At Military Hospitals, Yoga Offers Calm in the Storm

Like many military spouses living in the greater Washington, D.C. area, I get my medical care at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. 

Sitting in the lobby at a recent medical appointment, I couldn’t help but notice how busy the place was. People coming in and out, wounded warriors heading to appointments, medical equipment being delivered, staff members rushing to their next shift, and patients receiving critical care.

At any given time, the place is bustling. 

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Navy veteran Patrick Johnson who told me about how he and other service members and veterans find peace in all of the hustle and bustle and stressful moments in their medical care—through yoga.

For many like Patrick, Red Cross yoga classes are a critical component to their care at military and veteran hospitals around the country. Both staff and patients note that these offerings are key to recovery and wellness.  

“Yoga classes help so many of us find ways to cope and process these major events in our lives. I’ve found that it is a great way to battle depression and anxiety,” he said. 

Intense Moments 

“A lot of times, people show up here at very intense moments in their lives, and we are here to provide comfort,” said Kathy Baird, who teaches Red Cross yoga and movement classes four days a week at Walter Reed.

Kathy says that in a hospital setting yoga allows patients to reconnect to the body and learn to listen to what it is telling them.  

“We’ve seen that this makes a difference in a patient’s care.”  

For Kathy, the ultimate goal is for these classes to add to the patient’s stay at the hospital. In class, adaptations are made depending upon an attendee’s injuries or how participants feel that particular day. “We want everyone to enjoy the benefits of our classes and to feel comfortable,” she said.  

Wednesday Warrior Yoga

For the past four years, Patrick has been coming to Kathy’s Wednesday Warrior Yoga. He says that yoga is a time for service members and veterans to connect and meet each other in a different way.    

“In yoga, it doesn’t matter who you are. No one is calling you by your last name. Your rank doesn’t matter—no one cares if you’re an officer or enlisted, no one cares if you’re an Army colonel or an ensign in the Navy. You’re just a person,” Patrick said.  

Since Patrick’s medical retirement from the Navy eleven years ago, yoga has been an important part of his recovery. Two years ago he took a job at Walter Reed as the site coordinator for the Military Adaptive Sports Program. He says one of the best things about the role is connecting with service members and sharing his experience of finding wellness through sport and fitness—“plus I get to attend Warrior Yoga on Wednesday.”  

He says that many recovering service members struggle with sleep and search for tools to help them adapt to challenges that can often feel overwhelming.  

“And that’s what this class does—it gives us time to slow down, stop, and get a break from everything else.”  

Patrick says that he recently encouraged a young Marine to join the class. “And let me tell you, he was skeptical when I first asked him to come,” he said.  

“But during the first class, this Marine was able to relax. He even fell asleep during the end of class—something particularly hard for him to do,” Patrick said. He says the Marine has been coming back to class for more than a year now and reports that he’s now sleeping better than ever before.  

“And that’s what these classes are about—giving people choices and tools to deal with these stressful moments.” 

Filling in the Gaps  

Kris Wright, who coordinates Red Cross Resiliency programs for patients, says that programs like yoga are designed to supplement existing care. “We fill in the gaps for some things that health care systems would love to do but aren’t equipped to do,” she said.   

“During the day, they have appointments, [and] they have other activities that they have to go to. Yoga is a time for them to give themselves time to restore and relax. Our classes offer a space for them to come home to themselves,” Kris said.  

At Wednesday Warrior Yoga, Kathy encourages participants, particularly those who are injured, to move in a way that’s helpful and compassionate to their bodies. She says that she and her colleagues will continue teaching these classes for patients and staff as long as the demand for the Red Cross classes remains high.  

“We’ll continue to find mindful movement, connect with our breath and inner wisdom, [and] offer meditation and healing together,” she said.  

Patrick says that Kathy’s presence and personable manner helps set the tone for healing and discovering that next chapter. “She’s so calm and makes us feel like we matter. The peaceful place that she offers in her classes makes a difference. I think everyone could use this in their life,” Patrick said. 

Patrick’s words ring so true for so many of us—veterans, service members, family members, and caregivers. I hope each of us can find a little calm in our own personal storms and realize that our health and healing matter, and, ultimately, we matter too. 

By Susan Malandrino for the American Red Cross