Announcing The Maiya Project

Co-Produced by Jenn Friedman and Mental Fitness, Inc., the program is based on a short dance and music film highlighting the internal eating disorder conflict. It is based on Jenn Friedman's song, "Maiya," - which is about the recovery of a personal friend, as well as Jenn's own recovery, and is choreographed by Renée Locher.

The film follows three dancers through the woods - Maiya's representation, the eating disorder voice, and the recovery voice - with Maiya herself making select appearances throughout in a variety of mediums. The three characters make their way through the woods via an excruciatingly choreographed contemporary movement struggle. We see Maiya's progression from captivity inside the eating disorder voice toward the alignment with the recovery voice. We watch as her autonomy gradually and courageously takes hold. As Maiya's character evolves from containment to freedom, we are reminded of the power within ourselves to find our own personal freedom; we note a parallel between the very physical struggle on the screen and the often invisible struggle inside ourselves. While we equate the entanglement of the woods with our own confusion, chaos, and internment, we also equate the freedom and purity of nature with our own unbound potential.

The film comes with a free 20 page resource packet and is offered at no cost for schools and universities. Learn more here.

Our new, evidence-based online courses share latest research and strategies for managing eating disorders, depression, and anxiety disorders in schools, now available at SharpenMinds.com. Artwork courtesy of DumahDesign.com.

Mental Fitness, Inc. is a nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) registered in Wisconsin, New York, California and South Carolina. We are so grateful to the thousands of patrons, educators and medical professionals who have collaborated with us for 10 years to support our mission of building resilience in all youth through primary, secondary and tertiary prevention programs in schools. More information at www.MentalFitnessInc.org.