Drive for Gratitude Significantly Impacts Veterans Well-being
Washingtoner/10273619

ALAMEDA, Calif. - Washingtoner -- Veterans Yoga Project (VYP), supported by eleven industry leaders, will host Veterans Gratitude Week from Nov. 8-17, 2024, as a call for greater support of our nation's veterans.

VYP has designated this time for the past eleven years to show gratitude for our 18 million veterans across the country. Throughout the week, more than 500 yoga classes will be offered on a "donate-it forward" basis to support veterans. Classes are free to veterans and open to anyone. All donations go directly to providing more than 4,000 free yoga classes to veterans, their family members and caretakers/supporters as well as Mindful Resilience Training (MRT).

Veteran suicide claims 17 veterans, daily according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs¹. Veterans Gratitude Week encourages yoga studios, teachers, and others across the country, to support their veteran community, especially those struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma-related challenges such as anxiety and depression.

The mindful resilience practices taught by VYP have a significant impact on a veteran's ability to deal with everyday challenges, physical limitations, anxiety, PTS(D), and trauma. Veterans attending in person VYP classes in 2023 reported a 47% reduction in pain and 57% in stress per encounter. Online participants report 53% less pain and 66% less stress per encounter².

More on Washingtoner

• Spokane: SPD and SFD Respond to Early Morning Fire in Downtown Apartments
• City To Simplify Services by Routing Non-Emergency Police, Fire Calls through Spokane 311
• ResC4EU Final Event at KOMPOZYT-EXPO 2026 – Building Resilient European Supply Chains
• Tacoma: Update Fourth Homicide Arrest – 2100 block of N 30th St
• City of Tacoma Invites Community Members to Share Their Experience Crossing I-5

Says VYP CEO and USMC veteran, Brianna Renner, "Offering up resiliency as a way of life to veterans is at a critical juncture. Growth of our online classes, unabatingly high veteran suicide rates, and the post-pandemic drive for belonging to real community amongst veterans demonstrates escalating demand. Mindful Resilience is the prime focus of Veterans Yoga Project, but we need to bring resiliency to a greater portion of the veteran population now."

Signing up to host a donation-based class is a way for teachers and studios to give back to veterans, their families, and caregivers. All of the proceeds benefit VYP's mission to support recovery and resilience in the lives of our veterans, families, and communities.

"I am a retired Navy SEAL and yoga probably saved my life. Soon after retiring in 2010, I felt the uneasiness and worthlessness that a lot of veterans feel. My mind was a mess and my life was in disarray. Luckily, I found my yoga practice and started clawing my way back to a better life. I recently completed a 200-hour teacher training and I look forward to teaching other veterans the benefits of yoga."

More on Washingtoner

• Statement from Tacoma Chief of Police Patti Jackson on Understanding the Office of Independent Investigations (OII)
• Tacoma: 2026 AMOCAT Arts Award Winners Announced
• City of Tacoma Awarded Competitive State Grant to Evaluate Residential Development Regulations and Permit Processing Times
• City of Tacoma to Host 'Picture Pac Ave' Code Update Open House on October 20
• Tacoma: In-District City Council Meeting to Take Place on September 30 at STAR Center

–Michael, VYP Veteran Participant

Joining the gratitude movement and the 11th annual Veterans Gratitude Week are eleven VYP partners found on the VGW 24 website.

Visit www.veteransyogaproject.org/vgw24 to donate now, participate, or host a class.

¹https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/data-sheets/2023/2023-National-Veteran-Suicide-Prevention-Annual-Report-FINAL-508.pdf

²In 2023, VYP completed an evaluation of our programs' effectiveness using Subjective Pain and Distress Scores (SUDS) from encounters for both online and in person programs.