At The Station, we have so much to offer that we understand a quarterly report on all of our activity may be overwhelming. That’s why we are pleased to announce that we are releasing monthly updates to give you a taste of The Station through bite-size pieces.
This month’s entry of The Journal spotlights our January program, Journey of Self Care (JoSC), and the growth and expansion at our outStations dispersed nationwide.
–The Station Team
BASE CAMP JIMMY
Journey of Self Care
Healing Our Body And Soul
Journey of Self Care presents healthy habits to make small changes for the betterment of mind, body, and spirit. Participants are encouraged to take small steps toward beginning self-care practices. In addition, participants are exposed to and experience unique healing modalities rooted in ancient Eastern practices.
We are fortunate to live in a time where there are so many approaches and resources available to help us heal. The practice of acupuncture and Reiki are two healing modalities that JoSC explored during our January iteration. These energetic healing modalities are believed to improve the flow of energy through pathways in our bodies.
Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as well as a complementary medicine. By influencing energy flow, this practice is used to treat common physical problems and joint pain. In addition, acupuncture practitioners believe this practice can help replenish or balance energy flow to improve bodily symptoms and conditions similar to those associated with stress.
Reiki works on the whole self – the mind, the body, and the spirit – to cultivate a sense of peace and harmony from within the seat of the soul. Reiki is an energy healing technique during which practitioners use their hands to deliver energy to your body, improving the flow and balance of your energy to support healing, promote relaxation, and reduce stress and anxiety.
Two alumni of The Station and members of the Special Operations Community, Liv Vonderau and Micheal O’Leary, are both practitioners in the healing modalities of Reiki and acupuncture (respectively). Our participants were fortunate enough to receive their services during their recent stay at Base Camp Jimmy. Thank you, Liv and Mike, for helping our spouses learn new approaches to manage the stressors of their lives.
Practitioner Feedback
The results of these practices were amazing. 100% of participants felt more relaxed after their session. Those who were experiencing pain prior to their session showed a decrease on their pain scale rating. Some felt light, unburdened, and as if something had been lifted from them.
In Their Own Words
You nourished our bodies with Georgie’s comforting meals, you healed our hearts with journaling, yoga, reiki, art, mindfulness and time in nature. You thoughtfully honored our experiences with the hike up the mountain and the mantra that if it is heavy we can let it go.
The song Taylor wrote with us is something I continue to listen to and reflect on. The friendships, conversations and support of the other women are what I turn to when I search for strength in myself and I can picture us holding each other’s hands in the cold river, finding our breath and surrounding each other with calm positivity.
Words really can’t describe the lifelong gift you have given us but please know you really did change our lives and it’s an experience we will always treasure.
—SOF Spouse
Journey of Self Care
INTERWOVEN
Outreach Initiative
Here’s To A New Year And Bright Future!
The Launch Of A New outStation
Last year, Teah Fagins, one of our military spouse alumna, approached The Station to learn about ways she could support spouses in her area. Teah was already volunteering her time in Colorado Springs to organize beautiful day events in support of SOF Spouses, just like herself. It was evident that her passion and love for her community were unwavering, but the funding for these events was not always certain.
In the winter of 2023, The Station welcomed Teah as a member of our team. Watching the Fort Carson outStation’s growth over this past month has been exciting. The need for her programming is evident as her events continuously reach full capacity in a matter of hours. Teah’s eye for detail, knowledge of mindfulness, and personal development skills make these gatherings an amazing experience.
Visit The Station’s Interwoven: Fort Carson Eventbrite page to learn more about what is happening in the Fort Carson area.
“It’s an inside job! No one can relate, understand or care for us better than the one that has walked a mile or ran a marathon in our shoes. Spouses are the foundation of a healthy family. Acknowledging their sacrificial service, making them feel seen and cared for, and equipping them with tools to handle the stressors of SF lifestyle better is pivotal for the vitality of the family unit.”
—Teah Fagins
outStation Facilitator
Thank You For Your Support
Your generosity provides a powerful path for the Special Operations Community – Warriors, Spouses, Children, and Gold Star Children – to attend our world-class programming and return home with meaning and purpose beyond war.
People like you have impacted thousands since 2012. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to helping SOF Families.
To learn more about supporting The Station, email Jazlyn Greenwood at: jgreenwood@thestationfoundation.org
Leave a Reply
Your email is safe with us.