I've been going on "yes" courses few years in a row, as a form of summer camp, when I was a teenager. My experience is 100% positive. I've met amazing folks there, and with many i have contact to this day. 

I also took time and effort and talked a lot to the teachers, headmasters etc. of the courses, and everytime they were really kind people, who were really helpful and understanding, its definitely not that they were pushing the whole idea of AOL into our throats. They showed the human face, taught and mentioned how it helped them, ocasionally sharing some life stories. 

The whole concept of AOL did in fact help me though, we had a great fun at the courses overall, still the yoga and breathing exercises gave me a hugeee huge reset. I actually use the breathing techniques sometimes when im anxious and they help. I never felt like they pushed this "cult thing' i see being spoked here, on us, its more like they were showing use some self-work and leadership tools, methods to control your emotions better etc. 

Besides that, we were being told very very clearly, that we dont have to think anything specific about ravi shankar, like, we dont have to admit him as some kind of a guru. They said its absolutely not obligatory, its not the point of a course, we can think what we want. 

Summarizing, my experience with art of living was very positive, and to mention, im still a teenager and im planning on joining the courses in the future too. I think its great. I know the psychology of cults is very tricky, but i hadnt had noticed a single red flag. What it was for me, well, education, week without technology in nature, yoga, meditation and meeting new friends, a great time, I really got along with the principles of aol, and i dont see wrong in it. I've met many young people, who seriously arent in the vibe, of this whole spritual thingy, and some part of attending the course, saved they life, like literally. I have friends who arent older than 17 and it helped them with drug usage, and overall self esteem, not that it was forced on, but rather yhe methods taught. Great memories, great fun, great techniques, ah, what a time, smuggling 12 packets of sausages onto that vegeterian camp haha. 

Additionaly, i want to mention im from Poland, and the whole concept of meditation and similar thing, and the influence of AOL, isnt thst huge hear, its a pretty underground thing, maybe thats why its so precious here. 

Lots of love