BUSINESS
Bringing the Zen to the Military Yoga teacher offering free classes to ease PTSD and other stressors BY KAYLA RUTLEDGE Sound of Freedom Staff Writer
N
icole Fonovich has seen “astonishing” results when she has veterans and active duty military members in her yoga
classes. So, throughout the year, her Valley-based company, Nicole Anne Yoga, is offering free classes to them to show yoga and meditation can be an avenue to healing. “When I see the changes that have taken place, it’s astonishing,” Fonovich says. “It’s the shedding of that ‘I need to be tough’ shell that they needed in order to do the job that they did but might not need here at home. It’s asking them to put on a different uniform for that hour of our practice.” Nicole Anne Yoga is a mobile yoga company and offers services such as in-home yoga and meditation; however, the classes being offered for free are also open to the public in shared spaces. The classes do not require a membership. While participants are encouraged to sign up in advance, Fonovich says the military can feel free to arrive the day of the event. “I really just want to give the military members in our community every incentive to give this a try, because the results are truly remarkable,” Fonovich says. Participants can choose how far they push themselves during the session, and each class caters to all skill levels. Throughout the yoga classes, the instructor demonstrates modified poses, allowing those of all abilities the chance to benefit from the practice. That goes with Fonovich’s goal when she started her company in 2017. She want-
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Sound of Freedom | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019