3 Powerful Ways the Veterans Yoga Project Promotes Self-Care
Our Veterans deserve tools for battling trauma.
Reflecting on another Memorial Day, I recall Navy shipmates I served with who are no longer with us. Shipmates like Vickie, a Hospital Corpsman Chief who died of cancer far too young. A Supply officer who left twenty years of service after a nervous breakdown. A Deck Department petty officer who died in the 2000 U.S.S. Cole terrorism attack.
I had no major combat operations during my enlistment, but many veterans are not so lucky.
Many of our soldiers and sailors return home with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), chronic pain from injuries, and more carry hidden emotional scars from combat and burnout. For many servicemembers, life after the military can be isolating if their physical and mental needs are not addressed.
Luckily, there are more resources than ever to improve veteran wellness. Veteran’s newsletter myMilitaryBenefits.com recently featured the Veterans Yoga Project, so I researched to find out more.
The Veterans Yoga Project Transforms Lives
The Veterans Yoga Project was founded ten years ago by a psychologist and yoga teacher who hosted a workshop on yoga as a tool for PTSD treatment. The program has certified nearly 2,500 yoga teachers and provided relief to thousands of veterans, their families, and caregivers.
I reached out to Maggie Wolarik, a Veteran Yoga Project (VYP) instructor, to hear why she serves veterans in this unique way. Maggie’s background is in insurance sales and leadership. After 30 years, she pivoted to volunteer work, music therapy, and teaching yoga.
Maggie discovered yoga after a traumatic experience and found its’ healing benefits for her life. She obtained her yoga certification in 2019. In addition to working with VYP as a teacher, Maggie now applies her leadership skills as the Veterans Yoga Project Director for New Jersey.
Veterans develop self-care through yoga’s practical tools for healing.
VYP recognizes veterans need help and encourages mindful movement.
Their Mission statement is “Veterans Yoga project is on a mission to support recovery and resilience among our veterans, families, and communities.” Live and in-person yoga classes are provided daily at no cost to serve as many veterans and their families as possible. For a list of classes in your area, visit the VYP class locator that lists opportunities on and off military bases.
All yoga instructors have completed a 200-hour-long certification process. Many instructors complete additional training in Mindful Resilience and Trauma Recovery and Mindful Resilience for Compassion Fatigue. Instructors are part of a Teachers Alliance with access to monthly ongoing training in yoga best practices.
The yoga instructors come from all walks of life but are specifically trained by military members who understand the background and needs of those who have served. VYP encourages active-duty military and veterans to become instructors and provides scholarship programs for their training. Many veterans who have benefited from yoga become fervent advocates as instructors themselves.
Yoga classes promote a sense of community & decrease feelings of isolation.
According to VYP, “Yoga is translated from the word yuj, which is loosely translated to the word union. We were once called to serve in uniform, so for many, being drawn to yoga is a natural transition. The brotherhood, sense of community, and sense of belonging is something we all seek after leaving our time in service.”
Yoga classes are a valuable support group for veterans in distress. Maggie shared that her student - and now friend - Jimmy, inspires her to continue teaching yoga. Jimmy is an Air Force veteran with seven Afghanistan and the Middle East combat tours. After years of trauma, he struggled emotionally and attempted suicide. He is a proponent of the healing qualities of breathwork, stretching, and the feeling of calm he gets in each yoga class.
Yoga empowers veterans to heal and acquire resilience.
Veterans recovering from trauma crave relief. They desire escape from anxiety, recurring nightmares, or debilitating pain. A crucial part of yoga is re-training the mind and body to self-soothe and regulate emotional and physical pain responses. VYP offers an online resource library for veterans curious about yoga focusing on mindful movement, breathing, meditation, guided rest, and gratitude.
So much of yoga exercise focuses on breathing. Breathing exercises are effective by interrupting anxious thoughts with mindful movement. Focusing 100% on the simple act of breathing soothes the nervous system. Putting a ‘pause’ on anxious thoughts allows members to be open to positive input such as meditation and positive self-talk.
Once veterans recognize their power over racing thoughts and negative emotions, they have a new skill set. Breathing and meditation help control anxiety and help them be in tune with mind & body. Many veterans decrease self-medicating and can sleep and function better daily.
Mindful movement, breathing, and meditation help manage pain. In a VYP survey of online participants, 80% experienced meaningful reductions in physical pain and emotional distress.
Yoga is transformative for many veterans who take the time to focus on their well-being. The simple act of being in the moment to breathe and flow through movements decrease stress. They can redirect their energies away from a ‘fight or flight’ response to feeling in control of their moods and, ultimately, their lives again.
You have the power to support veterans in trauma.
You can take many actions to honor our military forces and veterans. Thank a veteran for their service. Let veterans know about the free online yoga classes, sponsor future veteran yoga instructors, or donate to support the wellness efforts of the Veterans Yoga Project. VYP is an IRS-recognized 501(c) charitable organization operating since 2010.
Wanda ran away from home after high school to join the Navy. She served onboard the U.S.S. LaSalle traveling to over 50 ports in northern Africa, southern Europe, and the Mediterranean. She is still on the hunt for the perfect Turkish coffee and scenic seaside trails.
