VETogi of the month Archives - VETOGA

VETOGA Monthly Newsletter May 2024

VEToga — Thu, 02 May 2024 00:00:18 +0000

Upcoming Events + Teacher Trainings + Retreats

Mental Health Awareness Month

Join us this May as VETOGA partners with Amazon Global Military Affairs, Mala for Vets and Mates4Mates to help bring awareness to Mental Health. We will be hosting a 14-day Wellness Challenge lead by VETOGA instructors. Click the link below to sign-up and join us for this challenge, running from May 13 – 27.

Our intention behind this year’s challenge is to bring awareness to Mental Health in the United States. Please help us spread this message by sharing this challenge with your friends and families using the following link: Vetoga.org/AmazonVetogaChallenge

What you can expect…
During the 14-day challenge, there will be daily meditation, pranayama (breathing), asana (movement), and yoga Nidra (guided relaxation). You will start the first five days with 5-mins of practice in each category and work your way up to 15-mins by the end of the challenge.

Winning prizes!
For those who complete the 14-Day challenge and upload their personal video describing their transformation and awareness during this challenge, there will be a top prize of FREE tuition to an upcoming VETOGA Teacher Training. Other prizes include: beautiful Mala Beads from MalaforVets, and other VETOGA swag.

By participating in this challenge, you are making a commitment to increase awareness of mental health in communities.

This will be fun and challenging and we are excited to invite you into our community to spread awareness for Mental Health.

Thank you & Namaste,
The VETOGA Family

Veteran Resources

The following resources are available from Veterans Affairs:

Veterans Crisis Line — If you are having thoughts of suicide, call 1-800-273-8255, then PRESS 1 or visit veteranscrisisline.net. For emergency mental health care, you can also go directly to your local VA medical center 24/7 regardless of your discharge status or enrollment in other VA health care.

Vet Centers — Discuss how you feel with other Veterans in these community-based counseling centers. 70% of Vet Center staff are Veterans. Call 1-877-927-8387 or find one near you.

VA Mental Health Services Guide — This guide will help you sign up and access mental health services.

MakeTheConnection.net – Information, resources, and Veteran to Veteran videos for challenging life events and experiences with mental health issues.

RallyPoint — Talk to other Veterans online. Discuss: What are your feelings as the Taliban reclaim Afghanistan after 20 years of US involvement?

Download VA’s self-help apps — Tools to help deal with common reactions like, stress, sadness, and anxiety. You can also track your symptoms over time.

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) — Request a Peer Mentor.

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.

VETogi of the Month

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.”

Support All Our Programs!

Donate to VETOGA’s Mission

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The post VETOGA Monthly Newsletter May 2024 appeared first on VETOGA.

VETOGA Monthly Newsletter March 2024

VEToga — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 00:00:30 +0000

Upcoming Events + Teacher Trainings + Retreats

VETOGA Teacher Training Q & A

Date: Sunday, March 10th (3pm EST / 6pm PST)

Come join our senior VETOGA teacher training staff, Justin Blazejewski and Yogini Kali Om for an hour-long Q & A session. During the session we will provide space for all your questions you may have about the 200-hour teacher training happening this November 2024.

Zoom Meeting Details:

Topic: VETOGA 2024 Teacher Training Q & A
Time: March 10, 2024 @ 3:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89977206134
Meeting ID: 899 7720 6134

Excited to see you there!!
Justin & Yogini Kali Om

How to Show Your Support

Support VETOGA in 2024

1.) Share VETOGA’s mission on your social media, with friends, family, co-workers.

2.) Consider donating to help sponsor a veteran to attend one of our retreats or teacher trainings.

3.) Attend and share all upcoming Yoga Challenges for 2024 (May, September, November).

4.) Attend our VETOGA teacher training Q & A session on March 10th.

5.) Help finding corporate sponsorships. If you are someone you know works for a corporation that is open to supporting VETOGA’s mission through their philanthropy efforts, please put them in contact with Justin — send a message here.

Please consider donating to VETOGA and share our story to help us reach our teacher training goal to support veterans to attend the upcoming training.

Thank you,
Justin Blazejewski (CEO & Founder)

DONATE TO TEACHER TRAINING

Want to attend the 2024 Teacher Training?

Scheduled for: November 2024

If you are someone you know want to attend the upcoming 2024 Teacher Training this Fall, please sing up with the link below.

If you have previously signed up for a training and did not attend for some reason, please email info (at) vetoga.org with the subject “Returning Candidate” and we will get you enrolled in this year’s training and fundraising efforts.

VETogi of the Month

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.”

Support All Our Programs!

Donate to VETOGA’s Mission

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The post VETOGA Monthly Newsletter March 2024 appeared first on VETOGA.

VETOGA Monthly Newsletter November 2023

VEToga — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 22:48:30 +0000

Upcoming Events + Teacher Trainings + Retreats

Mindfulness, Meditation & Me

New Monthly Program | Begins during Warrior Week (November 5-11, 2023), but sign up anytime!

We understand that your well-being and mental health are super important, and we’re excited to introduce a program designed just for you – “Mindfulness, Meditation & Me.”

This program is a powerful tool to help you manage stress, anxiety, and trauma resulting from military service or any traumatic life events. And here’s the best part – thanks to Amazon Military’s generous support, you can access this program for only $5 a month, instead of the regular $30/month cost.

DETAILS:
“Mindfulness, Meditation & Me” is a program that offers numerous benefits:

Stress Reduction: Learn techniques to effectively manage and reduce stress.
Anxiety Relief: Develop skills to alleviate anxiety and increase emotional well-being.
Trauma Healing: Support for processing and healing from traumatic life experiences.

SEATS ARE LIMITED:
There are only 500 seats available for Amazon employees, so act now to secure your spot. We know that prioritizing your well-being is crucial, and we want to ensure that this program is accessible to as many of you as possible.

TO JOIN:
To secure your spot in the “Mindfulness, Meditation & Me” program, please follow this simple step:

Visit our program portal at Mindfulness Meditation & Me for more information.

Once you’ve registered, you’ll receive information on how to access the program and upcoming sessions.

ACT NOW:
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to prioritize your mental well-being. Register now and embark on a journey to find inner peace and balance.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact me at: nahaku (at) vetoga.org

We look forward to having you on board and taking this transformative journey towards greater mindfulness and inner peace. Click the link to find out more!

Serving With Aloha,
Nahaku McFadden

P.S. The next Amazon VETOGA 5-Day Yoga challenge will be during Warrior Week (November 5 – 11, 2023). The challenge starts November 7th — sign up here for free!

P.P.S. Unsure if this offer will be available in the future at this level, so take advantage of it while it lasts!

Amazon VETOGA Warrior Week

Starts Nov 7th

Created JUST for YOU! This FREE yoga 5-Day challenge is filled with tips and techniques that will help you feel healthier and less stressed. Includes daily exercises and fun activities that you can do between 5 – 15 minutes a day.

What you’ll get:

Yoga
Meditation
Mindfulness
and MORE!

Sunday, Nov. 26th

Class held 3-5pm PST

If you live in Southern California, join us at Yoga on State for a special community yoga class led by Marine Corps veteran and VETOGA CEO, Justin Blazejewski.

Free event to all service members, veterans, law enforcement, emergency responders, and their families. Suggested donation class for civilians who want to join and support VETOGA, active military, and veterans. All are welcome!!! Donate here.

Our mission is to provide yoga, meditation, and healing arts to military, veterans, their families, and communities. We seek to build a supportive community, of both veterans and non-veterans, and to provide an opportunity to experience a wide variety of the Healing Arts.

We will start with an all-levels yoga class available to everyone. We will stretch, breathe and cultivate our connection with body-heart-mind-spirit. The class concludes with Yoga Nidra, a deep relaxation that aims to release that which no longer serves us.

Donations will go to VETOGA Incorporated, a healing arts program that services our veterans and their care providers. VETOGA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and all donations are tax-exempt.

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

VETogi of the Month

FREE 5-DAY YOGA CHALLENGE

Nahaku McFadden

VETOGA Corporate Outreach Director
US Air Force Veteran

Nahaku leads VETOGA’s online corporate yoga challenge programs bringing healing to more than 10,000 veterans, providing community and belonging. She raised over $200,000 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 and continues to lead the way for VETOGA’s corporate partnerships and fundraising efforts.

“After being in uniform for 30 years, I wanted to continue to serve in a meaningful and impactful way and VETOGA provided that opportunity. To be able to give back to those who have sacrificed so much means a lot to me by making a difference in other veterans’ lives through yoga, volunteering, corporate fundraising and combatting veteran suicide. I am thankful for the friendships and connections I have through VETOGA. I look forward to continuing to serve for many years to come!”

Support All Our Programs!

Donate to VETOGA’s Mission

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The post VETOGA Monthly Newsletter November 2023 appeared first on VETOGA.

VETOGA Newsletter September 2023

VEToga — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 17:01:04 +0000

Upcoming Events + Teacher Trainings + Retreats

Suicide Awareness Month

Well-Being Yoga Challenge: Sept. 11-24th

Amazon Global Military Affairs and VETOGA are joining forces for National Suicide Prevention in September by offering a Mental Health and Well-Being 14 Day Challenge September 11-24. Help welcome our new partner Mates4Mates!

Our intention behind this year’s challenge is to bring awareness to Mental Health and Suicide Awareness in the United States. Please help us spread this message by sharing this challenge with your friends and families using the following link: Vetoga.org/AmazonVetogaChallenge

Suicide is a national public Mental Health challenge that causes tremendous pain for individuals, families and communities across the country.

On average, 132 Americans die by suicide each day accounting for 47,511 suicide deaths in 2019
In 2019, there were an estimated 1.38 million suicide attempts
The average number of veteran suicides per day was 17.6 in 2018
Suicide is also the 10^th leading cause of death among all ages and the 2^nd leading cause of death among those ages 10-34 in the U.S.

What you can expect…
During the 14-day challenge, there will be daily meditation, pranayama (breathing), asana (movement), yoga Nidra (guided relaxation), and journaling. You will start the first five days with 5-mins of practice in each category and work your way up to 15-mins by the end of the challenge.

Winning prizes!
For those who complete the 14-Day challenge and upload their personal video describing their transformation and awareness during this challenge, there will be a top prize of FREE tuition (sponsored by Amazon Global Military Affairs) to an upcoming VETOGA Teacher Training. Other prizes include: beautiful Mala Beads from MalaforVets, and other VETOGA t-shirts and swag bags.

By participating in this challenge, you are making a commitment to increase awareness of mental health issues in general and prevent suicide for all Americans.

Become and advocate for suicide prevention: Click here!

This will be fun and challenging and we are excited to invite you into our community to spread awareness for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.

Thank you & Namaste,
The VETOGA Family

Join the Suicide Awareness Month Well-Being Challenge (Sept. 11th – 24th)

DONATE HERE TO HELP PREVENT VETERAN SUICIDE

Veteran Resources

The following resources are available from Veterans Affairs:

Veterans Crisis Line — If you are having thoughts of suicide, call 1-800-273-8255, then PRESS 1 or visit veteranscrisisline.net. For emergency mental health care, you can also go directly to your local VA medical center 24/7 regardless of your discharge status or enrollment in other VA health care.
Vet Centers — Discuss how you feel with other Veterans in these community-based counseling centers. 70% of Vet Center staff are Veterans. Call 1-877-927-8387 or find one near you.
VA Mental Health Services Guide — This guide will help you sign up and access mental health services.
MakeTheConnection.net – Information, resources, and Veteran to Veteran videos for challenging life events and experiences with mental health issues.
RallyPoint — Talk to other Veterans online. Discuss: What are your feelings as the Taliban reclaim Afghanistan after 20 years of US involvement?
Download VA’s self-help apps — Tools to help deal with common reactions like, stress, sadness, and anxiety. You can also track your symptoms over time.
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) — Request a Peer Mentor.
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.

GET HELP

Sunday, Sept 10th

Class held 12-1pm PST

If you live in the Los Angeles area, join us at Yoga Loft (El Porto) Come out and join us for our VETOGA community class. This class will be led by VETOGA founder and Marine Corps veteran, Justin Blazejewski. In the Dharma Yoga tradition, the class will be a flow series of postures, incorporating breath work, chant, and a guided relaxation, yoga Nidra Suitable for all levels. You will leave the class feeling relaxed and refreshed. Come show your support for your local military and veteran community!

FREE EVENT – but donations are gratefully accepted for VETOGA non-profit. Donate here.

VETOGA seeks to build sustainable communities by bringing the healing aspects of yoga to veterans, their families, and communities. We provide access to a range of healing modalities to facilitate healthy minds, bodies and spirits. Sustainable communities are created through our 200-Hour Teacher Trainings. Teacher Trainings equip veterans with the holistic tools and teachings to continue to pass on the healing power of yoga.

Donations will go to VETOGA Incorporated, a healing arts program that services our veterans and their care providers. VETOGA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and all donations are tax-exempt.

Yoga Loft, 3618 Highland Ave, El Porto CA 92008
More info: info@yogaloftmb.com

Sunday, Sept 24th

Class held 3-5pm PST

If you live in Southern California, join us at Yoga on State for a special community yoga class led by Marine Corps veteran and VETOGA CEO, Justin Blazejewski.

Donations will go to VETOGA Incorporated, a healing arts program that services our veterans and their care providers. VETOGA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and all donations are tax-exempt.

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

VETogi of the Month

Gabrielle Kali Om

VETOGA Programs Director

Gabrielle is the co-lead facilitator of VETOGA’s yoga teacher training program and retreats and has been with VETOGA since its inception in 2016. She owns and operates Ojas Retreat Center in Southern California where VETOGA’s programs take place. She has been a key member of the VETOGA family since our inception in 2015 and continues to share her gifts of yoga and healing with the community.

“It is a great honor to serve as a facilitator for VETOGA’s programs. I’m always moved and inspired by the sincerity and dedication of the service members who join VETOGA with the intention of cultivating peace within themselves and the aim of sharing it with others in their community. I’m grateful for all I have learned in the process of teaching and hope that I have given at least as much as I’ve received.”

Support All Our Programs!

Donate to VETOGA’s Mission

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The post VETOGA Newsletter September 2023 appeared first on VETOGA.

VETOGA Newsletter August 2023

VEToga — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 21:32:33 +0000

Upcoming Events + Teacher Trainings + Retreats

We Need Your Help!

For the upcoming retreat: September 2023

We are just over a month away from our VETOGA Wellness Retreat in September and we need your help!!

We will be hosting our 3rd VETOGA Wellness Retreat at Ojas Retreat Center in Murrieta California. This retreat will provide a serene environment where veterans can fully immerse in the holistic healing environment to find nutrition, mindfulness, movement, and community.

We still need to raise $5,000 in order to support 20 veterans to attend this amazing retreat!

Please consider donating to VETOGA and share our story to help us reach our teacher training goal to sponsor 20 veterans to attend the upcoming training. Donate here via Facebook

DONATE HERE FOR THE WELLNESS RETREAT

VETOGA’S partner: Ojas Retreat Center

Sunday, August 13th

Class held 12-1pm PST

FREE – but donations are gratefully accepted for VETOGA non-profit.

Donations will go to VETOGA Incorporated, a healing arts program that services our veterans and their care providers. VETOGA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and all donations are tax-exempt.

Yoga Loft, 3618 Highland Ave, El Porto CA 92008
More info: info@yogaloftmb.com

Sunday, August 27th

Class held 3-5pm PST

If you live in Southern California, join us at Yoga on State for a special community yoga class led by Marine Corps veteran and VETOGA CEO, Justin Blazejewski.

Donations will go to VETOGA Incorporated, a healing arts program that services our veterans and their care providers. VETOGA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and all donations are tax-exempt.

Yoga Loft, 3618 Highland Ave, El Porto CA 92008
More info: info@yogaloftmb.com

VETogi of the Month

Morgan Tadych

Army Reservist

Morgan is a 2023 VETOGA 200hr graduate. She is currently transitioning out of the military and teaches classes in her hometown in Wisconsin. Morgan continues to deepen her personal practice through consistent asana and has developed a daily meditation practice since the teacher training.

“I discovered VETOGA a few years ago but didn’t have the opportunity to attend until this year. The sense of peace and community at the retreat was indescribable, and it showed me that it is ok to be somewhere on the healing path – not fully healed but working towards a better version of myself.”

Support All Our Programs!

Donate to VETOGA’s Mission

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VETOGA Newsletter July 2023

VEToga — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 22:16:51 +0000

Upcoming Events + Teacher Trainings + Retreats

Congrats to Our New 2023 Graduates!

VETOGA Teacher Training Grads for Spring 2023 — Pictured above

Help us in congratulating our VETOGA 200-hour teacher training graduates from our 2023 class! From May to June this year, we had 13 new students participate and graduate from our Spring teacher training program. In May, these students attended and completed over 150 hours of online training and daily practice through VETOGA’s online institute. Then, they attended a 6-day in-person immersion portion of the training where they taught daily yoga classes to sharpen and hone their teaching skills. They are now in their internship portion of the program where they will teach 10 classes and have a daily asana, pranayama, japa, and mediation practice where they will finish their 200-hours certifications.

Make the next teacher class possible with a donation: Donate here for 2024!

SUPPORT 2024 TEACHER TRAINING

Sunday, July 9th

Class held 12-1pm PST

If you live in the Los Angeles area, join us at Yoga Loft (El Porto). Come out and join us for our VETOGA community class. This class will be led by VETOGA founder and Marine Corps veteran, Justin Blazejewski. In the Dharma Yoga tradition, the class will be a flow series of postures, incorporating breath work, chant, and a guided relaxation, yoga Nidra Suitable for all levels. You will leave the class feeling relaxed and refreshed. Come show your support for your local military and veteran community!

FREE – but donations are gratefully accepted for VETOGA non-profit.

Donations will go to VETOGA Incorporated, a healing arts program that services our veterans and their care providers. VETOGA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and all donations are tax-exempt.

Yoga Loft, 3618 Highland Ave, El Porto CA 92008
More info: info@yogaloftmb.com

Sunday, July 30th

Class held 3-5pm PST

If you live in Southern California, join us at Yoga on State for a special community yoga class led by Marine Corps veteran and VETOGA CEO, Justin Blazejewski.

Donations will go to VETOGA Incorporated, a healing arts program that services our veterans and their care providers. VETOGA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and all donations are tax-exempt.

Yoga Loft, 3618 Highland Ave, El Porto CA 92008
More info: info@yogaloftmb.com

VETogi of the Month

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.”

VETOGA Wellness Retreats

Location: Ojas Retreat Center

See our programs in action! Watch the video

VETOGA’S partner: Ojas Retreat Center

SPONSOR A VETERAN

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.

Support All Our Programs!

Donate to VETOGA’s Mission

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VETOGA Newsletter May 2023

VEToga — Fri, 05 May 2023 22:49:10 +0000

Upcoming Events + Teacher Trainings + Retreats

Mental Health Awareness Month

This May VETOGA has partnered with Amazon Global Military Affairs, Veteran CEO, Mala for Vets, and Mindful Memorial Day Foundation to bring awareness to Mental Health by hosting a 14-Day Wellness Challenge. This challenge will be led by the VETOGA instructors. Click the link bellow to sign-up and show your support.

14-Day Yoga Challenge: May 15 – 29th

Spring Teacher Training

Scheduled for: May 25 – 30, 2023

Sponsor a Veteran

Help sponsor a veteran to attend a teacher training program!

DONATE HERE

VETogi of the Month

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.”

Support All Our Programs!

Donate to VETOGA’s Mission

Please share this newsletter with friends and family | Share link

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VETOGA Newsletter March 2023

VEToga — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 20:10:43 +0000

Upcoming Events + Teacher Trainings + Retreats

VETOGA Spring Teacher Training

Scheduled for May 2023

We are only a couple months away from our Spring VETOGA teacher training in May and we need your help! We still need to raise $10,000 in order to make this teacher training happen.

Please consider donating to VETOGA and share our story to help us reach our teacher training goal to sponsor 20 veterans to attend the upcoming training.

Help sponsor a veteran to attend a VETOGA Teacher Training program.

DONATE HERE & SUPPORT TEACHERS

VETOGA teacher training group at Ojas

Sunday, March 26th

Free Yoga Class in Carlsbad, CA

If you live in Southern California, join us at Yoga on State in Carlsbad, CA for a special community yoga class led by VETOGA CEO, Justin Blazejewski and in partnership with LiboRisk.

FREE event to all service members, veterans, law enforcement, emergency responders, and their families. Suggested donation class for civilians who want to join and support VETOGA, active military, and veterans. All are welcome!!!

VETOGA’s mission is to provide yoga, meditation, and healing arts to military, veterans, their families, and communities. We seek to build a supportive community, of both veterans and non-veterans, and to provide an opportunity to experience a wide variety of the Healing Arts.

LiboRisk is a military colloquialism derived from the phrase “Liberty Risk” Used prevalently in the Marine Corps, troops who were coined as “LiboRisks” had to be watched more carefully and were punished more often for mishaps during liberty and leave. Because “LiboRisk” is used irreverently and is associated to a troops “free-time”, we believe this would be the best name for our community.

After the yoga class is complete, we will head over to Barrel Republic to get some food and drinks for some Community & Comradery.

Donations will go to VETOGA Incorporated, a healing arts program that services our veterans and their care providers. VETOGA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax-exempt.

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

VETogi of the Month

DONATE TO VETOGA’S MISSION

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.

In 2018, Claudia founded the corporate wellness company WRKwell, LLC to deliver stress management programs to local corporations as well as public entities. WRKwell combines the benefits of embodied practices with leadership and corporate responsibility training to provide tools for both organizations and corporate employees to thrive in a safe work environment.

Question: What originally motivated you to do this work and what continues to motivate you?

“Both my grandfathers served during World War II in the Italian Army. While one of my “nonni” adapted very well upon returning to civilian life, the other came home from the Russian front deeply scarred and became severely addicted to alcohol to cope with his experience of war, unleashing violence and abuse on my grandmother, my mother and her baby brother. At the time, no one talked about the effects of trauma and PTSD. Veterans and their families were left to deal with their unbearable burden alone.

Many years later, after connecting with veterans in my local community, I realized that their stories weren’t so different from the stories of my grandfather and grandmother, and their suffering was the same kind of suffering that had impacted my family across generations. I felt a sense of personal responsibility to break the cycle of suffering in my own family, but also to pay it forward to other veterans and their families. As a civilian, I was very fortunate to be accepted into the Vetoga Teacher Training and immediately felt included in a wonderful community of veterans. That’s when I truly felt in my body the power of yoga not only to bring a sense of wholeness within myself, but also to unite human beings from all sorts of backgrounds and lived experiences. I remember as it was yesterday, a young man – a giant Marine who looked so strong that he could move mountains – getting up and crying unstoppably at the end of one of our yoga nidra practices, as years of deeply hidden traumatic experiences were coming to the surface and were released by his body. I just walked over, and we hugged. No words, no explanations, but we’ve become best friends ever since. THAT, to me, is the power of yoga. The practice of yoga can peel back the layers of what we think makes us different from each other and unite us in wholeness as connected human beings.”

VETOGA Wellness Retreats

Location: Ojas Retreat Center

See our programs in action! Watch the video

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VETOGA’S partner: Ojas Retreat Center

Support All Our Programs!

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The post VETOGA Newsletter March 2023 appeared first on VETOGA.

VETOGA Newsletter December 2022

VEToga — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 20:00:40 +0000

Upcoming Events + Teacher Trainings + Retreats

Giving Season Extended by Meta!

November 15th – December 31st, 2022

Facebook/Meta’s new “Giving Season” extends from November 15 to December 31, 2022. During that time, Facebook/Meta will match up to $7 million in donations to Facebook Fundraisers that benefit charities like Help Hope Live. However, in 2022, Facebook/Meta will only match ONE donation per user, and the donation must be a recurring donation.

Please consider donating to VETOGA this giving season to help us reach our end of year goal of $5000 to sponsor 10 veterans to attend the 2023 VETOGA Wellness Retreat.

Help us fundraise on Facebook.

MAKE A MATCHED DONATION

This past November we are humbled and excited to have partnered with VIP Magazine for the “Posed for Recovery” article. Read the full article here | Photo credit: @Jonathan Thorpe

Featured on ABC News

Join us in celebration ABC channel 7 News in Washington D.C. as they highlight VETOGA Instructor Mike Stickley in the feature article “7 Salutes: ‘VETOGA’ teaches military veterans’ yoga and meditation”. Written by Alison Starling.

READ THE ARTICLE

VETOGA Wellness Retreats

VETOGA Spring Teacher Training (May 2023) – REGISTER HERE
VETOGA’S partner: Ojas Retreat Center — Watch Video

VETOGA Teacher Training

Help sponsor a veteran to attend a VETOGA teacher training program with a targeted donation.

SPONSOR A VETERAN

VETogi of the Month

DONATE TO VETOGA’S MISSION

Antonio Williams

US Navy Veteran

Antonio is a graduate of VETOGA 200-hour teacher training in 2022. He completed his training with the veteran’s community in Los Angeles, ca teaching classes weekly to underserved vet with PTS(D) and disabilities. Now partnering with the VA Antonio has already gone on to take on a mentorship with one of the VA’s senior yoga teachers Mrs. Liza Ortiz this November and December. His mission is to be able to connect with veterans across the globe digitally; to serve vets with PTS(D)and depression and help hold space so they can be a part of this yoga practice we share.

“After failing 3 times to get my yoga teacher training done on my own, I found and turned to VETOGA after coming across them online. The VETOGA family reminded me what i set out on a mission for 3 years ago. It’s not just about teaching yoga it’s a way of being. Yoga for me is so intricate to my life and the foundation of who I am and want to become. Yoga has been my silver lining on times when it’s too hard to understand what’s going on. Yoga for me brings me a mental clarify and excitement that i can’t replace and that’s what i want to share with people. I didn’t find VETOGA, VETOGA found me again, it pulled me away from the edge and reminded me what yoga really means to me.”

Support All Our Programs!

Donate to VETOGA’s Mission

MAKE A DONATION

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The post VETOGA Newsletter December 2022 appeared first on VETOGA.

VETOGA Newsletter July 2022

VEToga — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 18:11:16 +0000

Upcoming Events + Trainings + Retreats

Sponsor a Veteran to Attend the Fall VETOGA Wellness Retreat

Dates: September 22-25, 2022

This September we will be hosting our 2nd VETOGA Wellness Retreat at Ojas Retreat Center in Murrieta California. This retreat offers a serene environment where veterans and their families can fully immerse in a holistic healing environment to find nutrition, mindfulness, movement and community.

The cost to sponsor a veteran to attend this retreat is $500. If you would like to sponsor a veteran to attend the upcoming retreat, please consider donating or creating a Fundraising Page here.

Watch Video

Sponsor a Veteran

Help sponsor a veteran to attend a VETOGA Teacher Training program. Contribute here

DONATE HERE

VETogi of the Month

Micah Norgard-Salas

United States Marine Corps Veteran

Micah is a graduate of the VETOGA 200. He currently teaches a practice once a month at his family’s homestead, Leroy’s Farm. At Leroy’s Farm, Micah continues to practice and deepen his understanding of self and purpose through farming with goats and chickens or having a hand with carpentry and woodworking.

“My journey started five years when I was suffering from extreme disassociation from the body and mind. It took me some social media posts and seeing a pattern of happiness or peace in those practicing yoga. Simple, but this set me on my path, which finally led me to VETOGA. Yoga taught me that we can achieve anything, but it takes time and patience. I have been able to translate this to every aspect of my life, and I couldn’t be more thankful for what this organization has given.”