VA Women Veterans Call Center — Call or text 1-855-829-6636 (M-F 8AM – 10PM & SAT 8AM – 6:30PM ET).

VA Caregiver Support Line — Call 1-855-260-3274 (M-F 8AM – 10PM & SAT 8AM – 5PM ET).

Together We Served — Find your battle buddies through unit pages.

George W. Bush Institute  — Need help or want to talk? Check In, or call: 1-630-522-4904, or email: checkin@veteranwellnessalliance.org

Elizabeth Dole Foundation Hidden Heroes — Join the Community.

American Red Cross Military Veteran Caregiver Network — Peer Support and Mentoring.

Student Veterans of America — Find a campus chapter to connect with.

Russ Owens

United State Navy

Russ is a recent graduate of the VETOGA 200-hour teacher training. Since certification, he has shared yoga in a variety of settings, including the local studio, at which he regularly practices and at several veteran service organizations. Teaching yoga and meditation in the veteran community has been an incredibly rewarding experience. He has had the privilege of guiding veterans through practices designed to transform struggle into strength, using yoga as a tool for post-traumatic growth. He has witnessed the profound impact of yoga and meditation on veterans managing PTSD, anxiety, and depression. He is honored to support these heroes on their journeys toward healing and self- discovery.

“James Baldwin wrote, ‘The longer I live, the more deeply I learn that love — whether we call it friendship or family or romance — is the work of mirroring and magnifying each other’s light. Gentle work. Steadfast work. Life-saving work in those moments when life and shame and sorrow occlude our own light from our view, but there is still a clear-eyed loving person to beam it back. In our best moments, we are that person for another.’ VETOGA and those who represent it have been that light for me.”

John Vonk

US Coast Guard Veteran

John started his meditation practice in early January 2014 as a way to manage working in a high stress career field. In 2016 after an on-the-job lower back injury, his Physical Therapist recommended that he start yoga, which he did right away and experienced immediate positive and live changing results.

In 2018 while attending the Yoga for PTSD training workshop at the Sedona Yoga Festival, John met VETOGA founder Justin Blazejewski and was introduced to VETOGA for the first time. In May of that year, he attended the VETOGA teacher training and still has vivid “very profound” memories of his experience of the teachings it provided him.

“I currently live in Montana, I’m a veteran of the USCG and am semi-retired from a public safety career with a federal agency. Over my career I became an advocate for Veteran/First Responder health and wellness- including using yoga and meditation as healing and stress management tools. I’ll talk to anyone about VETOGA who will listen.”

Luis Murillo

US Air Force Staff NCO

Luis is a graduate of VETOGA’s 200hr teacher Training program. He currently hosts The Ordinary Yogi, a podcast that dives into the teachings of yoga and shares them through personal stories and guest interviews. Luis continues his practice with shorter asana and meditation practices early in the morning before his son wakes up.

“Before VETOGA, I had a superficial understanding about yoga. Going through the training I learned that yoga is SO MUCH more than poses. Once I left the training, I felt so driven to share these teachings with anyone that would listen. Additionally, the program introduced me to so many kind people, it was a wonderful experience finding such a supportive tribe.”

Help Sponsor a Veteran

Give a vet a hand to attend a VETOGA Teacher Training program.

Donate here to contribute to this program.

Pictured above: in class during the Spring 2023 Teacher Training.

Sponsor a Veteran

Help sponsor a veteran to attend a teacher training program!

DONATE HERE

Stephanie Alvarez

United States Army Veteran

Stephanie United Stated Army Veteran Stephanie is a graduate of the VETOGA 500 RYT training. She is currently building a garden to teach monthly classes to the VETOGA community. “My yoga journey started in 2015. I dealt with a lot of mental health symptoms before VETOGA, and was disconnected from mind, body, and spirit. VETOGA helps me stay present, gives me peace and helps me stay connected to my community. Being a part of VETOGA keeps me grounded and has given me more than I can write.

“Now you have a light it never has to be dark again.” Even in the dark I can see a way out, I have gratitude in the struggle, and no matter what happens I have a family with VETOGA.”

“Now you have a light it never has to be dark again. Even in the dark I can see a way out, I have gratitude in the struggle, and no matter what happens I have a family with VETOGA.”

VETOGA teacher training group at Ojas

Yoga on State, 2697 State Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008
More info: info@yogaonstate.com

Claudia Cavazza

VETOGA Instructor

Claudia Cavazza is a certified Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 200 + E-RYT 500), Advanced Yoga Nidra Facilitator, Prison Yoga Project Certified, Certified Trauma Professional, and Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional. Claudia’s passion is to deliver yoga, meditation, breathing techniques and Yoga Nidra to populations such as veterans, first-responders, college students, and at-risk youth affected by high stress and PTSD through a carefully designed trauma-informed and polyvagal-informed embodied practice.

Committed to share the benefits of a trauma-informed yoga practice, as Director of Education and Training for New Millenium Employee Assistance Services, Claudia has been developing resilience focused trainings and practices for first responders in the DC metro area. In addition, for the past 7 seven years Claudia has been serving the veteran-owned organization Vetoga to provide yoga and meditation to veterans, first responders and their families.

VETOGA’S partner: Ojas Retreat Center

VETOGA’S partner for Wellness Retreats: Ojas Retreat Center

Haley Pope

US Navy Veteran

Haley is a graduate of the VETOGA 200. She currently is not actively teaching but does volunteer work with VETOGA weekly to help streamline incoming VETOGI’s and graduates as well. She does a self yoga practice at her home in Virginia Beach (tons of sunrise yoga) 😉 and currently is activated in the Navy Reserve in Virginia Beach. She enjoys baking, going to church, and spending time with friends and family (preferably at the beach).

“My journey with VETOGA started in 2019 before I left for deployment. I had been practicing yoga for 4 years by then and it had become part of my daily routine. I found VETOGA and reached out to Justin to see when the next training was. It was scheduled for May of 2020 and I was still going to be on deployment. Justin assured me that it “would all work itself out” and “to trust the process.” COVID happened-post poning that training until November of 2020. Yoga and my Faith saved my life on deployment, and at the end of deployment I was finishing my time up active duty and I knew that the first thing I wanted and needed to do was this training. I trusted the process, and was able to attend the November 2020 training where VETOGA changed my life in 5 days. I carry all the tools I learned from this training, daily in all aspects of my life.

Mike Stickley

United States Marine Corps Veteran

Mike is a graduate of the VETOGA 200 & 300-hour teacher trainings and LOAY Dharma Mittra 500-hour program. He is a Senior teacher at the VETOGA 200-hour teacher training programs and the Washington D.C. Regional Leader for VETOGA. Mike brings the disciplined skill sets from the Marine Corps while combining with the “Big Teddy Bear” softness of his years of practicing yoga to our community and continues to be a true leader and bright light across our military and veterans communities!

“My journey started 5 years and who would’ve known that 1 yoga class could change my life. All the time and effort I give to VETOGA is because i love our mission and the people we meet throughout the process. Sri Dharma says, “Learn how to enjoy the silence inside. When you are quiet, you see everything with love.”

Bernadette Kilcer

US Navy Veteran

Bernadette is the senior mentor for the Western US and OCONUS (Asia, Australia). In addition, she is the lead for VETOGA Colorado (VETOGA CO) chapter. She is developing and co-leading VETOGA’s first SUP Yoga retreat this July in Colorado. Bernadette has been an active student, volunteer, and VETOGA teacher since 2018. Her goal for next year is to help bring VETOGA to the first responder ski patrol communities of Colorado and northern New Mexico.

“What makes VETOGA different is the shared experiences across the veteran and first responder community. No matter how or when you served you are welcomed into class. There is no judgement and definitely no expectation to touch your toes.”

Watch Nahaku’s Story

Nahaku leads VETOGA’s online corporate yoga challenge programs bringing healing to more than 4,000 veterans, providing community and belonging. She raised over $100,000 to help veterans, active military members and their family attend VETOGA teacher training and yoga retreats at no or low costs. Nahaku is deeply committed to our community and a valued member of the VETOGA family.

“VETOGA has changed my life because it has given me a lot of direction after I retired from the military. It has allowed me to be able to be focused on something of service and for me to continue post military service. It’s changed my life by allowing me to give back and continue to do something that I love.”

Watch VETOGA in Action!
Wellness Retreat 2022

Pictured: Class of Fall 2021

Cassie Boblitt
US Army Veteran, Invasion of Iraq in 2003

Watch Cassie’s Story

Cassie has built a lifestyle and career through exploring the outdoors; whether planning and leading adventures, playing disc golf, or backpacking with friends and fellow veterans. She is deeply committed to the veteran community and sharing opportunities and experiences that will lead to a healthy, happy lifestyle.

“VETOGA holds a significant place in my personal story on my journey towards healing. Through yoga and meditation I was able to look deep into my soul and find the path that makes my heart sing. It is through yoga and my connection to the outdoors that I am able to live a present life of love and happiness.” -Cassie