Studies show that yoga is incredibly beneficial to improving mental health, tactical readiness and overall wellbeing in military communities. Yet, there is little guidance for yoga teachers on how to adapt their practice for the military and other tactical settings. In this book, leading expert in the field Melissa Aguirre provides guidance on how to communicate timeless yogic teachings in a way these communities can relate to.
Yoga teacher, consultant and military spouse herself, Aguirre focusses on interacting with active service members and their families in part one, and on teaching yoga to veterans in part two.
With expertise from over a decade of advocating for yoga implementation in tactical settings, and delivering yoga to the military community, Aguirre presents an essential manual for yoga teachers and therapists seeking to bring their work into unconventional settings.
Yoga teacher, consultant and military spouse herself, Aguirre focusses on interacting with active service members and their families in part one, and on teaching yoga to veterans in part two.
With expertise from over a decade of advocating for yoga implementation in tactical settings, and delivering yoga to the military community, Aguirre presents an essential manual for yoga teachers and therapists seeking to bring their work into unconventional settings.
Reviews
Melissa Aguirre brings exceptional expertise and a deep understanding of both yoga and military culture. As someone who co-created and teaches the Army's Tactical Mobility Active Recovery and Mindfulness (TMAR-M) program, I was deeply impressed not only by the depth of knowledge in this book, but by how effectively she translates yoga and nervous system regulation into practical, operationally relevant tools for the military community. While there are many resources focused on veterans, it is rare to find a work this grounded in the realities of the active duty military environment. I found myself bookmarking pages and reflecting on ideas throughout the book, and I know I will return to it often as both a reference and a source of insight. This book is an important resource for those working in military human performance, readiness, and holistic health, including leaders, instructors, coaches, clinicians, and yoga professionals seeking to better support service members, veterans, and military families.
Melissa's Yoga Therapy for the Military Community is an honest, thoughtful, and expertly crafted guidebook for understanding the mechanisms of bringing yoga to the veteran and military community. She masterfully creates a junction between the practice of yoga and the rigors of the military, outlining the importance of effort and ease in both disciplines.
Surveys have shown that chronic stress and its consequences are at epidemic proportions internationally. This is exacerbated in stressful occupations such as the military where chronic stress can lead to burnout and some of the occupational activities are prone to inducing psychological trauma. Research is demonstrating that yoga practices incorporating physical exercise, relaxation, breathwork and meditation are effective in managing stress, enhancing stress resilience and tolerance, and even in ameliorating symptoms of trauma. This book provides a detailed rationale for the use of yoga in military-related populations and includes practical strategies for successfully applying yoga to improve wellness and quality of life.