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: Flags Will Be Lowered for Former Legislator Mike Cooper
• Allstream Energy Partners, SEO Experts in Oil and Gas, Awarded Gas Processing OEM Agreement
• Growth Story Expands: $54.6M Contract, $30M Revenue Run Rate, 800+ Customers, 50+ Patents & New AI Cybersecurity Products for Cycurion, Inc $CYCU
• Sky Quarry Restarts Nevada's Only Crude Oil Refinery — A Major New Chapter Begins in This Highly Lucrative sector for N A S D A Q: SKYQ
• Nutriband Inc. (N A S D A Q: NTRB) Breaks Into Uncharted Territory: 52-Week High Eclipsed as Shares Surge 22% —AVERSA™ Puts Investors on High Alert

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

• Spokane: City Creates Reduced Utility Rates for Micro-Sized Living Units
• Spokane: Daughters of the American Revolution Dedicate "Never Forget Garden" in Riverfront Park to Honor Veterans
• Spokane: Police Arrest Registered Sex Offender for Child Sexual Abuse Material
• JaapDaily passes 22 million chants, adds big-screen Recite Along view for Navratri
• valueGLASS Calls for Independent Choice as Safelite Absorbs Kitsap Competitor

–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.