“There is no need for temples. No need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples. My philosophy is kindness.” ~ the Dalai Lama
Together, we can make a difference…
Donna Helm-Yost, Ed.D., RYT
Donna began practicing yoga and exploring Eastern philosophy at the age of 12. In addition to being a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance, Donna is a licensed psychologist, a certified school psychologist, and the Founder and President of the Karma Yoga Project. In 2007, she learned about the plight of older orphans in Ethiopia through the volunteer efforts of Australian pilot, Geoff Hucker, who founded Beyond the Orphanage. And in July, 2008, she visited Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to do volunteer work with a medical team from Arizona. After the medical team left, she stayed behind and met the Beyond the Orphanage kids. It was love at first sight and Donna realized that she had to do more to help these amazing kids! Donna has always been interested in what makes people resilient and what inspires them and gives them hope. Donna is currently using her interests and training to design and implement a research study to determine the long-term effectiveness of BTO in the lives of their children. It is her hope that the BTO program can be a model to help older orphans across the planet. Donna has also provided psychological support and helped to create a yoga program in an orphanage in Quito, Ecuador. She also frequently speaks to high school students, yoga students, and mental health professionals about the benefits of therapeutic yoga and volunteerism.
Gail Smith Tieken
Gail, who has a background in business management and has worked in the fields of marketing, advertising, graphic design, public relations and artist management, is KYP’s Development Director. For over 20 years, she owned and operated a graphic design and marketing firm with her husband Fred. During that time the firm garnered over 250 industry awards and achieved international acclaim. Prior to that, Gail worked in talent management. In the early 1970s she launched one of the most influential talent agencies in the Midwest and over the next decade she booked and promoted rock bands. She is a founding director of her family’s private charitable foundation, which has been providing support to nonprofit organizations worldwide since 2008. Gail brings with her an awareness of the difference that we can make in the world by reaching out to those in need and is committed to helping KYP achieve its objectives.
Janice Hourihan
Janice is the acting Secretary for the Board of Directors of the Karma Yoga Project. She moved to Arizona from Massachusetts with her husband in 1999. She was the Area Manager for Lancôme, division of L’Oreal, Managing Director for Reebok, Ltd, Retail Director of The Stride Rite Corporation and Vice President of Sales-East for Decker’s Outdoor Corporation. She is currently a Real Estate Agent in the greater Phoenix market. She has volunteered her time to support the MA Department of Social Service, Arizona Healing Hearts Animal Sanctuary, Phoenix Fresh Start Women’s Foundation and currently sits on the Board of Directors for Dusty Boots Riding Therapy, Inc.
Lauren Brown
Lauren, KYP Clinical Director, has worked both as a School Psychologist and prior to graduate school, with youth in diverse populations–particularly with students with behavioral and emotional needs. Lauren has been volunteering since she was a child starting in geriatrics, then moving to young children at Head Start and as a psychologist on various committees related to her clinical work. She has her Masters through Teacher’s College, Columbia University and travels there annually to teach a lab about suicide assessment and prevention to graduate students studying School Psychology. Lauren has taught educators both in New York and Arizona and graduate students at Fordham University about students with emotional disabilities. Lauren uses her training and experience in functional behavioral assessments, behavior intervention plans and positive behavioral supports (PBS) to train other mental health professionals. Lauren participated in a committee that developed and implemented a system wide positive behavioral support program in a residential treatment center and works with current staff to increase their PBS knowledge and execution. She uses her background at Karma Yoga Project to train our yoga instructors in working with at-risk youth and to help ensure a therapeutic curriculum. Lauren has a passion for supporting youth who have been affected by trauma.