Yoga for veterans and military personnel: in conversation with David Venus

Abstract: David Venus, a former physical training instructor in the Royal Marine Corps, now works as a full-time movement therapist and yoga instructor. Audrey Reeves, an assistant professor in political science at Virginia Tech, crossed path with David in 2017, while completing a yoga teacher training. Audrey and David met again at David’s home studio on the Northumberland coast, where he lives with his partner Claire and their four-year-old. As Audrey arrives, Claire is printing off David’s typed answers to an email sent by Audrey. ‘Because of PTSD, David’s memory sometimes fails him’, she explains. ‘He answered your questions in his own time so he could get the dates right’. From the upper floor, the blue ribbon of the sea is visible in the distance. Soon, David and I sit on a rug and resume the conversation started by email.