The owner of a local yoga studio came up with his own way to honor the men and women who served our country.
Brent Sloan opened Rebel Yoga in Broken Arrow two years ago with a simple mission in mind: "I wanted to make yoga accessible to anybody and everyone."
Posted by Rebel Yoga on Wednesday, February 10, 2016
To reach the most people, he takes in donations to offer his classes free of charge to children, teenagers and now veterans.
"I feel like I'm living my dreams," he said, "really just giving back and providing an opportunity to show how grateful I am for the people who have served for us and the choices they had to make and the sacrifices they had to make."
Sloan decided last month to start make his restorative yoga class on Wednesday nights free to veterans.
Rebel Restoration (formerly Restorative Meditation) will now be offered every Wednesday! #rebelyoga #leaveyouradultatthedoor #practicingyogagivingbacklovemultiplied #rebelrestoration
Posted by Rebel Yoga on Friday, January 1, 2016
Army veteran Shannon Schneider heard about the offer and wanted to give it a try.
"Every week I continue to come back," said Schneider, who served five years in the Army. "I haven't missed a single one since it started, too."
Once Schneider left the service, frustration with the Veterans Affairs health system led him to seek help elsewhere. He said many veterans are likely doing the same thing, so he has a message for them about trying yoga.
"You have to kind of get away from the stigmas that we have in the veteran community and give other things a chance," Schneider said. "I'm not going to say that it's going to work for every single person, but I will say (yoga) has worked a lot for me."
If any veterans come to his restorative yoga class, Sloan said they will learn breathing techniques and also work through some poses to help them open up.
"It gives them an opportunity that they can pause and they can reflect," he said.
Sloan said the class now attracts about five veterans each week, which he takes as a sign that his own special salute to their service is working.
Rebel Yoga is located next to The HUB Gym at 507 N. Main Street in Broken Arrow. The restorative yoga class runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. every Wednesday.
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