Warriors for Healing provides free yoga classes to veterans, their families, and caregivers to help manage PTSD symptoms. They train yoga teachers to work with military/veteran communities and establish weekly yoga classes on bases, in studios, and community centers. Looking forward, they plan to train more teachers, assist in establishing more classes, provide yoga for wounded warrior conferences, and mass produce resources to support veterans attending classes. They are seeking donations of yoga supplies and resources to accomplish their goals.

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yusra@warriorsforhealing.org
808-927-6566
www.warriorsforhealing.org

2. Warriors for Healing empowers veterans and service members suffering from
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to redevelop their mind/body connection,
find calm and ease the symptoms of combat stress. We do this by providing free
yoga classes to veterans, their families and caregivers on military bases, in yoga
studios and in community centers.
Resources and supplies are also provided to those attending yoga classes.
W4H also reaches veterans by providing free yoga classes and specialized
workshops through other veteran organizations.
W4H also works with studios and trains certified yoga teachers to tailor their skills
and teach more effectively in a military/veteran environment.
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Our Mission
Warriors for Healing was Founded in
January, 2015, by former NBC News
foreign Correspondent, Brad Willis.
W4H launched with a premiere event at
Yoga Journal LIVE! San Diego, 2015, where
hundreds of yoga practitioners joined
veterans for a yoga class on the Windsor
Lawn of Hotel Del Coronado. This class
was held as a show of support and
appreciation for our nations service men
and women.
In August, 2015, the Warriors for Healing
Training for Yoga Teachers launched with
30 teachers in attendence for the first
session.
Since September 2015, Warriors for
Healing has been 100% run by active duty
service members and veterans.
Our History

3. According to the National Institute of
Health, PTSD affects some 7.7 million
American adults including veterans, first
responders, and victims of domestic
violence or sexual assault.
Some 500,000 American veterans suffer
from what is termed Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
estimates that PTSD afflicts:
• More than 30 percent of Vietnam
veterans
• As many as 10 percent of Gulf War
(Desert Storm) veterans
• 11 percent of veterans of the war in
Afghanistan
• 20 percent of Iraqi war veterans
At Warriors for Healing, we reach veterans
from all eras and their families.
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Why Yoga for PTSD?
Yoga decreases physiological
arousal by modulating the stress
response systems. Thus, reducing
perceived anxiety and stress. This
results in a reduction in heart rate,
a lowering of blood pressure and
eased respiration, which counters
the body’s PTSD symptomology.
How it Works

4. With the funds raised in 2015, we were
able to accomplish the following:
• Over 68 yoga instructors in four
different countries have been trained
in specific Warriors for Healing yoga
practices.
• Eleven weekly classes have been
established on military bases, in yoga
studios and at community centers.
• Five full veteran scholarships were
provided to yoga instructors to attend
our Warriors for Healing Training for
Yoga Teachers
• One partial-scholarship was awarded
to a Navy veteran to send him to
Ashtanga Intensive at Miami Life Center.
• Our instructors have taught yoga to
Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride
participants and participants at Health
and Wellness Mini-Expo summits.
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Highlights from the Past Year

5. Looking forward to this next year, we will continue to grow and serve even more
veterans and their families. Here is a glimpse of what’s to come:
• Yoga instructors will continue to be trained to work with military
members, veterans and those who have suffered trauma. At each training, full
scholarships will be provided to veterans in attendance.
• W4H will continue to assist and encourage instructors to establish yoga classes
on military bases, in yoga studios and at community centers.
• Warriors for Healing is excited to provide yoga to Wounded Warrior Project
alumni and their caregivers at Independence Program conferences. The
Independence Program is designed to help warriors live life to the fullest, on their
own terms. These are warriors who rely daily on their families and/or
caregivers due to moderate-to-severe brain injury, spinal-cord injury, or other
neurological conditions. Specially trained Warriors for Healing staff will create
injury-specific, individualized yoga plans, authentic to each warrior in
attendance. Caregivers will receive personalized instruction and be given
resources so they can replicate this yoga practice at home.
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Looking Forward

6. Thank you for your support in taking the time
to learn more about the mission of Warriors for
Healing. All donations are tax-deductible. W4H
is a fiscally sponsored non-profit organization
serving veterans. We are fiscally sponsored
by Big Heart Ranch. Big Heart Ranch does not
receive an administrative fee, therefore 100% of
your donation goes to support the mission of
Warriors for Healing.
For any further questions please contact Yusra
Kauppila, a Marine Corps veteran and the
Executive Director of Warriors for Healing.
808-927-6566 | yusra@warriorsforhealing.org
In Gratitude
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In order to accomplish our many goals over the next year we will need support in
the following areas:
• 4’x8’x2”Eco folding mats
• Yoga mats, blocks, bolsters and straps to provide to both veterans and their
caregivers.
• Mass-produce the resources being given to veterans, first responders and their
families that attend a W4H yoga class.
• Continue to produce individualized yoga resources and training to those who
suffer from traumatic brain injuries as well as other debilitating injuries and the
caregivers that support them each day.
• Website build-out: A more functional website is needed with an
interactive database in order for W4H instructors to be contacted easily and
established yoga classes to be located.