Me and the family. Click to be taken to a story. Photo: Ana Venegas, OC Register
Welcome.
Life changes. We closed the door on our private surgery practice in Los Angeles County, so my husband could continue on his path as a surgeon for the U.S. Army. When we did so, I knew I wanted to focus on the aftermath of war. Hence, this blog has been three years, and two deployments in the making.
During our 20+ years in medicine, we had the privilege of working with many veterans –from WWII to the present day wars. It wasn’t lost on anyone in our office what a profound impact war had on many of our patients –even 50 years after they had come back.
War grips the body, tightens the muscles, and sends an unending profusion of related and non related thoughts through our minds. This manifestation in the body affects us in ways both physical and emotional. Sometimes the way people deal with it can be destructive, while others find safer alternatives that help soothe mind, body and spirit. Not every person who comes home develops PTSD, but everyone develops a sense of urgency to help those who do.
Yoga –even without wanting to know or care about the 8 Limbs, Chakras, Sanskrit, Yamas and Niyamas, can be incredibly relaxing. And frankly, that’s not what we cover here on WarRetreat. For us, yoga can be a stolen hour (or even a moment) to focus on one’s breath; and a chance to check in and be present. I know this firsthand. During my husband’s first deployment, whenever I heard his unit got bombed, I’d run to the yoga studio. Fortunately, I had extraordinarily understanding yoga teachers who took care of me. No one ever forced their beliefs on me, and they let me know –my practice was about me and nobody else. Instead of feeling weighed down, I got through that deployment feeling grateful for all the small things. War still loomed, but I was able to take in patches of beauty.
A safe place
I will never know what it’s like to watch a brother or sister-in-arms die in combat, to feel as though the next step taken might result in an explosion, or the smells and loudness of war. I will never know what it’s like to arrive at the scene of a natural disaster and find the city wiped out, and its inhabitants helpless. What I do know is what it’s like to watch your loved one go off to war, to raise kids alone, and jump at late night phone calls. What I can offer to my military family and the war community is a safe place on a yoga mat. It seems like a small offering, but here on this blog, they will always be safe, honored, and respected.
To the yoga community –there is more overlap than you think. I hope you will learn more about the military community, what holds us together, and the strong bond we share.
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Glad to be connected here and to you Kanani……everything you say resonates with me and even when discouraged I know a door will open here to help those suffering in silence.
It would be really helpful if more trainings were offered to civilian yoga teachers that helped create a bridge of understanding between the military and non-veteran teachers. I think Kripalu has something like that going. But something more accessible and less expensive would be good. In teaching Trauma Sensitive Yoga to veterans, I am always, constantly working on that bridge. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn’t. Passive postures for some can be terrible experiences for others and active postures for some can be humiliating for others. No one wants to be shown up. Ever. And there’s a whole lot of vulnerability that comes with moving from the outside of your life to the inside. Breath is one bridge; practice is another but then the teacher has to have to humility to know she can’t know. Much peace all, Beth
Hi Beth,I am 81 year old who served as an officer in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict. While I still play tennis 3 times a week, I have also begun practicing yoga once a week .I can tell you that my local yoga teachers are doing a great job in S. Florida. They have a group called Connected Warriors. We have veterans and some active duty from every generation in our classes!
Connected Warriors Yoga is branching out into other cities throughout USA. http://www.connectedwarriors.org
Very interesting site and articles. Really thankful for sharing.Will surely
recommend this site to some friends! Regards,