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Lucy Cimini is the founder and director of Central Mass Yoga And Wellness (17+ years) and founder of Yoga Warriors International (13+years), BA, E.R.Y.T. (E-500 hour), C-IAYT, CZT. She was RYT certified by the Himalayan Institute-specializes in Hatha, Iyengar, Therapeutic and Restorative yoga.

Dharma Richards, ERYT-500 – Founder, owner and Senior Teacher of Yoga Garden, and being a Yoga Alliance Advanced Registered Yoga Teacher and Wellness Coach, Dharma incorporates a Classical Hatha-Raja style of teaching which encourages organic movement and an open heart as she routinely leads students through nurturing practices of pranayama/breathwork, asana/physical postures, and dhyana/meditation.

Dharma’s studies continue at the North Carolina School of Yoga with her beloved teacher Chandra Om, senior disciple of Sri Dharma Mittra. Her certifications also include Core Strength Vinyasa, Prenatal, Children’s, Vinyasa, Yin, and Yoga Warriors (for PTSD). Dharma is also certified by Judith Lasater as a Relax & Renew Instructor, Kundalini Yoga, a certified Reiki Master and continues studies in Thai Massage (Nuad Boran).

For detailed information, see Dharma’s personal website and studio website, Yoga Garden of Apex.

Yoga Warriors International is headquartered at Yoga Garden in Apex, NC.

110 E. Chatham Street, Apex, NC 27502

919-267-9264

info@yogawarriors.com

To alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress (PTS), combat stress (COSR) and increase the resilience of critical task performers working in high stress environments, including affected caregivers and family members by providing evidence-based yoga and mindfulness practices.

Nearly one in five Vietnam veterans suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) — and nearly one in 10 was still suffering 11 to 12 years after the war, a new study finds. That's fewer PTSD cases than once feared. But it is still a lot — with implications for Iraq war veterans, finds Columbia researcher Bruce P. Dohrenwend, Ph.D., and colleagues. "Substantial similarities exist between Vietnam then and Iraq now," Dohrenwend and colleagues note. "Both have been wars without fronts in which it is often difficult to tell peaceful civilians from enemy combatants" Read more...

You can find the article at American Journal of Occupational Therapy article.

PTS(D) is described by the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress as being...

"An anxiety disorder that can occur after you have been through a traumatic event. A traumatic event is something horrible and scary that you see or that happens to you. During this type of event, you think that your life or others' lives are in danger. You may feel afraid or feel that you have no control over what is happening."

Anyone who has been through a traumatic or life-threatening event can develop PTS. These events can include natural disasters, car accidents, terrorist attacks, physical assaults, abuse, rape and many other types of events.

Some common symptoms associated with PTS include reliving the event over and over, nightmares, avoiding thoughts or people associated with the traumatic event, numbing, feeling keyed up, difficulty sleeping or staying asleep, a feeling of detachment, irritability, difficulty concentrating, an exaggerated startle response, headaches, and chronic pain.

Combat and operational stress reaction (COSR) is a term used by the United States Army to describe the wide range of maladaptive mental and behavioral symptoms that can emerge in response to combat. The effects of battlefield stress on military personnel have been recognized throughout the history of warfare. Older terms to describe the syndrome include “shell shock”, “soldier’s heart”, “battle fatigue”, and “psychoneuroses”.

Yoga’s physical postures promote healthy, flexible bodies and often provide relief from pain. The class is so gentle that veterans, many of whom have other health conditions or serious physical limitations, find the postures comfortable and easy to do.

Yoga directly addresses the fight-or-flight response, which is at the heart of PTS. The fight-or-flight response is a reaction that prepares the body to fight or flee from perceived threat. Because yoga deals directly with the mind-body connection, it helps veterans retrain the fight-or-flight response. Now, when they confront a situation that triggers their memories, instead of resorting to aggression or drowning in fear, they have other options: deep breathing, for example, as a means to self-calm.

Other benefits include:

• The release of emotional issues.

• Help towards relaxing and strengthening the body.

• Unfreezing bad memories and creating new bodily memories.

• Giving feelings of joy and personal empowerment.

• The mind becomes more clear and open.

• It produces acceptance of the self.

• Life feels better balanced.

• It allows one to safely express stored emotions such as guilt, shame, anger, sadness and grief so those feelings can be understood and integrated.

• A regular yoga practice helps alleviate symptoms of PTS including anger, anxiety, depression, guilt and paranoia.

Yoga Warriors is designed specifically to assist soldiers in coping with Post Traumatic Stress as well as the daily and specific stresses that military members are exposed to. The classes are also open to those from other high stress environments in addition to the caregivers and family members of those affected.

1. To locate a session near you, view training schedule, register online or contact us.

2. To host a session at your studio or the studio where you practice, check out HOST a session.

3. To find a certified teacher in your area, go to Find a class. Teachers on this list can provide both classes for PTS or sessions for yoga teachers.

You do not have to be a certified yoga instructor, however, only those teachers with a minimum of RYT-200 certification will obtain a Certified YWI Teaching Certificate and be certified to teach the YWI method. Any others taking the training will obtain a "Certificate of Attendance".

1. All information related to hosting a session can be found on Host a session page.

1. Go to Find a class page and search for a teacher near you.

2. Contact teacher directly by email to obtain their class schedule.