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USA, December 2, 2005: Veterans from wars long past may find relief from their experiences through an ancient art. They fought for our country and still live each day with the memories, the anger, and the stress. “For me, the bad memories will never go away. I live with that stress all the time,” said Eddie Brown, a Vietnam veteran. But a new program hopes to relieve stress in combat veterans through yoga. “It’s gentle stretches, it’s breathing, it’s relaxation techniques,” said Lucy Wagner, of the Central Massachusetts Yoga Institute. CMYI started the veteran yoga program last spring and they believe the discipline’s calming effects can help with post-traumatic stress, a disorder that one in eight former soldiers suffer. “It’s a way to quiet the brain, to relax and calm the mind,” Wagner said. “It gives them a chance to be in a safe environment, to do something with their bodies, minds and breathe so they have a little bit of peace.” They said yoga offers veterans an opportunity to focus on the present day, instead of the past, by helping veterans identify anger triggers and teaching them how to calm their minds. “It’s very healing to be able to release, relax and let go, quiet their minds and find some peace,” said Joan Platt, a yoga instructor. While some were reluctant to try it at first, the veterans in the class believe the program has worked wonders, saying it’s the highlight of their week. “I can leave here and be, for the day, totally relaxed. Otherwise, I’m an angry son of a gun,” said Louis Cargiulo, a Korea and Vietnam veteran.

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