Violet Lotus: Yoga for Youth is a unique program of the MGR Foundation that provides a certified Bikram Yoga instructor and curriculum for a full school year to teach yoga and breathing skills to underserved high school youth in Chicago. The mission of Violet Lotus: Yoga for Youth is to teach breathing, discipline, and yoga during the school day for youth in underserved communities.

Why is Violet Lotus unique? It is the only Yoga program in the country that is taught directly to students during the school day.

Students are required to take the Yoga class instead of a Physical Education class—it is an essential part of their daily school experience.  At the end of the school year, students are rewarded with their hard work by attending their first ever Bikram Yoga class located at our beautiful Bikram Yoga Chicago studios (Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, or South Loop).

Violet Lotus students learn stress management and relaxation techniques while learning how to develop balance, strength, and flexibility. Most importantly, students are taught to apply focus, discipline, and awareness skills to directly combat overwhelming situations they are continuously confronted with in their social and domestic environment.

During the pilot year of 2010-2011, 53 students participated in the Yoga program every other day while 6 students participated daily.  The following are the results from a post-test survey conducted at the end of the school year.

• 100% of students stated they strongly agree that they feel calm and relaxed after yoga class.
• 100% of students stated that they strongly agree that they have learned techniques in yoga class that they can use in their every day life.
• 95% of students strongly agree that they breathe deeply in stressful situations to calm themselves down
• 98% of students strongly agree that they use deep breathing techniques in order to control their anger
• 97% of students stated that they strongly agree they feel focused after yoga class
• 97% of students stated that they strongly agree that they feel confident in themselves since participating in yoga class
• 98% of students stated that they strongly agree that they feel healthier since participating in yoga class