences of the program. A thorough description of AYP's comprehensive Yoga and Creative Arts Curriculum is provided, including a sample class plan and overview of the entire course. Eight principles of best practices are presented and discussed. We hope that this blueprint will inspire and empower other Yoga therapists to develop similar programs that serve this important and underserved population.

A Mixed-Methods Process Evaluation of the Art of Yoga Project for Girls in Custody

“…Some studies have found that surveys collected soon after detention are contaminated by bravado and a defensive attitude and might, therefore, reveal little about the individual’s actual state of mind (Harris & Fitton, 2010). Sometimes, in subsequent surveys, respondents tend to be more genuine in their responses, and this can make the individual appear to have deteriorated with treatment rather than having made any therapeutic gains (Harris & Fitton, 2010). A third round of questioning may produce more honest answers in response to program participation and increased self-awareness.…”

“…The AYP’s (Harris & Fitton, 2010; Harris, Kaplan, & Epstein, 2016; Murtagh, 2016) YCAC combines gender-responsive best practices with trauma-sensitive yoga, creative expression through art, and journaling. The AYP’s mission is to address emotional dysregulation while improving self-control, self-awareness, and self-respect.…”

“…The Art of Yoga Project (AYP) is a nonprofit organization that provides girls in custody with a Yoga and Creative Arts Curriculum (YCAC) designed to attend to the concerns raised above (Harris & Fitton, 2010). This article examines the impact of the AYP as a trauma-informed approach for intervention with teenage girls in custody.…”