Welcome back to Great Day Washington,
nay is Military Appreciation Month.
And every Monday this month,
we're going to highlight an
organization helping the military
community. Today, we want
to talk about a program called Vatoga
that helps veterans and active military
members cope with stress using yoga.
We're joined by retired Air Force
Colonel Nahaku McFadden and former
Marine Corporal Mike Stickley,
who are now both Vatoga's teachers Welcome.
Thank you so much. We really appreciate you
having us here today.
So what's kind of the focus when
when you guys are doing practice?
Like what is the focus of
your practice? Our focus is
to help military members,
their families and those who have
served to be able to release stress
bringing the healing art of meditation
and yoga into their lives so that we
can help save lives from suicide and
other things due to having served
in the military.
I know there's so many benefits
to doing this in general,
the physical benefits to start,
what are some of those
lots of lots of benefits.
Obviously, you know,
physical fitness and everything
like that, but it also there's
breathing and meditation.
It allows to you to clear your mind,
allows you to be where
you need to be. Yeah. The mental
health part is the big part.
I do you find it hard
to get veterans, especially male veterans,
to commit to yoga. I know.
I've even just tried to get
my just my husband to do it.
And men sometimes tend to be a little
more hesitant when it comes to that.
Yes, actually that is very true.
It's a lot, a lot of times it's
very hard for males to actually come
to a class and it's because they,
it's being vulnerable, right.
And so we don't want to be vulnerable.
We want to protect ourselves. So.
And so be able to come onto the mat is
probably the best aspect of all that.
What do you see from them once they're there?
What are some of the stories
that you know has helped people?
It's actually, we've been able to save
lives because they come to the mat,
they're able to go within,
they're able to release some of
the the trauma and the stress that
they have incurred. And to be able
to be get in touch with themselves again
and being able to do it
kind of with themselves,
like they don't need to spill
their guts to other people,
right? That's all.
They're in their control, so to speak.
Absolutely. And one of the best things
about Vetoga is it's by veterans,
for veterans, their families.
And then ultimately the community.
And we go out into the community and
give free and no cost yoga classes.
That's amazing.
It gives them that community as well.
You're in the community
that gives them community.
You're going to show us some of the
moves that you do with them, right?
In a couple different ways.
We're going to focus on pain
relief because that's one of the
major things that happen, right?
We we've served, we wear rucksacks,
they're super heavy.
Different kinds of equipment.
So that's what we're going to
focus on A few you and I are going
to switch places I'm enjoying.
So you would like to sit down.
So because some of our veterans
and also anyone who might
have some other disabilities,
we're going to show two different options.
So if you wouldn't mind,
please sit down and we're going to
begin to be nice and comfortable
breathing through the nose,
inhaling in and exhale out okay.
From here,
go ahead and go into a table
position which is shoulders over
the wrist and hips over your knees.
You're going to do cat and cow,
so you're going to round through your
upper back and pelvic tilt opening
up and for you go ahead and yes,
they feel awesome.
Round through your lower back
and pelvic tilt, chest forward.
Good.
This is going to help anytime
we need to release,
release your lower back and then from here.
Bring your right knee forward
and we're going to come into
a lunge with your knee down.
So keeping your left knee down,
right hands on hip,
open up the chest,
open up their your shoulder blades,
bringing them together.
And then from you just open up lifting up
the chest breathing in and exhaling out.
And then from here we're going into a table.
Excuse me,
a.
Square pose so your left arm
bring it on up and bring it on
the outside for you because we
don't want to squish baby.
Just open up with your right arm
and left arm opening up good so
you're just twisting and opening
so that it opens up the chest
and bring it back to center.
Back to cat and cow in the table
Position round to the lower back as
you continue this. Yes,
we do want to let everybody know.
For more information about
online yoga challenges going
on with him, you can go to
thattoganation.com.