Tuesday, January 15, 2013

#Semperkickstart - Why Yoga For Veterans?


After experiencing the devastating toll the Vietnam conflict took on our nations Warriors, and recently fighting two full military wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, we are now tasked with ensuring our active duty, reserve and Veteran populations are not taken for granted, and not forgotten.   

Across every branch of service, we train for and execute missions in austere and high stress conditions, most people would agree that this is our “bread and butter”.  We take great pride in the sacrifices we make mentally and physically to be successful in training and defending our nation in battle.  We do this all in the name of honor, courage and commitment.  There is of course a dark side to this noble cause, and in order to allow an individual to cope with and manage resulting mental stress or physical impairments, we need something on the other end of the spectrum to balance us out.   

So, why would a Veteran try something like yoga?  Isn’t that just for soft, pacifist, hippie types that burn incense and chant crazy talk, you might ask?  There are many different forms of yoga, and it is important to understand that the style we utilize is non-denominational and emphasizes simple but physically challenging postures in addition to breathing and relaxation techniques.  These evidence-based, practices are geared toward balancing your mind and body in order to cultivate a feeling of strength, confidence and relaxation in both the mind and body.  

As Veterans and members of our modern military, we have grown to become very good at wearing and polishing our armor.  We don our finest dress blues, pin our medals on our chest and stand tall with pride and honor.  All too often, we find that underneath that shiny, battle hardened exterior is a sea of turmoil churning and folding.  We don’t really talk about what’s below and in many ways, we don’t really know how to.  All too often, this closed, inner world governs and can dominate our thoughts and actions.  Yoga invites us to keep our pride, our armor and our medals, but to open up and safely address some of the disconnect that keep us stuck in a moment or pattern of behavior.  It allows us to put words on feelings and to find happiness from within, creating balance and fulfillment again.  
Whether you take one yoga class a week or five, you have to start somewhere, and we offer that there is no better place than a simple yoga mat.  Let 2013 be the year you come to the mat and bring yourself home.  

Semper Fi and Namaste,

Captain CJ Keller, USMC, Retired
SFHW Yoga Development Director




SFHW is sponsored by Tomuno Mats.  Tell them we sent ya!

Saturday, January 5, 2013

#semperkickstart - Yoga (Nidra)

#semperkickstart - Yoga (Nidra)

Yoga Nidra is a scientific method for achieving a deep state of relaxation. It differs from many other methods of what we might consider to be relaxation. It is not hypnosis, although it is commonly mistaken for this.  Click HERE for more on Yoga Nidra from our friends at MyYogaOnline.

Here are some more sample Yoga Nidras from our friend Suzanne Manafort (Veterans Yoga Project)


How about a new pillow for your nidra practice?  Order from our Recoup page and a portion of the profits return to support Semper Fidelis Health and Wellness.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

#semperkickstart - YOGA NEW YEAR


#semperkickstart - YOGA NEW YEAR
Around New Years, we generally tend to do two things: we reflect on the past year of personal adversities, the good times and the not so good, and come up with countless top 10 Moments of 2012. We also look forward to the new year, with new hopes and goals in mind. Many of us suddenly determined to become the person we want to be or live the life we want to have. Don't get me wrong, it's very important to reflect, and of course we need to set goals and commit to achieving them, but WHAT'S MISSING? Let this be a friendly reminder to you to be present in today. Maybe try something different this year, start with grounding yourself and loving yourself in the moment instead of counting on magic when the ball drops, the rest will fall into place, I promise. One hell of a year for me personally, gratitude to everyone I've connected with. Have fun and celebrate...Cheers!  - CJ Keller 
(CJ Keller is our Yoga Development Director)

Discover Sun Salutations, the most familiar yoga series of poses free from My Yoga Online.
SAVE $49 on a year subscription to MyYogaOnline ($69.95) and support SFHW Yoga

Find a SFHW Yoga class near you!

Find a Vets Yoga class near you!

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Semper Wellness Jan 13 - #semperkickstart

#SemperKickStart is the name of January's Semper Wellness newsletter.  If you missed it...Here it is!  We are still working out the bugs of our new software...(#semperpatience


Inside this month's issue:  Primary Food, Finding Balance in your PT, Meditation, & Benefits of Yoga. PLUS...Semper Challenge: Warrior 1 & Stability Ball Push-Up.


Big changes do not require big leaps. Permanent change is more likely to happen gradually than through one big restrictive plan. Allow yourself to climb the ladder one rung at a time.

Happy New Year!
Team SFHW




TAKING VETERANS ASSISTANCE AND VETERANS HEALTH TO ANOTHER LEVEL 
Semper Fidelis Health & Wellness (SFHW) is a community based 501(c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit founded by USMC veterans and a Holistic Nutrition & Health Counselor.  We provide veterans assistance and guidance on veterans health.  We are the first and only integrative health and wellness solution that provides education and programs to wounded, sick or injured veterans, who we refer to as warriors.