Upcoming Events + Teacher Trainings + Retreats
Suicide Awareness Month
Join the Well-Being Challenge (Sept. 12-26)
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 12-16, 2022.
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 10th leading cause of death among all ages and the 2nd 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.
Handcrafted Candles
As the warrior begins to heal, a new awakening is born. To honor the transformation of the warrior we’ve blended eucalyptus, sage, lavender and honey to anchor new beginnings. This is the signature scent for the VETOGA Community. A portion of the profit from the sale of this candle will be donated to VETOGA.
PURCHASE CANDLES
Sponsor a Veteran
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 by clicking the link below.
Help sponsor a veteran to attend the Fall VETOGA wellness Retreat (Sept. 22 – 25). Contribute here
SPONSOR A VETERAN
VETogi of the Month
Dorothy Moore
United States Navy Veteran
Dorothy retired from the Navy Reserves and Civilian Service in 2015. She served 29 years in the Navy and 41 years in Civilian Service. She was looking for something that she could be a part of to help people cope and feel good about themselves. A friend recommended that she try VETOGA. She then researched and found information that led her to become a 200-hr VETOGA yoga instructor. Dorothy teaches Yoga at the Whitaker YMCA in Lexington, KY on Tuesday and Thursday regularly. She offers free VETOGA yoga classes and also teach Aqua Aerobics classes and volunteers at her local Veterans Hospital to help Veterans learn how to navigate the MyHealthyVet program.
“The VETOGA training experience changed my life! I have always been a fitness enthusiast but as I aged not so much. I was looking for something that I could do at my age and share with others in and above my age group, active aging adults like me! There are hundreds of us! I am a baby boomer and although I love a good solid impact workout my body does not. I was grateful my instructors at VETOGA developed a Simple Yoga Practice that I could bring back to my students, at the YMCA. I am grateful that I found VETOGA.”
Veteran Resources
- Veterans Crisis Line – If you are having thoughts of suicide, call 1-800-273-8255, then PRESS 1 or visit www.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.
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