FreedOM Youth Yoga

FreedOM Youth Yoga is a nonprofit organization dedicated to delivering mindfulness and yoga practices to kids and teens in the Atlanta area, especially those from underserved communities. Our mission is to instill lifelong skills that improve physical, mental, and emotional health, build resilience, navigate life's complexities, focus intentions, and empower authenticity. We believe that by creating a strong foundation in youth, we can pave the way for a more compassionate and peaceful world.

Our History and Background

FreedOM Youth Yoga was founded by Jillian Dillard, who became certified to teach children's yoga through internationally-acclaimed Kidding Around Yoga in the summer of 2018. Shortly after, she applied for incorporation in Georgia and received a 501(c)3 designation from the IRS, solidifying FreedOM Youth Yoga, Inc. as a recognized nonprofit entity. Since then, Jillian has been tirelessly working to spread the benefits of yoga to children in various settings, including schools, community centers, summer camps, and family events.

Our Services

We offer a variety of services designed to cater to the unique needs of different age groups and communities. Our programs include:

• Accelerated Accessibility of Youth Yoga: We take yoga to schools, classrooms, parks, community centers, summer camps, family events, and anywhere else where metro Atlanta preschoolers, kids, and teens already are. In classes that range from 20 to 90 minutes, participants practice yoga poses, breathing techniques, and mindfulness.

• Youth Yoga Army: Adults from underserved communities in the Atlanta area are invited to apply for a scholarship to a program that will train them to deliver instruction of yoga to kids and teens. These new instructors are then guided through the process of establishing a kids' yoga business, marketing, finding venues and participants, and establishing regularly scheduled events and classes.

• Freedom Through Yoga: We are developing programs that will serve young people who are at risk of participating in the Juvenile Court System. Kids and teens will learn tools for focusing on their education, ways to calm themselves to reduce violent outbursts, and methods to establish lifelong healthy mental and physical habits.

• 1-on-1 Yoga Classes: We offer personalized yoga classes for individuals who require special attention or have specific needs.

• Specially Crafted Courses for Specific Groups: We love to build events, classes, and courses for specific groups like Girls Scouts, adults with disabilities, ADHD boys, etc. Our community's diversity is its strength, and we relish the idea of crafting yoga practice to fit individualized needs.

Our Mission

Our mission at FreedOM Youth Yoga is to create world peace, one youth at a time. We believe that by empowering our youth with the tools of mindfulness and yoga, we can help them navigate the complexities of life and foster a more compassionate and peaceful world. We strive to make yoga accessible to all, regardless of age, background, or financial situation, and we are committed to continually growing and adapting our services to meet the evolving needs of our community.