Jill Marie Ippolito knows firsthand that yoga is a lot more than just a physical activity — it’s an opportunity to teach, empower and heal. Experiencing her own transformation through yoga as a teenager, Jill founded UpRising Yoga to bring the power of the sport to kids in the juvenile detention system. Jill’s free classes are all about giving at-risk children the tools to grow.
But Jill doesn’t stop there: UpRising Yoga also trains teachers, social workers, parents and anyone else wanting to give back to youth in the community to use yoga as a tool. “Our last training had almost 60 people attend,” says Jill. The idea is that by sharing her knowledge, Jill can bring her teachings to a broader audience and serve as many kids as possible. Jill’s story is proof that the practice yoga can do more than help at-risk kids — it can heal.