If you have a yoga class scheduled on or near Veteran’s Day, and would like to structure your class to pay homage to our Veteran troops, I’m with you. Last year, I taught a few classes Veteran’s Day weekend and wanted to do something special to encourage my students to remember those who defend our freedoms.
I put together a patriotic playlist to pair with my class, and donated the proceeds to Team RWB, a veteran’s organization that works to enrich the lives of veterans by connecting them to their community though physical and social activities.
Here’s what I put together! Feel free to share any or all of it with your classes this Veterans Day!
Playlist:
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Born in the USA – Bruce Springsteen
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Freedom Song – Jason Mraz
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All-American Girl – Carrie Underwood
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We’re an American Band – Poison
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Stars & Stripes – Aaron Tippin
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Only in America – Brooks & Dunn
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Firework – Katy Perry
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Party in the USA – Miley Cyrus
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American Saturday – Brad Paisley
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American Woman – Lenny Kravitz
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American Girl – Tom Petty
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American Pie – Don McLean
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American Honey – Lady Antebellum
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God Bless the USA – Piano Brothers
Flow:
Simple seat, twists, side to side reaches, and fold forward
Seated forward fold
Right/Left Head-to-Knee
Wide legged seated forward fold, right/left
Table top – Cat/cow
Tiger pose
Puppy pose
Downward Facing Dog
Sun Salutation A 1-2x
Root through right foot, raise left leg bent 90 degrees as if high-step marching
Maintain balance, as you send left foot back behind the body into running man balance
Without dropping left foot, draw left foot forward and wrap left leg around right leg for eagle pose
Unravel eagle pose, maintaining balance on right leg, send left leg back behind the body for warrior 3
*Repeat 2-3x on left side*
*Repeat 2-3x on right side*
Standing forward fold
Vinyasa, end in down dog
Step through right foot for warrior 1
Humble warrior
Warrior 2
Extended side angle
Reverse warrior
Warrior 3
Mountain pose
Standing forward fold
Vinyasa, end in down dog
Step through left foot for warrior 1
Humble warrior
Warrior 2
Extended side angle
Reverse warrior
Warrior 3
Mountain pose
Standing forward fold
Vinyasa, end in down dog
*repeat as needed*
3 legged down dog, right leg, sweep through to pigeon
Queen pigeon
Back to down dog
Three legged down dog, left leg, sweep through to pigeon
Queen pigeon
Back to down dog, drop knees, child’s pose
Hands off to the left, right
Rise up for camel pose
Seated forward fold
Corpse pose
Meditation:
“On this Veterans Day, let us remember the service of our veterans, and let us renew our national promise to fulfill our sacred obligations to our veterans and their families, who have sacrificed so much that we could live free.” – Dan Lipinski