Yoga for Vets

[Guest guest]

Here is a message from Paul Zipes

www.yogaforvets.com

paul

 

Om Shanti everyone and thanks again to Amar Atma(Charles) for giving

me this opportunity to email everyone.

I will give you my idea in a brief email so if anything is missing

or if you have questions please ask. Regardless of your decision, I

welcome all suggestions and criticism.

 

Here goes...

One year too many has passed with our military being sent to Iraq

and Afghanistan and there doesn't appear to be any end in sight. The

stats have really become disturbing with regards to Post-Traumatic

Stress Disorder (PTSD) and a growing sense that our vets are being

under-cared for upon their return to the United States. I want yoga

to help any vet who has been to war and that is why I started Yoga

For Vets. My goal is to start collecting the names of studios and

teachers from around the country who will provide 4 free yoga

classes specifically to vets. The plan is to get the web site

(www.yogaforvets.com) as widely known as possible. This is where you

can help. Anyone who agrees to offer 4 free classes will have their

name and studio listed on the website. >>The list will provide any

veteran an easy way of finding a studio near them.<< Eventually, I

hope to see all 50 states on the list. After all, retired and active

duty service people are everywhere.

That's it in a nutshell but here is some extra info to consider;

 

-Can anyone offer free lessons? As long as you consider yourself a

yoga teacher and want to help, I will list you.

-Why 4 classes? As a RYT, I have seen many people come and go with

their interest in yoga. I've observed that 4 classes seems to be a

good number for new people to learn a little about yoga and see some

basic benefits (e.g, " I love shivasana. " , " I never realized how

great breathing can be! " , etc... If a vet takes 4 classes from you,

they might decide to stay and pay you for more classes or, decide to

leave and simply become one more person who has tried yoga. Both are

win-win in my opinion.

-What is my experience with yoga for vets? Not much. It is just

getting started and currently I just received my first local call

from a vet who wants lessons. I am contacting different teachers and

studios around the U.S. so I expect the list of free class providers

to grow soon. I am a Navy veteran although I can happily say I never

saw direct combat. Having served, I feel this gives me 'a little'

extra insight into the military.

-What if a lot of vets want to take free lessons? How can I afford

this? If many people start to show interest, I will start an actual

Yoga For Vets class once a week for a month. Start a waiting list if

you have to. This would be a good problem.

 

 

Thanks for spreading the word about Yoga For Vets

 

I hope to hear from you soon.

 

Om Shanti

 

Paul Zipes