The SKY Resilience Workshop is a breath-based, mind-body, resilience-building program that has shown a decrease in stress, anxiety, and sleep problems for those who have served in the military, law enforcement, and emergency services, their adult family members, and veteran service providers.
Content – An interactive, practical mind-body program
The SKY Resilience Workshop is a mind-body resilience-building program for returning veterans. It offers practical breath-based tools that decrease the stress, anxiety and sleep problems that many returning veterans experience.
A cornerstone of the SKY Resilience Workshop is the SKY (Sudarshan Kriya Yoga) Practice, a set of breathing techniques. Through rhythmic breathing patterns, the SKY Practice brings deep mental and physical relaxation, which can reduce symptoms of anxiety, anger, insomnia, and depression. Through interactive discussions, the SKY Resilience Workshop builds a framework for resilience and empowerment and develops self-awareness, connectedness, community, and a positive outlook.
Teaching Style – Valuing veterans’ strength and wisdom
Our experienced facilitators draw upon veterans’ existing strengths and wisdom to support them in returning to their natural, healthy state. Knowledgeable about military culture and with extensive experience in breathing and mind-body techniques, our facilitators guide the workshop with an atmosphere of mutual learning and respect. Through interactive discussions, themes of resilience and empowerment strategies emerge, and participants develop higher self‐awareness, connectedness, and community.
This interactive workshop is carried out in a supportive, open, and safe environment where veterans can freely express themselves without fear of judgment or shame. Many veterans report being able to reframe traumatic experiences and find forgiveness for themselves and others during the workshop processes.
Format
The SKY Resilience Workshop is a program with practical take-home tools and ongoing support.
- Course Sessions – The workshop is taught over 5 consecutive days, in 2.5-3 hour sessions. Attendance at all sessions is required.
- Take Home Tools – Learn a set of daily breathing practices that take about 25 minutes to complete. Some of the practices can be used as needed, day or night to reduce sudden anxiety or insomnia.
- Ongoing Support – When possible, participants are also supported through facilitated followups with their facilitators, arranged either in-person (when possible) or via online.
The workshop can be customized to suit most physical disabilities including hospitalized patients who may have limited physical movement. For those diagnosed with severe PTS(D), it is recommended to spread out the training over a longer schedule in consultation with health professionals.
