Yoga classes for veterans -- offered, in many cases, free of charge, at least initially, by practitioners nationally -- is back in the news.
(For a link to previous articles about the topic, including the work being done at Walter Reed, click here.)
"Yoga Warriors" is based in Central Massachusetts, and they offer classes to veterans but also train yoga teachers to work with veterans. From their website:
"The Yoga Warriors program was established at the Central Mass Yoga and Wellness in West Boylston, MA, and has been ongoing since 2005. Yoga Warriors programs are being established in different parts of the country. Interested vets can contact the Central Mass Yoga and Wellness at 508-835-1176 to put their name on the contact list. Some of the classes are free to all vets. Registered yoga teachers that wish to become certified in the Yoga Warriors method can also call the above number to register for an upcoming teacher training workshop." (For a link to their website, click here.)
Paul Zipes, based in Florida, has a "Yoga For Vets" program that he started a few years ago. We've written about it, here, and are about to again. His program connects yoga practitioners who want to offer a limited number of free classes to veterans of combat or conflict with the veterans who want to take them. For a link to Yoga for Vets, click here.
Former Marine Anuradha Bhagwati started Yoga for Vets NYC started in July, 2008 "as a service for NYC veterans." She says, "the program is designed specifically for veterans dealing with injuries or trauma, but every veteran is welcome, regardless of age, era or experience." For a link to this program, click here.
CBS News had a short segment today called "Yoga Soothes War Vets." Watch it below:
The video shows Vietnam veterans enjoying the experience, but one Vietnam veteran I know didn't take to yoga too enthusiastically. Too many aches and pains for him to enjoy it very much, he said. However, he's a much bigger fan of Qi Gong -- which is sometimes called "the Chinese yoga." For more information about Qi Gong, also called Qigong or Chi Kung, read two recent posts on the subject: here and here. Both yoga and qi gong offer demonstrable health benefits and encourage a more relaxed, calmer mind, and lowered anxiety and tension.
