Yoga not just a stretch

It might seem far-out and even far-fetched, but there is the possibility of far-reaching impact. Several times a week,
yoga classes are offered at Naval Hospital Bremerton for staff members, with additional classes also available for
eligible beneficiaries.
Lt. Fouad Elzaatari is one of the teachers at NHB, and is a walking embodiment of yoga enthusiasm. Elzaatari’s classes
are not bulging at the seams. Yet.  But the word is spreading. “I call it bringing yoga to the masses,” he said. “We must
remember that yoga is new to our Western culture. The key is that the more we learn about the practice we can then replace
any negativity that comes from a lack of understanding.”
The benefits of yoga have recently drawn attention from the Army as a possible therapeutic form of treatment for wounded
troops returning from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even the Marine Corps has instituted yoga classes in their Warrior Couple
Readjustment Retreat as a viable option for married couples to reconnect, share and ease any strain from extended deployments.
There are several variations of the ancient practice, and one such currently followed at NHB is hatha-yoga, which is based on
physical postures, breathing exercise and muscle control that is becoming increasingly popular in Western culture.
“Yoga originated in India centuries ago as a system of psychological and physical practices which created greater sense of health,
mental awareness and balance in practitioners of yoga,” explains Elzaatari.
Elzaatari found himself drawn to yoga when he was growing up in Beirut, Lebanon, partly because of an affinity for eastern
philosophy and also because it was another sport-related event to try, even if it wasn’t wide-spread.
Upon arriving at NHB in 2005, he immediately noticed yoga was offered and has been involved ever since. While deployed and
assigned to Political Military Affairs, U.S. Embassy Annex, Former Republican Palace, Baghdad, Iraq, from 2006 to 2007, his yoga
involvement became well-known to many of his colleagues.
“We had a number of military, government service, state department and coalition employees who would take our yoga classes,”
recalled Elzaatari. “The goal there was the same as our classes here, to give every practitioner a chance to take a brief respite from
work and look after themselves.”
When Elzaatari returned from deployment, he knew he wanted to become more engaged in yoga than just attending classes, so he
took it upon himself to get his yoga teaching certification. “Teaching is a worthy goal in itself,” said Elzaatari. “There are also various
levels, each a building block for getting skills to a higher level.”
The mental, physical, and even spiritual benefits are there for the taking,” said Elzaatari. “People say that they sense a difference after
a few classes,” said Elzaatari. “In the short time we’ve been doing this, the regulars are becoming more aware of the possibilities in
improving their posture, flexibility, stretching, and even toning and firming.”
He added that yoga is also being recognized more and more as a form of therapy. Many providers are prescribing yoga to women
during pregnancy, and here in at Naval Hospital Bremerton, we have a class specifically to pregnant women.
Elzaatari teaches at NHB on Tuesday and Thursday, at 11:00 a.m.  Other available classes for eligible beneficiaries include “Yoga for
Fitness and Health,” “Gentle Beginner and Prenatal Yoga” to be held Mondays from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; “Fitness Yoga” on Mondays
from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and “Lunchtime Yoga” on Fridays from 11:45 p.m. 12:30 p.m. For more information, please call 360-475-4541.