Lotus Light Arts is a non-profit outreach program that brings the healing practices of yoga and art to at-risk young women in Los Angeles who are struggling with homelessness, poverty, abuse, addiction, trauma & behavioral challenges. Our gender-responsive program teaches this underserved population to:
- a) Identify the issues that cause them to make poor choices
- b) Manage their anger and impulses
- c) Become accountable for their actions to themselves and their communities
- d) Develop a productive outlet for their emotions and dreams
Upon completion of the program, participants are offered the opportunity to return and mentor as visiting artists and yoga assistants. Ongoing relationships with graduates will be encouraged, mentoring and teacher training opportunities will be offered upon completion of the program.
Yoga and creative arts help young women in crisis channel their emotions. Art and yoga provide essential outlets for women and offer healthy alternatives to violence, self-harm and substance use. Artistic expression gives women a voice. They can write, paint or draw about feelings and convictions instead of acting out with high-risk behaviors.
In addition, the program allows a woman to redefine herself. She becomes ‘an athlete,’ ‘an artist,’ and ‘a writer’ instead of being labeled as ‘troubled,’ an ‘addict’ or ‘at-risk.’ Each young woman carries this new, positive identity into her future, enabling her to create better choices for herself.
See our “Events” page to learn about the National Fundraiser we are part of in June 2011!
~The Lotus bud starts to grow through the murky depths and tries to find light. It weaves and searches and eventually finds itself reaching the surface of the water to produce a perfect and beautiful bloom. For this reason the Lotus represents the human soul searching for the light, and eventually, after trial and error, rising and finding enlightenment and beauty.



