The Warrior Transition Unit was created for soldiers with various types of injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), who are transitioning out of the army or preparing to return to active combat. Yoga is a big part of the rehabilitation. Hylan Hampton, the yoga instructor for the unit reminds veterans that “there’s no judgment, no competition with yourself or with anyone around you.” Yoga combines physical activity and stress relief, but the gentler approach to exercise has some soldiers skeptical. Spc. Michael Stefan was one of them. “At first, I was skeptical because I liked running six or 10 miles a day,” he says, “but the positive thing is for me to focus on what I can do to overcome symptoms of PTSD.” Developing life skills is also a priority, says Lt. Col. Chris Jarvis, the commander of the Warrior Transition Unit. “We’re really looking at a lifetime of fitness, the emphasis on trying to give them some sort of fitness activity that they could do for the rest of their lives,” he says. Listen to the National Public Radio story here. 04/22/11
