Bryan firefighters participate in tactical yoga this week to improve their physical and mental health
BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – Bryan firefighters are participating in tactical yoga this week to work their job performance.
Firefighting can take a huge mental toll on the first responders. The city of Bryan is hoping to mitigate the mental health effects on its firefighters with the Well(th) Initiative program.
With the Well(th) Initiative Program, Bryan firefighters will work to keep mentally and physically fit so they can continue to keep the community safe.
The tactical yoga training sessions are a part of the Well(th) Initiative. The training sessions will take place Tuesday through Thursday at Bryan Fire Stations 1, 2 and 5 and is offered to the entire Bryan Fire Department.
The co-founder of the program, Greg Propst, said the program focuses on 3 areas: fitness and prevention, nutrition, injury rehab, and recovery and stress.
“The science says that there is quite a bit that we can do with yoga, with meditation, with breath work, with resetting our neurological system and that’s where we are now is bringing that piece in and really focusing on that,” said Propst.
Sheila Schmid, a tactical yoga instructor was brought in from Washington to teach the yoga sessions.
She explains that tactical yoga isn’t just any yoga, it is a movement system specifically designed for first responders that reduces stress and avoids injury to help job performance.
“This yoga is particularly designed around standing balance poses that are held. There’s no music, no bells and whistles, just utilizing the 3-part breath, it is a very focused training tool, particularly for first responders,” said Schmid. “It gives them tools that will help them be more effective on the front lines, but in particular prevent some of the merely physical and physiological issues that come with being a first responder.”
Firefighters who participated in the program said not only was the yoga fun, but it relieved stress.
“Just a good time to shut your mind off, work on your breathing, and maybe just kind of shut the world off around you,” said probationary firefighter, Erick Torres.
“Seeing the senior guys who are tougher guys, seeing them get into those poses, it was nice to see,” said probationary firefighter, Cole Gibson. “Just kind of learned something new, just kind of relaxed. we do a lot of hard training around here so it’s a good change of pace to stretch and decompress a little bit.”
The sessions are not just one-week, the Well(th) Initiative will provide virtual yoga sessions for firefighters to use in the future.
The Bryan Fire Department would love to continue the program beyond three years and even extend the program to all Bryan first responders.
