How Yoga Supports Veterans
Our military service members and veteran community have reported heavy tolls on the body and the mind, and the effects can span across decades. Many individuals can experience chronic pain, poor sleep, and a nervous system that stays on alert long after it needs to. Yoga is one practical way to work with all three.
Yoga can be a great addition to medical and/or mental health care. It is a steady practice that helps many veterans feel more at ease, and the VA now includes it in its Whole Health approach to care.
What yoga offers
A calmer nervous system. Slow, deliberate breathing tells the body it is safe to stand down. With practice, it gets easier to settle after stress instead of staying braced for it.
Relief for a body that has worked hard. Years of rucks, gear, and repetitive strain add up. Gentle movement builds strength and mobility in the back, hips, knees, and shoulders, and research with veterans has linked regular practice to less chronic low back pain.
Better sleep. Many veterans find they fall asleep faster and rest more deeply when they practice regularly.
Attention you can train. Yoga asks you to notice what is happening right now, without judging it. That skill carries off the mat.
Community. Practicing next to people who understand service, with nothing to explain, matters as much as the movement.
Join us on the mat
The Siotha Project hosts a free community yoga class each month with Mortal Yoga + Wellness, led by Reagan Johnson. Classes are open to veterans, service members, their families, and the wider community.
No experience is needed. Every pose can be modified, and you are welcome to move at your own pace or simply rest. Wear something comfortable and bring a mat if you have one.
Next class: October 24th at 4:30pm
Where: Mortal Yoga | 1000 NW 44th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73118
