Once-stodgy, the VFW is now a new portrait of America’s changing military

Our progressive Veterans of Foreign Wars Post-1 in Denver has been featured yet again, this time in the Christian Science Monitor. You know why? ‘Cause we’re rocking it with gender equality, gay rights, yoga, meditation, child care, art shows, and much more at this Post! Healing happens together, folks. 🙂

So, as the article goes…

“In the up-and-coming heart of a neighborhood that boasts a cross-fit gym, a sushi restaurant, and several modern art galleries, the door of the nation’s first Veterans of Foreign Wars post is open for yoga class.

The instructor, Marine veteran Sarah Plummer Taylor, tells her cross-legged students that while they close their eyes, she’ll keep hers open, to watch the room – a nod to those grappling with post-traumatic stress.

“I imagine we also have a lot of members of the tight hamstring club,” she says, as she takes the class through a gentle series of poses.

“That would be an affirmative,” says Alan Norton, a Vietnam vet gamely endeavoring a downward-facing dog in jeans and a short-sleeve button-up shirt.

The former commander of VFW Post 1, Mr. Norton recalls the years when the post drew very few young people – very few members at all, for that matter.”. . .

To enjoy the rest of this extensive article, read on HERE.

The veterans’ yoga community is growing. Classes are offered:
* VFW Post-1, Denver, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7pm
* VA hospitals in Denver and Golden
* Thanks to Comeback Yoga, Kindness Yoga’s Platte St location now offers free veterans classes Saturdays at 10am.

“I believe that people intuitively hold so many of the right answers within themselves and can discover them if they make the space to be still, ask the big questions, and listen,”
Sarah Plummer Taylor

About the Author: Sarah Plummer Taylor

Sarah Plummer Taylor is an established leader in the field of resilience building and holistic wellness. She teaches veterans, busy professionals, students, and entrepreneurs how to find clarity and build stronger, healthier lives. A U.S. Marine veteran who deployed twice to Iraq, Sarah is the author of Just Roll With It: 7 Battle Tested Truths for Creating a Resilient Life. She is also the founder of SEMPER Sarah®, a national wellness practice. Sarah holds a Master’s in Social Work with a Mental Health concentration from the University of Denver and a Bachelor’s in Sociology from the University of Virginia. She was an adjunct professor in the Department of Health Education and Promotion at Charleston Southern University until 2019. Sarah is also a registered yoga teacher ERYT200/RYT500, who teaches vinyasa, yin, restorative, and trauma-informed adaptive yoga classes in addition to retreats and workshops. Her work has been featured on Capitol Hill and in noteworthy news and entertainment outlets like the Katie Couric Show, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, MSNBC, and others. In addition to speaking, leading workshops, and providing individual and couple’s counseling and coaching through SEMPER Sarah®, Sarah gives back to organizations like Veterans of Foreign Wars, Team Red White & Blue, The Give Back Yoga Foundation, Comeback Yoga, and the Women Marines Association. Sarah lives in North Carolina with her husband, their two daughters, and dog.