Photo By Sgt. Kenneth Tucceri | Naval Station Guantanamo residents raise their hand up towards an enormous banyan tree...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Before the morning’s light began its gradual pour through the leafy maze of branches of an outsized overhanging tree, a group of service members sat on mats, backs straight, facing their instructor. An electric light positioned at the base of the tree, behind the participants, illuminated the early morning darkness and bounced off the tree’s trunk towards the instructor, just adequately enough for those to see, yet not obtrusively, as she began the Yoga lesson.
“Yoga is all about breath and movement,” said Christine Bogdan, as she instructed everyone through the first few poses. Bogdan is a military spouse who’s been stationed at Naval Station Guantanamo for almost two years. She instructs three Yoga classes a week here. Two of Bogdan’s classes begin at 6:15 a.m. in her backyard under a large banyan tree.
As the yoga lesson proceeded, the continual pouring of light accumulated to bring out a silhouette from the tree and its complexity of branches and leaves. The sky gained color, and the sharp angle of the sun provided a strong contrast, casting long shadows off of the group.
“The body is being pulled to the banyan tree as we look out into the ocean,” said Bogdan, utilizing the beauty of the location during one pose, as arms reached forward and legs bent in a solid stretch.
Bogdan began doing Yoga as a self-improvement activity. She said as a military spouse, it is difficult to move around the world and possess continuum in many things. For example, she is a hairdresser, and when you move every two or three years, it is very difficult to build clientele. So Yoga was a perfect practice to build on.
Bogdan stated that she always requires a goal or self-help activity. “If not my mind would, and still does, meander down the bitter road of hating this life my husband loves so much. Honestly, the strength it takes to endure the life of a military spouse is not for the weak at heart.”
Yoga grew into something more, and she began instructing. “The Wednesday morning class began as an active rest day for my husband’s PT schedule,” said Bogdan, of one of her weekly classes. From there it grew to Soldiers in her husband’s command, the Joint Detention Group, attending to show support.
“This is the inner code of the military that set us apart from the civilian sector,” said Bogdan. “The Wednesday morning class has grown to more than just them in the class. It is a nice mix of Army, Navy, Air Force and spouses all showing up to salute the sun together.”
Bogdan went on to explain how relevant the practice of Yoga is to modern day service members.
“The military has shifted into this tactical athlete. We have to be ready to respond instantly and sit quietly. And those are all those things that you do in Yoga.”
While stationed here, GTMO could serve as the perfect place for you to get into Yoga as it has for other residents.
“My first experience with Yoga was here in GTMO,” said Navy Chief Petty Officer Heather Lewis. “I’ve always been curious about the practice but never had the time to explore stateside; now I’m hooked! Mrs. Bogdan’s teachings have improved my strength and flexibility. She has taught me the beauty of the union of the mind, body and spirit. Needless to say, my Yoga mat will accompany me for my return home.”
If you don’t think Yoga is for you, perhaps your preconceptions fall short of the modern twist incorporated into the ancient form of exercise.
“Yoga nowadays is not your mama’s Yoga or your grandmother’s Yoga,” said Bogdan. “It has evolved into something grittier. The music is different. The mindset is more about physical health and less about the kumbaya hippie freak stuff. I won’t deny there is something meditative about yoga, but no more so than running.”
Additionally, Yoga could be the perfect bridge for any service member to use to achieve a variety of goals in their military and civilian lives.
“Whether the Soldier is walking the front lines of our wars or in the field, the Soldiers’ life is all about the hurrying up and waiting,” continued Bogdan. “They have to be ready for the unexpected and immediately intense rapid movement, while being forced to keep still for long periods of time.
“You could easily call them a tactical athlete. Tactical flexibility is what’s needed. Strong, lean muscles while increasing your range of motion and elasticity within those muscle fibers. Military-style training such as lifting weights, running and cross-fit focuses solely on contracting muscles, ignoring lengthening muscles, and reinforcing the joints. Yoga is all about correctly lengthening your muscles, which not only prevents injuries, but also increases muscle fibers, which in ‘caveman talk’ means bigger guns.
“Building muscle for the sake of muscle is one thing, but when size impedes function - you’ve got a problem. What good is it if your guns are out looking good like they should but your range of motion sucks so bad you’re unable to hit your target? By learning the routines of selected Yoga postures, which specifically meet the tactical athletes’ needs, one wise soul could find great benefit from this ancient style of Warrior training also known as old-school Hatha Yoga.”
Bogdan teaches three yoga classes a week here. She instructs two classes at her home under the banyan tree and one at Marine Hill Fitness Center on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m.
| Date Taken: | 04.03.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 04.03.2014 11:19 |
| Story ID: | 123961 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 360 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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