BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (July 19, 2015) -- Balance and harmony took over Bagram Airfield, or BAF, today during a Yoga Fest sponsored by the Bagram Power Yoga group.
More than 80 people signed up for a 90-minute session of warrior ones, low cobras, and downward facing dogs with certified yoga instructor, Capt. Eric Schweppe.
Schweppe, a Joint Operations Center battle captain with the 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia, started the Bagram Power Yoga - Afghanistan group shortly after deploying here in November.
"The goal is to practice yoga that will strengthen physical, mental, and spiritual resiliency of service members and civilians," he said.
He primarily teaches Baptiste-inspired Power Vinyasa Yoga, a combination of deep breathing and sequenced groups of flowing yoga postures. Because he received donations of mats, blocks, and straps, he's able to teach 10 classes a week. He said yoga is important because it opens the nervous system, improves mind-body communication and the cardiovascular system, and lowers blood pressure.
"Yoga makes people feel great," he said. "Think of it this way - most of the day we breathe just to stay barely conscious. Controlled, deep breathing encourages mindfulness and presence in the current moment. It takes you away from thinking about the past and future, depression and anxiety."
Schweppe's Power Yoga Basics classes are held Tuesdays through Sundays at the Napa Studio and Coalition Gym. He also teaches Power Hour Yoga and an Edge Class. And he said it doesn't matter if you're a beginner or advanced - anyone can go to any class.
"Every class I teach is for all levels," he said. "Power Yoga Basics is similar to a beginner class. I take more time to explain pose structures while keeping the flow of a Vinyasa-style class. I don't call it 'beginners' because that might imply it's an easy class. Basics can be more challenging than a Power Hour class, with all the focus on the alignment of your body."
He said in Power Hour, the class flows through some slightly more advance postures while offering modifications for beginners. The Edge Class involves slightly different postures with special attention triggers and boundaries to those with trauma.
"I am committed to be of service to the community here," Schweppe said. "Afghanistan can be stressful. Yoga is a physical practice through which Soldiers learn ways to handle stressful situations by focusing and calming the mind."
He also teaches meditation classes in the Rose Garden on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. And he conducts unaccredited teacher training. He's teaching three students right now with five more in the pipeline. His goal is to build a base of teachers to take over most of his classes so that he can focus on meditation and allow Bagram Power Yoga to continue when he leaves in October. Also, DVD Yoga is offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
"The DVD classes started when some night owls wanted access to yoga and I didn't have a teacher," he said. "I was skeptical at first, but then I remembered that I only did yoga with DVDs for the first three years of my own practice."
Lt. Col. Scott McKee, commander of the 904th Contracting Battalion from Fort Knox, Kentucky, is one of three yoga instructors being taught by Schweppe. He said he discovered the benefits and practice of yoga at BAF by attending Schweppe's weekly classes. And when Schweppe offered to teach him yoga, he accepted.
"About four months ago, one my NCOs [noncommissioned officers] recommended that we start practicing yoga, so we started attending the Power Yoga Basics class," he said. "Now, yoga is a new passion that I can take home and share with my family and community. Yoga offers numerous benefits to individuals or a community. For individuals it may be to improve posture, reduce weight, build strength, reduces stress, or just to meet people. That's up to the individual to decide."
McKee now teaches Power Yoga Basics at the Jirga Center Rose Garden on Tuesdays and Thursday mornings.
"Our practice is on green grass, surrounded by trees and roses," he said. "I follow the same yoga practice as my teacher, Eric. This 'Journey into Power' sequence increases peace of mind."
Spc. Heather Mitchell, stationed here with Task Force Thor, teaches Power Hour Yoga on Saturday mornings at Napa Studio. The class is open to all levels with an emphasis on alignment and power.
"The Power Hour class that I teach offers modifications for beginners and also more advanced poses for students, who have been practicing yoga for a while," she said. "Napa Studio is warm and allows the students to explore their edge and start their day with an invigorating practice."
Mitchell's been practicing yoga for two years and first became interested in yoga a few years ago when stationed in South Korea.
"To me, yoga at its core is the true immersion into your physical and mental self," she said. "Flowing with your breath and moving with strength and grace from pose to pose is an integral part of yoga. Yoga has many health benefits for the mind, body, and soul, which really affect everything in our being. From our fitness, wellness, mental and emotional health to relief in the deepest sense. Whether you are practicing yoga to work up a sweat, stretch, or clear you mind, the intention you set is completely yours."
Senior Airman Brittany Boll, deployed with the 455th Expeditionary Medical Operations Squadron, will soon teach a variety of power yoga and connective warrior classes to sub for Schweppe when needed. In the Unites States, she attends yoga at least five times a week.
"I think a common misconception of yoga is that it is only for stretching but in reality yoga is good for you mentally and physically," Boll said. "My favorite thing about yoga at BAF is the escape it provides. If I can have 60 to 90 minutes a few times a week to have an escape from the stresses of deployment, I am thankful for that. Yoga does have a lot of other health benefits through different poses. Some help you energize for the day, helps with stress reduction, and improves physical fitness."
The Sunday night Power Down class, taught by Schweppe, is the group's most popular class.
"It focuses on helping people reset from their stressful week," Schweppe said. "Power Down starts from a gentler place to get to the same end result. Many people feel comfortable in this class because they identify that this is what yoga is supposed to be. Eventually however, a yogi will develop equanimity in both classes, cultivating gentle calmness in every pose.
"I couldn't have done this event alone," Schweppe said. "We had over a dozen volunteers. Maj. Glenn Herbert, another yoga teacher trainee, was the emcee in charge of raffles and pre-yoga announcements.
Megan Kelley worked an oils table, which helped Soldiers think of places far away. Capts. Brian Mawyer and Blair Van Horn signed people in and gave direction. Majs. Anjeli Nayar and Whitney Pafford, active yogis, were physicians on standby for any medical emergencies."
"When a community of people living in a stressful environment can reduce stress, weight and build strength, the immediate surrounding becomes stronger and calmer," McKee said. "Last December, Eric [Schweppe] introduced Power Yoga to BAF and, since then, he built a community of yogis. Their paths may have never crossed if not for yoga."
"It's already such an incredible community out here," said Schweppe after the fest. "Right now, lots of people are thanking me and I just laugh and tell them 'Thank you! You did the practice!' Because otherwise, this place is just a dusty patch of concrete."
"The first Yoga Fest at BAF was a complete success," Mitchell said. "A big part of yoga is building community, inspiring and empowering one another. It was amazing to see such a great turnout at the first Yoga Fest and to share a truly authentic experience with everyone. A huge thanks to Capt. Eric Schweppe for going above and beyond to bring Yoga Fest and a solid yoga program to BAF."
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