Page 94 - Total War on PTSD

What is Yoga?
Yoga is an ancient system of physical postures (asana), breath (pranayama), meditation and self-awareness. Synchronization of the mind, conscious breath and movement regulates the nervous system increasing resiliency. Yoga postures and breathing techniques build the body-mind connection by strengthening self- awareness, aiding the ability to observe and to stay with inner thoughts and feelings. This practice can help regain a sense of control and ownership over your body and experiences. Practicing yoga is a tool to learn to listen to your body and make choices to take care of yourself. This is mindfulness.
The objective of this practice is to sit quietly with yourself without employing a strategy to hide from yourself. This evolution of your higher consciousness or enlightenment happens when the physical, emotional and spiritual energies connect.
• Physical Energy – The body can be quiet and still without effort for a duration of time.
• Emotional Energy – The mental body can let go.
Spiritual Energy – The spiritual body can focus inside.
“My name is Melody Jackman and I will always think of myself as a beginning yogi. I started Yoga in college but couldn’t find the right class or instructor to hold my interest for more than a couple of classes here and there throughout the years. When I joined the Army I hadn’t been practicing for several years and I volunteered for a unit that is more physically demanding than most. Pain that I had been able to ignore in the past was quickly beginning to affect the way I performed on runs, and I was unwilling to go on profile. Yoga at that point was still so far back in my mind that I never even considered it for pain management or correction, and so started going to a Chiropractor. Being in a male dominated profession I was willing to do what I had to
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