WHERE THERE’S DIRT, THERE’S HEALING
Image courtesy of John Cameron (Unsplash)
Dear readers,
I may offer an odd title for a blog post, but I promise to connect it to this week's theme. Every Wednesday (at 9 a.m.) during September, I will co-host a yoga fundraiser for the Veteran's Healing Farm (VHF) in Hendersonville, North Carolina. So, who is the VHF, and what does this have to do with dirt?
Air Force Veteran John Mahshie founded the VHF in 2013 to build a community for fellow veterans who had difficulty transitioning from servicemember to civilian. He noted that the military had a clearly defined mission not often found in the civilian world. Many vets returning home from active duty deployments lose their way while struggling with mental health issues such as PTSD and suicidal ideation. The VHF creates a purpose for returning vets by teaching them sustainable farming methods. In other words, they get to play and heal in the dirt.
Executive Director of the VHF, Alan Yeck, provided a farm tour for me and co-host Mei-Ling Varnell (owner of Hidden Trails Coffeehouse). Alan related that the volunteer veterans receive education from soil preparation to harvesting vegetables and herbs and harvest proceeds for personal consumption. Additionally, they distribute crops to veterans in need at local VA facilities - a primary mission of the VHF.
To build a strong community, the VHF offers monthly activities such as picnics, band nights, write-your-own stories, and herbal remedy workshops, to name a few. The connection with Mother Earth through farming provides a chance to be in the moment and discover a path to healing. Now a little about the yoga fundraiser.
Image courtesy of Jared Rice (Unsplash)
I am a US Army veteran, a retired first responder, and am well acquainted with occupational-related mental health struggles. It will be a great honor to spend time in nature and offer others the gift of yoga. It will be an experience of connecting the breath to the movement in a gentle way. It is a chance to momentarily get out of your head and into your body.
In my travels, I have found one of the best statements that answer the question, "What is Yoga?" (courtesy of instructor Kerri Verna (known as Beach Yoga Girl on Instagram).
"Yoga is not about being flexible. Yoga is about showing up on your mat daily without expectations of how it should go. It's about not believing the labels like: "Too injured or too old." and finding a new way to be the best version of yourself. Yoga is a lifestyle, not an exercise program. However, yoga has no judgment if you only want to use the poses as exercise. Yoga is about discovering that those crazy thoughts in your head about why you can't, or shouldn't, are not true. It is about slowing down and seeking something greater than yourself. Yoga is more than what you wear or if you can handstand. Yoga is the ultimate practice of love."
Yoga is a journey that you make your own. As I always say, "Do the best you can with what you have in each moment to make this world a better place, not only for yourself but others in kind."
If you are a local or just visiting the Hendersonville area (the fundraiser is open to the general public and the military community), consider spending time to help this worthy organization. For each attendee, Hidden Trails Coffeehouse is giving one free drip coffee. We hope to see you there. Until next time -
Namaste,
Tim
For futher information click on the links below:
The fundraiser will be held at The Veteran’s Healing Farm
38 Yale Road
Hendersonville, NC 28739