Yoga for trauma: New program aims to help P.E.I. veterans 'from the inside out'

A new program offered by the P.E.I. Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) and Dynamic Fitness will help ill or injured veterans manage both emotional and physical pain through yoga.

"When it comes to ill and injured, I happened to read something about yoga for trauma and decided to do a little bit of investigation," said MFRC program coordinator Bernie Mullin-Splurde.

That led her to Triona Harrop at Dynamic Fitness, who has done certifications in yoga for addictions and yoga for trauma.

Harrop hosted a workshop for veterans last year, and when Mullin-Splurde approached her, the two decided to create a six-week program.

"The idea here is to offer a program — it's mindful movement — where some of the forms might be similar to what you would see in a yoga class, but they're much more geared towards the internal experience that's happening," said Harrop.

'It's all about you'

The program isn't just open to veterans, but also to their families.

"The opportunity to work with a family member, whether it's your partner or maybe it's your son or daughter, it's another way of sharing an experience so they can talk about what that is like physically and emotionally for them," said Mullin-Splurde.

Harrop said the program will depend on the "people in the room," and on their feedback and needs.

"It's all about you — closing your eyes and feeling from the inside out," she said.

The classes will be held at HMCS Queen Charlotte on Thursday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. The program costs $30.

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