Yoga for Veterans

Gail Pickens-Barger, teaches Veterans Yoga, through the Veterans Yoga Project online and in-person for the Texas and Southeast Texas Region.

GAIL PICKENS-BARGER | Southeast, TX

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Yoga for Veterans

With Gail Pickens-Barger, E-RYT 500, Chair Yoga & Back Care Specialist

For over 24 years, Gail Pickens-Barger has been helping people find healing, strength, and calm through the practice of yoga. Her journey began during pregnancy and childbirth, and evolved into a lifelong calling to teach adaptive, accessible yoga for all ages and abilities.

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Why Yoga for Veterans?

Regulation. Resilience. Recovery. Relief.
These are the cornerstones of Gail’s teaching with Veterans Yoga Project (VYP), where she integrates trauma-sensitive practices and mindful movement to support veterans on their wellness journeys.

Gail’s extensive training includes:

• 200-hour YogaFit Certification
• 500-hour certification through The Yoga Institute (Lex Gillan)
• Yoga Nidra (Wise Owl Yoga)
• Mindful Resilience for Trauma Recovery (VYP)
• Certified Low Back Care Yoga Teacher (Yoga Vista Academy)
• Adaptive Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis
• Zumba, Chair Yoga Dance and current studies in Tai Chi Ball Qigong

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💻 Free Online Veteran Classes

Gail teaches Gentle Yoga for Back Pain Relief online every Wednesday at 1 PM Central Time, hosted by Veterans Yoga Project. These trauma-sensitive sessions are beginner-friendly and specifically designed for managing chronic back pain, improving flexibility, and calming the nervous system.

She also leads Chair Tai Chi, a 45-minute guided movement practice blending:

• Yang Style Tai Chi forms
• Shaolin stretching
• Qigong
• Acupressure
• Relaxation and breathwork

What Veterans Say:

“Absolutely love the new Tai Chi classes with Gail… more like this, please!”
“First rate. Decreased my stress and pain—fun and effective.”
“I felt better and more relaxed after class. Thank you, Gail!”

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Community & Karma Yoga

Gail’s involvement with VYP began after reading a blog on Baxter Bell’s Yoga for Healthy Aging. Moved by the mission, she began teaching Veterans Gratitude Week classes in 2016, raising funds for veteran wellness and community programs. She continues to support veterans through live and virtual sessions, and in 2021, began collaborating with the Beaumont, TX VA to offer in-person Chair Yoga.

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How to Join

📍 In Person: Southeast Texas (Beaumont & Jefferson Mid-County areas)
🖥 Online: Veterans Yoga Project Classes
Search for “Gail PB” to sign up. Free for all veterans, families, friends and community members.

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Gail Pickens-Barger is a yoga teacher with over 24 years of teaching experience.

Since 2016, Gail has hosted several classes to benefit the Veterans Gratitude Week for VYP.

More recently Gail was contacted by the local VA to present chair yoga to the vets in the Beaumont/Orange Texas area.  In doing so, Gail came into contact with Brianna Renner, who assisted her tremendously in providing a class format, that would present the 5 tools that VYP uses in providing classes.

Gail has gone on to doing the Mindful Resilience training provided by Veterans Yoga Project and teaches regularly for the Veterans Yoga Project both online and in-person.