yoga 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.”

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VETOGA San Diego Monthly Class

VEToga — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 13:30:16 +0000

Upcoming Events + Trainings + Retreats

VETOGA Monthly Community Class

July 31st (3-5pm) @ Carlsbad, CA

Join us for a special community yoga class led by Marine Corps veteran and VETOGA CEO, Justin Blazejewski @jblazeyoga. 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 welcomed.

Share this with all of your Service member family and friends! Yoga is such a powerful tool in combating the stressors of duty! We’re here to help!

About VETOGA

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.

For more information about the event, sponsorships, volunteering and participating, message us here.

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VETOGA – Teacher Training, November 2016

Creative — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 23:17:52 +0000

So proud of the graduates of the 1st VETOGA Teacher Training 2016!

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Events in May

VEToga — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 19:30:03 +0000

Two big events coming in May, please join us!

Mindful of the Military Day
Yoga Workshop – May 7, 2016 @ Vida Fitness at the Yard
Free to the public – bring a friend!
Donations gratefully accepted
Download flyer: View PDF

Mindful Memorial Day 2016
A Living Memorial – May 28-30, 2016 @ Arlington National Cemetery
The Women in Military Service Memorial, at the gates of the National Cemetery
Address: 2 Memorial Avenue, Arlington, VA 22202
Saturday/Sunday, 8am – 5pm. Monday, 8am – 3pm
To join the team + learn more: www.MindfulMemorialDay.org

Check out our events page for details.

See you there!

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Video: Justin of VEToga Talks Kindness

VEToga — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 20:15:37 +0000

After his return from war, veteran Justin Blazejewski found himself angry, irritated and really unhappy with his life. See what happened when he decided to embrace kindness in his pursuit of happiness and share compassion-and yoga- with verbenas in his community. #fuelhappiness

Share this video!

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VEToga Class: Sept 13th

VEToga — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 07:42:23 +0000

Don’t miss out on our next VEToga Class!

This is a free event to all service members, veterans, law enforcement, emergency responders, and their families, although donations will be accepted and gratefully received ($10, $20, $50). All donations are tax-exempt.

RSVP here – https://www.facebook.com/events/1479495995700482/

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