Good morning family and friends,

Since its founding in 2011, Veterans Yoga Project (VYP) has been on a profound mission to empower our nation’s veterans and their families on their paths to recovery, resilience, and well-being. We’re passionately dedicated to creating life-changing experiences, and I know you share these values, too.

The reality is stark: 5.3 million U.S. veterans are living with service-connected disabilities—an often invisible but unrelenting challenge. This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a call to action. At VYP, we’re working to change these numbers by providing tools that foster resilience and healing. Last year alone, we held over 5,000 free yoga classes, both in-person and online, for veterans and their families. We simply couldn’t have done this without the compassion and generosity of supporters like you.

I’m not just part of VYP’s mission—I’m a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps and the father of two U.S. Army officers. Sharing VYP's mindful resilience tools and support with my own children, who are leaders in our military, is a very special and rewarding experience. My own daughter led her troops in a yoga practice while on deployment in Korea this year, introducing many young soldiers to these powerful tools for the very first time.

My story - In 2012 while stationed overseas I started practicing yoga as a form of healthy exercise and to alleviate chronic pain from a lifetime and career of injuries and traumas. The practice had a profound and positive effect on my physical and mental health and upon returning to the U.S. I deepened my practice and became a registered yoga teacher. I wanted to share these powerful practices with my military and law enforcement community, and I sought out additional training and certifications which drew me to Veterans Yoga Project. I attended VYP's Mindful Resilience Training course in 2015 and have been sharing these practices with the military and law enforcement community ever since. I volunteer over 300 hours a year teaching yoga and meditation at veterans’ retreats, workshops, and events.  It’s a significant investment of my time and energy and the most rewarding work I’ve ever done.  I’ve personally witnessed veterans on the brink of suicide transform themselves and set a new path of post traumatic growth helped along by these mindful resilience tools. 

Will you join me in supporting this mission, preventing veteran suicide, and sharing these powerful practices with our veterans, their families and communities? 

Please consider donating to Veterans Yoga Project:  DONATE

Your support goes directly to providing these essential programs, and helping veterans and families find peace and travel further down their path of post traumatic growth. 

With sincere gratitude for all of you, Semper Fi,

Brian Cooke

Vice President, Board of Directors, Veterans Yoga Project

E-RYT-200

USMC 1994-2000

Special Agent – Retired, DSS